I haven't been on here in a while, apparently since the old message board.

Anyway, my headaches went away for two years. I knew they would return one day, but I was hoping.

I usually get signs or auras that let me know they're coming. I got a sign and didn't recognize it because it had been so long. I woke up two nights in a row for no reason. The first night at 4am, the second night at 2am (I'm assuming during REM sleep). On the third night, at 12:30: WHAM!!!!

I had a glass of whiskey before bed too, so that probably didn't help.

I went back to my old treatment. I downed two Mountain Dews (which I've kept for all this time just in case). Then I took a Nortriptyline which I had left over from my doctor. The cluster never made it past a 1/2 power and faded after about twenty minutes. I'm sure the alcohol prevented me from getting rid of it completely with the Dew.

I HIGHLY recommend the Dew treatment. That jolt of caffeine seems to work for me every time. But I still have the "haze" today. I just downed a starbucks mocha just in case. Was going out drinking tonight, looks like I'm going out but no booze.  :-[ :-[ :-[

peace

You get aura's???

Have you been to a good HA doctor and diagnosed with CH?

Try using energy drinks like Monster, Rock Star, Red Bull with at least 1000mg of Taurine along with the caffeine.
That should help too if taken immediately on onset.

You think Mountain Dew gives you a jolt?

Drink a big Red Bull, Monster, Rock Star, or NOS (or the like). These have taurine in addition to the caffeine, and the taurine sort of turbo charges whatever it's taken with.

That's why they work so well for us CH'ers.

Although not very common there are a few of us that get aura's, I'm one of those. I also am light sensitive and get nausea. Other than that I am textbook CH.

These syptoms are considered atypical CH but in my case and yours are just extra symptoms. Everyone here means well but may only understand the normal CH case and what goes with that.

Ask away, there are those of us that are not typical CH.

Don

Sucks that your back in cycle. At least you're one of the lucky ones who get auras. There are only a few of us. I used to fear them.  Like seeing your torturer pulling the hot iron out of the fire. Then I realize it gave me a few minutes to "prepare".

Mountain dew? Never tried it. The starbucks Doubleshots works wonders. A couple of those and I'm buzzing.

Hope your cycle ends quickly!

Paul

Yeah, the first time I had them I went to the hospital. They had no clue what was wrong with me and knocked my butt out with an IV of Benadryl .

Second time I went to my MD, and he tried Codeine and then Vicoden. Then he gave up and sent me to a Neurologist who knew exactly what was wrong with me. Apparently he was working on a paper about CH and wanted to know everything I could tell him about my symptoms and auras.

Yeah, I do get "signs" before I have them.

Oh, also my doctor (if you're in the Dallas area he is  Dr. K Shah) gave me Migquin a substitute for Midrin. I'm not sure if they work because I never take them alone. I always "do the Dew".

Thanks for the drink advice. Yesterday and today I've had Starbucks mochas as a preventive measure. Went out last night and couldn't drink.  :(

welcome back darkwalker
   I don't get auras ,,, but I notice that about two weeks before the dreaded big hit, I get a sort of tingle in the temple.   Always makes me stop in my tracks, and take notice, but  but but... it still takes me off guard.!!!   
   and now my cycle has ended, Dec 29, and I am having that same tingle feeling in the temple.  I guess it is just ramping-down.
   Getting less and less every day though.
  Never the less though It is still a bit un-nerving.

Hope your prepaired .          PFDand N for ya

The episode is is very odd this time. I had the one hit, and now just shadows. I'm taking my meds along with a melatonin pill at night. I might get brave and have a glass of Scotch today and see what happens.

Sometimes when you play with fire, you get burned. Just be prepared.

Welcome back...

As Brew stated the taurine in addition to the caffeine has had many a positive effect for many on the board..



Lefty...!

Dark,

HAve you tried O2 -- it's the standard around here. At high flow rates with the right mask it works to abort for about 70% of us and is our first line of defense against CH.

I'm chronic and have been off aborts almost totally except for O2 for the past year and half with the demand valve. I do keep Red Bull handy for those BIG HIT times.

As to the scotch... watch it... Most CHers swear off alcohol during a cycle. For most it's a sure fire way to get hit.

Keep us up to date and hopefully you'll have a short cycle, but check in even when you're out of cycle -- help someone else... that's what we're all about here...

Hugs BD :-*

I've been a fairly heavy drinker most of my life. When I got my first cycle I tried 3x getting snockered before I was expecting my 1st hit of the night thinking I could just knock myself out. Big big mistake for me. All 3x I had a k9 after 1 beer.

I wouldn't advise alcohol while in or close to a cycle. Just my personal experience.

Welcome to the board, just echo a few earlier comments. Sugar Free Red Bull is my energy drink of choice. Fairly easy to chug fast and the taste isn't half bad. Great abortive. Do look into getting oxygen, read the oxygen info link on the left to better understand the set up. 30 years of CH and still nothing beats 02 for knocking an attack out.

Alcohol...bad Mojo! In cycle I don't touch alcohol, all but guarantees me a nasty hit. We joke a lot on the board about "The Beer Test." When you're sure the beast is gone......you pull your 02 tank next to you, make sure it's full, then down a beer! No headache, you know for sure the cycle is done! ;D

Joe

Yeah, I use alcohol to determine if it's over. I know, I know...ask and ye shall receive. However I drank a beer last night: nothing. Very, very strange. All of my other episodes have lasted at least two weeks. This time I had one headache, and then gone.

But...last night, I again woke up at 4am for no reason. I'm going to go ahead and take my melatonin tonight to make sure my REM doesn't get disturbed two nights in a row. I know that some theories claim that our natural cycle being thrown off can cause an episode.

I'll lay off the booze for a few more days just in case.

Also, anyone ever get a CH after running? I went back to running recently, and I was just curious. Seems like I was running during my last cycle.

P.S. I have NOT tried O2. I actually just read an article about how it works in 78% of patients too. As long as my DEW works, it's a quick & easy solution.

What about when the "Dew" doesn't work??? Do you have a backup plan??

Fight it your own way but be aware.

Don

darkwalker wrote on Jan 19^th, 2010 at 2:42pm:

Also, anyone ever get a CH after running? I went back to running recently, and I was just curious. Seems like I was running during my last cycle.

For me if I am in an episode, vigorous exercise like jogging or hiking rugged terrain is guaranteed to bring on a CH. On the other hand, mild exercise like walking a couple of miles in the evening is refreshing and gets me out of the house. Easy to become house bound and despondent during an episode.