Starting at 11:13, just as I was going to bed, out of no where this sharp stabbing pressure on my right side as it has many times over the last month. But this time coming on at such a high number on the pain scale.
I wanted to break down and cry. I do not get how everyone deals with CH's.
Finally when it calmed down enough I fell asleep(it didn't last too long thank goodness), 1:26 I woke up almost screaming, 3:38 woke up screaming, 4:53 woke up in intense pain but not horrid yet...
Now its a little after 7 and I'm about to go on a 24 hour shift, or attempt. What happens the 1st time I have a patient and have an attack where I can't do anything. My last 3 shift's my captain has commented on how I looked coming in, he said he can tell when I'm not feeling/doing well, little does he know the hell I went through the night before.
Its not a good thing when I'm starting and my pain is still to the point its really bothering me.
Even though I talked to 2 of my Dr's this week who told me that this "wasn't just in my head"..I still hear the one Dr telling me that. I hate this.  :'(

I'm truly sorry for your ordeal. It's been several months since I've pulled an all-nighter like that, but I know you're pain...literally and actually. You don't mention the abortives you are using (perhaps you have in another thread?) but the wake-you-up-from-a-deep-sleep hits are the worst. You are in my prayers. lance

Have you had a chance to hit the 02 yet? Have you tried the melatonin to get you through a night? I remember the wake up out of a dead sleep getting slammed hits, those suck. :'(

Joe

I have not been dx with anything other than a "headache", and I still can't even get in to see a neurologist until Jan. I'm kinda stuck with my options, since I only have "normal headaches", they say take an Advil and deal with it(even though they have see me in severe attacks).
But with nights like last night, its sooo much more than a "normal headache" yet no one will listen.
When I have been at work I have tried oxygen just to see if it would help and it did, but I'm only at work 1 out of 3 days.
I feel so extremely discouraged, no one will listen. I can't stand many more nights like last night before I lose it.  :'(

I'd definitely start the melatonin right away then, at least get some sleep in so you are a little stronger to deal with them. Start with 9 mg, 30 minutes before bedtime, give it a few days to kick in. Then keep the energy drinks close by for the day hits, really slam them when you feel that familiar tugging start up.

No chance your doc will call in a prescription for 02 while you're waiting for the neuro? Given your job you could hopefully convince him you know enough about 02 to not burn yourself up, let him know it's helped.

Joe

Britt may be sandbagging us a bit... She's an EMT with access to all the oxygen she needs at work...  and I'll assume at home too...

Having said that, there are times when what should be a snap abort with oxygen takes far too long.

My sensing after 16 years of cluster headaches and the last 6 as a chronic type, is these times coincide with a drop in arterial pH..  or...  a big time antibody antigen reaction.  That's why I started a regimen of 3000mg Omega 3 Fish Oil and 10,000I.U. vitamin D3 a day and so far... Swerkin real good! Like 42 days PF.


Take care,

V/R, Batch

No sandbagging...Yes I am a Paramedic and have plenty of oxygen available AT work(only 10 days a month), I can't get it outside. I could prob get some but its getting a regulator thats the problem, we don't have many extra's floating around at work. When we get one we keep a very close eye on it to make sure another crew doesn't take it. So there is my problem. Its the 20 days of the month I'm not at work...

Do look into both the Omega 3, I take a salmon oil supplement, and the PH diet Batch talks about, got me through a bit%$ of a high cycle my last go round. It involves altering your arterial PH to make you less succeptible to CH:

Calcium Citrate with Vit D, Zinc and Magnesium, washed down with fresh squeezed lemonade, up to 4X a day.

Joe

Britt look into welders O2 it works just as well as medical grade O2.   Go into a welders supply co. and ask for some O2 tell them you do stained glass windows for a hobby or jewelery or something get your O2 that way for now.  Then go to START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE for a mask and for a regulator go to START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE you will need a coupler that fits the welders O2 to the regulator I believe...can't remember what size or the name of the type of coupler someone here does though (hopefully they will be kind enough to remind me of it ?)  :-?

I hope you find some relief soon!  If it gets really bad an ER visit for you maybe in order to give your Neuro a heads up as to what you are going through.

Also... Whilst you're waiting to get into the Neuro or your regular doc here are a few over the counter helpers:

4-Way Nasal spray or Dristan 12 Hour Nasal Spray helps with the annoying congestion. 
** Note ** Do not use this more than 3 days in a row!!  It can cause severe sinus problems.

Taurine and Caffeine drinks (RedBull if you like it) to help prevent a hit when you feel one starting.

Melatonin or an Allergy (Zyrtec aka cetirizine works for me) pill at night before bed to help avoid night time hits.

The herb Kudzu has helped a few as a prevent.   

Deep breathing through the milder hits can help too.

Hot/Cold Compresses Depending on your preference can help as well.

Make sure you start a headache journal, you can make your own, here's what you will need to note on it.  (This is more important than you may think!)

Day/Date:      
Time of Day of CH hit:   
On pain Scale 1-10 10 being highest what is your pain at?
Duration of Headache:
Symptoms that come with your Headache:
What, if anything you tried to get rid of HA:

You can make up your own HA Journal and if you get more than one in a day use 1 piece of paper/page per day, or you can use MS Excel for this.

Oh I feel for you.  It took 3 nights of headaches coming hard and furious like that for me to cave and go on verapamil.  My cycles used to start out with less frequency and build up to a higher nightly frequency but when this cycle started out like that it  was to much for me to take and now I am on verapamil and also 12 mg melatonin--last night was the first 8 hours of straight sleep I have had in ages--only woke up with a headache at 8 am instead of waking up with 4 during the night.    Can you go to your family doctor and discuss cluster headaches and ask him for O2 and possibly discuss verapamil or some other type of treatment?  Getting headaches that frequently at night is so difficult.  I hope that you can talk to your doctor and get some relief.