I posted a few days ago about skipping my "regularly scheduled cycle" this summer and trying to figure out what I had done differently.
I mentioned moderate exercise and vitamins and didn't feel I had done anything else differently.  But when I thought about it further I realized (that for a totally different reason--the reason being weight maintenance) I had greatly reduced my intake of sugar (at the advice of my sister)--what I did was stop putting sugar in my coffee, stop drinking juice, stop eating jam, sugary cereal, etc.  During the day/evening I pretty much eat no sugar except for after dinner I do eat one desert (usually ice cream--my weakness).  Anyway, does anyone know if there is any connection between sugar and CH?  Just curious. 

Layla328 wrote on Aug 28^th, 2009 at 2:31pm:

Anyway, does anyone know if there is any connection between sugar and CH?  Just curious.

My non-medical opinion: I doubt it.

There's a definite connection to diabetes, weight gain, certain cancers, and who knows what else.

I can tell you that in my case: No.

That's after rigorously testing the idea (sugar and countless other things, one at a time) for the past 13+ years.

Marc

Not in my case.  I have to have sugar or at least eat fairly often due to mild hypoglycemia.

:D

When I started with clusters back in the dark ages I had no trouble with sugar, became hypoglycemic for about 6 yrs, then turned diabetic about 10 yrs ago.  Went chronic about 6 yrs ago.  Wish I could find a connection, but there isn't one there that I can put a finger on.

Jerry

Edit to add:  I can't find any difference in the way the head behaves based on my sugar count either.

If you have hypoglycemia or related conditions, then a high sugar diet could make things worse. I am not convinced this is a fundamental factor for most clusterheads, but wouldn't be surprised if it was a big factor for 10-20% of us.

Sugar metabolism is connected to serotonin via the inositol pathway - if that is messed up for a person, then various serotonin regulation glitches are created or amplified.

Also, if you have a fructose intolerance issue (and fructose is in most sugary things in the US these days), that will screw up your gut and your serotonin levels.  Lactose works the same way - with intolerance of either, tryptophan is not absorbed, and serotonin levels go way low.

Within 2 days of going low carb, I felt remarkably better - no more fructose problems, no more stomach upset (which the doc thought was psychological), mood improved.  Going into a prolonged remission roughly corresponds to me changing my diet to eat less carbs, but I am not convinced that was the thing that did it - maybe it was, but maybe not. That was also around the time I changed the type of job I have, started to enforce regular sleep schedules (with melatonin, when needed), upped my magnesium intake, hit manopause, and did a few other things.

Quote:

Monty:  hit manopause

   ;D

I am Lactose intolerant too, needless to say milk products are not high on my menu. 

As far as my sugar intake I have about 4 cups of coffee per day (large ones) with 1 to 1/2 teaspoons of sugar per cup(large one) aside from that I don't eat sweets very often maybe a piece of cake or brownie now and then, but definitely not daily.  I try to eat right without adding sugars or fats to my diet.  Mostly because I prefer my love handles to be on my chest not my waist.   ;D 

JustNotRight wrote on Aug 28^th, 2009 at 9:52pm:

Quote: Monty:  hit manopause    ;D I am Lactose intolerant too, needless to say milk products are not high on my menu.  As far as my sugar intake I have about 4 cups of coffee per day (large ones) with 1 to 1/2 teaspoons of sugar per cup(large one) aside from that I don't eat sweets very often maybe a piece of cake or brownie now and then, but definitely not daily.  I try to eat right without adding sugars or fats to my diet.  Mostly because I prefer my love handles to be on my chest not my waist.   ;D

Sweet!

Nope, it's not a sugar thing for me. I really believe diet has nothing to do with my Ch's. Been fit and roughly the same shape since I can remember.

