Hello All.......I'm going to keep this short and sweet as im sure the beast is on the way back soon.  I'm a 40 year old male, married father of 5, type 2 diabetic that is fairly well controlled with insulin.  Through Dec 09 and into Jan 10 I was experiencing some relatively heavy stressful situations in my life and thought i was dealing with them very well.  Then all of a sudden WHAM!  I was woken up at 3:30 in the morning on Jan 17, 2010 and thought i was having a stroke.....suffered through the pain for a couple of hours and then decided to go to the ER.  By the time i got there, the pain seemed to have subsided, however i did have a feeling of "the shadows" that many users on here have described.  Numerous tests (Xray / CT) later, i was told by the ER doctor that i was having tooth pain and to go home and see a dentist.  (True Story)  Anyway, like i said, i'll keep it short, i am still suffering from bouts of the beast.  Some days i wont have any, other days 4-6.  The more i have in 1 day, the stronger they seem to become.  My GP is working on getting me an appt with a neurosurgeon, but that was 2 weeks ago......still no call.  I believe i have convinced my GP that i have clusters as he started me on 25mg of amitriptyline to be taken an hour before bed and 5mg of maxalt to be taken at onset to a maximum of 3 doses per week (some days i could use a weeks worth at once). My questions.......1. by my doctor prescribing these medications, does he believe i have CH?  2. What is the purpose of these 2 medications and is going over the 3 doses per week a bad idea?  3.  I have read people talking about abortive measures (ie Energy Drinks and O2) are these measures effective if i wake up with a full blown CH?  4.  I live in Ontario, Canada and have a pretty good medical plan, is there a good chance O2 would be covered and will the Neurosurgeon probably prescribe it if he feels i have CH? 5.  Is there any advice or helpful / preventative measures that anyone could suggest until i get to see the Neuro, because allthough I am not suicidal, its starting to scare my family (And myself frankly), i haven't been to work in a month, and i dont know how much more i can take.....i had a hard time describing the pain to anyone until i read the term "The Beast" on here and that is probably the most accurate description.  And lastly.....6.  Is this condition curable or is it something that i will have to live with for the rest of my life?  Thank You for taking the time to read this and it is very comforting to know i am not alone in this condition! 

P.S.  I should also add that i was being treated for a nasty sinus infection with Nasonex when this all started.  I have stopped the nasal spray as it seems to bring on the beast at night.  Is this possible?  Oh yeah......i'm also a pack a day smoker if that helps to recommend treatment ideas!!!  Oh yeah.....my GP also gave me Tylenol #3 with codeine....the beast eats those like candy and spits them out!

Don't start treating yourself for a disorder that you don't know that you have! There are dozens of forms of headache and mulitple disorders that APPEAR to be Cluster but which are not.

Our experience is that many neurologists don't have the knowledge/experience to deal with complex headache disorders. Unless your primary doc suspects something other than, or in addition to, headache, you are going to get better results dealing with a headache specialist (should you have access to one).
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LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. Search the OUCH site (button on left) for a list of recommended M.D.s.

2. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.

3.  Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.

4. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE On-line screen to find a physician.

5. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE Look for "Physician Finder" search box.  Call 1-800-643-5552; they will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.

6. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
        Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.

Well until you get that appointment with the headache specialist, I don't see how it could hurt to try some energy drinks/O2. I know the O2, when done correctly a la the oxygen info link (if you see it on the left), is effective for a very high percentage of us including myself. Energy drinks haven't worked for me, but others report great results.

Assuming you get diagnosed with CH, there's a good chance that you're an episodic sufferer, which means you'll have episodes such as your current one maybe 10% of the year or so. It's possible to really fight back against this beast and get some pretty good control over it, so don't despair too much just yet. It's also said that CH often burns out in old age.

I believe I've seen Canadians on here report that they're well covered for meds etc. for CH, we'll probably see one or two of 'em come on here and give ya the real low down.

If you haven't found this out the hard way yet, DON'T DRINK ANY ALCOHOL during an episode! You think you're getting whoppers now? Wait'll the beast gets hold of some booze! Alcohol triggers a massive hit for many of us.

Hi Crazy...your not alone anymore...read all you can here, and you'll find answers, and even some info you can take to that doctor.
   In the mean time. get you some O2. It works like magic.
  and keep us all posted as to how you are doing.
I think we have all gotten on here and vented from time to time,  so don't worry about that.  lorac