Since this is essentially my first cycle, not sure what to expect when it ends. I just got done with 16 days on the prednisone and currently taking 480mg of verapamil.  I currently have not had a major HA since 8-23, but I am getting several minor HA's each day (maybe 2 or 3 on the scale), I can handle it, no big deal, their more annoying than anything. But my question is: is this pain(annoyance) supposed to go away completely between cycles or is it just something that hangs around and have to live with it.

John C wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2009 at 9:48am:

Since this is essentially my first cycle, not sure what to expect when it ends. I just got done with 16 days on the prednisone and currently taking 480mg of verapamil.  I currently have not had a major HA since 8-23, but I am getting several minor HA's each day (maybe 2 or 3 on the scale), I can handle it, no big deal, their more annoying than anything. But my question is: is this pain(annoyance) supposed to go away completely between cycles or is it just something that hangs around and have to live with it.

If you're episodic, like me....then pain goes away completely when the cycle is over....

..towards the end of a cycle, my clusters tend to act CRAZY.....they become even more unpredictable and I have lots of shadows........then they slowly go away..... ::)

Sounds like the end of a cycle with some "shadows" hanging around. Suggests you stay on Verap another week or two.

Since you are new to our "friend" you might find this of interest, especially last sentence.
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Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2001 Feb;5(1):55-9. 


Premonitory symptoms in cluster headache.

Raimondi E.

Catedra de Neurologia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, 9 de Julio 3826, Rosario 2002 PKP, Argentina. raimondi@cablenet.com.ar

Cluster headache is one of the most excruciating headaches affecting human beings--especially the male sex. Most of the cluster headache cases are of episodic nature, with active cluster periods lasting generally between a few weeks and 2 or 3 months. A still undetermined percentage of patients report nonpainful sensations preceding the onset of the pain attack for a variable period of time. If occurring only a few minutes or a few hours before the onset of pain, such symptoms are called prodromal. When occurring for several days, weeks, or months before the pain, they are termed premonitory symptoms. The author believes that premonitory symptoms have not been properly diagnosed and emphasizes the need to investigate their presence, because by knowing them advances can be made in the understanding of the physiopathology of this particular cephalalgia. Furthermore, it can also allow the physician to be ahead, by giving preventive treatment and stopping or diminishing the intensity and duration of the pain attacks.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 11252138