except alcohol(ok not for all and always)
what else do you think it's your trigger?

For me, I'm convinced that certain foods trigger CH.  Tomato-based sauces are at the top of my list also anything containing MSG (cold cuts, hot dogs, Chinese food etc.).  It's really too bad because I enjoy Chinese food and many tomato-based foods. 

I know my triggers well.

Stinky petroleum products and sprays (eg. SHoe waterproofing spray)

Freshly tarred asphalt road.

Pine Sol cleaner.

Strobe type lights. (think of a sunny day with the sun behind a row of trees and the flashing that creates)

Barametric pressure changes. 

This one coconut lime scented body lotion from Bath and Body works...

anything like gasoline, or solvents like acetone ect...
beer
sweet N low artificial sweetener.

Thats the only 3 that I know positively gives me a visit.

everything causing a vasodilatation - so aswell stuffy hot air is,  per contra frosty & fresh air helps twice- vasoconstrictive and cold air contains more oxygen...

Corporate meetings; you think it's all the "hot stuffy air"?  lib

Stress - big one for me
24 hour shifts at work
hot stuffy air  ;) (and all that implies)
computer/TV glare

That cheap "old lady" perfume.  [smiley=hurl.gif]

Sleep cycle disruptions.....
Sustained stress.......
Letting myself get really really hungry

None apply when off cycle!

Joe

unfortunately it happens in university auditoriums aswell,- which is not really stressful-
i had to take 5l oxygen-bottles to every single 5 hour hardcore exam, but in the summer time i prefer to take it with me to any lecture

REM sleep.

Best,

George

daynapping

-as you already know i've had an addiction to pain-killers, and as i decided to make the cold turkey i didn't sleep for 18 days
(i am serious)
and had no single attack in this time in the middle of a CH-period
don't do this at home.
after all i was really fucked up and exhausted so i collapsed and slept for 27hrs in the probably deepest sleep i've ever had

Either I haven't paid enough attention to dietary or chemical triggers, or I don't have any. My guess is the latter, yet alcohol does the trick.

For me its sitting with poor posture. Mainly if my neck is cranked at all, or if I slouch. My GF is pregnant and loves to cuddle, which can trigger one if she lays/sits up against me, and forces me off center. I'm sure if you put a pound of butter on just one of my shoulders, it would be enough some times. If I sit crooked, or take a nap. Even just laying down for 5 mins will do it.

My theory is that blood flow gets cut-off, or restricted, even slightly, through my neck. I nearly broke my neck twice, along with concussions no more then a year or two before I got CH.

Its just a "possible" theory, since I know enough, to know that I know very little about the Beast and his plans for me.

No rest for the Wicked, I suppose.  ;)

Perfume
CHeap vodka
Hot dogs.

I stay away from those things even if I'm not in cycle but my head isn't completely "clear".

hot humid weather, long hours at work, physical stress.

try to focus on differences between positive psychological stress and negative one - eg. "you like something, and to achieve your goals you're giving everything contra your boss gives you a pile of paperwork with the words 'to be done until five' "

do both stress situations have the same result in triggering?

Stress is a funny one. For many, staying worked up and stressed out keeps the beast at bay, as soon as they relax or "let down", WAM they get hit.

For others, like myself, sustained stressful situations will bring on an attack. One more way you'll find CH is incredibly individualized! ;)

Joe

Guiseppi wrote on Jul 28^th, 2010 at 3:22pm:

Stress is a funny one. For many, staying worked up and stressed out keeps the beast at bay, as soon as they relax or "let down", WAM they get hit. For others, like myself, sustained stressful situations will bring on an attack. One more way you'll find CH is incredibly individualized! ;) Joe

I couldn't have said that better myself Joe!

you're right, it's just that way you described,anyway i am very interested in everyone's single appearences to analyze the complex connections

Guiseppi wrote on Jul 28^th, 2010 at 3:22pm:

Stress is a funny one. For many, staying worked up and stressed out keeps the beast at bay, as soon as they relax or "let down", WAM they get hit. For others, like myself, sustained stressful situations will bring on an attack. One more way you'll find CH is incredibly individualized! ;) Joe

Very true - I hadn't thought about it like that!
I knew there was an association to long hours at work and work related stress but hadn't really realize that it is more AFTER the work...
I rarely, if ever, get more than a shadow at work - even during those (now thankfully rare) 24-36hr shifts.  However, once I get home and settle in my chair to relax (or certainly settle to sleep) - BAM!

