alcohol big problem i dont post much but read the board like a bible member for 5 yrs.chronic all my life but still drink a beer every once in a while i dont let this thing in my head run my life. I take no meds i deal with this thing in my head He will not concore me.

Callico wrote on Oct 24^th, 2010 at 4:16pm:


I've been having CHs for just under 6 months now, so it's likely I may be chronic (although I'll need to wait for another 6 months before I can officially meet the definition of chronic).

I am fine drinking beer, wine and spirits, although I "just know" which days I can have a drink (just one) and when I can't. I've only once ever had a CH on a day when I've had a drink.

However once when just getting over a CH someone came near me who had just used an alcohol based hand sanitizer which instantly triggered a new CH.

So maybe there is something, for me at least, that makes me sensitive to alcohol only when prone to a CH?

Mike, you're a lucky man. I've had to swear off going on about a year now.

Aussie B, I would have expected I could have shipped all the unused suds down under.Have a pint for me, would you mate.

-Chris

Everyone seems to experience variations in symptoms and this may be the case.  You mentioned ongoing pain ongoing pain around your eye, cheek, and side of head much of the time.  If this is an almost constant or constant thing you should investigate this thoroughly with your Neurologist.

I can’t say that I experience baseline pain but…
   
Following severe attacks I experience low level/residual nerve pain primarily behind my right eye that can also involve the right nostril, temple, jaw, forehead, and/or scalp.  This can last several hours into the following day but never reaches high levels of pain.  However, this is not almost constant and can be linked directly to experiencing a major attack.
    
Shadows are also experienced occasionally where I have all the twinges of attacks in all the usual places that never blossom into full attacks.  These are more of a nuisance with very low pain levels.  When these occur they are intermittent throughout an entire day and for me typically indicate that an unusually nasty night is ahead.  These are frequent enough to be noted in the journal but do not occur frequently enough to be considered almost constant.
   
I’m with you in the alcohol, it will trigger major attacks and it triggers them quickly.  In my case solvents (gasoline, paint, paint thinner, pesticides, etc.) can also lead to major attacks but not rapidly like alcohol consumption.  I’m not sure I can consider solvents triggers but instead think of them as contributors to increased severity in attacks that occur following their use.
 
burnt-toast
(Tom)                  

Hey Chris,

I also often have the baseline headaches that you speak of.  My neuro/ HA specialist is very aware of them, and did not seem concerned in the least.  Since they are low-level and usually present, I do not take any abortives to try to help, and can tolerate them for the most part (though it is Very annoying). 
I would share with your doc, see if they have any comments?  Always good to let 'em know what's up! 

As far as drinking on cycle (what's a cycle? hah) - I am chronic and do drink... I did not for the first 6 mos of my "ongoing cycle" - at first alcohol did trigger CHs.  I tried one day and they were no longer triggering!     Some chronics can get away with it... I am sure some can't. 

Val

The docs are well aware of my symptoms but are really focusing on the major episodes. Since I'm chronic with no remission as yet other than 3 amazing days I had where I thought I was cured for good. That didn't last long. I've tried a drink here and there, especially when I first started, but no good.
You folks that are episodic have a nice light at the end of the tunnel. I'm sure that doesn't help much for the pain while in cycle, but at least you know it's temporary. Full time 24/7 presents a different outlook. It actually seems most here are episodic, thank god.

I agree with Joe that it is funny how we deal with this mess.  After 20+ yrs episodic I've been chronic for 8+(I quit counting) and unless they end I'd rather stay chronic.  I know what I'm dealing with, and I've developed a pretty good regimen for dealing with it.  You have not yet gotten a handle on CH, so for you it is a more difficult matter.  To me, when I get a couple of days PF I'm on pins and needles just waiting for it to hit again.

I actually had a break of almost 9 weeks with nothing more than light shadows with a couple of 5's just for fun, but when they hit again I had forgotten how bad they were and had trouble dealing with them again.  I had lost the mindset. 

You'll get there.  Once you find what really works for you you'll just live with it and make the mot of your life between hits.  I guess that is the main thing.  Getting a handle on dealing with it so that you can make your focus on the good times rather than the bad.

Jerry

Callico wrote on Oct 26^th, 2010 at 10:03pm:


Jerry, that's where I am right now. Blessed relief from years of chronic hits, and while I'm grateful, I am waiting for the sequel to come out. I hate sequels.  Blessings. lance

bradish wrote on Oct 27^th, 2010 at 9:38pm:


Just as everyone's trigger pattern is different, so it is with preventatives. Sometimes a preventative will work once or twice (as ergotamine and caffeine did for me) but not another time after that. Verapamil in low doses worked for me in the beginning, but only now on much higher doses. Some of the more common preventatives you'll see around here are both Rx and OTC. Things like verapamil, lithium, topamax, even anticonvulsants like depakote. OTC remedies include kudzu, melatonin, Batch's ph diet, nonhaullicinogenics, and energy drinks. O2 of course. It does seem these things are like runaway trains. It's easier to stop them before they get momentum. Prayers are with you. God bless! lance

And thank you, Jerry. I know that and it's a great feeling being surrounded by so great a cloud of fellow sufferer's.