I've been a member for several years but--since my clusters come about every 18 months (occasionally every two years)---I don't frequent the boards when I'm not afflicted.  Unfortunately, I got struck with my first of a new cycle last night at 2 a.m., and now I'm girding myself for battle for the next 5-6 weeks.  To add to that, I am between health insurances, and thus have to pay out of pocket for Imitrex...ugh.  But, as we all know, I would take out a second mortgage before going without Imitrex.  Anyhow, just wondering if there are any new remedies/advice out there, since my last cycle was spring of 2008.  I usually do Imitrex nasal spray and Maxalt dissolvable during an attack...occasionally i'll add 2 Vicodin to that if the Kip scale is high for a particular headache.  I don't suppose there are any magic charms out there that have come along in the last few years?  I tried Topomax as a prophylactic, and I've also done oxygen several times, but find the results with both marginal.  Has anyone done the Imitrex through-the-skin thing?  Not the injectable, but some sort of "gun" type device that puts the med through the skin?  Does it work much faster than nasal spray?  Or about the same?  Any advice would be appreciated...

O2 therapy had come a long way since 08.  Read the oxygen info button in yellow to the left carefully. 

Recommendations:  get a regulator that will go to at least 25 lpm.  More effective than 15.  Go the the CH.com store in yellow on the left and order an O2ptimask.  Worlds of difference.

Secondly, deep six the Vicodin.  Will do nothing for Ch.  Takes to long to get into the system, and is ineffective for CH pain when there.  All it does is mask it and develop dependency and addiction.ecomdly

Jerry

Hi Heather,

Sorry the beast found your address again.  I'll 2nd what Jerry said about Oxygen and Vicodin. 

High flow oxygen therapy (25-60lpm) works for me faster than Imitrex.  That's right, I said faster.

If you are without insurance this is even more important.  You can go the welding oxygen route (same as medical) and get a high flow regulator.  I picked up a welding regulator off E-bay for ~$40. 

That combined with energy drinks can be a good abortive combination.  Oxygen to kill them and an energy drink to keep him at bay for a while.

Another new thing is having your testosterone level tested.  It's a cheap blood test.  If you have low levels then hormone replacement therapy has been shown to work for some.  This is currently my magic bullet :)

Good luck and let us know how things go.

-Dennis-

Welcome back, I'll third what they said about oxygen! ;)

Also, the following daily supplement has been helping some people on the board. It was suggested to me earlier this year when I was just getting creamed in a high cycle, and even 02 was losing it's effectiveness, really lessened the beasts impact on me, both in  number and intensity of attacks.

Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D, Zinc and Magnesium, washed down with fresh lemonade, up to 4X a day. It alters your arterial PH making you less succeptible to CH attacks. Took about 30 hours to kick in for me, cheap and certainly worth a shot.

Joe

[quote Has anyone done the Imitrex through-the-skin thing?  Not the injectable, but some sort of "gun" type device that puts the med through the skin?][/quote]

Are you referring to the auto-inject or statdose pen??

   Jerry is correct in that oxygen delivery systems have changed since 08.  I went from a regulator with 15 lpm to one with 25lpm and the differeence was astounding.  If I get on it fast enough I can abort in under 10 mins.  I also stay on the 02 for at least 5 mins. afterwards which seems to prevent re-occurances.

Only problem I see with the stadose - needle-less injectable (other than the price) - is that you have to take the whole 6mg. There's no way that I know of to stretch them out into, say, two 3mg doses.