Sorry if this has been discussed previously and if anybody knows the answer it's probably Bob J. but just have some thoughts in my head and I'm curious.  Have there been any studies done on CH and oxygen deprivation or O2 blood levels? 

My hubby can snore so hard and loud the walls shake.  He also has sleep apnea (neither being treated) and I've witnessed him go 10 secs or longer without a breath.  So obviously he's not getting all the oxygen he needs all the time, especially during sleep.  He, like many CHer's is a smoker (again altering his O2 blood levels).  I find it curious that so many, if not the majority, suffer night hits.  What relieves 98% his night hits?  Like most everybody else, oxygen.  It's also interesting that the overwhelming number one abortive of any hit of this massive group is O2 therapy.  Is there a link?  If he has a deviated septum (?sp), or other obstruction of the airway, if it were corrected would it help his CH?  Of course it doesn't explain the daytime hits (except his smoking) or the seasonal nature, but it did get me to thinking  [smiley=confused.gif]

Second, and this is just kinda funny.  When we finally got into the headache clinic 15 yrs or so ago, a nurse came in and without even seeing his chart she said "you're have cluster headaches don't you?".  She said "I can tell because you have a lion's face" Well after I busted out laughing..she said his face has the characteristics of a lion and that is VERY common with people who have CH.  Seriously, I'm not making this up...I suppose if you drew a cartoon of my hubby he does have a square jawline and piercing crystal light green eyes add a mane and some whiskers and voila "The Lion King".   Just wondering if anybody else ever heard of this.

From the 1970's!!! ;D:

CH sufferers are primarily male, rugged outdoor types, with lionesque features, taller then average, with orange peel skin! So as I've mentioned before, the girls who claim CH are clearly faking it!! ;) (you know I luv ya Linda!)

Several on the board have sleep apnea, and have the CPAP masks now, helped their sleep apnea, did now have any affect on their CH. Many are sent for 02 blood level tests before they can get prescribed oxygen, as some doctors are still under the impression that we want to breathe 02 to raise our 02 levels, that's just not the case with us. While many CH'ers do smoke, there are a lot of us who don't and never have.

I'd strongly urge him to get the sleep apnea treated as more and more studies are coming out pointing to potential long term health hazards. But I wouldn't hold my breath...( ;Dsorry it slipped out!)......at any improvement for the CH.

Thanks again for all the work you have done and are doing for him!

Joe

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

so..does this mean this site is the zoo?! :D

black wrote on Oct 5^th, 2010 at 10:59pm:

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE so..does this mean this site is the zoo?! :D

Fascinating to reading, although I was surprised to see it was written in 1990 and not 1930.

I suspect that most people here could write something signficantly more accurate based on the knowledge they are learnt here.

Wow, where to I start with this b/s.  The physical features, yes, they somewhat describe my husband's appearance, not all but some. (Did he grow a tail I haven't come across yet?)  ;D  And yes, I'm lucky to have a very masculine, athletic, hard working hubby (who I will now refer to as my "macho lion" per the writers description)  ;)

It's obvious this writer believes the condition stems from the "sympathetic/non-sympathetic part of the brain" with childhood experiences contributing factors to the conditon.  (Read:  It's all in your head, you couldn't please yo momma).  No mention of what I read to physiological/brain chemistry/physical abnormalties or anything medically scientific to his findings.

Ok now here's where I get REALLY get ticked..I've been called a lot of things but a "brisk little wife" is not one of them  >:(   Do I do some of the things this writer states?  Absolutely times 10!  I prefer to be called his loving wife and biggest supporter.  Like most supporters I've argued with insurance companies, doctors, pharmacists, er's, and whoever else gets in my way to get my husband the care, meds, and relief he needs.

