I know this has been discussed before but wanted to get some opinions.  I went to see a nutrionist about some weight loss and general well being.  I am eating a yeast free diet as I also suffer from Crohn's disease.  One of the things she uses frequently in her program are variouos nuts.  I have always shied away from peanuts and things made from or containing peanuts.  Does anyone else feel that peanuts is a trigger.  Also, can I get away with almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc?  Very interested in everyone's opinions.
Thanks!
Tim

I've eaten peanuts, peanut butter, cashews, pistachios etc... during cycle and it never triggered anything for me.

I tried very hard for many years to find a trigger. Never did for me, aside from alcohol. YMMV

Marc

Marc wrote on Oct 14^th, 2009 at 2:15pm:

I tried very hard for many years to find a trigger. Never did for me, aside from alcohol. YMMV Marc

Same here. 

Best wishes,

George

jerky and chocolate are 2 triggers for me.  I know of no others

I try religiously to avoid anything any member of the medical community has deemed "good for me."

Joe eats mixed nuts daily, haven't ever attributed that to being a trigger.

Nothing I avoid....... I can't relate any foods, nuts included, to attacks.

Attacks come, attacks go, some are fast, some are slow. 

But, I'm weird, alcohol isn't a trigger in cycle and caffeine/energy drinks do not kill my hits.. ever.

I'm Joe! I eat mixed nuts as part of my daily diet and have never noticed it to be a trigger. Triggers for me:

Alcohol, radically changing sleep cycles, extended stress and letting myself get really really hungry. All are bad triggers!

Joe

Chocolate seems to be one for me.

and acording to dr OZ...cheese is a trigger.   
DARN  I love cheese, and been eating it lately, and getting more hits.   

Eating various nuts here daily too, no trigger noticed.

After 30 years of this CH Tom Foolery, the only food/drink trigger I've come across is alcohol.

Alcohol is completely off-limits - killer CH every time.

Chocolate and ice-cream seem to fall into the maybe category.  Sometimes there seems to be a rapid and less than desireable reaction, other times... nothing.

So I eat both from time to time and hope for the best.

burnt-toast
(Tom)

Doesn't matter what I eat because no matter what it is I get hit within an hour of finishing.

22 years chronic.  Nuts are not a trigger.  In fact nothing is. 


Quote:

and acording to dr OZ...cheese is a trigger.

Oh, I would love to meet this T.V. Doctor and ask him to please expound on his reasoning. If he was talking  Migraines... maybe.

As we've all heard for many years, nuts, cheese and chocolate are on the long list of potential Migraine triggers.

By far MOST CH'rs are not bothered by the typical list of Migraine triggers. Yes, I know that there are exceptions, but I'm willing to bet that I'm correct for about 85%-90%.

Eventually the medical community will catch up with things that we already know as fact.

Think of all the doctors resisting high flow O2 for example..........

Marc

seaworthy wrote on Oct 14^th, 2009 at 6:08pm:

Doesn't matter what I eat because no matter what it is I get hit within an hour of finishing.

Are these regularly scheduled meal/snacks, and if you skipped one, would you get hit within an hour of skipping?

Nuts...all kinds...no problem. Cheese...no problem. Chocolate...no problem.

Problems: Alcohol...ANY kind. MSG...and all it's iterations....Tomatoes in all forms. SKIPPING meals (low blood sugar?)....

Best,

Jon

bejeeber wrote on Oct 14^th, 2009 at 7:02pm:

seaworthy wrote on Oct 14th, 2009 at 6:08pm: Doesn't matter what I eat because no matter what it is I get hit within an hour of finishing. Are these regularly scheduled meal/snacks, and if you skipped one, would you get hit within an hour of skipping?

Nope. Always after I eat.

Even if you may think I'm "nuts": Biologically speaking, Peanuts aren't nuts, peanuts are beans. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

(n.b.: They grow in clusters.)  ;D

I believe peanuts are a trigger for me. Not a few peanuts, but a couple of weeks ago I've had plenty and after that a few more CH hits than usual. This is not the first time I thought that plenty of peanuts could be a trigger for my CH.

Peanuts contain plenty of arginine, from START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE :
Peanut, valencia, raw, Nutritional value per 100 g: ... Arginine  3.001 g ...

