Hello, I am new. I posted an intro in another thread. I was recently diagnosed with CH after a trial of O2 in the ER resolved it. I've been to the ER 6 times in the last year because of headaches more painful than childbirth, I guess Kip 9-10? They can last hours so I am doing research for when I see the headache specialist.

My question is how high how has other people blood pressure has gone up during a CH? Consistently each ER trip it has been averaging 180/120. I do not have hypertension at all, not during pregnancy. Is this normal? Thanks.

JackBurton wrote on Jan 14^th, 2012 at 7:57pm:

Hello, I am new. Hiya JB...welcome aboard...grab an oar and row...aint no passengers on this boat.... I posted an intro in another thread. I was recently diagnosed with CH after a trial of O2 in the ER resolved it. I've been to the ER 6 times in the last year because of headaches more painful than childbirth, I guess Kip 9-10? They can last hours so I am doing research for when I see the headache specialist. You already got it most figured out...O2 is the ticket...get yourself a rig and a bottle...see the O2 link to the left. ER?...waste of time, money, and anguish...999/1000 they won't get it.... My question is how high how has other people blood pressure has gone up during a CH? Consistently each ER trip it has been averaging 180/120. I do not have hypertension at all, not during pregnancy. Is this normal? Thanks. Again..ER a waste...read, read, read everything here. BP WILL go high with extreme pain, aggitation, fear....it is a symptom of the condition...it don't mean  NOTHING beyond that. Treat the condition... BP is the least of your worries..... Best, Jon

I'm not sure how someone would go about trying to measure my BP during a CH. All I want to do is to grab my oxygen and work on killing the CH off.

I have oxygen, on a pred taper while verapamil builds up, and started the anti inflammatory regimen described by Batch. Evidently the magic words "cluster headache" got my PCP to listen instead of just trying another useless triptan. Trust me, I did not want to go to the ER but the pain was so very bad I irrationally thought I was going to die.

Hang in there JB and welcome aboard.  You've come to the right place.  It also appears you're on the road to taking control of your CH...  Good on you.  Please keep us posted on your progress with the anti-inflammatory regimen or if you have any problems with your oxygen therapy.

Take care,

V/R, Batch

I just am here to say 'here, here' and welcome to this misfit fam ;)

Thanks everyone. I am definitely a misfit. LOL.

I am just trying to gather info from other people's experiences because I don't exactly fit into what I've read about cluster headaches, for instance when they get to a high level of pain they can last for 6-8 hours. And I don't have this urge to move, if anything I want to be stock still. But on the other hand, O2 has worked to knock it down twice recently.

I am on Verapamil.  I don't think I have blood pressure anymore   :(

Gosh, I wouldn't have the slightest clue as to my blood pressure during a hit. I can't imagine slipping on the ol' BP cuff at a time like that, and I religiously stay away from emergency rooms for anything related to CH.

Brew wrote on Jan 15^th, 2012 at 3:51pm:

Gosh, I wouldn't have the slightest clue as to my blood pressure during a hit. I can't imagine slipping on the ol' BP cuff at a time like that, and I religiously stay away from emergency rooms for anything related to CH.

Could not have said it better! ;)

-Gregg in Las Vegas

JackBurton wrote on Jan 15^th, 2012 at 12:27am:

...but the pain was so very bad I irrationally thought I was going to die.

There's nothing 'irrational' about that, darlin'.

Hello,

I was on Verapamil once for about a week or so. I was sluggish and felt like i was gonna poop my pants all the time.  It didnt do a damn thing for my CH.

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Head on the Ball...
Coach Bill

I don't know the actual number, but high enough to cause severe petechia and sub conjunctival hemorrhaging.  Bled through the skin of my face and eyes.  My squad leader thought I was dying.  Poor guy was so freaked out and worried that he literally dragged my kicking an screaming self to the aid station, where I was finally diagnosed.  Good man. 

Never taken my BP during a HA, but i have taken my pulse, and it is 99 beats per minute.

My norm is 110 or 120 over something good..   (70 ish)


After a bad bout 1 night,  I got in to the Doc next day before noon.
My BP was very high for me, though I don't know the exact #.  (guessing 150++  over something )   This was "recovering", not actually during an episode.

Hey -
Just last week, I had a level 2 shadow at the neuro's office right before getting a nerve block.  He had to take my vitals before the procedure and my pulse was 105 and BP 120/60.  My normal BP is around 100/60.
I'm on 360mg of Verapamil, btw.
Immediately after the Occipital Nerve Block (which aborts the CH), my BP went back down to 103/60 and heart rate started dropping as if I were recovering from a workout.

It's the first time I ever had any measurement of this sort during any shadow or attack of CH. 
I can not imagine what the BP or heart rate would be at level 10.

thought it was very interesting.

mine has been as high as 180-190/130 or so. if i go to the ER they ussually give me somthing to knock me out(ussually dilaudid) i deal with it now the best i can and avoid the ER if possible.

For me high BP comes with the CH. Might have something to do with the pain or the anticipation of it.
all the best
the bb

I actually did have a hit once while in my neuro's office.   The intern was able to check my BP during the hit, I don't recall the exact figures but it was significantly higher than usual...  that 180/120 range sounds about right.   It's crisis range... but all due to the pain.    I was actually curious at the time if cranking that BP cuff on the arm might help the pain.  It didn't.   As a side note, I believe Imitrex will cause a rise in BP that may still show up 12-24 hours after use.

Andrew