Hi, I am brandnew here.  Just sitting at home and waiting for my oxygen apparatus to arrive between 9-12 am. Then off to work again.

I am 62, a smoker, self diagnosed 5 years ago after suffering from "sinus" headaches for years.  Once diagnosed corectlt I took attenolol for a couple of years and it was a miracle for me.  Then the headaches came back, uped the dose for another 12 months free from pain.

Can't push the antenolol any higher.  My pulse rate is at 50 now.

I am moving up the latter looking for relief.  There are not too many things I have not felt as with other suffering folks.

I have resolved that there is not a known cause or mechanism that logic can then fix.  I have experiment with triggers and only find alcohol to be one sure trigger.  Beer and wine.  Viagra may have been another and have not tried that again while in a cycle.  Jokes here are okay!

There are certainly a lot of people out there with very serious levels of pain.  It breaks my heart.

As much as we want this to go away, it seems that it won't.  Tomorrow will be different most likely.  For better or worse.

I am having two a day this week. Last week was a little worse.

I will see a nueroligist next week.

Hang in there friends.

Hi Ronald and welcome,

   I admit I had to look up this medication you are taking as this is a new one on me to treat Cluster headaches.


Quote:

Atenolol is also used sometimes to prevent migraine headaches and to treat alcohol withdrawal, heart failure, and irregular heartbeat. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition.

 I'm glad you are using 02 to abort, and I hope that together with your Neuro that you can come up with some other choices for you to use as a preventative.

 There are lots of us who are smokers here.  More so than the averasge I would have to say and as bad as cigarettes are they have not shown to be a factor for triggering a cluster headache or making it worse.   As you have found alcohol is a very definite trigger though for episodics.

Please stick around here and let us know how the neuro appt. goes.  You won't find a better place in the world than right here for informastion and support.

Linda


 

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE
Latest greatest from the laboratory. Good luck at the neuro's.
all the best
thebb
not from the laboratory
clusterbusters.com

Thanks Linda and Thebb,

I made the appointment  with the Neuro today and will see him late next week.  The O2 man failed to show today but said he will come tomorrow (his head probably does not hurt right now).

Thanks for the tips and the tech paper.  I will let uoy know what the Neuro says next week.

I was surprised when my regular Doctyor said not to try to quit smoking right now.  He already new that it would not help me in the short run.  I will try Chantix when I get through this episode though.

Maybe you guys sent me some good endorfins.  I missed my 2 PM headache today!  Maybe the 8PM one will slip past too.

Thanks for being around to welcome me.

Ron (Ronald)

I started taking Atenolol for hypertension about seven year ago. It was after I had already developed CH. After my dose was increased to 50 mg a day, I went into a four year CH remission. When I stopped taking atenolol (wrong move for many reasons) I came out of remission. I don't know if there's a connection because someone else was recently stating that she thought atenolol was a trigger for her.

Hi,

In my case, Atenolol (a Beta-blocker) was perscribed for the cluster headaches.  My blood pressure was a little hi and the doctor said that the side benefit would be to lower my blood pressure. (all my blood stats for every common thing are good now). The intial dose was 50 mg and I am at 100 now.  Still taking it because I know it worked for a long time.  I did go down to 75 when I was in remission  then back to 100 at the onset of this epidode.

It worked well for me for a long time.  Like most of the chemicals, they may not work for everyone.

For this epidode the doctor prescribed a calcium blocker that had no effect.  Under his guidance I stopped takinging it yesterday (after about 14 days).  I have not a had an attack today although two were on my schedule.  

This epidode started as night attacks and seem to have shifted to the day and evening.  I avoid all naps and if I get sleepy I try to do something to stay busy.

I do not go to bed early either.  I wait until a late time to retire.  This is not a strategy or a belief that it helps.  Just a dread of getting one if I sleep.

Thanks for your input.

Ron

I forgot to mention  that if you google Atenolol and cluster headache together you can get additional information.