Another quote from the Wikipedia arginine article: "For being a precursor of NO, (relaxes blood vessels), arginine is used in many conditions where vasodilation is required. "


pf wishes,
Friedrich

Chocolate definitely, strangely alchohol generally isn't except for white wine, no idea why.

Nuts don't bother me unless I mix them with chocolate.

Nuts combined with chocolate, Alcohol (any amount any kind), dairy products (some cheeses), some yeast breads, and any foods loaded with MSG.  The above are some of my triggers as far as food goes.  I can eat a limited amount of chocolate without getting a hit.

As for other triggers... I have to go to work in a few so, I don't have time to list them all, but I have listed them in previous posts on the board.

Hope everyone has a Great Day!   ;)

Quote:

Peanuts aren't nuts

And neither are cashews; botanically speaking, they're seeds which grow at the end of a fruit (the cashew apple).

Thus endeth the botany lesson for the day.

Wow!  Thanks for the replies!  I have always tried to avoid MSG and keep my sleep pattern steady.  Was suprised that only one person had a feeling that peanuts could trigger.  Maybe I get both migraine and cluster?  Who knows!  As far as alcohol goes, only bothers me when in cycle.  Thank God!!!

Just like everything else with CH, triggers seem to be different depending on the person.  When I'm in cycle the following are triggers:

• Alcohol (although I can sip a beer EARLY in cycle but NEVER wine or the hard stuff)
  
• Dairy - for the past few cycles, hits seem to have followed any milk, cheese or ice cream intake
  
• Garlic - this ALWAYS sets me to a Kip 8 or 9 when in cycle.
  

Organ meats.

Bugs.

Whale blubber.

Blueberries.

That's not just in cycle, that's all the time cuz I HATE ALL THAT SHIT.

Paste?

seaworthy wrote on Oct 16^th, 2009 at 6:07pm:

Paste?

Meaning you flunked kindergarten.

Not yet. I got time.

I have 90% certain triggers, but thy are not food related.

1) strobe type lights (even the sun between trees when driving can set me off)
2) pine sol cleaner
3) storm fronts
4) smell of fresh asphalt during road construction
5) coconut lime lotion from Bath and Body Works
6) whatever it is in shoe waterproofing spray

There is only one of these triggers that routinely breaks through my preventive regimen of RC seed therapy, and that is storm fronts, but I stay away from the others "just in case". 8-)

Free full text  ;)

Some thoughts about food and other "triggers" and cluster headache:

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

I have never known nuts to be a trigger for me.  The only thing in know for sure that is a trigger for me is alcohol.  I used to be a beer drinker but because I'm so afraid of getting a cluster headache its zero tolerance for me.

                             Aloha, James

I think people who claim food intake triggers their CH is misdiagnosed.

Sure sprits is a sure shot, but other than that I havent seen any indication that normal food would trigger CH.

After reading the forum I think there is a lot of people that are either misdiagnosed or in some wierd way want to be special. I am not saying CH is the worst, its irrelevant. What concerns me is that some people here are in severe pain but are NOT CH sufferers. Perhaps if they were properly diagnosed they wouldt have to suffer - perhaps there is a treatment, unlike CH were you are forced to live it.

void wrote on Nov 14^th, 2009 at 7:01pm:

I think people who claim food intake triggers their CH is misdiagnosed. Please Lord...help me here...I want to play nice. So...ok...THAT is an absolute statement...and it's absolutely WRONG. Climb in my shoes brother...I was misdiagnosed for years...but I know what "triggers" ch and what doesn't....alcohol, msg, tomatoes, aspartame, and others....do! Not "misdiagnosed"....no more.... Sure sprits is a sure shot, but other than that I havent seen any indication that normal food would trigger CH. Interesting research you have done...please...share it. After reading the forum I think there is a lot of people that are either misdiagnosed or in some wierd way want to be special. WTF! I wanna be "special"????? Please..."let this cup pass me by". If this is special....I would decline.... I am not saying CH is the worst, its irrelevant. Not to me.... What concerns me is that some people here are in severe pain but are NOT CH sufferers. Perhaps if they were properly diagnosed they wouldt have to suffer - perhaps there is a treatment, unlike CH were you are forced to live it. It's one of the reasons we are here...if ya don't have ch...you'll find out here...and you'll find a lot of happy people for ya.... Sighhhhhhhh....I hope I have not misinterpreted your post...but it did piss me off...ya wanna elaborate a little? I'm not buyin'....... Jon

birdman wrote on Oct 14^th, 2009 at 1:05pm:

I know this has been discussed before but wanted to get some opinions.  I went to see a nutrionist about some weight loss and general well being.  I am eating a yeast free diet as I also suffer from Crohn's disease.  One of the things she uses frequently in her program are variouos nuts.  I have always shied away from peanuts and things made from or containing peanuts.  Does anyone else feel that peanuts is a trigger.  Also, can I get away with almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc?  Very interested in everyone's opinions. Thanks! Tim

One thing stood out for me here Tim and I read everyone else's posts before commenting (good practice anyhow!) but - I was always under the impression you shouldn't eat nuts on a yeast free diet because of mold issues? Now this could be absolutely nothing to do with a yeast free diet for YOU but I wanted to bring it up in case anyone else was considering it.

I don't have ANY food triggers. I can eat chinese, chocolate and cheese, I can drink anything I want BUT there are times when I can't bear the thought of any of the above. I had a theory that, along with cravings, a "rejection" might be your bodys version of an early warning and that instead of a "we need this" a strong aversion to the idea of something I normally like might mean "don't go there".

Well - being me - and thats not always a good thing! I had to try it out. I had a glass of wine when I was physically revolted by the idea. Actually, I think I had two or three sips - and I really didn't want it but lo and behold, about half an hour later - whomp! I got hit.

Served me right? Probably - but to me it was conclusive. If I don't fancy something nothing will induce me to eat or drink it!

I hope you get some pain free time!
Helen

The only food group (?) I can't eat during cycle is hot dogs, sausage, bacon.  Anything else is fine.  I love cheese, nuts, etc and eat them all of the time.  Hot dogs? Nope.  Makes spring training more of a challenge.  I make up for it with energy drinks! ;D

Emjay what you have said fits right in with what another CH friend of mine is convinced of (ol' Ting Tong!)
He is absolutely convinced sulphites are the problem after scarfing down a bag of his daughters haribo sweeties! He looked into all other foods and monitored them and found a definite correlation between sulphites and his attacks - it's interesting you avoid foods that are full of them too!

Food for thought?!

void wrote on Nov 14^th, 2009 at 7:01pm:

I think people who claim food intake triggers their CH is misdiagnosed. Sure sprits is a sure shot, but other than that I havent seen any indication that normal food would trigger CH. After reading the forum I think there is a lot of people that are either misdiagnosed or in some wierd way want to be special. I am not saying CH is the worst, its irrelevant. What concerns me is that some people here are in severe pain but are NOT CH sufferers. Perhaps if they were properly diagnosed they wouldt have to suffer - perhaps there is a treatment, unlike CH were you are forced to live it.

Seriously, I have too many words about this post.  Instead of replying in a way that I shouldn't, I will just quote another of this poster's earlier posts when he said:

"I am not a doctor and I don't know anything about doctoring. "

From this post quoted above, I think this quote is on the money.

jon019 wrote on Nov 14^th, 2009 at 10:56pm:

void wrote on Nov 14th, 2009 at 7:01pm: I think people who claim food intake triggers their CH is misdiagnosed. Please Lord...help me here...I want to play nice. So...ok...THAT is an absolute statement...and it's absolutely WRONG. Climb in my shoes brother...I was misdiagnosed for years...but I know what "triggers" ch and what doesn't....alcohol, msg, tomatoes, aspartame, and others....do! Not "misdiagnosed"....no more.... Well, I am happy that you have found a away to cope with the pain you have. I am also happy you have isolated what food that trigger the pain for you. Sure sprits is a sure shot, but other than that I havent seen any indication that normal food would trigger CH. Interesting research you have done...please...share it. Without resorting to the same style of rethoric. Perhaps I was a bit unclear, what I meant is that I have not seen any indication of food being a trigger in any of the articles/papers I've read about CH. I have, however seen indications that alcohol might trigger CH...and what else yes, nitroglycerine - but you don't consume that so frequently. After reading the forum I think there is a lot of people that are either misdiagnosed or in some wierd way want to be special. WTF! I wanna be "special"????? Please..."let this cup pass me by". If this is special....I would decline.... Yes, I guess that was kind of a lowblow from my part. I am just thinking that given that I haven't read anything about food being a trigger - then you start to wonder if the researchers are wrong, the diagnoses are wrong - or perhaps it's a mix. In any case, if you have pain and if your are without aid, I guess a forum as this can be helpful regardless if it is CH or not. I mean it is not unlikely that Imigram and some of the other medicines actually help several different conditions. I am not saying CH is the worst, its irrelevant. Not to me.... What concerns me is that some people here are in severe pain but are NOT CH sufferers. Perhaps if they were properly diagnosed they wouldt have to suffer - perhaps there is a treatment, unlike CH were you are forced to live it. It's one of the reasons we are here...if ya don't have ch...you'll find out here...and you'll find a lot of happy people for ya.... Sighhhhhhhh....I hope I have not misinterpreted your post...but it did piss me off...ya wanna elaborate a little? I'm not buyin'....... Jon You don't have to buy anything. I still maintain my earlier position. This is not about me trying to exclude anyone - heck I am not what you would call a regular here. No, I am merely saying that given the number of different triggers I see people discussing I guesss there is a fairly large number misdiagnosed people. If they have found a soluton that works for them - good, if not they should not quit looking just because they've been misdiagnosed. I mean they might have a treatable condition. Other than I have no issues with all sorts of headpain being discussed. Help is good.

Well, I am happy that you have found a away to cope with the pain you have. I am also happy you have isolated what food that trigger the pain for you.

Void, thank you for the response....I am computer challenged so this may be a bit messy...

So then....are you saying those who claim food triggers are NOT misdiagnosed?


Without resorting to the same style of rethoric. Perhaps I was a bit unclear, what I meant is that I have not seen any indication of food being a trigger in any of the articles/papers I've read about CH. I have, however seen indications that alcohol might trigger CH...and what else yes, nitroglycerine - but you don't consume that so frequently.

Not sure what rhetoric you are speaking of...it was a simple question. Would suggest you read the archives of this site...lots of folks indicating food triggers (and yup, some NOT)...

Yes, I guess that was kind of a lowblow from my part. I am just thinking that given that I haven't read anything about food being a trigger - then you start to wonder if the researchers are wrong, the diagnoses are wrong - or perhaps it's a mix.

What isn't known about ch could fill a library....research and diagnosis may and probably are wrong or nonexistent...we are waiting (desperately) for something...anything. Again...read the archives...


In any case, if you have pain and if your are without aid, I guess a forum as this can be helpful regardless if it is CH or not. I mean it is not unlikely that Imigram and some of the other medicines actually help several different conditions.

YUP.....

You don't have to buy anything.

Not expecting you were selling anything...it is an expression of frustration...

I still maintain my earlier position.

Which is...WHAT? Misdiagnosis, there are no food triggers...we just want to be "special"....what?

This is not about me trying to exclude anyone - heck I am not what you would call a regular here.

That is easily remedied....


No, I am merely saying that given the number of different triggers I see people discussing I guesss there is a fairly large number misdiagnosed people.


Not following the logic here....if ch is anything...it is consistent with its inconsistency...the beast morphs and takes many forms. YES, nearly everyone here has been misdiagnosed at some point or the other...the fact we have different triggers doesn't mean we don't have ch. Sheesh...I am at a loss to express this better....can you help me?

If they have found a soluton that works for them - good, if not they should not quit looking just because they've been misdiagnosed. I mean they might have a treatable condition. Other than I have no issues with all sorts of headpain being discussed. Help is good.
[/color]

Misdiagnosis seems to be a hotpoint with you....NO argument there....we know that shite.....and then moved on...let it go bro'...forgive and/or forget

Best,

Jon

[quote author=676B6E70716E7B1E0 link=1255539933/38#38 date=1258331395]Well, I am happy that you have found a away to cope with the pain you have. I am also happy you have isolated what food that trigger the pain for you.


So then....are you saying those who claim food triggers are NOT misdiagnosed?