LOL thought someone would get a kick out of that :D

JeffB wrote on Aug 28^th, 2009 at 11:09pm:

JustNotRight wrote on Aug 28th, 2009 at 9:52pm: Quote: Monty:  hit manopause    ;D I am Lactose intolerant too, needless to say milk products are not high on my menu.  As far as my sugar intake I have about 4 cups of coffee per day (large ones) with 1 to 1/2 teaspoons of sugar per cup(large one) aside from that I don't eat sweets very often maybe a piece of cake or brownie now and then, but definitely not daily.  I try to eat right without adding sugars or fats to my diet.  Mostly because I prefer my love handles to be on my chest not my waist.   ;D  Sweet! Nope, it's not a sugar thing for me. I really believe diet has nothing to do with my Ch's. Been fit and roughly the same shape since I can remember.

I'm with you Jeff.  I've stayed in shape too.  Round is a shape! ;D

Jerry

i don't think it's sugar.I love sweets and i haven't considered sugar as a problem at least till now.
Even though some times i like drink diet coke(in the past a glass almost every day!) but i think it is a trigger so i now i do this rarely.Maybe this substitute of sugar?who knows..

On the other hand i read your other post and there are some of us,including me, who take vitamin D and we have seen good from it(maybe from it).I ve been much better since February
when i found out a D-defficiency i had and started taking these supplements with the exception of the last twenty days where things seem to get rougher.
So i don't really Know too what happens. :D

Hey,

Ok i cant say what or how but i KNOW that sugar has something to do with my attacks.....

I am a total sugar junkie and i find that when i make a concerted effort to cut back on sweets, chocolate, fizzy drinks and cakes that the attacks really reduce in frequency after a while, and if i can stay off the sugar i find my periods of remission are longer too.

But as i forget the pain i get back on the sugar and sooner or later im back where i started....

I am not saying that sugar is the only variable that causes my attacks, but i think its in MY PERSONAL top 10 of triggers.

But understand im talking about the amount of sugar that most cant handle without jumping off the walls, im a sugar junkie and have an extremely fast metabolism. and strangely always a perfect blood suar level (i got into checking it when i first thought it was a trigger)

However im more sure that my overall digestive/metabolism system is involved in triggering as hunger is my number 1 Trigger, and so i always try to have something in my sthomache digesting.

Good hunting and PFDs

OllyJay

Thanks for all of the replies, it was interesting reading them especially those who WERE convinced yes or no--lets me see it from both angles.
The neuro who told me take magnesium, C and E every day also told me to NEVER skip a meal, because she said if blood sugar drops that can be a trigger.  Don't know if it's true, but i don't want to tempt fate.
Well, when I look at it, a person has more sugar fluctuations in general if they eat sugar throughout the day, so maybe cutting down on sugar could have beneficial effects.
Also, I credit magnesium and melatonin. 
Either way I have cut down on sugar since my last cycle so enough time to have an effect.
Also, regular sleep habits, I've been a lot stricter about that.
Who knows, I will keep everyone posted, like I said longest remission since I was 14 (now 35) so if I can offer anything useful I will try.

Layla328 wrote on Aug 30^th, 2009 at 9:14pm:

Thanks for all of the replies, it was interesting reading them especially those who WERE convinced yes or no--lets me see it from both angles. The neuro who told me take magnesium, C and E every day also told me to NEVER skip a meal, because she said if blood sugar drops that can be a trigger.  Don't know if it's true, but i don't want to tempt fate. Well, when I look at it, a person has more sugar fluctuations in general if they eat sugar throughout the day, so maybe cutting down on sugar could have beneficial effects. Also, I credit magnesium and melatonin.  Either way I have cut down on sugar since my last cycle so enough time to have an effect. Also, regular sleep habits, I've been a lot stricter about that. Who knows, I will keep everyone posted, like I said longest remission since I was 14 (now 35) so if I can offer anything useful I will try.

So, you knew all this before you posted your question?

To me, sugar helps as an abortive.  Don't know why, but it does.  When I get hit, my upper left teeth start to ache and feel like they are made out of bitter-tasting plastic.  I find that popping a hard candy helps reduce this discomfort.  On the other hand, the candy does nothing for the pain in my left eye socket - it only works on my teeth.   