Sometimes I get the feeling I'm sitting in a petri dish.

Alcohol (any amount, any time)
Stress
Lack of proper Sleep
Perfume
Smoke
Barometric changes
Melatonin
Ginseng

And those are just the ones I can think of at the moment.  ::)

<Edited to add 2 and a Q>

Heat
A Sneeze?

Has anyone ever noticed a CH hit start after a sneeze?  I have a couple of times not sure if it's the sneeze or if CH hit was already on the way.

Hard labour for me , or rather stopping hard labour, like Joe said within 10- 15 minuets of stopping work I would get hit  >:( , in my last ( and first ) cycle , and that said Ive not had this long enough to identify any others , other than alcohol some times .

God bless

Nigel

JustNotRight wrote on Jul 28^th, 2010 at 5:36pm:

A Sneeze? Has anyone ever noticed a CH hit start after a sneeze?  I have a couple of times not sure if it's the sneeze or if CH hit was already on the way.

I personally believe that the CH was probably on the way and the sneeze was probably initiated by the nose starting to run.  Just my guess.  But I'm no doctor. ;)

Shellfish. Joe's Crabshack nearly killed me a few months ago.

Guiseppi wrote on Jul 28^th, 2010 at 9:11am:

Letting myself get really really hungry Joe

Oh dear God, you've spent too much time with Ruthie!!    ;D ;D ;D

My last random hit came when I was grilling steaks.  As soon as I opened the grille and the smoke hit my face I was in instant ch hell.

Hiking in the heat is also a trigger.

The only alcohol I think is a trigger for me is red wine (always) and beer (sometimes).

Mosaicwench wrote on Jul 29^th, 2010 at 6:03pm:

Guiseppi wrote on Jul 28th, 2010 at 9:11am: Letting myself get really really hungry Joe Oh dear God, you've spent too much time with Ruthie!!    ;D ;D ;D

LOL Pat! ;D ;D

I love my Ruthie, but she don't love me!

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except Ruthie isn't a clusterhead.

This is too funny.   ;D

midwestbeth wrote on Jul 29^th, 2010 at 6:31pm:

The only alcohol I think is a trigger for me is red wine (always) and beer (sometimes).

Which is why I know you stick with the good stuff. ;)

Being chronic, I have no triggers.   Most of us do not. 

You can be chronic and have triggers, case in point  [smiley=hiya.gif]. 

Having triggers doesn't mean all your CH hits are caused by said triggers.  You can avoid all your triggers and still get walloped by the beast.  Noticing a trigger is not always easy either, you do have to be a bit neurotic about watching what you eat, do, and breath to notice them.  Even then you can get it wrong thinking something is a trigger when in fact you already had a CH hit on the way.   ;)

Brew wrote on Jul 29^th, 2010 at 8:42pm:

midwestbeth wrote on Jul 29th, 2010 at 6:31pm: The only alcohol I think is a trigger for me is red wine (always) and beer (sometimes). Which is why I know you stick with the good stuff. ;)

Cheers!

Quote:

Being chronic, I have no triggers.   Most of us do not.

this doesn't make sense.at all.

Anything with nitrates (hot dogs, bacon)
Cheap perfume (especially ones with patchouli!)
Concentrated tomato products (like tomato sauce)
Stress
Alcohol (only sometimes, and I can tell by the way my body's chemistry "feels" at a particular time)
WD-40

black wrote on Jul 30^th, 2010 at 4:20pm:

Quote: Being chronic, I have no triggers.   Most of us do not.  this doesn't make sense.at all.

ummmm...black...are you saying "I don't believe it"?
...in which case you should know that episodics and chronics (I've been both) frequently experience completely different "faces" of the beast.

or...are you saying that this ch shite is totally mind boggling in its inconsistency?