No. I am saying that there are pain conditions that are related to your dietary intake. Note that I do not use the term CH.


Without resorting to the same style of rethoric. Perhaps I was a bit unclear, what I meant is that I have not seen any indication of food being a trigger in any of the articles/papers I've read about CH. I have, however seen indications that alcohol might trigger CH...and what else yes, nitroglycerine - but you don't consume that so frequently.

Not sure what rhetoric you are speaking of...it was a simple question.

Well, it is a common rethoric at least on the internet, to question peoples references etc. I could have turned it all around and done the same, but it wouldn't amount to anything useful.


Would suggest you read the archives of this site...lots of folks indicating food triggers (and yup, some NOT)...


When I mentioned papers/articles - I am not referring to some post on some forum. I can probably dig up some source references.


Yes, I guess that was kind of a lowblow from my part. I am just thinking that given that I haven't read anything about food being a trigger - then you start to wonder if the researchers are wrong, the diagnoses are wrong - or perhaps it's a mix.

What isn't known about ch could fill a library....research and diagnosis may and probably are wrong or nonexistent...we are waiting (desperately) for something...anything. Again...read the archives...

Actually, from my point of view there seems to be quite a lot specific symptoms that can be used to do a fairly good diagnosis. I do not think there is a lack in that department. I do however agree that as to the cause or treatment, there is a lot to be desired. I still do not believe the archives are or should be the primary source of information as to what should be considered CH or not.

[snipping some stuff]




Not following the logic here....if ch is anything...it is consistent with its inconsistency...the beast morphs and takes many forms. YES, nearly everyone here has been misdiagnosed at some point or the other...the fact we have different triggers doesn't mean we don't have ch. Sheesh...I am at a loss to express this better....can you help me?


Well, then we are in agreement. Alot of people here and elsewhere are misdiagnosed. Yes, I understand the condition may change over time. I for one have been lucky and my episodes have decreased in frequency, but then became stable at the current rate. (for which I am happy.)

Sure, I know I am not very knowledgable - but from what I've read parameters like intensity, frequency, cyclelength, attacklength and treatment efficiency, vary tremendously. That is perhaps one of the worst parts - that it might change on you any day.

However I have yet to read one single CH specialist/researcher that indicates that there is a dietary causation. If you know of any such research I would be very grateful to get a link or at least the paper name with author - because then it would mean that I have misunderstood what little I think I have learnt about CH.

Because as you pointed out - much is unknown. It might turn out that there is a link and some researcher will find or has found it. Then I will repent and change my position.


[snip again]


Misdiagnosis seems to be a hotpoint with you....NO argument there....we know that shite.....and then moved on...

Well, yes it is a hotpoint. I did not get any proper help during my teens, which made them very hard from a coping perspective. I feel that the doctors I met had too little knowledge and tended to just group together all headaches.


When I was in the waitingroom at my current doctor I found a book about the different types of headaches they know about. It was perhaps 350 pages of dense medical stuff. Some of it was treatable, some of it was not.

If you have something cureable and get misdiagnosed with something incureable that is really bad. So you could say it is a hotpoint.


...let it go bro'...forgive and/or forget

Sure. I am not riled up or angry about this. I am merely making my position clear - I am not aware of any research that indicates any dietary intake as a CH trigger.

BR,
void

void wrote on Nov 15^th, 2009 at 9:05pm:

[quote author=676B6E70716E7B1E0 link=1255539933/38#38 date=1258331395]Well, I am happy that you have found a away to cope with the pain you have. I am also happy you have isolated what food that trigger the pain for you. So then....are you saying those who claim food triggers are NOT misdiagnosed? No. I am saying that there are pain conditions that are related to your dietary intake. Note that I do not use the term CH. Without resorting to the same style of rethoric. Perhaps I was a bit unclear, what I meant is that I have not seen any indication of food being a trigger in any of the articles/papers I've read about CH. I have, however seen indications that alcohol might trigger CH...and what else yes, nitroglycerine - but you don't consume that so frequently. Not sure what rhetoric you are speaking of...it was a simple question. Well, it is a common rethoric at least on the internet, to question peoples references etc. I could have turned it all around and done the same, but it wouldn't amount to anything useful. Would suggest you read the archives of this site...lots of folks indicating food triggers (and yup, some NOT)... When I mentioned papers/articles - I am not referring to some post on some forum. I can probably dig up some source references. Yes, I guess that was kind of a lowblow from my part. I am just thinking that given that I haven't read anything about food being a trigger - then you start to wonder if the researchers are wrong, the diagnoses are wrong - or perhaps it's a mix. What isn't known about ch could fill a library....research and diagnosis may and probably are wrong or nonexistent...we are waiting (desperately) for something...anything. Again...read the archives... Actually, from my point of view there seems to be quite a lot specific symptoms that can be used to do a fairly good diagnosis. I do not think there is a lack in that department. I do however agree that as to the cause or treatment, there is a lot to be desired. I still do not believe the archives are or should be the primary source of information as to what should be considered CH or not. [snipping some stuff] Not following the logic here....if ch is anything...it is consistent with its inconsistency...the beast morphs and takes many forms. YES, nearly everyone here has been misdiagnosed at some point or the other...the fact we have different triggers doesn't mean we don't have ch. Sheesh...I am at a loss to express this better....can you help me? Well, then we are in agreement. Alot of people here and elsewhere are misdiagnosed. Yes, I understand the condition may change over time. I for one have been lucky and my episodes have decreased in frequency, but then became stable at the current rate. (for which I am happy.) Sure, I know I am not very knowledgable - but from what I've read parameters like intensity, frequency, cyclelength, attacklength and treatment efficiency, vary tremendously. That is perhaps one of the worst parts - that it might change on you any day. However I have yet to read one single CH specialist/researcher that indicates that there is a dietary causation. If you know of any such research I would be very grateful to get a link or at least the paper name with author - because then it would mean that I have misunderstood what little I think I have learnt about CH. Because as you pointed out - much is unknown. It might turn out that there is a link and some researcher will find or has found it. Then I will repent and change my position. [snip again] Misdiagnosis seems to be a hotpoint with you....NO argument there....we know that shite.....and then moved on... Well, yes it is a hotpoint. I did not get any proper help during my teens, which made them very hard from a coping perspective. I feel that the doctors I met had too little knowledge and tended to just group together all headaches. When I was in the waitingroom at my current doctor I found a book about the different types of headaches they know about. It was perhaps 350 pages of dense medical stuff. Some of it was treatable, some of it was not. If you have something cureable and get misdiagnosed with something incureable that is really bad. So you could say it is a hotpoint. ...let it go bro'...forgive and/or forget Sure. I am not riled up or angry about this. I am merely making my position clear - I am not aware of any research that indicates any dietary intake as a CH trigger. BR, void

OK then...as (I think) the Sioux Indians said..."when you find yourself riding a dead horse....GET OFF!"

PFDANS brother....

Best,

Jon

Well I'll chime in even though I'm still relatively new to all of this.

Being that I'm pretty brand new in my diagnosis and I also have Celiac Sprue, a big food related trigger for me seems to be any accidental gluten ingestion.  So I have had some issue with suffering with the "headaches" after eating mixed nuts that I didn't realize were possibly contaminated with gluten (this has been a big pet peeve of mine, and I'm learning to read labels much more carefully)

Alcohol only seems to be a trigger when I'm in a cycle.  Caffeine and chocolate as well (I bet it's the trace amounts of caffeine in the chocolate and the fact it's a stimulant, but then again I'm not a doctor, so I'm just speculating here)

Also, MSG has caused headaches for me when I was younger, but nothing like this demon that has shown up recently.  I've avoided MSG and whatever variants I know of for a long time, and still do.

Anyway, that seems to be what I've noticed thusfar in my new and brief journey.

Hi banshee - I'm guessing with a name like that you must have some Irish heritage which would be another thing we have in common! I'm a ch'er and am also celiac. I can't say it's ever hit me headwise but then, I don't have any "symptoms" so couldn't tell if I had eaten gluten or not anyway. That can make it very difficult to know what's what I can tell you. If I can help with anything or swap recipes let me know!

Helen

Not really a food but something I found this week.

