Hi there,

My CHs have been starting up again.  I started the D3/Anti-inflammatory regimen about a week ago which seems to have been starting to work, but I'm in Northern CA and our air quality is really terrible with the fires/smoke.  I had a KIP 8 this morning, and before this it's been mostly shadows and a few KIP 3-4s that I was able to abort with an icepack to the temple. 

I went to the Dr. this week to get the usual prescriptions for me: Verapamil, Prednisone taper & Immitrex, but I was hoping the anti-inflammatory regime would work instead, so I haven't started them. 

My question is,  should I take the CH this morning as a signal that I need to start taking Verapamil and the Prednisone taper?  Can I take Verapamil and Prednisone and the Anti-inflammatory regime together? 

Or should I keep trying to get the right mix with the Anti-inflammatory?  I've taken the 50,000 ICU D3 once yesterday and another today, and I was planning on moving to 20,000 ICU for the next few days to get things under control (hopefully).  I was already taking 25mg of Benadryl 2 times a day.  After reading through some more posts, it looks like I can up that to 4 times a day.  Maybe the smoke is causing a reaction that is triggering the CHs?

I'm getting on a plane on Tuesday for a trip for Thanksgiving, and I'm starting to panic about things worsening between now and then.  Any advice is appreciated.

I've had an 8 year break from CHs.  I'm grateful for the break I've had, but I'm really sad that they are back. 

Thanks,
Lori

G'day, Lori,  and I'm sorry the ghost has come back to haunt.  I can't help with the medication matter but when it comes to the smoke I've found the only relief is to live in air conditioning and to wear a surgical mask if I have to go out.

I hate both but when the bushfires are on I have no option.  Won't be fighting the things any more,  either,  but I still support those who do.

Stay safe,

Brian.

Hi Lori, Could be your cycle is just ramping up, mine usually starts light and builds up for a week or so but still any lung irritants can’t help matters and that smoke is plenty thick. If you are just starting the D3 regimen I think Batch recommends 600,000 units over a twelve day period for a loading dose...the only real success I’ve had was following that course. After that you drop down to 10,000 a day.  Benadryl has helped me also. I’m not much help on the meds, oral sumatriptans are the only drugs I take and then only when I’m getting hit really hard. hope you have access to oxygen, it’s a life saver!
    Good luck,  Sean

Thanks Sean & Brian,

After reading your comments, I think I'll keep on the 50,000 ICU of D3 for longer, and I went ahead and started the Prednisone as extra help too.  I think I may start the Verapamil too.

I had another small one this AM, but quickly woke up and got the ice to abort it.  If I catch it early enough that seems to work, and not going back to sleep afterwards.  It doesn't seem like this is going anywhere anytime soon, but hopefully I can keep it minimal.

Thanks again!
Lori

Lori,

Do you have Oxygen?

Peter.

If it is the smell of the fire, try putting something on your nostrils to block it. I use cinnamon tiger balm. Use it sparingly, it burns. It helps when my neighbor lights up his stove and uses crappy wood.

I have also used Burt’s Bees peppermint lip balm, peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil.

Hey Lori,

You've received some excellent advice on the anti-inflammatory regimen.  Stick with the 12-Day vitamin D3 accelerated loading schedule at 50,000 IU/day for 12 days.  Don't forget the magnesium and the other vitamin D3 cofactors. They're all essential for a favorable CH response to this regimen.  Here are a few observations based on feedback from hundreds CHers dating back to December of 2010.

There's no problem taking verapamil with this regimen as a preventative or triptans as an abortive.  I prefer oxygen therapy with hyperventilation as the safest and most effective CH abortive.  The 200 mg of calcium in the Adult 50+ Mature Multi does not appear to hamper verapamil.  Steroids like prednisone should be avoided as it is a double edged sword.  On one hand it will help reduce the frequency of CH as an anti-inflammatory.  However, on the other hand, it limits the effectiveness of vitamin D3 and also carries some onerous side effects. 

Accordingly, it's best to avoid prednisone.  Instead, I double the Omega-3 fish oil dose and add at least 1000 mg/day turmeric (Curcumin) as both serve as excellent natural anti-inflammatory agents.

The smoke from the fires contains a lot of particulate matter and other pollutants that act as inflammatory agents and allergens.  I keep a bottle of simple saline nasal spray handy and rinse my nasal passages a couple times a day and before bed.  This helps remove a lot of the offending particulate matter from the nasal passages.

Diet can also help if you avoid dietary sources of inflammation.  By this I mean avoid all sugars including commercial fruit juices and soda pop. You also need to avoid wheat, wheat products such as bread, pasta, pizza and other high starch foods as well.  Sugar, wheat and wheat products and other starches act as inflammatory agents so should be avoided while in cycle.

A ketogenic diet is the way I would go until you're out of your present CH cycle or even longer if you want to shed a few pounds.

Hope this helps.  Please keep us posted.

Take care,
V/R, Batch