During a bad cluster cycle has anyone had to take a drug test and failed (not pills) it during a cycle?  Reason I'm asking is that it happened to me and god knows I have not used anything illegal. It was a drug which is a big trigger for most of us.  I have suffered with CH for 28 years thats the last thing I'm gonna do plus I just had a mild stroke in 2007.  This year has been a real bad year with the beast I'm trying to wonder if he screws up your body in some way to make you show erroneous readings.  I have been drinknig energy drinks for the caffeine and taking excedrin, goody's and motrin not all together but what ever I get to first. Don't know if it was all that otc stuff I've tried.

I have been seeing a Neuro, but I'm not to sure about him as I stated a many posts ago I wont take any of the prescription drugs I have, because they don't work. Anyway my neuro begged me to try the prednisone and it didn't work. So he wanted me to try imitrex, which tells me he didn't bother looking at my chart if he did he would have known that I have a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure (already on meds for that) minor stroke, and a male over 40. When I looked up Imitrex there was no way I was taking that heart attack waiting to happen.

Strange they will give you all kinds of drugs and I caught pure hell trying to get O2. I finally got O2 it took from early April until today to finally get it. My cycle started every since mid March.

I really hate this little bastard, I used to be an Air Traffic Controller and he wouldn't quit until I had to give that up now if wasn't for him forcing me to take all that other crap I would still have my job.  If anyone has any similar experiences I would certainly like to know.  >:(

Hi Dana,

While I certainly understand your frustration...you life is not ruined by CH.  Honest.   You just need to make adjustments for it in your life.

No...being an ATC is probably not the best job to have if you are a chronic CH...but with that back-ground, you can do other things.  It's all about learning to live with, and around your CH.  We do NOT let it define who we are or what we can do and if you stick around here long enough you will see a lot of folks here with this attitude.

When you're hurting we will empathize with you.
When you need questions answered, we will provide them the best we can.
When you need a shoulder to vent we will hear you out.
When you want to get on the pity pot a bit to often...we'll kick your butt and get you back to reality.  

I meant that last statement with all due respect.  We talk like that to all newcomers here.   ;)


Welcome Dana.   You've got a lot to read around here.  Links to the left as well as all the different boards..Meds...CH specific, getting to know you, General, etc.

Linda   :-*

thanks linda.  I'm just frustrated the beast has just been vicious this year.  I'm just trying to figure out whats happened all of a sudden I have to find a new job after all those years for no fault of my own.

Hi Dana and Linda is right. She kicks asses around here all the time 8-)

Here's something that won't get in the way of your disdain for drugs:

Dr. Wright’s Circulatory Technique

What follows is a technique learned from a neurologist:

I am not sure what mechanism is triggered by this but whatever it is, at least indirectly helps kill the pain. I do know that this technique has nothing to do with meditation, relaxation, or psychic ability. It is entirely physical and takes some work. It involves concentrating on trying to redirect a little circulation to the arms, hands, or legs. It can described as a conscious circulatory flexing. Increased circulation will result in a reddening and warming of the hands. Try to think of it as filling your hands with redirected blood. The important and difficult part is that it has to be done without interruption through the pain. Do not give up in frustration. It may not work on the first try. Every now and then it will work almost immediately. I lived for those moments. Try experimenting between attacks. You will find that it gets easier with practice.

I was given less than five minutes instruction in the use of method. The doctor, while placing his arm on his desk, showed me that he could slightly increase his arm and hand circulation. After several attempts, I was able to repeat this procedure and use it successfully. I have had about a 75% success rate shortening these attacks. My 20 minute attacks were often reduced to 10 minutes or less. Once proven that I had a chance to effectively deal with this horror, I always gave it a try as I had nothing to lose but pain.

Perhaps it will help if you think of it as trying to fill the arm as if it is were an empty vessel. I used to try to imagine I was pushing blood away from my head into my arm. Use your imagination. There is one man who wrote that his standing barefoot on a concrete floor shortened his attacks. This may be similar as it draws some circulation away from the head. Cold water, exercise, or anything affecting circulation, seems to be worth a try. My suggestion is to not let up immediately when the pain goes. Waiting a minute is probably a good idea. So long as you do not slack off, this has a chance of working.