I have been  2 a day for years (When in cycle). Always Right side and usually around 9:00 am and 9:00 pm. Starting my CH cycle anytime from Late August through December lasting till around March. I had a year off last year and had tried to convince myself that quitting smoking may have prevented the cycle. You can imagine my disappointment this September when the Devil came back. (I'm still a non smoker but it didn't help)

Anyway.....

I saw a post last week about Vitamin D used as a "cure" and I had to try it for myself. At the time I was coming back from a prednisone vacation and had not had a hit in 2 weeks.

I took both Vitamin D and Magnesium supplements with my morning meds and got hit that night. The next morning a took another dose of "The Cure" and had the worst day of my life.

I got hit 7 times in what appeared to be random intervals. 9:00am, 12:30pm,2:00pm, 4:30pm, 6:00pm, 9:30pm and 11:00pm all kip 7-10. I have never before (in the 10 + years) had this happen. 

I took 6mg of imitrex after the 9:00am hit and at 2:00pm I took another. The rest of them I had to suffer through. At some point in the day I took all of the supplements out of my pill box. The following day was better (3 times) and once on the 3rd day.

I've had 2 left side hits this week which is kinda strange to experience. They were not strong Kip 5, but the sensation was the same.

Also the timing has been screwed up this week. Last night I had one at 5:00.

It is not really a food but Vitamin D and or Magnesium supplements will not be in my system during cycle again.

Other then that I will drink Bourbon or rum n coke, in moderation, when not in cycle. I do not drink during CH cycle. I have tried and it never ends well for me.

Sorry for the rambling
Good Luck
PFDAN ahead
Greg

Greg,

Oxygen?

Marc

Marc,

My insurance wouldn't cover O2 for CH. At least not in 2004(that was the last time I tried to get it) I was getting by fine with Imetrex to abort, until this week.


Thanks
Greg

Greg if your doctor will write the prescription it might be worth trying oxygen and seeing what it costs to buy it yourself. It could be less or equal to copay for imitrex and it's certainly worth considering. I can't recommend it enough.

As to your vitD and Magnesium thingy, thats really interesting. I went through a complete physical melt down a couple of years ago now. I stopped absorbing literally - everything. I was on IV calcium potassium, magnesium, vit d - believe it or not at one stage I even had IV zinc and copper! I had 4 IV's ongoing, one in each arm and one in each foot as some things couldn't be given at the same time and it was - oh hell I was like spaghettti LOL

The funny thing was though that when I was very low on some things, especially calcium, my hits went completely away. This isn't good - low calcium can kill you (had 24hour heart monitors attached too) I'm still taking elephant doses of everything now and having to have vitamin D in oil injections which are just horrible but I found that taking magnesium really did help me because when I stopped it - oooheeeee did I know it! I got walloped in a big way.

I don't think it was so much that those can trigger hits in general. I think it must depend - and this is just MY experience talking, no profession opinion - on your own metabolism and blood chemistry at the time. It would be interesting to have bloods taken in cycle and out and see what the difference if any was but I don't think many doctors would go for it (well they might for me but I'm chronic and have overly regular blood tests anyhow!)

Just thought your comments were interesting given my CH experiences with them too. I hope you get some pain free time soon

Helen

That's why some of us use welding oxygen.

Runs me about 47 cents to abort an attack in 3-6 minutes. No more suffering if I get right on it.

interesting discussion on food triggers.
One thing that I might add - just because you haven't read an article doesn't makes mean something does not exist, the same as experiencing something once doesn't make a trigger the new "rule"...
on that note, however, I knew I had a few articles that broached the subject when I was reading this post.  I do have the peer-reviewed article written in a journal on CH. 
"...cluster headache is reliably triggered by alcohol, histamine, and nitrates" and it goes on to talk about the fact that nitroglycerin triggers as well, the fact that we don't know about the correlation of the great number of smokers that have CH, or why O2 works.  The article discusses the fact that there are so many unknowns.  They Can't say why or what about so many things!!!  So few tests done, so little money put into it.  It is just so harsh to say if it isn't written up, it isn't!!

An example - they are now coming out with articles that state that migraine triggers aren't the chocolates, caffeine, and stress that people once thought - but the Change in the amount that people get from one day to the next.  And this is being realized after Many more studies into migraines than will ever be done on CH!! 

