This might sound silly, but have any of you noticed that washing your hair leads to an imminent CH attack? For me, it seems to act as a trigger very often.

- Best regards,
Rosa

Hi Rosa,

I've never heard of this being a trigger but two thoughs come to mind:

1. Do you wash your hair at the same time each day? This could just be a schedule hit from the beasts perspective.
2. It could be that you are susceptable to heat/cold on your head from the water.  Try changing the temp of the water you wash with.

-Dennis-

I wash my hair every now and then and not even every day, there's no real schedule to it. I've thought about the heat though...perhaps taking only cold showers might help. I'm a cold-seeker anyways regarding the CH - ice sometimes helps.

- Rosa

I kinda agree with Dennis although there are a  number of variables here. The water temp., aromas of shampoo and creme rinse, (smells being triggers for many), the actual chemical compounds in the shampoo creme rinse and soap. I've never had a hit follow a shower. Good luck! ;) From the looks of a lot of high schoolers that greasy, unwashed, slicked down look may be coming back again!!

Guiseppi

Brushing the hair has been noted as a trigger for some trigeminal neuralgias - wouldn't surprise me if stimulating the nerves in the scalp (and maybe the neck if the scalp is massaged vigorously) can get things stirred up.

Never relax ever. Thats when you get hit. Try jumping up and down in the shower with your arms out and above your head. Just Kidding. Dont jump up and down in the shower. ::)
While in an episode many things can seem to trigger a headache. Many of these are coincedence. Cardiovascular stimulation can effect your CH. The shower can stimulate or calm the vascular system thus having an effect on the CH. :-/
all the best
thebb

Smells can be a trigger for me..Try using a completely different type of shampoo that smells different

Monty said what I was thinking.

Your trigeminal nerves can be REALLY susceptible when in cycle- I won't go to the hygienist or dentist when I am in cycle as my jaw is hypersensitive and I dread getting a cold and bad sinuses as I am sure it makes my trigeminal pain worse.

There are even some CH'ers who get many extra TN symptoms when they are having a lot of CH hits so it might be this as TN is triggered by touch and temperatures.

W

For me,  hot showers and baths in high cycle typically lead to a hit if not a very very strong shadow.  Even though I am out of cycle, I rarely take hot , steamy baths anymore - just a quick  Hot shower , in and out.....Don't want to tempt fate

kelly

Hot showers may be what it is, that's what can trigger mine if I'm shadowing. Never tried a hot bath yet...

Another thing I can think of is something to do with the occipital nerve.I know my doctor mentioned that someone with clusters can be sensitive there. As in, he was afraid he would make my headache worse, or trigger one by touching me there. Maybe it has something to do with that?