This technique is very useful while waiting for medication to take effect or when none is available. It costs nothing, is non-invasive, and can be used just about anywhere. It is not a miracle but it helped me deal with this horror. It can be a bit exhausting but the success rate was good enough for me and a cluster headache sufferer will do just about anything to end the pain. It gives us a fighting chance.
I hope this technique is helpful and I wish you the best of luck

Charlie      

Charlie's technique really does work...but it takes some practice.



Quote:

It was a drug which is a big trigger for most of us.

What drug was that?  If it wasn't illegal I can't for the life of me think what drug we take that would trigger as well as  cause a UA to come back dirty.

You got a union behind you and you should use it.

         potter

thanks charlie i'm going start practicing tonight.  They said it was marijuana, There's just no way possible hell the smell of cigarette smoke gets me nautious especially now while the beast is in town.

Dana....humor me.

   Are you saying that you came back testing for weed when you have never smoked it?

There are one or two medications that will test positive for pot. However I cant remember (I know, not very useful Sophia) and cant email the lady who does know because she is royally mad at me (not useful either but she is family and sick to death of my complaining) Have you been eating herbs out of the garden or something and maybe ate one by mistake? And if someone smokes a lot around you then you can test positive for it (personal experience... I am allergic and got rid of the addict) Or did you eat some hash brownies by accident?

I really feel for you as I am home from school today and personally feel this way myself. Glad I am not near a train..... I am really on the pity pot.. going back to bed myself. Have a pukey migraine and in between CH hits.

CH feels like it ruins your life but actually it just forces you to make adjustments and learn your new limits. We all cant walk on water you know ;).

Try to make the best of it and that will show the beast it cant win over you! Hang tough. If a wimpy person had this they would spend all their time whinging and crying and not looking for help and doing their best. You dont sound wimpy. Actually none of us do except for perhaps me but I am trying.  :D

Sophia

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Marijuana False Positives Back to Top

Over-the-counter NSAIDS: lbuprofen; Advil, Nuprin, Mediprim, Motrin, Bayer Select Pain Relief Formula, Excedrin IB Caplets, Genpril, Haltran, lbuprin, Midol 200, Pamprin, Trendar Cramp Relief Formula, Cramp End Tablets, Medipren, Rufln, Naproxen, Aleve, Ketoprofen, Orudis KT. Prescription NSAIDS: Anaprox, Tolectin, ifenoprofen, flurbiprofen, oxaprozin, Ansaid, Clinoril, Dolobid, Feldene, Indocin, Lodine, Meclomen, Motrin, Nalfon, Naprosyn, Orudis, Relafen, Voltaren. Over-the-counter allergy preparations, sleep aids and antinausea medications that contain promethazine: Phenergan, Promethegan. Riboflavin (vitamin B2), Dronabinol, Edecrin.  


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The EMIT test (an immunoassay test) has therefore been changed to use a different enzyme to eliminate false positives due to Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen in very high doses will still interfere with both the EMIT and the GC/MS (Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer) test. Ibuprofen: Ibuprofen is a common pain reliever that (even in low dosages) used to cause a false THC positive on the EMIT test. The EMIT has been changed to use a different enzyme to eliminate false positives due to Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen in very high doses will still interfere with both the EMIT and the GC/MS. There is some conflicting data here because some sources say that the GC/MS tests can distinguish between Ibuprofen and THC (as well as other over-the-counter drugs).

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Aleve - false positive for THC, Marijuana
Ibuprofen - false positive for Marijuana (THC)

Darlin'.....     THAT is very interesting!


I know that before I knew better, I was living on OTC meds.   Practically by the handfuls.

Dana,   I agree with Potter.   Use your union.

AND,  Life WILL  get better....... I promise.

Jeannie

I believe that when a person is called in for a random drug screen, they are asked to list all the medications, both prescription and non-prescription, as well as some foods, they have ingested in the last x number of days. This way they can screen further for those substances known to create false positives.

No way in hell I'm going to lose my job and career over a lemon poppyseed muffin. And I don't think employers are looking to get rid of people if they took a couple of Advil the night before. Of course, with some employees, all you have to do is give the employer a reason - any reason. Then it's a matter of how hard you want to fight.