Anyway, here is the info for the article that touches on food trigger (nitrates) and CH.    ;)    Val

Cluster headache: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management
Arne May
Lancet 2005; 366: 843–55

The blurb I quoted referenced this at the bottom in case you'd rather look up the source than read an overview of CH to get to the source:
8) Sjaastad O, ed. Cluster headache syndrome. London:WB Saunders, 1992.

birdman wrote on Oct 15^th, 2009 at 8:40am:

Wow!  Thanks for the replies!  I have always tried to avoid MSG and keep my sleep pattern steady.  Was surprised that only one person had a feeling that peanuts could trigger.  Maybe I get both migraine and cluster?  Who knows!  As far as alcohol goes, only bothers me when in cycle.  Thank God!!!

   I also have migraines. I discovered that MSG was triggering migraines that I didn't feel which were triggering CHs that I did feel. Eliminating MSG from my diet got me out of a high cycle.

   Of course all good things come to an end, and tonight I have a migraine, ½ on the pain scale triggering Chs every ½ hour, and I have no idea how to stop it.

Paul

Val_ wrote on Nov 16^th, 2009 at 7:32pm:

Anyway, here is the info for the article that touches on food trigger (nitrates) and CH.    ;)    Val Cluster headache: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management Arne May Lancet 2005; 366: 843–55 The blurb I quoted referenced this at the bottom in case you'd rather look up the source than read an overview of CH to get to the source: 8) Sjaastad O, ed. Cluster headache syndrome. London:WB Saunders, 1992.

Arne May's Lancet article, PDF:

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

If the link doesn't work try right mouse click on the link + "Save target as"

Marc,

I can't get in to my Neurologist until 12/2, I'll get O2 to try until then.

Helen,

God bless you.

Thanks for the support
Greg 

Val_ wrote on Nov 16^th, 2009 at 7:32pm:

interesting discussion on food triggers. One thing that I might add - just because you haven't read an article doesn't makes mean something does not exist, the same as experiencing something once doesn't make a trigger the new "rule"... on that note, however, I knew I had a few articles that broached the subject when I was reading this post.  I do have the peer-reviewed article written in a journal on CH.  "...cluster headache is reliably triggered by alcohol, histamine, and nitrates" and it goes on to talk about the fact that nitroglycerin triggers as well, the fact that we don't know about the correlation of the great number of smokers that have CH, or why O2 works.  The article discusses the fact that there are so many unknowns.  They Can't say why or what about so many things!!!  So few tests done, so little money put into it.  It is just so harsh to say if it isn't written up, it isn't!! An example - they are now coming out with articles that state that migraine triggers aren't the chocolates, caffeine, and stress that people once thought - but the Change in the amount that people get from one day to the next.  And this is being realized after Many more studies into migraines than will ever be done on CH!!  Anyway, here is the info for the article that touches on food trigger (nitrates) and CH.    ;)    Val Cluster headache: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management Arne May Lancet 2005; 366: 843–55 The blurb I quoted referenced this at the bottom in case you'd rather look up the source than read an overview of CH to get to the source: 8) Sjaastad O, ed. Cluster headache syndrome. London:WB Saunders, 1992.

I read the overview first, and I must say it was quite good. I found it very informative. I've tried location Ottar Sjaastad's text, but it seems to be a book and therefore not available without purchase.

In any case I noted the distinction you pointed out. In earlier texts I've read they have tended to just say nitroglycerine, and not nitrates. Now, nitrates are available in some foods so in that I stand corrected. I would really like to read the article, because it's not really clear what amounts they are talking about. Are they talking about amounts small enough that you could get a response from for example bacon.

Still, it does seem that I could be wrong about the nitrates. Good stuff this overview. I didn't like the section where it almost sounded like a degenerative condition. Last section on p846 and continued to  the end on 847, before the section "Diagnosis".

About your comment on the requirement of some scientific results indicating one way or another:
It is extremely important for me with the studies. (I think it should be for all.) If you open the door to snakeoil, the snakeoil will be produced - and in quantities. However, this should of course be combined with an open mind and openness to new ideas/research.

:-X

FramCire wrote on Nov 17^th, 2009 at 8:33pm:

:-X

Bwaaaaaaa-hahahaha ;)