CH and Migraines

[igdc]

For those of you who also have chronic migraine, do you find that your migraines get worse and/or more frequent during a CH cycle?

I seem to be tapering down from my CH cycle, and it occurred to me that I've had fewer migraines (more like my normal number) in the last month. I asked my doctor and she said that her patients with both often see an increase in the migraines during a CH cycle. While miserable for us the oh-so-lucky ones, that's kinda interesting. Curious if others here have experienced the same, and if you've seen anything that explains that. Thanks.

[kat_92]

@igdc hey! This is interesting. I had the same situation. There were days where I didn’t have any ch type pain behind my eye (usual) but I had a migraine so bad I couldn’t even move my head. I’m not sure if it was an actual migraine or just an all over headache from all the meds I was trying.

kat 

[Jamesmsv]

I definitely see some sort of link between CH and migraines. I grew up suffering migraines in my teens and twenties, then when clusters came on (when I hit 30) the migraines stopped. A couple of years ago I started busting and had no CH for 2 years, but did have a few migraines. 

Aside from noticing that, I'm afraid I hit a dead end when wondering what to do with that information. 

 

[MoxieGirl]

Hi,

Unfortunately I've not been able to isolate that kind of correlation. But, I do routinely have 300-500 headaches, migraines and clusters a year. 

Thankfully, busting is good for migraines too, btw. 

I was once in day 2 of a week long migraine when I got a really bad cluster headache. I think the cluster scared the migraine away, because afterwards I was utterly pain free for about 2 hours. Then the migraine returned. 

Mox

[Cannabeme]

CBD oil works for migraine, but it works better before you have an episode rather than during you have an episode. I used to have migraines usually once or twice a month and then they would last for about 3 to 4 days, but now, I take CBD Harlequin Feminized, 2 drops daily under my tongue empty stomach in the morning, and I am free of these migraine pains.

[Siegfried]

Hi Ihdc,

There is definitely an effect that both have on each other.  Migraine is well known to imitate a co-existing TAC and can do that damn well.

For 8 years I have been diagnosed with CH but the specialists recently have revised it to Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania (CPH) and I also have migraine since I am 12 years old. So even I am a man, I am keeping very much on the female side of the headache spectrum 

Since a few months, I am now under treatment with one of the most renowned CH experts in Europe and he told me this is a typical pattern when migraine and CH are co-existing. It can even go that far the patient can not know the difference anymore between a CH attack and the migraine imitation.

That is more or less my case as well. Even a high doses of indomethacin stops my attacks completely, I am absolutely not better off as the migraine keeps coming and is then just an imitation of the CPH. Exact the same pain, it goes not so high in pain level (max 7 while CPH can easily go to 9/10) but the big difference is that the CPH are only 5-10 min attacks while the migraine can last for hours and hours. 

I can imagine that your symptoms are very much standard which is that the migraine follows the pattern, cycle of the CH. 

I know it's a damn mess. People who have only one (migraine or TAC) can not imagine what it is to have both... its really unlucky and we have to deal with it the best we can

Good luck !

siegfried

 

[shadowcatsam]

I have both and a lot of both. Thankfully it IS mostly an either/or thing for me. When its both at the same time I loose it. 

[karinacooper25]

On 3/15/2020 at 8:07 AM, Siegfried said:

Hi Ihdc,

There is definitely an effect that both have on each other.  Migraine is well known to imitate a co-existing TAC and can do that damn well.

For 8 years I have been diagnosed with CH but the specialists recently have revised it to Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania (CPH) and I also have migraine since I am 12 years old. So even I am a man, I am keeping very much on the female side of the headache spectrum 

Since a few months, I am now under treatment with one of the most renowned CH experts in Europe and he told me this is a typical pattern when migraine and CH are co-existing. It can even go that far the patient can not know the difference anymore between a CH attack and the migraine imitation.

That is more or less my case as well. Even a high doses of indomethacin stops my attacks completely, I am absolutely not better off as the migraine keeps coming and is then just an imitation of the CPH. Exact the same pain, it goes not so high in pain level (max 7 while CPH can easily go to 9/10) but the big difference is that the CPH are only 5-10 min attacks while the migraine can last for hours and hours. 

I can imagine that your symptoms are very much standard which is that the migraine follows the pattern, cycle of the CH. 

I know it's a damn mess. People who have only one (migraine or TAC) can not imagine what it is to have both... its really unlucky and we have to deal with it the best we can

this

Good luck !

siegfried

 

I'm sorry to hear about your experience with co-existing Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania (CPH) and migraine. It sounds like it can be difficult to distinguish between the two and manage the symptoms. It's important to work closely with a healthcare professional to find the best treatment plan for your individual needs. Please keep in mind that everyone's experience is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. Take care of yourself and stay postive

[mit12]

For me when I get migraines everyday sometime between 1 and 2 weeks I will get a hit with clusters. I have never had a cluster attack with out having migraines first. When I have clusters they are on top of my migraine so after the hit the migraine is still there between the hits. I know the end is coming when the cluster changes sides and is way more intense for usually one long hit that last any where from 1.5 hours to the longest being 3 hours. This ends both the migraines and the clusters for a while. It totally wipes me out mentally.