How do you know when your cycle is ending?

Maybe im not being specific. I have had ch for about two weeks now (this time) but today i have had 4 shorter versions not as painfull just wanted to know if im close to being out of this for a while?

I think you are not out of the woods yet. My cycles usually end shortly after they become erratic (similar to how they start). I will have days with shadows but no bad attack. And no shadows, but a bad attack. Sometimes a few pain free days in between. I am usually good until next cycle if I can go two weeks with no shadows and no bad attacks.

There isn't a formula or standard to use in making this judgment. I think that a kind of fog lifts and we become less absorbed in looking for the symptoms of an attack--that is, life becomes less preoccupied with CH. Then we are back to "normal".

For me its the day the 2.45 am dont come and i wake at normal 4.45am with only a shadow, then they just go away...

You will know..

                                      Coach Bill

Generally, when I start getting them in dribs and drabs (ay only once or twice a week) instead of nightly, I know I'm going out of cycle.  When I stop having shadows, then I know the cycle is over.

Exprience. Mine start slow, build to a peak, and fade out again. Unless I'm sure that's the way it'll work, then it changes up again just to keep me on my toes! The only advice I can give you is don't sweat trying too hard to predict them. It'll just add stress to you! ;)

Joe

Guiseppi wrote on Jun 21^st, 2009 at 10:31pm:

Exprience. Mine start slow, build to a peak, and fade out again. Unless I'm sure that's the way it'll work, then it changes up again just to keep me on my toes! The only advice I can give you is don't sweat trying too hard to predict them. It'll just add stress to you! ;) Joe

I Agree! My cycle runs pretty much the same way. This year I got a break - the Beast let up early - how nice! I did get a "burp" (a one time low level pain), but that was it. Ended in May (usually ends in July), so there you go, you never really know what's up with him - he might just show up early, and catch me off guard. Now, if I start concentrating on this, rather than enjoying my respite, shame on me. But guess what! I'm LIVING IT UP.
PFDAN
Ted

when I was episodic I knew it was at an end after getting slammed for 3 days and then being so exhausted that I'd sleep every available moment for 2 or 3 days.

Now as a chronic, I have high cycles and low cycles.  Fortunately, a lot of low cycles lately.  :)

Charlotte

not trying to hijack here, but figured this was a good place to put this rather than starting a new thread.



I was wondering the same thing.  I have been in cycle for 3 months now. I have not had a full blown CH in a month, though i have had shadows almost daily.  I am so tired of this verapamil.  i want my energy back.  I am wondering if it is time for the alcohol test (have not visited with uncle jack in a while)  I also wanted to know if sumatriptian will kill a CH caused by alcohol.  Just looking for thoughts here. do yall think its time for the test?  and how accurate is the test?  I have not tried it to see if alcohol is a trigger or not, it has not been worth it to me thus far.

David

Drinking alcohol anytime to temp the beast is not a good idea in my opinion. I have always tapered off prevents after a month of no headaches, but that's just me. When they're gone they're gone. Enjoy it while it last's.
the bb

I am on 480mg Verapamil daily. My cycles are getting longer and longer each time. They usually go on for about one year then I get remission.
When the shadows start to get less and less I VERY Gradually start to taper off the Verap to see where I am at. This cycle after five months gave me only one month PF then WHAM!

You will know, but never let your guard down. I make sure my o2 bottles are all full and my Verap is full also. PF wishes for you, may you get a long break from the beast.

mine will sometimes peak really hard for a week or 2. its never the same though. no 2 cycles have ever been the same. it seems that a drastic change can end them. i remember a cycles ago i was drinking about 2 gallons of coffee and taking around 100 ibuprofens a day in desperation. then i stopped and within a week i was out of cycle. this is before i found this site.

btw. dont EVER take any kind of pain reliever like i mentioned. it will tear up yer innards. ;)

man, the crazy things i used to do just to get out of pain.

if yer going to do the beer text, give it a month or so. it may not cause a cluster but it always brought on a hell of a migraine.