Just wondering who all is having an unusual long episodic cycle this year. Looking through some old post looks like something strange is going on this year for us episodics. Just wanted to hear  from those that fall into this category. Going on 9-10 weeks myself- longest ever cycle for me but for some reason more dull this episode. Just thought it would be interesting to get some feedback on this to see if seasonal issues is playing some kind of roll this year. Thanks for the input.  Jay

Joe's last cycle, which was probably 1.5 years ago lasted for 7-8 months. We were suspicious of his new use of Imitrex on occasion. But can't really say for sure, and I'm sure if he needed it again, he'd try it again.

Good lord, how long are Joe's cycles on average. Thanks for the input.

I'm Christy's Joe! ;) For the first 20 years they were 2-3 months, 2X a year. Rarely longer then 4 months.  Then I hit my 40's and they kinda went all over the board. That 8 mother was a doozy but I've been in remission ever since! ("Cured" I keep telling my wife!) Try not to spend too much time stressing over how long a cycle runs, or figuring the cause of it. It'll drive you batty!

Joe

Yes I know what you mean Joe. I think It is getting to me trying to figure this cycle out. I guess I should be happy I have not had to resort to anything but energy drinks. I am trying the synergy kudzu thing what is the latest on kudzu? Have you ever tried it Joe. Also Joe have you ever had one of the cycles where you never realy got hit bad, nothing over kip 5. Thanks for the info.

My cycle this year is much longer than it usually is too.
My cycle is usually from April-June. 3 strong months, of daily hits of kips 10's.
Its August and i'm still getting hits, and multiple times a day. And also this time I notice my triggers are more defined and more specific and more classic. Like, I can usually smoke a cigarette while in cycle with no change to my symptons.....
but this time around....if I smoke a cigarette, I can feel a shadow GROWING into an immediate cluster with EACH inhaling puff :o
another....if i take a nap....or even begin to take a nap, like I get drowsy, i start feeling "the shadow".....
this is the worst cycle ever i've had.

My cycle is normally from November to March. However, this year, the cycle came to an end in early July, and it was not, by any means, a "normal" cycle. I never knew which side I would get hit, and I could drink alcohol without the worries of getting hit. That was a first in 14 years.

Now, I have been pain free for over 45 days, and loving every minute of it!

Weird year for me too.  Usually I'm January through March, but for some reason I started on July 22nd. 

My attacks have moved their times too, from a reliable 10:00 AM mid-morning office-pacer to a steady 2:00 AM wake up call.

The intensity this cycle is way up too, from a traditional Kip 6-7 ceiling to a new and unappreciated Kip 8-9. 

Lastly, the duration has gone way up too.  I used to max out at about 30 minutes per hit, but several times in the last few weeks, I've had hits go for 2 hours or more. 

I have no idea what is the deal with this year over previous ones.  The weather?  The economy?  Brett Favre playing for the frigging Vikings? 

-Ken

I agree, Ken. I must be Favre. Damn Vikings!

From what I have read and learned on this site,Favre could have as much a factor on lenthening cycles as anything else could, or is it the weather, prolonged use of meds, not using meds, eye color, age, dropped on head as kid, etc....

I am just amazed at all the info here and very thankfull for all of everyones input. Keep up the good work guys!! There has got to be a "c" out there for us, and everyones input gives us more knowledge on what works and what doesn't for them. Painfree vibes to everyone!!  Jay

For over 30 years my cycles were extremely predictable. Not in the sense that they were the same, but once I was a week into cycle I knew to within five minutes when an attack would come. Never more than once a day and usually once every two days, but always the same in a particular cycle. Also the duration would be exactly predictable in a particular cycle. This could be anything between 2 hours and 5 hours but always exactly the same to within minutes in a particlular cycle. I also knew that a cycle would last 3 months, and if it went past that it would be six months, although this was rare. I used to drive my doctor mad with this, he would say it was impossible but I knew it was true! All that seems to have gone out the window over the last ten years  since I have been taking meds. Now I get multiple attacks in a day, and I never know when they are going to come, and without an imigran shot they can last for many, many hours. A cycle can last anything between 6 weeks and 6 months. I am convinced that it is a result of the injections. I like the idea that I can control them at last, I use verapimil with the occasional injection, but somehow the complete predictability seemed to make them easier to handle. Mike

Hey Red Ryder;
The cycle that I'm in now is only in it's forth week BUT my last cycle lasted 11 weeks and I usually only go for about 6.
I never even thought about that.
Lets keep track of this!
Mike

I started a new cycle in mid-April...and it's still going strong...an average of one a day...occasionally none, then followed by a double hit.  This is entirely new, as for the 9 years before, it was always just before Thanksgiving until just after New Years.  Scared to death that I've got 20 or more years of this before I leave this great Earth.  I WON'T survive!

My cycles regularly lasted around 3 months. The longest being 9 months.

I am currently in my first cycle after a 6 year remission. Into about week 6 and not looking to set another long distance record.

Its not Favre. Its those damn Red Sox again. The anxiety is overwhelming.

Ok I am impressed to read this topic.

My cycle usually lasts for 2 - 2.5 months max.

