Hi All,

It's been awhile, but I'm one of those 3-5 year cycle people. This time around I have a new job and new insurance that doesn't pay for Trex by injection! My doc's office does not have any samples and I just paid $294 for 2 4mg injections.

My stash from 4 years ago is low so I've been dividing doses, but it's lost some effectiveness.  I also have to keep my doses low because I'm on Cymbalta for a soft tissue injury to my hip last year.  To add to the misery, I've morphed from 1 attack per night to 2-3 per day!  I'm waiting for the Verapamil to kick in, but this is so unusual from my usual cycle.  Sorry, but just needed to vent.  Moan, groan, etc.  Sorry, but I just needed to vent.  Any ideas are welcome - here or via PM.  Hope some of my old friends are still around.  New friends are also welcome.  I think I'm going to need some support over the next few weeks.  Thank heavens for this board.

Kris

Welcome back, sorry the bastard never seems to lose your address. :'( He's a bit annoying that way.

Have you tried oxygen yet? It works so well for me it has almost completely ended my use of imitrex. My abort times run 6-8 minutes with oxygen, that's completely pain free. Read the oxygen info tab on the left for all the details. We've made several refinements to how it's used and dramatically improved the results. Cheap, easy to use, no side effects, and been a miracle abortive for me.

Joe

Besides hi flow non rebreather O2 as outlined in the oxygen info link on the left (of which I imagine you are well aware), there have been surprising numbers of middle aged, church going folks deciding to give the clusterbuster approach a go (and finding success) when conventional medicine failed them.

Have you seen this recent Newsweek article on the subject yet? (highly recommended):
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Hi Kris

First off, I'll echo what everyone else has said about oxygen, which for me is a life changer as I can kill CHs in around 6-8 minutes.

Since you're waiting for your Verapamil to kick in, I'd ask your doctor about a prednisione taper which should help block most CHs for the time you need. Typically an 80mg dose tapering over 2 weeks is what many people use whilst transitioning to something like Verapamil.

Also try using an energy drink, like Red Bull, that has caffeine and taurine. Many find that this works well with shadows and can reduce the intensity / duration of a CH.

And feel free to vent, we all know what it's like to have a CH.

Hi Kris, you're the far-side stater.  Welcome back.   :)

New job and now day hits with it.  Have you tried to get the nasal spray trex.  I settled for that in the past getting many more.  They can take a bit longer to work, but it stops them.  I guess it absorbs more gradually, but check on its use with Cymbalta.

I take verapamil, and am not sure the taurine from energy drinks mixes well with it.  Fortunately, where I work there's coffee, but of interest to me, we have espresso. 

My hits at work seem to come just as I arrive at work.  What I've found is that a double shot, or if you want to make sure, a triple shot of espresso has stopped every hit in about eight minutes.  Sometimes just as the tearing and nose run begins, it can surprisingly turn it back to completely gone from that worrisome threshold level of pain.

Try it at home first.  Pick up a double or triple shot of espresso at a coffee shop and jump to a microwave to heat it up when needed, drink it in a few gulps.  If it helps, I'm sure your workplace has a microwave, pick up some on the way to work.  McDonalds should even have it on their cafina machine, just espresso, strong stuff, you won't need the taurine. 

At first it's a little hyper, which gradually wears off, but I've gotten used to it over a year's time, that aspect is less noticeable now.  It's saved me at work many times when stepping out for oxygen wasn't possible.  Now I don't even keep oxygen in my car, it's worked that dependably.  I stick with oxygen for night time breakthroughs.

I hope the verap can soon take care of this for you though.   

Hi again.     :)

CH is the original shapeshifter. That's what drives us crazy. Hopefully soon you'll get relief. Until then, all there is to do is vent! That's what we're here for.

Omg my old sister....
One of my original clusterbuds....please check your PM's


hugs

Eric

Thanks everyone for your welcomes and advice.  Double thanks to you Eric (no pun intended).

I was hesitant about the Pred taper because I get a little crazy on it.  I remember surfing town one night at 2 am looking for a Heath Bar, I talk non-stop, and eat everything in sight - alive or dead. LOL

I feel so lucky to have this board and often feel guilty that I don't visit more often between cycles to help advise others.

BTW - Oxygen just doesn't work for me, just like Trex doesn't work for others.  I just have to be very careful about watching for a Serotonin Storm with all the Cymbalta I'm taking.  I'm trying to keep my doses at 3 mg tops for each attack.

Glad to be back again.  I promise to hang around this time.

Love Ya,

kris