That's strange -- when I was first diagnosed, this resident was giving me something to "help" me stop smoking. This old doc (neuro) came in and looked at my chart and D/Ced that order immediately, ordered a wheelchair and rolled me out of the hospital for a "smoke". Told me "this was NOT the time for that one!"

My neuro never mentions me quitting.

Let us know what your neuro says....

Hugs BD

Hi BD,

Not sure what the strange part was about in your reply.

Ron

hi ron,

i can recommend chantix, worked for me after a number of failed attempts over the years. while quitting unfortunately does not seem to help with CH, I found that improved breathing and general health certainly help in terms of coping with CH .

qaz

Thanks QAZ,

Chantix is the perscription I have.  I just need to go pick it up.  You are right, If quitting smoking improves health, it's the right thing to do.  I don't remotely belief there is any direct connection with CH.

Sometimes I will smoke during the  CH attack.  Can't say that it did anything one way or the other.  Mostly a way to make time pass instead ofwatcing the clock.  I do not actualy smoke much of the cigarette.

Two days have passed with just one headach allthough I have a very low throb all this morning.  The one attack yesterday was relieved by the Oxygen after about five minutes.  I stayed on the oxygen about 10 minutes total.  It seems to have worked to shorten or abort the attack.

Thanks.
Ron

Welcome aboard but I'm sorry we have to get to know you because of this horror.  Your mention of a beta-blocker reminded me that for several years I took one called Inderal. Very few, if any, here had luck with it but it seemed to catch up with it after a time. Just thought you might like to know. Also, here is a technique that made things a lot more bearable. It works for some:

                                         Dr. Wright’s Circulatory Technique:

I am not sure what mechanism is triggered by this but whatever it is, at least indirectly helps kill the pain. I do know that this technique has nothing to do with meditation, relaxation, or psychic ability. It is entirely physical and takes some work. It involves concentrating on trying to redirect a little circulation to the arms, hands, or legs. Think of feeling your pulse in your hand. Increased circulation will result in a reddening and warming of the hands. The important and difficult part is that it has to be done without interruption through the pain. Do not give up in frustration. It may not work on the first try. Try experimenting between attacks. You will find that it gets easier with practice. Every now and then it will work almost immediately. I lived for those moments.

I was given less than five minutes instruction in the use of method. The doctor, while placing his arm on his desk, showed me that he could slightly increase his arm and hand circulation. After several attempts, I was able to repeat this procedure and use it successfully. I have had about a 75% success rate shortening these attacks. My 20 minute attacks were often reduced to 10 minutes or less. Once proven that I had a chance to effectively deal with this horror, I always gave it a try as I had nothing to lose but pain.

I used to try to imagine I was pushing blood away from my neck into my arm. Use your imagination. There is one man who wrote that his standing barefoot on a concrete floor shortened his attacks. This may be similar as it draws some circulation away from the head. Cold water, exercise, or anything affecting circulation, seems to be worth a try. My suggestion is to not let up immediately when the pain goes. Waiting a minute is probably a good idea. So long as you do not slack off, this has a chance of working.

This technique is very useful while waiting for medication to take effect or when none is available. It costs nothing, is non-invasive, and can be used just about anywhere. It is not a miracle but it helped me deal with this horror. It can be a bit exhausting but the success rate was good enough for me and a cluster headache sufferer will do just about anything to end the pain. It gives us a fighting chance.

Charlie      

Hi Charlie,

First let me thank you for taking the time to welcome me.  I noticed that you spend a lot of time suporting CH people.  I am in awe at the 15,000 + posts.  I think I should have the ability to do the techniques you talk about.

I plan to take a trip in July and have started to worry about how I would cope.  Your suggestion gives me a solution that should work in a classroom or on an airplane.

The O2 worked well for me today.  Start to finish in ten-fifteen minutes.  My attacks are never shorter than 40 minutes so this has been very beneficial.

Thanks again.

Ron