Well how in the world are all y'all? Lurked here during my last cycle,which was 3 yrs ago. Last winter I got lucky and aborted the cycle with a steroid taper and 75mg of lyrica 3 times a day. Praise the Lord!! I haven't seen anyone mention what I call my neck tension. It always preceeds the cycle for me it's an odd feeling right as the base of my neck and is sort of like a tightening of the muscles but not. I know I don't describe this well. It seems to last the duration of the cycle. But at the first sign I was at my GP'S office last time and the regieme for about 1.5 months worked. After reading some of the stories here I count myself lucky to have such an understanding doc. If only the blasted insurance companies were so good. My doc has ridden this foul train with me for the past 12 year's now. This year not so lucky. Though I think I have peaked I hope and pray I have just had 3 a day. Forgot to do the taper but have been using the lyrica. Thank god for samples, havent had to pay for any. The beast first had me 1 night when I was in my very early teens I think, at least i remember dragging the dresser around in my bedroom because my head had exploded, and my mother giving me an asprin and fussing at me to go to sleep. Not sure about any head injury at the time. I know I had a few good knocks growwing up.And since as well. A couple cycles in my 20's which may have been lessened thanks to my early affinity for shrooms. Started becoming more regular every couple of years in my late 30's and through the 40's, I'm now 52. God how I remeber the first shot of Imitrex I got. Was in the middle of a cycle and tried a new doc. He thought it was a migraine and told me about this new med on the market! Lay down here he siad and lets try this stuff out. Of course I would have teied anything. Damn but I think that first shot was better than my first orgasm  :D  at least I remeber that first shot LOL. Anyhow have learned a lot here and used the info to train my doc. Thanks to all here, and thats from the bottom of my heart!!!!!!. This time around not so good but the freq is low. Stoped taking weekend naps. A cople of nights ago I found some 4 year old imitrex tabs in the cubord, so dont know if they are why i have had 2 pf nights in a row but sure am happy. Take 1 just before i nod out. Seems last time i had some frova tabs and did the same thing. Gotta start a damn journal. I dont seem to learn to well. Yall told me too, I didnt listen. Oh and the red bull i just tried in the morning well 3 morning's now has killed the 7:30 am one leaving just a heavy shadow. Hit a k5 on the second day, I think that was because doc said try an excedrin migraine with the red bull. Didn't like that at all. If this cycle ever quits i'm sure looking at the clusterbuster idea, Just found them and their research sounds good. Sorry to be so long winded Really just wanted toay hi. And to also thank the best wife ever for helping me to deal with the BEAST.
Jim

Also wanted to thank DJ for hooking me up here at the board.
Jim

hi Jim

that's spooky about your neck tension - my husband was just saying tonight how tensed up my neck has been since this cycle began! (I've been saying how my neck has hurt apparently about half an hour before my hit kicks in), so he rubs my neck for me (also a good distraction when the hit starts) and he said its pretty tensed up. Strange!

hope your cycle ends soon




Fran

Thanks Fran! Really just noticed this over the past couple of cycles. Do you have a weird kind of feeling at the base of the neck. Sure glad you have someone to love you. Great to have a neck rubber hunh? Wish you lots of PFd&n was that right?
Jim

Hi Jim,

Welcome to CH.com.  I invariably get the "neck thing" in the time leading up to, and during a cycle.  It's much worse during an actual hit--but compared to the hit itself, it's only a minor annoyance.   ;)  

Years ago, I used to be convinced that the "neck thing" was somehow the cause of the headaches, but it's clearly just a lovely added benefit of CH.  Roll head, stretch neck, Craaack...craaack...crack.  

Get any lumps or swelling in there?  Some of us do--often on the cluster side at C5, or at the base of the skull, or at C7/T1, where the neck meets the shoulder.  The lumps are swollen nerve ganglia and associated tissue--we call them "cluster lumps".

Pretty soon, I suspect one of our resident experts will be along to tell you more about oxygen therapy.  It's been very successful as an abortive for better than 70 percent of us.  In the meantime, take a look at the yellow "oxygen info" link at the left side of your screen, for information to get you started.

Sounds like you have a great doc.  

Best wishes,

George

The neck knot! I at one point was convinced if I could severe the nerve that started at the base of my neck I could relieve the pain all the way up the scalp. Thankfully I never followed through on the idea! ;D

For sure read the link on the left titled Oxugen Info. I'm 49, over 30 years of dancing with the beast, 02 is my first line and most effective abortive treatment. Even without insurance it's cheap, and no nasty med side effects. Do go to Clusterbusters.com and look at that option, hearing some awesome success stories there. And aren't supportive wives just a gift from God? ;)

Wishing you a short cycle this go around.

Joe

Thanks for the welcome guys. No lumps or knots other than the one at the top of the spine. Big round one with hair on it, kinda ugly. And yes Bach sent me some great info on the O2. Havent had to use the needle since monday night Hit about a K8 shortly after my kindly 3:30am wakeup call. Dosing the 7:30 am with Red Bull, hit Pretty strong on Wednesday morning. Really think it's stolling down now. Researching the fungus option pretty strong, think thats going to be my next plan of attack, and I will get the gear to use O2 and have on hand as well. Whats been scaring me is what happens when retirement comes and the insurance goes away. Going to have to come up with something cheaper for the golden years. Not that insurance does a whole hell of a lot now. Last Monday my doc wrote a script to give me 50 vials/momth of the generic suma of course now I'm fighting the prior auth nemisis. Doubt I will win. That's 4 grand so sure I won't see it.
Thanks again for all the help here!!!! Y'all are life safers.
Jim