I'm a beer and wine fan; the sucky part of being in cluster now is I have to miss out on some of the beer festivals around here in the summer.  It got me wondering, though: is there anyone on this board who can drink when in cluster?  I know I can't get a sip down without getting hit; just curious if anyone CAN.

Sure there is we're not all the same.  I used to stay bellied up to the bar and crank down PBR  during the hit which lasted one hour.  I knew I had four hours till the next one,  and I'd get just shitfaced drunk.  I haven't had a beer in fifteen years.

            Potter

A few who are classified as chronic are not affected by alcohol. I've yet to meet an episodic who isn't triggered by booze while in cycle.

Over many years of watching I've only seen one decent article which gave some concrete response to the question: came from Europe and said--

red wines, no; white wine, o.k.; distilled spirits, no.

But individual variation always rules. Run you own tests on your body and learn.....

I've noticed the same thing as Brew - I've only seen a few chronics who are unaffected by alcohol, don't recall any episodics who can get away with boozin'.

On cycle it's poison for me. Off cycle no problem, obviously episodic!

Joe

Would usually trigger a full blown Ch within minutes of tasting alchohol but since I've been on Batches D3 regime, and as long as I stay on it, I'm ok with wine  :D  BUT if I miss one single dose of D3 and drink = ouch :'(

In cycle or out I can drink what I like, when I like, subject only to supply. Many's the time I've drunk the bastage into submission then peed on his grave.

I've admitted this publicly before and only cried a little over the hate mail.

I don't know Brian, I'd have someone else start your car the next few days....I'm not sayin....just sayin....... ::)

Joe

That's one thing about an Aussie.  They can drink!!!  I can remember too many Guinness on more than a few occassions.   [smiley=thumbsup.gif]  Of course I learned the hard way about CH triggers. ha...

Jeff

Is there an easy way to learn?

Once again what has been written above just shows that our commonality is only the pain.
In high cycles I can get hit just from smelling alcohol while in low cycles I can pretty much drink what I want except beer :'(, I had been a beer drinker all my life until I went chronic & now even in low cycle I will get a raging shadow after just 1 beer.
What is weird is that I can drink stout (I make my own) but stout is basically beer, go figure. ::)
Been a tad cold around our way just lately & have had to resort to drinking a little red whine, last night I had the pleasure of an 11 year old bottle of Blues Point Shiraz Cabernet.

Cheers
Barry

Typical episodic.  Like Joe, I can't touch the stuff during a cycle.  Out of cycle, however, I can have whatever I like--although I'm not much of a drinker anytime.

Best,

George

I'm chronic, and I go back and forth with my ability to stand alcohol without getting hit.  If I'm getting more than a shadow I usually stay away, but then again I know I've had times when my head had just been hurting low level for too long and I've ended up drinking for the hell of it, I guess I get to the point that I just don't care.  The strangest thing is that when I get to this point, the alcohol many times seems like it gets RID of the headache.  Only thing that makes sense to me is that I'm too stressed out and the alcohol chills me out.  I also find that the home brews I make  hit me a lot less then the junk I used to drink.

It would appear...and I am one of them... that chronics can drink.  I have no idea of why that is, but over the years here I've talked to a lot of chronics and they, too, can drink.   It may be God's way of saying, "you suffer enough, go have a glass of wine"

I even did a un-scientific study of it on myself.  I didn't drink anything alcoholic for 3 months and counted how many times I got hit.  Then I drank as I usually do for another 3 months and counted how many times I got hit.  The difference wasn't even worth mentioning.  Go figure, huh?   I'm sorry that because you're episodic you can't enjoy a glass of wine or a beer, but it probably isn't worth the pain for you.  Wait til you're out of cycle.

Another episodic here who isn't triggered by beer, wine or spirits. Although I was only a month off hitting the one year mark to be classed as chronic when my pf time started (93 days so far and continuing).

jmchris wrote on Jun 17^th, 2011 at 9:13pm:

That's one thing about an Aussie.  They can drink!!!