Best,

Jon

jon019 wrote on Jul 30^th, 2010 at 8:31pm:

black wrote on Jul 30th, 2010 at 4:20pm: Quote: Being chronic, I have no triggers.   Most of us do not.  this doesn't make sense.at all. ummmm...black...are you saying "I don't believe it"? ...in which case you should know that episodics and chronics (I've been both) frequently experience completely different "faces" of the beast. or...are you saying that this ch shite is totally mind boggling in its inconsistency? Best, Jon

Excellently Put Jon!  8-)

Quote:

episodics and chronics (I've been both) frequently experience completely different "faces" of the beast.

in what ways?
i mean your personal experience

Quote:

this ch shite is totally mind boggling in its inconsistency

no pls don't say things i never said.ch shite?it took me a while to translate this.
pls dont project your thoughts as if it were mine.
My suprise is clear enough.i always thought that what applies for chronics it's the same for episodics and vise versa.And i mean that there are triggers for both despite if we are wrong on what and which they really are.
for istance for myself alcohol has a very high probability and maybe weather without knowing exactly how.
Now it has crossed my mind that in a longer extent of time maybe as chronic ch in my case has low and high cycles within the extent time of a year(worser in winter time and cold and better in the summer,especially when the weather is stable for a while).Of course i have a big question of all these but since i can't do anything with the weather and the only trigger i ve recognised is alcohol i quit it years ago.But still getting hit and as an automatic response i am looking for the trigger.
But it's the fisrt time i read here that chronics don't have any triggers and in a generalization without the contribution of the personal experience.

and so my question which came up is simple.
should i start drinking a beer from time to time as i used to as a social drinker?
will it make my hits worser in intensity and frequency within the times of drinking or doesn't matter as there is no trigger for the chronics as it is suggested?

No problem Black I understood your question. For those who do not know Black, there is a language difference and the subtle nuances can be lost in translation! :)

Joe

black wrote on Jul 30^th, 2010 at 9:15pm:

Quote: episodics and chronics (I've been both) frequently experience completely different "faces" of the beast. in what ways? i mean your personal experience

ok...I'm real tired and foggy brained, but I'll give it a shot....

was episodic for 24 years...many of the "typical" triggers...alcohol, msg, aspartame, tomatoes, barometric pressure changes, solvents, perfumes, welding fumes, missed meals, changes in routine, changes in sleep habits, travel, coming down from stress, et al....

with the exception of msg/aspartame (which I am convinced not only triggered hits but sometimes a cycle too)...none were a problem OUT of cycle....

now.... as a chronic (4 1/2 yrs)...I find that most are not a problem (I do avoid msg/aspartame ALWAYS)...I only really have to worry about alcohol when in a high cycle within the "always" cycle. That is, while usually getting hit every day, it's not because of alcohol (in a low cycle). Sorry if this doesn't make sense...but then neither does ch.

I can expalin further if this is confusing...

BTW...I am still interested in hearing the answer to my original question...

Best,

Jon

Episodic vs Chronic; This may be of help keep in mind this definition is regardless of triggers or no triggers.


Quote:

Episodic or chronic In episodic cluster headache, these attacks occur once or more daily, often at the same times each day, for a period of several weeks, followed by a headache-free period lasting weeks, months, or years. Approximately 10–15% of cluster headache sufferers are chronic; they can experience multiple headaches every day for years. Cluster headaches occurring in two or more cluster periods lasting from 7 to 365 days with a pain-free remission of one month or longer between the clusters are considered episodic. If the attacks occur for more than a year without a pain-free remission of at least one month, the condition is considered chronic.[9] Chronic clusters run continuously without any "remission" periods between cycles. The condition may change from chronic to episodic and from episodic to chronic. Remission periods lasting for decades before the resumption of clusters have been known to occur.