On a final note we are entering month 5 and were up again most of last night (ran out of O2 & no trex).  He suffered, cried, moaned, and cussed...but I did not once hear him roar   :P

So when will it end?  IDK, but I can't wait to play an oldie song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"  ;) 

I say you invite this joker to the annual conference, hang him up by this toenails, pour steak sauce on him and unleash the lions!  [smiley=mad.gif]

Ever post something and immediately regret it?  ;D

Ever post something and immediately regret it?

Never!!!...okay maybe once or twice.......crap, far more times then I care to remember!!! ;D

Joe

i can't find the rest of the three pages in the net. :(
why these documents aren't free for people to read?
if someone has a way pls do it.half a joke is not right.

unfortunately today i saw another graham on national tv.He was asked about the cluster headaches and this is what he only said about:
-people who have cluster headaches are heavy smokers and drinkers and the main cause for this is stress.

he hasn't even crossed a child to tell him the difference between a possible plus trigger/catalyst and an atttached stigma?

so from sexy lions we are now heavy drinkers and heavy smokers who can't cope with stress.
what's next?monkeys with peanuts?

grahams line up in the history or is it my idea?
they get awarded too?!:P

My first Neuro took over a sleep clinic after finding that all of his CH patients had Apnea.  He told me he could find no relation between the two, but it peaked his interest to the point he dropped Neurology to study sleep issues. 

Jerry

Edit to add:  Perhaps if we are going to look at the leonine characteristics of clusterheads facial appearance we should also revive Phrenology.

So I disagree with this lion feature.  I am a female and never smoked, hardly drink, and I believe I don't look like a lion...at least I hope not!  :)  And far from masculine as a person can get.

Re: Any Research on Oxygen Deprivation
Reply #5 - Oct 6th, 2010 at 8:36am      Ever post something and immediately regret it?

Never!!!...okay maybe once or twice.......crap, far more times then I care to remember!!!

Joe


oh honey....the rest of us moderators just cannot keep up with the times we have had to silence the mustache-eod  one.   trust me.  It's a fine line line we all walk with this guy.















just in case anyone here does NOT know.   I am so totally kidding here.  ;D

he he he ::)

Joe

Linda_Howell wrote on Oct 18^th, 2010 at 12:41am:

Re: Any Research on Oxygen Deprivation Reply #5 - Oct 6th, 2010 at 8:36am      Ever post something and immediately regret it? Never!!!...okay maybe once or twice.......crap, far more times then I care to remember!!! Joe <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> oh honey....the rest of us moderators just cannot keep up with the times we have had to silence the mustache-eod  one.   trust me.  It's a fine line line we all walk with this guy. just in case anyone here does NOT know.   I am so totally kidding here.  ;D

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

What Linda said... and unlike her, I'm not kidding..

Hey Lin, HE NOT B NO COP, NO MORE... U DON'T HAVE TO SUCK UP...

Hey Joesippi... how you like me now...  Luv Ya Baby....

On the for for real side... I have Sleep Apnea.. I have a C-Pap Machine.. I was tested and diagnose by my Nero... It has had no effect on my CH's.. o2
works fine for me if I can get to it before my headaches reach a 5.. 

Lady Luv

No one has ever told me I have a lion-like face. But Leo is my astrological sign, maybe that is why I have clusters. Kidding.

On a more serious note, studies have shown that 50% to 80% of clusterheads have sleep apnea. It is a serious condition, and it may feed into the disease process. Treating apnea  probably doesn't have a big effect on cluster headaches (based on what people here have written- though a few people did report big improvement). But apnea is worth treating if you have it - from disturbed sleep to high blood pressure and heart problems, untreated apnea is not good.

I would have to say that successful treatment of sleep apnea has an indirect positive effect on CH. Being able to get anywhere from 6-8 hours of uninterrupted, restful sleep puts one in a MUCH better position to deal with stresses of aborting multiple attacks every day.

Being on CPAP doesn't eliminate nighttime hits by itself. There are other things that, in concert with CPAP therapy, will help to eliminate the night hits, and once that's done, the CPAP can work its magic, keeping your airway open while you sleep.

A good night's sleep is one of the best tools we have.