When I was in the army there was an Aussie company camped next to us. We shared an EM club. I learned the Aussies are like a cluster headache. You can not out-drink one! Don't even try.

its odd, but i can drink vodka/ clear liquors while im in cycle, but I cant even finish one beer without getting hit.  And the clear liquors are a crap shoot. id say 85% of the time i can drink it without a hit. But beer will give me one 100% of the time.  That odd?

Has any one tried taking Relpax as a preventitive before drinking? I know, I know, you're supp to,but I have sat at home for 7 weeks and not gone and done anything. I have a wedding to go to and want to be able to have a few drinks.

The only thing I've heard is if lithium works for you as a preventative, it can also allow you to drink sometimes.

I have completed extensive research into alcohol intake  ;D
It may not be official but I tried really hard!!!! I have drank to excess on numerous occassions and have come to the conclusion ...I never learn!!!

Seriously..
When Im not in a cycle I can drink anything but in a cycle even the thought of alcohol triggers a hit.

I am chronic and can't even drink a teaspoon of any alcohol without getting NAILED to the wall by the beast.

I used to enjoy a good dark beer now and again and the occasional glass of vino, but not anymore  :-/

My hats off to those who can and please enjoy a dark one for me!

  I'm wondering of non alcoholic beer would trigger a CH?  Strange as it may seem... Propel (an enhanced nutritional water beverage) will trigger a cluster monster on me.  I have tried several times and I never fail to awaken at 2:30 AM with a 7 or 8 KIP.

Linda

I can't do alcohol during a cycle. It makes it far worse. Hence, I've pretty much given up drinking. It's a terrible drug anyhow.
I prefer the Cheeba.

Beer or wine has nailed me with a CH no question about it.  I've had hardly any alcohol in the last 4 1/2 months.  And I remember one time during cycle I had a few glasses of wine, and bang I got nailed.  Even the O2 did'nt relieve it either after I got it.  I've been feeling better lately, but now I'm afraid to have a drink just in case it bites me again.

For me, alcohol usually trigger an attack, let's say in 3 of 4 cases.  Beer and brown booze is a more likely trigger than gin. I've generally avoided alcohol when in cycle.  But the last year, I've gone chronic, so I sometimes gamble.

I am episodic, and nope, no alcohol...  that is usually the real test if I'm done with the cycle or not.   Stinks, cause I do like to have a glass of wine or a few beers, especially in the summer : (

Nothing triggers major CH like cheap beer and Chinese food.
But only during a cycle

I guess I'm one of the exceptions.  I never had my CH react to ETOH one way or the other so it's never been an instant or even a delayed trigger. 

I tried skipping my nightly tot of rum & coke many times for up to a week while episodic and again after turning chronic...  I kept logs at the time and there was no clear difference in the frequency, severity, or patterns of my CH between nights while drinking a couple rum & cokes and nights without... 

I'm Chronic, and not only does alcohol NOT affect my clusters, it is an abortive for my migraines.

If I've had a migraine that won't go away after I've tried the two triptans at my disposal, and the over the counter migraine tablets I have, and it's been 3 days, and I HAVE to go to work tomorrow, 4-6 shots of vodka and a good nights sleep and I'm right as rain.

It works every time. And yes, I am careful to not over do it, to not use it too often, I have talked it over both with my GP and Neurologist, etc. etc. etc.  It is very much my last resort measure.

But it does work when all else fails.

I just came across this.
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Just a little light relief ,
By the way I'm episodic and I can drink off cycle , on cycle I can some times get away with stout or white wine but it's a bit of a gamble.

God bless

Nigel

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Well we must hear both sides of the story, the rebuttal to Nigel! ;)

Joe

Cupper wrote on Jun 30^th, 2011 at 7:19pm:

I can't do alcohol during a cycle. It makes it far worse. Hence, I've pretty much given up drinking. It's a terrible drug anyhow. I prefer the Cheeba.

AMEN! 

Brew wrote on Jun 17^th, 2011 at 3:58pm:

A few who are classified as chronic are not affected by alcohol. I've yet to meet an episodic who isn't triggered by booze while in cycle.

