I've read a lot of posts about episodic sufferers going into remission or having very long gaps. Are there any chronics out there who just woke up one day and didn't have a hit for the next month or more? I'm not talking about busting, I mean those that may not have busted. -Chris

I can only speak for myself and the other chronics I have spoken to.  Chronics have high and low cycles within their chronicness.  In other words there are days or months when the beast pounds on and on, and then tapers off to only a few per day or even like I have been more recently where we can go days without any, only to be slammed again.

In my low cycle like right now...I may not get a full-blown attack but am plagued with high-kip shadows for days on end. 

Linda 

There are some chronics on the board whose CH just stopped dead. Jonny, an old board poster comes to mind. The experts...(Goadsby) says they are never really gone, the remissions can just be really long! So yeah, there's ALWAYS  hope. :)

Joe

Linda, I certainly know what you mean about the shadows. They can drag me down sometimes just because they last and last. There's no real "intermediate" abort for them and they don't usually deserve an imitrex injection. At least for me, O2 only helps temporarily for them, helps more with big hits.

Joe, Wouldn't that be a nice surprise to have sudden remission. I had 3 full days one time where I thought I was completely cured. Road my bike around the lake, had a picnic with family, took the MG for a ride, and did a ton of yard work. Short-lived though and haven't felt like that since. Makes me wonder what the combination was that day that suddenly worked, but there's no reason I can come up with.

-Chris

Chris H wrote on Nov 30^th, 2010 at 11:20am:

I've read a lot of posts about episodic sufferers going into remission or having very long gaps. Are there any chronics out there who just woke up one day and didn't have a hit for the next month or more? I'm not talking about busting, I mean those that may not have busted. -Chris

From reading your Question...I went from being  chronic to ech in november 2007

Hi Chris
I'm one of the fortunate chronics, here's how my diary goes.

I had my first episode in Oct 1999 that went for about 13 weeks & then a 5 year break before it went chronic Oct 2004, i had daily hits up to as many as 6 a day & as low as 1 a day through to Oct 2006, from there I've had 261 day low,50 day high,297 day low,53 day high that ended 24/7/2008.

I have now gone 860 days low with daily shadows & the occasional ice pick spike just to remind me what it's like.

There is hope,I hope?
Cheers
Barry

Went 9 weeks w/o having to use O2 a while back, but it ended.  Had to use energy drinks 5 times during that period, three of them the last week.  That is the longest I've gone in over 7 years.  Other than that a couple of two week breaks and a three week break.  The problem is I forgot how badly they HURT!  Our memory can be so short, and the let down so big when they return that I'd rather not have a day off until they are gone for good.  The time off is great, but the letdown doesn't make it worth it.

Hope?  Yes, I have it.  It's called BOL.  Other than that I don't see any real hope begore death.

Jerry

Ain't that the truth, Jerry! I guess I'm sorta like all of ya'll, although I haven't had to keep a diary since seldom does a week go by when I don't have a hit. However, since April 24th of this year, I have gone from a 3 year steady 4-6 high KIP hits a day, to shadows and an occasional low KIP hit. To me, that's a remission, but it's probably more like what Linda said-a chronic's low cycle. Since I was starting to think I'd never get out of daily hell, it feels like a cure and I'll take it! But yeah, I "forget" how much it really hurts. Blessings! lance

Mmm very interesting.... I have been thinking about posting a question and figure this is a good place to do so :) 

I'm wondering if I'm actually going chronic, seems I've been in cycle for most of this year... but not getting hits all the time, but shadowing relentlessly.  I keep thinking the cycle is over but then, like yesterday get a hit - and in the middle of the day too?? 

In June I was sure that my cycle had stopped so sent back the 02 to the supplier (expensive) then had to go and get it again shortly after.  It has been here ever since.  And like I say I'm only getting hit occassionally (around once a fortnight) but the shadows are ongoing.  (Also, the last two hits I've had have been on the other side??) 

Curious to know if other people who were once episodic and went chronic had this happen to them??  I use to think that it was the verapamil that was extending my cycles but I've not used it the past couple of years and now my cycles are coming at different times (use to be March/April and again Aug/Sept).  Nowdays just seems all over the place??

Any thoughts??

Thanks,

Kate

Hi Kate,

I don't know anything about being chronic but all I can say is my cycles have gotten longer and further apart as I get older--the thing that jumped out at me was when you said your last 2 hits were on the other side.  My CH switched sides one time and only once and it was the last headache of my last (and so far longest) cycle.  I hope the switching sides will signal an end to your cycle also! 

Thanks.  In the past the old switcheroo was also a sign for me that the cycle was coming to an end.  So when it happened recently, I thought that finally that was it but it seems I was wrong  :-/  Still holding out hope tho'  ;)

On two separate occassions now I have copped a hit on both sides (at the same time).  Don't know if that actually means anything but I'm starting to wonder if that was the beginning of this ongoing change in my cycles.  The first time it happened was about 2 yrs ago (I think) and now again a few weeks ago.  It bloody hurt alot!!

Kate, that sounds so painful to have it on both sides at once.  It is scary when cycles get longer--the factor of not knowing could they end any day or drag on.  Hopefully some chronics will chime in who know more of the pattern.  I will keep my fingers crossed for you that the beast leaves soon and stays away for a LONG time.

Been chronic for years the only break/remission I've had was a month off almost 3 years ago, then the beast came back to stay.

Linda mentioned high times and low times I have these too, spring and fall are my high times.  During my high times I get 2-3 per day every day if not more, this year has been bad for the 'more' factor.  During my low times I get 1 per day may need an abort or if mild shadow I'll fight my way through; which is difficult at work.   :o   

im happy to say i didnt remember just how horrible my life was 20 plus years of cronic with lil breaks along the way.  now after 8 year remission i have been reminded in no uncertain terms.  all ,y best to you and yours.  going for a nap here since i dont feel to bad right now.  wish me luck
jon

Crossing my fingers the nap went un-eventful for ya Jon! ;)

Joe

Hi I was diagnosed here in Holland as a chronic chronis,,,whatever that is.I had hits every day sometimes lasting 12 hours long in the first couple of years.After that i had up to 14 or 15 hits a day every day.This went on for a total of almost 14 years.Then it just stopeed.However i must add here I changed a whole lot of things in those years like my diet,my way of thinking...cut down my stubborn butting horns a few centimeters..did a parasite cure,stopped being angry,walked more,looked for beauty daily  in the forest the field ect,Stopped fighting against everyone and everything that was unjust ect.It was gone for almost 2 years...so keep hope remission for chronics is possible.Got it back cause thought it was time to see my family in Canada,was over 10 years.Asked my Dad to book the shortest flight possible cause flying makes the pain even worse so was a little frightened it would come back.I was travelling for more than 62 hours....not necessary...he didn't listen...or care.    on the way back I had a cold was stuffed and sure enough heard crack and went oh shit.While I was there got nothing but verbal"äbuse"from daddy-o that got to me after awhile big time.So for me 1=1 equals got it back.Between the flight with cold and the pain in the heart it got me again.
However i will beat it out again.I am sure of this.
So as I said keep up hope,take good care of yourself,stop fighting....really important as the beast likes us to fight,it's beast food and know that remission for chronics is possible!!!
I wil let you know when I am in remission again.