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And on Triggers we have this:

Quote:

Triggers Nitroglycerin (glyceryl trinitrate) can sometimes induce cluster headaches in sufferers in a manner similar to spontaneous attacks. Ingestion of alcohol or chocolate or banana are recognized as a common trigger of cluster headaches when a person is in cycle or susceptible. Exposure to hydrocarbons (petroleum solvents, perfume) is also recognized as a trigger for cluster headaches. Lahore or 'chinese salt' (monosodium glutamate) is nearly always a triger of migraines in patients. Sexual frustration, sex or orgasms may trigger cluster headaches in some patients. Some patients have a decreased tolerance to heat, and becoming overheated may act as a trigger which may explain the occurrence after aerobic exercise. Napping causes a headache for some sufferers, while for others lack of sleep triggers them. The role of diet and specific foods in triggering cluster headaches is controversial and not well understood. [edit] Smoking Nicotine may trigger cluster headaches, and the affliction is often found in people with a heavy addiction to cigarette smoking. In some cases second hand smoke may trigger cluster headaches. However it is not clear if there is a causal relationship between smoking and cluster headaches. Some researchers think that people who suffer from cluster headaches may be predisposed to certain traits, including smoking or other lifestyle habits.[17]

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Hello, great post

1) Setting the clocks back 1 hour in the fall
2) short naps
3 anything vanilla
4 Bleach or any mildew cleaner
5 penicillin
6 Energy saver light bulbs (in cycle)
7 Nite driving in the rain (in cycle)
8 orange juice   (in cycle)
9 when a storm moves in. ( cold front )
10 extreme crying.. (grieving)
And last but not least... THE MOTHER IN LAW!!!!

  Thanks, Coach Bill

THE MOTHER IN LAW!!!!

Hmmm.....universal trigger????????????? ;D

Quote:

I only really have to worry about alcohol when in a high cycle within the "always" cycle. That is, while usually getting hit every day, it's not because of alcohol (in a low cycle)

:-?


Quote:

Episodic vs Chronic; This may be of help keep in mind this definition is regardless of triggers or no triggers.

the whole way to read it is to read the
triggers too and the words patients and sufferers.just.which means all?

as for the original question i say i dont understand it and as for this we are having this conversation.
i wasn't ever episodic so i can't just apply a generalization non based.it just came out of the blue in my opinion and wasn't even aware of it even if i spend a lot of reading here.I never came up with this coclusion
though i am interested in others opinion on this too if this they think apply for themselves too.

black wrote on Jul 30^th, 2010 at 9:55pm:

Quote: this ch shite is totally mind boggling in its inconsistency no pls don't say things i never said.ch shite?it took me a while to translate this. oh dear...the inadequacy of an email is evermore apparent in its lack of tone. C'mon brother...I DIDN'T say YOU said it...I said it! And thousands more could say the same thing..... re "shite"...it was an attempt to say "shit" with a little less crassness...my Grandma used to say it...my English friends say it that way...I'm really trying to be less vulgar...but shit...even that doesn't work :P pls dont project your thoughts as if it were mine. see above...I asked a simple question...just trying to discern your thinking to progress the discussion. I can barely project my own thoughts...let alone someone else's. My suprise is clear enough.i always thought that what applies for chronics it's the same for episodics and vise versa.And i mean that there are triggers for both despite if we are wrong on what and which they really are. and I answered...it aint the same.... for istance for myself alcohol has a very high probability and maybe weather without knowing exactly how. Now it has crossed my mind that in a longer extent of time maybe as chronic ch in my case has low and high cycles within the extent time of a year(worser in winter time and cold and better in the summer,especially when the weather is stable for a while).Of course i have a big question of all these but since i can't do anything with the weather and the only trigger i ve recognised is alcohol i quit it years ago.But still getting hit and as an automatic response i am looking for the trigger. But it's the fisrt time i read here that chronics don't have any triggers and in a generalization without the contribution of the personal experience. again...my experience related...we are all the same...yet different.... and so my question which came up is simple. should i start drinking a beer from time to time as i used to as a social drinker? will it make my hits worser in intensity and frequency within the times of drinking or doesn't matter as there is no trigger for the chronics as it is suggested? there is no answer for that....only you will know...and the finding out is a bitch..... Best...and I mean that man... Jon

sorry jon

pf wishes

black wrote on Jul 30^th, 2010 at 11:04pm:

sorry jon pf wishes

no apologies necessary...we are all in this together.