Like I said, I have NO idea why this happens.  Regardless, my special abortive kit that goes with me everwhere includes painkillers, hard candy and my "stretched-out gym sock of salvation" (for tying around my head during a hit).

-Ken

Ken_DFA wrote on Aug 31^st, 2009 at 4:01pm:

To me, sugar helps as an abortive.  Don't know why, but it does.  When I get hit, my upper left teeth start to ache and feel like they are made out of bitter-tasting plastic.  I find that popping a hard candy helps reduce this discomfort.  On the other hand, the candy does nothing for the pain in my left eye socket - it only works on my teeth.    Like I said, I have NO idea why this happens.  Regardless, my special abortive kit that goes with me everwhere includes painkillers, hard candy and my "stretched-out gym sock of salvation" (for tying around my head during a hit). -Ken

Pain killers?  I hope you are referring to something like Trex or another abortive, and not a narc or nsaid or something like that.  Not attacking, but you worry me.

Jerry

Brew,

Knew all what?  Only thing I knew is that a neuro told me never to skip meals b/c that can cause low blood sugar.  Noone (including her) ever recommended cutting down on or eliminating sugar or made any mention of the act of consuming sugar itself.
That's why I was asking about sugar and CH.

It seemed like you asked the question, but by the end of the thread, it seemed like you already knew the answer before you asked it.

Misinterpretation on my part. Sorry.

Callico wrote on Aug 31^st, 2009 at 5:11pm:

Ken_DFA wrote on Aug 31st, 2009 at 4:01pm: To me, sugar helps as an abortive.  Don't know why, but it does.  When I get hit, my upper left teeth start to ache and feel like they are made out of bitter-tasting plastic.  I find that popping a hard candy helps reduce this discomfort.  On the other hand, the candy does nothing for the pain in my left eye socket - it only works on my teeth.    Like I said, I have NO idea why this happens.  Regardless, my special abortive kit that goes with me everwhere includes painkillers, hard candy and my "stretched-out gym sock of salvation" (for tying around my head during a hit). -Ken Pain killers?  I hope you are referring to something like Trex or another abortive, and not a narc or nsaid or something like that.  Not attacking, but you worry me. Jerry

Yeah.  I mean nsaids.  Immitrex makes me puke.  My insurance won't cover O2.  I deal with hits the same way I have since I was 11 - otc painkillers, pacing + swearing a lot.  Why does that "worry" you? 

-Ken

Ken - Have you investigated welder's oxygen? It's 100% the same stuff as medical grade. You need to be a little more proactive in obtaining it - you need to find a welding supply house, tell them you'll be welding with it, find the fittings so you can attach a regulator to it, etc., but many on this board do it, and it's way cheap.

Ken,

It worried me on two counts, overuse of OTCs (which I have experienced) and addiction to narcs which a number of us have dealt with.

Nsaids do little for CH with the exception of persistent shadows because they are to slowly absorbed and they don't attack the source of the pain.  Also, prolonged or overuse of Nsaids have detrimental effects on the liver and the kidneys.  Of course occasional use is not a problem, but if you are getting hit numerous times a day and dosing numerous times a day you can get into probs.

May I suggest an energy drink slammed at the beginning of an attack in lieu of O2?  Of course, you don't want to overdo them either, but they can often break an attack for me when I can't us O2 for one reason or another.  I do try to limit myself to no more than two a day, andtry not to do that everyday.  I'm not sure of the long term implications of them, so I may be a little more cautious than necessary.

I second Brew's suggestion of welder's ox.  It is the same stuff as the medical variety.  Also, if you are having trouble getting it approved by Ins PM Chuck or Batch for help.  They can recommend ways of getting it.  I know Batch had an excellent posting on that a while back, but I'm not sure where to find it.  You might want to do a search or one of they others who's memories were not wiped out might help.

Jerry

Brew,

No need for apologies, I do tend to talk myself in circles, it is the Irish in me I am guessing ;)

I have personally never experienced any correlation between sugar and CH. Ch, however, is weird, so may be sugar triggers it for 'some' people, but personally it never did for me. Chocolate IS a trigger though, by the way.