Since my first cycle was 3 years ago, I'm not sure what to look for as signs that the cycle is ending.  Just wondering what others experience when their's comes to an end.

As far as mine go, I usually stop having as many headaches per day as usual, and sometimes they aren't as bad as usual. Not always though, sometimes they just stop all at once. 

For me, the HA's start decreasing in number per day then per week and maybe even occur at odd times.  I also know that so far I have always had them consistently for 8 weeks.  I keep a HA log every time and look at it to see changes.  I usually have a day at the end that is like a finale where I have one to three headaches back to back that are intense.  Then I just don't have anymore.  I am usually exhausted by then and tend to sleep more.  After 2 weeks with no HA's...I consider them gone.  However, my last two cycles have left me with terrible cluster brain feelings...sore head/neck/ear/eye, weak, foggy minded.  But, 2 weeks and 3 days later this time...I woke up and even that feeling was just gone....poof...like magic. 
Hope this helps
Joni

Marc,

Everybody's experience with CH is different in both duration of cycles, and intensity of hits.  Mine, for instance, always started slow, maybe one or two hits a day, than would ramp up to "peak" with more hits of higher intensity, then gradually slide back down.  Once that downward slide started, I knew that the cycle was coming to an end, but ....and here's the kicker, once back to the one or two per day hit and lower intensity level, that cycle could still linger on for another few weeks, or end the very next day.

I recommend you keep a journal, marking every hit with time of day, duration of hit, and intensity of hit.  This might help you to determine how your cycle works.  But, remember, this beast we deal with likes to change things up, so nothing is ever the same.

Wish I could be of more help.

Sandy

Hello. My cycles usually start at the peak, if that makes sense, then plateau for a bit with up to five hits a day, before tailing off. I have had them for at least three/four years but this year is the first time I have got it together to keep a diary, which I have found really useful. I find that even if I haven't had a hit for a week or so, drinking a glass of beer will still give me pain but otherwise they seem to tail off after 5 or 6 weeks. Hope this helps.

Sandy_C wrote on Oct 13^th, 2009 at 5:31pm:

Once that downward slide started, I knew that the cycle was coming to an end, but ....and here's the kicker, once back to the one or two per day hit and lower intensity level, that cycle could still linger on for another few weeks, or end the very next day.

Very similar here....


Lefty...!

Frequency begins to taper, less shadows, and I start sleeping again.

I wake up and don't get my good morning kiss from the beast, and usually that means he's gone.

Thanks for all the replies.  I think my cycle may be winding down.  My hits don't hurt as much, and I only had one yesterday and last night I didn't get anything from 8pm on.   :)

I've noticed at the end of each cycle, I stop thinking about it and sure enough, no more hits till next cycle.  It's like the beast was erased from your mind.
Your body knows it's over.

Shadows are a precursor to a cycle for me.  Then the headaches will hit typically at Kip 8 or 9 for me.  I know the cycle is going away, when my CH spreads out to more than a week between hits.

Sandy_C wrote on Oct 13^th, 2009 at 5:31pm:

Marc, Everybody's experience with CH is different in both duration of cycles, and intensity of hits.  Mine, for instance, always started slow, maybe one or two hits a day, than would ramp up to "peak" with more hits of higher intensity, then gradually slide back down.  Once that downward slide started, I knew that the cycle was coming to an end, but ....and here's the kicker, once back to the one or two per day hit and lower intensity level, that cycle could still linger on for another few weeks, or end the very next day.

Bingo!  This describes my cycles exactly.

For me, I notice I have less frequent CH's, just a few per week. But the real clue for me is when the shadows stop between those hits. That's when I start finally feeling better. Then my attitude gets better. Then it seems all the positive stuff begins to snowball and the beast is out of there for...a year?...2 years?...3? Don't know any more.