Best,

Jon

After about 25 years, I have to say NOTHING triggers a cycle for me that I can be certain of...however, when I am in cycle, I have many triggers!  Puppies, cold, hot, mold, dust, tea, blood pressure changes, dark chocolate, contacts, oh...I could go on and on.

The one exception to NOTHING is a medication change, but I assumed that goes without saying. 

Over the years, I have had serious stressors,  litters of puppies, occasional wine, work overload, kids, deaths, sleepless nights, allergies, etc...but there has never been a time any of these consistently caused a cycle.  It may have happened a few times coincidentally, but then not at other times.  I can see where it would be easy to blame certain incidents, but it would have to be more consistent.

I have had them twice a year, once a year, and skipped years...all while living the same way and doing the same things...good times and bad.  I have kept meticulous calendars of them and have found no correlation... they come when they come.  Once I start a cycle, then they are very predictable...always 8 weeks and certain times of the day lasting no less than 60 minutes and no longer than 90 minutes with the usual constant fog, soreness, and stiff neck in between.

I do wish I thought there was a trigger...then I could avoid it!

Nickleback is my trigger. But seriously it is alcohol.  Started this cycle a few days ago but was mild until today when I drank a beer.

Guiseppi wrote on Jul 28^th, 2010 at 3:22pm:

Stress is a funny one. For many, staying worked up and stressed out keeps the beast at bay, as soon as they relax or "let down", WAM they get hit. For others, like myself, sustained stressful situations will bring on an attack. One more way you'll find CH is incredibly individualized! ;) Joe

That is the same for me.
Also exercising - I take the dog for a walk and wham - can hardly make it back...
And alcohol and hot tubs.
I can't wait until I am out of cycle.

When I explain to people about clusterheadaches; they still insist I have introduced something new to my diet or int my lifestyle that causes these.

When I explain to people about clusterheadaches; they still insist I have introduced something new to my diet or int my lifestyle that causes these.

They mean well! try not to hold  it against them, everyones first response is to "fix" your problem! Take some tylenol, drink less coffee, relax, eat a donut! I smile, nod my head, and  move away!

Joe

My after thought:  Known triggers for a cycle...genetics, DNA, heredity, biology, anatomy...how ever you want to say it!

Good point Joni.


I just wanted to clarify;
I was discussing triggers for some CH hits not cycles since I don't have cycles.  I have CH year round and often only go one or two days per week at most (If I'm LUCKY!) without getting a CH hit.

Joni, you reminded me....

2:00-3:00 am is a big trigger for me.

Jim L wrote on Jul 31^st, 2010 at 11:18pm:

Joni, you reminded me.... 2:00-3:00 am is a big trigger for me.

  Haha!  Good one...I can relate!

JustNotRight wrote on Jul 31^st, 2010 at 3:46pm:

Good point Joni. I just wanted to clarify; I was discussing triggers for some CH hits not cycles since I don't have cycles.  I have CH year round and often only go one or two days per week at most (If I'm LUCKY!) without getting a CH hit.

Oops...my mistake!  Sorry!  I can't imagine being chronic!!!!!!!!!  Bless your heart!  That is just not fair!

Quote:

My after thought:  Known triggers for a cycle...genetics, DNA, heredity, biology, anatomy...how ever you want to say it!

Don't Know about heredity etc. as far as I know no one in my family has ever suffered from CH althoe me dad did get migraines, could that be it ?

Nigel

Joni wrote on Aug 1^st, 2010 at 2:42am:

JustNotRight wrote on Jul 31st, 2010 at 3:46pm: Good point Joni. I just wanted to clarify; I was discussing triggers for some CH hits not cycles since I don't have cycles.  I have CH year round and often only go one or two days per week at most (If I'm LUCKY!) without getting a CH hit. Oops...my mistake!  Sorry!  I can't imagine being chronic!!!!!!!!!  Bless your heart!  That is just not fair!