Oh bloody, buggery bollocks!!!

I thought I was special because I could still drink (in moderation of course... unless it's my birthday) and you tell me I'm chronic?
All hope is gone. I'm off to see my bartender.

Cheap booze, my good man and have one for yourself.

Zeitgeist wrote on Jul 4^th, 2011 at 2:35pm:

For me, alcohol usually trigger an attack, let's say in 3 of 4 cases.  Beer and brown booze is a more likely trigger than gin. I've generally avoided alcohol when in cycle.  But the last year, I've gone chronic, so I sometimes gamble.

3 cases is a lot of alcohol.

Alcohol is my IMMEDIATE trigger, within 60 seconds flat. 

I would never chance it again while in cycle, nor within at least two weeks out of cycle.

Nigel,

Clever video on "I don't drink beer..."  but when I was younger... I didn't drink beer... at least not until I found they'd invented the funnel...  I also found it hard to imagine getting up in the morning knowing that's the best you're going to feel all day long...

Then again... had I known I was going to live this long, I'd have taken a hell of a lot better care of myself when I was younger... in stead of flying around in afterburner at the speed of heat with my hair on fire like there was no tomorrow...

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Take care,

V/R, Batch

I cannot drink alcohol without getting hit. I quit drinking alcohol after I was diagnosed with ch back in 2003, but I have tried a sip since and regretting on both occasions. It led to shadows almost immediately and hit a bit later. Me and alcohol just don't mix; luckily I wasn't much of a drinker in the first place.

PF days to all,
Sanna

Skull Buster wrote on Jun 20^th, 2011 at 7:05pm:

its odd, but i can drink vodka/ clear liquors while im in cycle, but I cant even finish one beer without getting hit.  And the clear liquors are a crap shoot. id say 85% of the time i can drink it without a hit. But beer will give me one 100% of the time.  That odd?

If it is, then call me odd.  I have given up beer and red wine forever.  If I have a drink of scotch or vodka, I am taking a risk, but 85-90% of the time I am ok.  Last Saturday night was one of those 10-15% times. :(

ETA: If you take a gamble with the beast and lose, be prepared with 02, etc.....I refuse to let the beast rule my life.

For those unsure if alcohol is truly their personal trigger like most of us....here's an extremely daring (and debatably guinea pig stupid) thought to determine if alcohol will trigger or not...

if you are getting "rogue hits" such as I have over these past few weeks and not sure if you are starting a cycle or not, try a drink or two.  The beast will hit or not.

I'm not much of a gambler after residing in Las Vegas 19 yrs, so I wouldn't take the chance of personally testing this daring test and live w/ the attitude of "preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best".

Good luck to anybody testing this

For my money...Tom Waits is the clusterhead poet....

In cycle..."The Piano Has Been Drinking....NOT me....NOT me"

LasVegas wrote on Aug 29^th, 2011 at 10:18pm:

if you are getting "rogue hits" such as I have over these past few weeks and not sure if you are starting a cycle or not, try a drink or two.  The beast will hit or not.

This is my situation exactly!  I was in denial about it after having been PF for so long.  Putting down a couple cold ones confirmed my fears though.  I used to be extremely regular, every night at precisely 12:32am I'd get nailed.  The past couple weeks have been kind of random though.

It used to be that I could be certain that my hits would be much more intense and eminent if I consumed any type of alcohol while in cycle.  But this cycle has been different.   I seem to either get hit or not,  regardless of what I do, alcohol consumption included. 

I like beer too and have found the good beer (Sam Adams, for example) will bring one on when one of the thin beers (Miller Lite) won't.  This has me wondering if it's the alcohol or perhaps the hops.

Basically reposting what many have already said. My SO cannot have a single sip of a beloved Stone IPA or Founders Centennial or many, many other beers that he so enjoys during his "season." Big, big pain follows if he tries. This year is a little off, as hes been exhibiting some symptoms (minus the actual pain itself), so we've been able to take advantage of the many seasonal festival offerings in our neck of the woods. Some hope for those who may perchance luck on a regime that works (took my darling 10 years).