Hey everyone thanks so very much for all the love and support. I'm trying to keep my sanity on this one.  I will say I have been eating motrin like candy with the red bulls.  Whats so ironic I had to wait so long (2 months) to finally get my O2 which I got yesterday after the damage was done.  Well right now I'm just trying to deal with the beast. The test was done in April and they didn't tell me until June 7th.  Anyway I got to get this cycle to end before I can concentrate on anything now. Thanks to everyone again love you guys.

Dana wrote on Jun 10^th, 2009 at 10:07am:

I got to get this cycle to end before I can concentrate on anything now.

Eating Motrin like candy ain't gonna get 'er dun. It WILL fuck up your innards somethin' fierce, sometimes beyond repair. You gotta stop it.

What Potter said...!

They are there to help.. ;) You should still have your job in some description...



Lefty...!

Potter wrote on Jun 9^th, 2009 at 11:11pm:

You got a union behind you and you should use it.          potter

i second that. if your payin yur dues then they should back you up. if they don't then raise hell. i keep a pretty low profile but if somebody ain't  doin me right they'll hear from me.

Brew wrote on Jun 10^th, 2009 at 10:46am:

Dana wrote on Jun 10th, 2009 at 10:07am: I got to get this cycle to end before I can concentrate on anything now. Eating Motrin like candy ain't gonna get 'er dun. It WILL fuck up your innards somethin' fierce, sometimes beyond repair. You gotta stop it.

i second that too. any amount of motrin or ibuprofen aint gonna do shit for ya. punching holes in the wall with your skull is a more effective method than taking over the counter pain pills.....and probably better for ya too.

Dana,

Make sure you're using the O2 in the PROPER manner. (15-25 liters per minute with a non-rebreather mask or an Op2tic - look on the ch.com store for the proper one - it WORKS). Check out the O2 info on how to use it properly or contact Batch or Chuck (our O2 gurus) and they'll get you going with it - they're great. It works as a great abort for about 70% of us.

A couple cups of black coffee or an energy drink (caffeine and at least 1000mg of taurine in it - check the lable) at the first sign of a hit if you don't have your O2 handy works to abort a lot of the time for a lot of us.

Melatonin at night before bed (12-18mg) helps you get thru the night hits and get some rest.

I hope your cycle is short lived and you're back to "normal" before long. But hang in there - we're here for you. And we do UNDERSTAND. My last cycle started in July of 97, but I know it's going to end just any day now. ;)  So SEE it could be worse!

Hugs BD :-*

(tear drop) you guys have really been supportive I couldn't get through this without you.  Don't know why the beast has been so violent this year.  Since he came in May it's like he's just relentless in destroying me he's been around for 28 years, but he hadn't kicked ass like this in a long time.  Prednisone, Imitrex nothing seems to stop him.  I printed all the info on the O2 I dont think I was set up right I will be ordering a better mask when I get a little more money in the next day or so.  I'm so glad you guys were here, I was telling my therapist (I see her for the beast) about how great this site is.  You guy's really stopped me from doing something stupid.  I was sitting up at 3:18 A.M. beating my head against the wall and scratching my temple with a fork hoping he would leave.  Yes I did say fork I started doing that about 25 years ago when I was chronic, I scarred up a little on both sides but my hair hides it. Anyway while sitting up I could almost hear the devil and the beast telling me there was only one way.......I wont say the rest.  Again everyone thanks so very very very much for helping me keep myself together during this trip to hell.

Hey there and dont despair.....

This is how I think of it....

If you are gonna let any part of CH define you then let it be your ability to endure, your toughness, I know you feel weak sometimes and so do i but i always remind myself that in a strange way this is what makes me so strong and determined, without it i would just be normal. This is what pushes me to have a stronger character when not suffering and so when the next cycle/hit comes it takes longer to break my resolve.

I might sound silly but i really believe in being seriously mentaly prepared to fight the beast (now i've typed it it doesnt seem so silly but there you are)

Think of it as a war movie in your head and your the good guys, you may loose a battle or two but you have to win the war!

Sorry, i love stupid metaphores. but seriously stay strong.
Wishing you PFD.

OllyJay

Thanks olliejay I appreciate it very much I'm hanging on just trying to stay focused and not let him win.