This year I am entering soon the 4th month, and this NEVER happened to me in my entire life! The cycle was ended on the left side like 1 month ago, and started on the right side. I don't know whether these are 2 cycles combined in one, or if it's a one very long cycle.

RareBird wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2009 at 9:02pm:

The cycle was ended on the left side like 1 month ago, and started on the right side.

Does that make it a bicycle?

lol. Technically speaking yes it does. But actually it's more like a tank in my head, not a cute bicycle.

More like an Apache helicopter with a broken rotor churning out of control while firing off warheads in side my skull.

And just to add insult to pain and injury its towing a banner for sinusbuster.

So, I'm thinking that the one good thing to come out of this new, longer than ever cycle...which I guess is no longer a "cycle" but "life" is that I FINALLY went to a neuro, who confirmed what I've known..."Hi I'm Jay and I'm a clusterhead"...and seems genuinely interested in helping me...knows what it is and what to try. 
After upping my Verapamil dosage twice, he's now recommended a new med...Topamax.  Has anyone had any experience with this?  Sounds a little scarier than all the others, especially since he told me to get an EKG first!
And speaking of scary, daily Imitrex nasal...should I worry.  The package insert says "safety not tested for more than 4 uses in a 30 day period."  I'm going through 5 or 6 a week!

You decide for yourself but on the really bad days/nights I will use 3-5 nasal sprays and maybe throw in a couple of injections.

Yikes!  I pray I never get to that many doses...

So, question, Imitrex injection....better/quicker than nasal or not.  Pricier?  Is the injection available generic yet?

Jay F wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2009 at 9:25pm:

So, I'm thinking that the one good thing to come out of this new, longer than ever cycle...which I guess is no longer a "cycle" but "life" is that I FINALLY went to a neuro, who confirmed what I've known..."Hi I'm Jay and I'm a clusterhead"...and seems genuinely interested in helping me...knows what it is and what to try.  After upping my Verapamil dosage twice, he's now recommended a new med...Topamax.  Has anyone had any experience with this?  Sounds a little scarier than all the others, especially since he told me to get an EKG first! And speaking of scary, daily Imitrex nasal...should I worry.  The package insert says "safety not tested for more than 4 uses in a 30 day period."  I'm going through 5 or 6 a week!

Topomax never did anything for me. Works for some tho.

Jay F wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2009 at 9:38pm:

Yikes!  I pray I never get to that many doses... So, question, Imitrex injection....better/quicker than nasal or not.  Pricier?  Is the injection available generic yet?

Imitrex injection is the fastest working for me. Its also the most expensive. I used to pay close to 200 bucks for a box of 2 stat-doses. Now that I have great medical insurance I dont know how much it costs anymore, dont know if its the same or what since they now have generic sumatriptan succinate.
Imitrex nasal never did anything for me.

This year has been the worst season since I was 1st diagnosed with CH 5 years ago.  My 1st cluster started early (for me) this year - mid July and lasted for 5 weeks.  While the pain was not a "10" for any of my hits, they were 6-8, I was still miserable but was able to deal with the pain & inconvenience. 
Then I got a 10 driving home from Miami, called my Dr. & we started with some preventatives.  I was on a prednisone taper as well as verapamil.  Once I finished the prednasone we agreed to stop the verapamil due to the side effects I was experiencing, even though I had 8 straight days of relief. 
Then it was as if the beast was mad at me fro trying to stop the hits.  They came back with a vengence and have not let up for the last 3 weeks.  I have had more "10" hits in this cluster than the last few years combined.  Thank god for oxygen.  My cycle usually ends in September, but I am not so sure this year.  But yes this season is longer & stronger.

I will concur. This has been my longest cycle ever. As long back as I can remember they have lasted 2-3 months. They occur every 18 months or so. This year it made it into a 4th month and now will verapimal working i'm not quite sure if it is over or not.

Past couple of years have been very different from the previous 35 years.

Starts in April and lasts through June.  Starts back up in August and runs through October. Then closes the year off with a little cycle during the holidays.

Thus far this year is following the same trend. Just started another cycle last week after having my Spring cycle end in June.

The only good thing is that they have been very manageable and the attacks have been few and of a low level (except for last night).

Weird.

Steve G

Me too! Longer and "different" ... usually have a 2.5 month cycle somewhere between November and March. I had a really mild cycle in Feb/March but it stretched into April and then went seriously wrong in late May. All previous cycles [this is my eighth year] my attacks were in the early evening and usually one or two per night. By early July I was having 4-5 per day and from afternoon to 3:00 am ... my neuro then added Depakote to the Verapamil [480mg/day]. Started the Depakote at 250mg/day and that did nothing but make the attacks more severe. Two weeks later upped the Depakote to 500mg/day ... a week after that the Beast finally started to lessen up. Now in September, I still get light hits once a night, but way easier to handle.

O2 was my lifesaver! God bless the Gas!

Growing concerned I'm becoming chronic, in cycle since February with only fluctuations in time, frequency and intensity. Lithium may be next ... ugh ... really don't want to go there!

VERY interested in this thread ... if others are having similar weird cycles, maybe it's not me but some outer force? I haven't seen any news on any planetary alignments or reports of the Mothership approaching ... global warming maybe?  ;D