No apology or mistake made on your part Joni, my 1st comment was to you (the good point part).  The rest of my post was a comment in general for this topic.   8-)

[b]They mean well! try not to hold  it against them, everyones first response is to "fix" your problem! Take some tylenol, drink less coffee, relax, eat a donut! I smile, nod my head, and move away!
Joe

Hi Joe,
I need to learn how to do the “smile, nod, and walk away” part.  I have a tendency to want to “educate” people and I get so frustrated!  I need to learn to get off my pompous high horse and let it go. My husband can usually keep me in check; he sees it coming. He’s not always with me though! LOL  I need to practice... smile, nod, move away.... smile, nod, move away.... smile, nod, move away.  Does this work on Mother in Laws as well?  LOL
lib

Does this work on Mother in Laws as well

It hasnt yet....but I keep smiling, nodding....and walking away! ;D

Joe

Gluten, anyone?  (not me, but I've heard it might be a trigger for migraines.)

All this talk of mother in laws got me thinking about a trip to see my mother inlaw today .
She has two of those automatic aerosol air freshener things that go off every 20 minutes in her 13' square room ,although it's more like 10 minutes between the two of them.

How can those things be called air fresheners , thay should be called air polluters , pumping chemicals in to the air.

any how within 10 minutes of being in there started getting shadows, and that happens every time I go there. So I always take a can of red bull with me now to counter it .

Guess where I'm going to avoid going during my next cycle  :D

God bless
Nigel

Headache Boy uk wrote on Aug 1^st, 2010 at 9:03pm:

How can those things be called air fresheners , they should be called air polluters , pumping chemicals in to the air.

Exactly the way I feel about them.

Linda_Howell wrote on Jul 29^th, 2010 at 9:26pm:

Being chronic, I have no triggers.   Most of us do not.

linda all this time i spent on this board i didnt know most chronics didnt have triggers.

i got one. how bout waiting in line? ever been standing in line at  a fast food restaurant and got hit? how bout getting hit at a gas station behind  some jerk weed picking out lottery tickets?

plain ole inactivity is a trigger for me.

Definitely waiting in line. I'm not sure why that is, but it can be a problem. Once, I was waiting in line for Migranal and I had to run out of the drugstore to hit the O2. And while I was chonic for the past three years, and hits came cyclically, I could still trigger a new hit with certain activities. So for me, I was chronic, and could trigger a "bonus" hit. lance

I am so unfamiliar with chronic clusters...I just can't imagine living that way!  I am so sorry for you!!!  Have you always been chronic?  If not, do you have any idea why the change?

Cluster headaches morph. It's the nature of the beast. :( lance

Just found what I think is another trigger; extreme change in barometric pressure. The last 2 times we went from clear, sunny days to quick storms moving in, the headaches started, and were gone within a day. May be coincidence, but I don't believe too much in coincidence.

Sadly Mike that's a relatiely common trigger, for many any change in the weather means an increase in hits!

Joe

wimsey1 wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2010 at 7:28am:

Cluster headaches morph. It's the nature of the beast. :( lance

Oh...No one in my family has ever had them morph into chronic even after many, many years.  Thank God!  My sister has had them the longest (46 years) and they are the same today as always with the exception of introducing Imitrex, which makes her 6 week cycle shorter.  Mine have been the same for 26 years... 8 weeks at a time.  My mother's went away for several years before she died.  I guess it's still back to our genetics...hope so!!

I think mine are barometric pressure changes and hot humid air. As I have recently started to cycle again(tour de france anyone har har) and I am working outside in the sun in what has been some very hot humid weather here in western new york I am suffering [smiley=bigcry.gif]

Joe: NE Pa here and I know what you mean, it's like a friggin sauna out there!!

Make sure you drink lots of water and as much as possible stay out of the sun! 

