Hello all,
Recently after returning to work from a week long holiday I began having cluster headaches.

I have only just started to learn about the beast and still do not know exactly what my triggers are.

A number of you have mentioned solvents and gasoline as triggers. I'm wondering if this is common or peculiar to some of you.

Solvents are of particular concern to me as I manage a print shop and we use a lot of chemicals including solvents and thinners.

One thing I noticed on my return to work the day before my first attack was how much the place stank of chemicals - I never noticed this before. My sense of smell seems to have gone into overdrive.

Obviously I have concerns for my career as the chemistry is inescapable.

It's worth noting as well, that I was a mild smoker until I quit in November last year.

What are your thoughts and experiences?

Regards
Stephen

For most, smells do not start a cluster cycle but when we are an active cycle, smells may trigger an individual attack.

Some smells may set off an attack but not a cycle, as Bob pointed out.  I would personally be more concerned if you were dealing with press-wash instead of paint thinner as the alcohol content is much higher and that would potentially be worse.

I would hasten to point out that I do not believe solvents started my cycle. Just in case any of the corporation's lawyers are watching.

However, despite being properly contained and used, they are ever present.

My print shop is a mixture of flexographic printing - lots and lots of solvents; and UV lithographic printing - ozone, alcohol and more solvents.

My attacks have happened at the same time more or less whether I have been exposed or not. I'm interested to see what experience others have had around aromatic substances or solvents.

Regards
Stephen

The solvent sniffs are a common trigger for those who are in cycle.

Gasoline and bleach fumes can set me off, and I've noticed once so far that cigarette smoke can too.

Speaking from personal experience, I ran into to 2 smells that really got me....a Yankee candle that was "Sun and Sand" scented and brand new leather duffle bag. Those 2 items pushed me from PF into a brutal attack.

Bleach at a restaurant from someone wiping down a table has set me off many a time. I try to avoid cleaning the bathroom as much as possible too.

A few days ago I was sat next to someone who took a sniff of some eucalyptus oil. I didn't quite get a CH but it was pretty close. It was amazing that it took a couple of seconds at the most for it to affect me.

This has been posted here before, but it may be of some interest to those whose attacks are triggered by solvents, chemicals, and scents.

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There seems to be some sort of relationship between the sense of smell and CH.  I doubt that anyone has much insight into what, precisely, that relationship might be.  Yet.

For my part, the sense of smell is augmented tenfold during a cycle.  Others here have said similar things.  While I can't point to anything specific (in my case) that will trigger an attack, it's clear to me that smell and CH are somehow connected.  Activity in the rhinencephalon?  Something else? 

I don't know.

Best,

George   

I can certainly vouch for the heightened sense of smell. I've gone from someone who was often asked "can't you smell that?" to someone that holds their breath around certain smells. Cigarette smoke particularly bothers me and I used to smoke.

Sprog wrote on Apr 5^th, 2011 at 8:51pm:

I can certainly vouch for the heightened sense of smell. I've gone from someone who was often asked "can't you smell that?" to someone that holds their breath around certain smells. Cigarette smoke particularly bothers me and I used to smoke.

I could have written that, apart from I've never smoked. I can smell burnt toast from the other side of the house before my better half who is in the kitchen with the toaster!

Sprog wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2011 at 8:36pm:

. I'm interested to see what experience others have had around aromatic substances or solvents. Regards Stephen

typically my remissions last around 4 or 5 years. never worked in a print shop but i do alot of mechanical things along with some types of welding.

i work around diesel fumes on a regular basis

i have rebuilt several engines and had oil spatter on to the exhaust manifold and smoke while i was adjusting the valves

all kinds of fumes from welding

when i did flooring i worked around all kinds of glues, contact cement, polyurethane adhesives, epoxy, xylene, mineral spirits, linseed oil, and acetone.

none of this stuff ever bothers me out of cycle nor has it ever triggered one but they are all key triggers when im in a cycle.

one time out of cycle i was cleaning out a breezeway at this house i was getting ready to move into with bleach and comet in a small enclosed area and that did set me off into a severe cluster attack. if your working around solvents your going to have to get away from them or its going to tear you up every time. the only advise i can give you is try to do that stuff outside in the cold but with a printing shop i dont think that would be possible. one of the very few things that temporarily keeps me immune from an attack is working out in the cold.


another one of my triggers is driving and as luck would have it im a truck driver....ain't this a bitch!

If solvents are a trigger you will know it immediately.  It won't be on a regular basis, but every time you are exposed to the chemical.  My guess is your CH is not chemical related.  I'm one who is triggered by some solvents, and it takes only a whiff and I'm hit hard and instantly.  Other solvents don't affect me at all.  I'd say your job is safe as long as you can continue to perform.

Jerry

Industrial solvents are no problem I have since found. Fly spray, however, is a major problem. Not only does it set me off something rotten, I can taste the stuff for the rest of the day.

My known triggers . . Alcohol, even a single "real" beer (I can drink one or two non-alcoholic beers), a shot of brandy (which I miss), carb cleaner, brake parts cleaner, exhaust fumes.  I was a regular drinker before I found this site (rarely even a hangover), and didn't associate the HAs with alcohol til coming here (2/02), getting the info and finally getting diagnosed . . . real easy to quit when you know the consequences.  Attacks didn't stop of course, but at least I wasn't triggering additional attacks.

  Be Safe,  PFDANs

     Richard

Gasoline, solvents, carb cleaner and all the other chemicals used around an auto shop do not bother me. It’s perfume, scented candles and soap/detergents that I can’t be around very long. The perfume aisles in stores like Macy’s or the detergent aisles in supermarkets are places I have to just walk on through, no stopping.