Hello from a C/H sufferer's mom.  I gladly share the little I know because I am in desperate search for help for my son and speaking to fellow sufferers is my best source.  Bless you all for sharing your personal journey, tips, and experiences.

My son's clusters started at 14 years old.  He diagnosed himself through internet research when the doctors were scratching their heads.  We got an oxygen concentrator to abort the headaches and it works!  Unfortunately, you can't drag around a large H2o box with you through life.  He is against drugs so he never tried the calcium channel blockers the specialist prescribed years ago.

There is a really cheap commercial on television that advertises a product called "head-on".  It doesn't even say what it does - you have to make the assumption that it is for headaches.  My son tried it for his cluster headaches and said it really helps.  he rubs it on at first onset of pain.  His application is above his eye and temple on the side of the pain.  He swears it helps him much more than just suffering through cold turkey.  In some instances, it has aborted the full impact of the episode.

I just read about the herb Kudzu and want to get it for him today to try since he is in a cluster now.  Has anyone tried it?  What about Melatonin?  I read that it helps in a small percentage of patients.

Any other natural or pharmaceutical cures or help would be great.  Please share what you know.  And above all, know that I will pray for each of you.

C/H Mom

You have never been diagnosed by a Neuro.?

          Potter

I'm with Potter on this one.  Your son has never been diagnosed by a licensed MD?

I hope you can get your son to a neuro who's familiar with CH very soon. Getting proper medical care is very important in dealing with CH I think. It's even more important to have him checked to rule out other things. Some diseases have similar symptoms.

How old is your son now?

Lottie

If the oxygen concentrator helps, pure oxygen will seem almost miraculous. Look into having oxygen prescribed. It's cheap and incredibly effective as an abortive. And the E-tanks are very portable. Do read the link on the left as it must be used correctly.

And let us know what he's seen as far as doctors and specialists. The brain is one area where self diagnosis is useful for the early stages of diagnosis, but only as an assist to a good neuro. There are so many things you want to make sure you eliminate.

As a parent, I can only imagine the hell you go thru watching your kid suffer. Thanks for being the supporter you are.

Joe