Swift Barometric changes are an added Trigger for many including myself.  Yes I am chronic and Yes I still have Triggers or things that have a tendency to increase my hit ratio.   I get CH year round with no extended breaks, if I am extremely lucky I get a Day or two off during a week, but that is the extent of my CH vaca.   :-/

Hi all,
Here in MS it is 106 w/ heat index of 118; cold front moving in tonight will bring rain and lower the temp to 99 with heat index of 103 (break out the sweaters, fall is on the way).  Will see how the verapamil holds out under these conditions! LOL  lib

Cross your fingers Lib!!!!! ;)

Joe

JustNotRight wrote on Aug 4^th, 2010 at 7:57pm:

Joe: NE Pa here and I know what you mean, it's like a friggin sauna out there!! Make sure you drink lots of water and as much as possible stay out of the sun!  Swift Barometric changes are an added Trigger for many including myself.  Yes I am chronic and Yes I still have Triggers or things that have a tendency to increase my hit ratio.   I get CH year round with no extended breaks, if I am extremely lucky I get a Day or two off during a week, but that is the extent of my CH vaca.   :-/

I am so sorry!!!  I just can't imagine being chronic!  How do you possibly function like that...seriously?

Marc wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2010 at 1:29pm:

-johnny- wrote on Aug 2nd, 2010 at 2:01am: Linda_Howell wrote on Jul 29th, 2010 at 9:26pm: Being chronic, I have no triggers.   Most of us do not.  linda all this time i spent on this board i didnt know most chronics didnt have triggers. I can't speak for "most", but I can tell you that I do not have any triggers of any kind - aside from time of day. Yes, I spent years recording everything I consumed/used/applied/breathed. Each time I was sure I had found one, it turned out to be wrong.

marc i wish my hits followed some kind of schedule. i wish i could sleep when im in cycle even if it were an hour or 2.

Joni wrote on Aug 5^th, 2010 at 12:45am:

JustNotRight wrote on Aug 4th, 2010 at 7:57pm: Joe: NE Pa here and I know what you mean, it's like a friggin sauna out there!! Make sure you drink lots of water and as much as possible stay out of the sun!  Swift Barometric changes are an added Trigger for many including myself.  Yes I am chronic and Yes I still have Triggers or things that have a tendency to increase my hit ratio.   I get CH year round with no extended breaks, if I am extremely lucky I get a Day or two off during a week, but that is the extent of my CH vaca.   :-/ I am so sorry!!!  I just can't imagine being chronic!  How do you possibly function like that...seriously?

Honestly, it isn't easy.  But you take the hit, deal with it with whatever abort you have on hand and move on.  There have been times when I had to leave work early due to a stubborn hit or take a day off due to night time killer hits, but for the most part I just keep moving forward, that is all one can do. 

JustNotRight wrote on Aug 5^th, 2010 at 5:43am:

Joni wrote on Aug 5th, 2010 at 12:45am: JustNotRight wrote on Aug 4th, 2010 at 7:57pm: Joe: NE Pa here and I know what you mean, it's like a friggin sauna out there!! Make sure you drink lots of water and as much as possible stay out of the sun!  Swift Barometric changes are an added Trigger for many including myself.  Yes I am chronic and Yes I still have Triggers or things that have a tendency to increase my hit ratio.   I get CH year round with no extended breaks, if I am extremely lucky I get a Day or two off during a week, but that is the extent of my CH vaca.   :-/ I am so sorry!!!  I just can't imagine being chronic!  How do you possibly function like that...seriously? Honestly, it isn't easy.  But you take the hit, deal with it with whatever abort you have on hand and move on.  There have been times when I had to leave work early due to a stubborn hit or take a day off due to night time killer hits, but for the most part I just keep moving forward, that is all one can do.

Does that mean you are in that cluster fog all the time with the swollen feeling, too?

I've been keeping a diary for about a month, and the only consistencies in mine are time of day.  I can't find anything that could possibly be a trigger.  The one time I drank since I got them I didn't even get one.  When they first started it seemed like 9am and 9pm were the triggers.  I could set my watch by them.

Boy Oracle that describes my first 15 or so years. 2 hits a day, 2 cycles a year, I swear you could set the atomic clock by them! Hit my 40's bout 10 years ago and they've been all over the board ever since!

