Hi.  Stymie here back on the site after a 3.5 year remission.  They do get longer with age, at least for me.  I'm 46 and have been episodic since 21. 

I'm getting usual premonitory (pre-episode) symptoms, which I started recognizing 4 or 5 episodes ago.  A few days or up to 2 weeks of the shadows, pretty low intensity though consistent.  Not sure I've always had these, but definitely the last few episodes.

Just out of curiosity I searched around for papers on premonitory symptoms, and like last time I searched I could only find abstracts, and assume would need to pay the journal publisher.

So after a few dead ends I thought I'd ask the community if any of the following are available anywhere:

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

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

Or maybe I'd have to pay for it, not trying to "cheat" the system per se, but figured cant hurt to ask.

This is more than my own morbid curiosity.  My doctor is good and understanding (i.e. agreeable to what I tell her I know I need..I'm sure after looking it up LOL), but she doesnt get many CH cases and since I'm seeing her soon, we can both learn something.

I do find these symptoms kinda interesting and it also gives me some leadway to order the tank and get the virapamil etc.  (oh joy).   One thing I have notices too is that the premonitory symptoms seem to last longer with every cycle.  Also the fade out period after peak pain/frequency, also with lots of shadows, seems to last longer as I get older.  So the episodes are getting longer in length, but with fewer bad headache (K7+) and the remissions generally are getting longer.  A worthy tradeoff I would say.

Thanks in advance, cheers and PFDANs to all

Your local library can order full copies of such articles, often free, sometimes at quite reasonable cost.

Just be sure to have the full citation: author, title; journal details--date, volume, etc.

Thanks Bob.  Good to see you still active here in helping people out.  Hope all is well.

Good advise, however I live in Vietnam, so no library option.  Although I go to a western medical clinic, with a pretty good doctor (I came to him armed with the requisite info years ago). 

Sometimes I end up having to see a doctor in Bangkok (where I travel to fairly frequently) if they cant get me verapamil here.  BKK is pretty good with qualified neurologists...but even there I am a bit of a "case study" for them as they dont see too many CHers.  But they do take a professional interest, which is nice.

The upside of Vietnam is that its no problem getting a large O2 cannister delivered to my door, and with refills delivered for about $7 each  :)

Anyway, after more digging on those articles I found a link where I could formally request a pdf. So hopefully that works out.

Regards