Joe

Joni wrote on Aug 5^th, 2010 at 12:32pm:

JustNotRight wrote on Aug 5th, 2010 at 5:43am: Joni wrote on Aug 5th, 2010 at 12:45am: JustNotRight wrote on Aug 4th, 2010 at 7:57pm: Joe: NE Pa here and I know what you mean, it's like a friggin sauna out there!! Make sure you drink lots of water and as much as possible stay out of the sun!  Swift Barometric changes are an added Trigger for many including myself.  Yes I am chronic and Yes I still have Triggers or things that have a tendency to increase my hit ratio.   I get CH year round with no extended breaks, if I am extremely lucky I get a Day or two off during a week, but that is the extent of my CH vaca.   :-/ I am so sorry!!!  I just can't imagine being chronic!  How do you possibly function like that...seriously? Honestly, it isn't easy.  But you take the hit, deal with it with whatever abort you have on hand and move on.  There have been times when I had to leave work early due to a stubborn hit or take a day off due to night time killer hits, but for the most part I just keep moving forward, that is all one can do.  Does that mean you are in that cluster fog all the time with the swollen feeling, too?

More often than I'd like YES!   :o

Guiseppi wrote on Aug 5^th, 2010 at 3:51pm:

Boy Oracle that describes my first 15 or so years. 2 hits a day, 2 cycles a year, I swear you could set the atomic clock by them! Hit my 40's bout 10 years ago and they've been all over the board ever since!

Mine seem to arrive at a set time to the minute for 2-3 weeks, then they have changed to a new time about 20 minutes later for another few weeks. At the same time, with the end of winter and spring starting the days have been getting noticeably longer, so it's as if the trigger is a set time after it gets dark, with the 20 minute jump every so often to catch up with the change in daylight duration.

I wonder if there is a connection since the hypothalamus is involved with CHs and it's the centre of a lot of body clock type functions?

Clusters have a very strong mind of their own and they do not like being messed with at all!!!  :)

The Hypothalamus involvement is one of the few things most agree on Mike. HOW and WHY.....still mysteries.... :-/

Joe

I've just found another trigger or rather, my better half found it for me. She was putting some nail hardener onto her finger nails and within a few seconds it had triggered a CH. It wasn't too bad, only about a Kip 5, which a Red Bull soon chased away, but I was amazed at the speed it hit.

Oh well, I guess that means that I've to throw away any plans I had of an alternate career doing pedicures.

Hi there.

First post for me, but I have read forum posts occasionally over the last few years - predominantly when suffering!

I am currently out of cycle, and have been so for two years now. Not suffered since moving from the UK to Australia and hoping they'll never return.

The only two triggers that I could pin down were:
- hot, stuffy air;
- alcohol.

I wanted to expand on the alcohol issue, because it could help other sufferers who avoid beer as a known trigger.

I found that I could drink almost any alcohol type without triggering a CH. However, when in cycle, just a few sips of a Wheat Beer would trigger an event.

I noticed this because I rarely drink wheat beers, but the few times I did when in cycle, they triggered without fail. Beers made entirely from malted barley were no problem.

If you regard beer as a trigger and you predominantly drink beers containing wheat, then it may be worth risking a beer containing no wheat?! Small chance that you'll be fine I'm sure, but I love beer so much and would hate to think that like-minded beer lovers may be cutting it out of their diet entirely if they didn't need to.

This may help no-one at all, but if just one sufferer is able to enjoy beer that they'd otherwise avoid, then sharing this was worth while!

Cheers,
Dan.

Welcome and thanks for the advice. A lot of beer lovers here, but having lived in the UK and Australia, you have great respect from those of us here for you beer drinking experience.

Welcome to the board Dan! When you get a chance, start a new thread intro'ing yourself on the getting to know you board. Give everyone a chance to give you a proper hello. ;)

Joe

joedell71 wrote on Aug 4^th, 2010 at 7:46pm:

I think mine are barometric pressure changes and hot humid air. As I have recently started to cycle again(tour de france anyone har har) and I am working outside in the sun in what has been some very hot humid weather here in western new york I am suffering [smiley=bigcry.gif]

I'm with you. I went kayaking this weekend and the combination of sun, heat and starting to dehydrate brought on a hit, but it soon subsided after I rehydrated. Dehydration is more of an enemy to CH sufferers than the general population, that's for sure.