Hey,

I'm Theodore and while I've been a member here since 2007, I haven't really been back in a while other than to look for that post about a "miracle breakthrough" every time a new cycle starts.  When I'm not in a cycle, I tend to not think about the headaches.
Anyway the last time I was here I didn't get a warm welcome.  I was accused of being a troll after my first post about using ginger root to abort. I came here to learn and to share my experiences, not engage in some petty internet bullying. So I left.
My cycle this year started about three weeks ago, almost 14 months since my last one ended, and I wanted to learn more so I came back with the hope that things will be more civil this time.

About my headaches.

I'm 37 and have been suffering periodic cluster headaches since I was about 22.  I had no idea what they were at the time so I would just down a lot of pain pills and that seemed to work at first. Eventually I noticed the pattern and thought it was seasonal allergies. It wasn't. I went through all kinds of tests (like I'm sure everyone here has) trying to pinpoint what was causing these now severe headaches. Everything came up negative. Finally a neurologist diagnosed cluster headaches and put me on a medication called Amidrin.  That seemed to work for a while at aborting the CH but not 100% and it made me feel lousy with the high caffeine AND sedative.  When it worked I had no headache but I felt like a zombie and when it didn't work I had a headache and still felt like a zombie.  I stayed on that for a few years before trying something else that wasn't as bad on my liver, heart, and kidneys.

Treatments I've tried that haven't worked for me:
Amidrin
Acupuncture
Chiropractic
Hypnosis
Mushrooms (cluster buster)
Sinus Buster nasal spray

Abortive Treatments that have worked for me (60-75%):
Red Bull (or other high caffeine drinks)
Raw Ginger root
Strenuous exercise (push-ups, skipping rope, punches, kicks) until I am breathing so heavy and cannot move anymore.
I will use all three if available. I always carry ginger root in my pocket and 2 red bulls in my backpack.
I'm considering O2 but worried about the long-term effects. (Oxygen is the most corrosive substance in the universe)

When I fail to catch the CH in time or one of my treatments fails to work I know I'm going down for about 3 hours.  I prefer the dark and quiet. I prefer to lay down as I try to focus on the pain and mentally block it. If I'm relaxed, I can block the pain maybe 90% for a few seconds at a time before  it crashes over me. I grip my head, thrash around, scream NO NO NO. Then I try to relax again and focus and block. I know this sounds like a crazy claim but it's true. It's those brief moments of respite that keep me from completely losing it (although that happens too sometimes). If the CH is really bad, afterward the spot behind my eye will be sore all day with a burned-out kind of feel. If the CH is normal to mild I recover and feel Ok. 

Anyway, that's where I'm at with these beasts.  I'd love to hear of more non-medication recommendations and would be happy to go into more detail about what has worked for me.

When I'm not suffering these horrible headaches I do plant biology research, study karate, and play music with my wife.

cheers,
--theodore

Welcome back....sorry you had to come looking again.

Please...check out the current O2 info @ START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE and see if that eases some of your fears related to O2 use. I use it almost exclusively to abort and have had no issues at all.

darth_malted wrote on Dec 12^th, 2010 at 11:31pm:

I'm considering O2 but worried about the long-term effects. (Oxygen is the most corrosive substance in the universe)

Hi Theodore

I'd not worry about oxygen corroding your lungs as they are designed to process oxygen very well.

If you search through Batch's excellent posts you'll find details about how the US Navy requires all it's pilots and air crew to use oxygen from take off until landing on all flights. If there was any risk around this level of use of oxygen then they would not be risking planes costing tens of millions of dollars plus the crew which cost another few million to train.

If you read up the oxygen link on the left you'll see how we are now using oxygen very effectively. I find that I can abort CHs in typically 6-8 minutes which is a life changer.

darth_malted wrote on Dec 12^th, 2010 at 11:31pm:

I'm considering O2 but worried about the long-term effects. (Oxygen is the most corrosive substance in the universe)

Hi Theodore
Welcome back,I wouldn't worry about the corrosive effects of oxygen on the human body we humans have been breathing it since we evolved from whatever we were before.
I'm a cathodics technician & yes you are correct about its corrosive effect but that only occurs when the 3 required elements; metal,moisture & oxygen come in contact under the right conditions, given the small amount of minerals in the human body & the speed in which they are metabolized I wouldn't worry my pants off.

Oxygen really does knock the demon for six.

Cheers
Barry

Hey Theodore,

Sorry to hear about your initial experience at this site  :-/  I'm really glad that you have come back! 

I honestly don't know that much about the side effects of 02 but seeing as I don't like taking meds, I can tell you that I use 02 to abort my headaches AND IT WORKS!!! 

The best bit is that at the right flow rate it only takes about 10 mins.

Best abortive I have ever tried - so I'm sticking to it!!!   Highly recommend you listen to these folks and seriously consider giving the 02 a try.  It changed my life and many others too!!

Good luck!! 

Kate

I like your attitude, Theodore. I appreciated your list of things that did and did not work. It's helpful to us to know this kind of stuff. You may have stumbled onto something we didn't know. Others have posted about ginger and its effectiveness, so maybe you could let us know if it's still working. As for the O2, I just want to echo what everyone else has said. Batch has done some wonderful work here and has been very encouraging. You might also like his ph diet buster. I have a friend who uses a CPAP, and his doc told him not to raise the O2 flow above 2lpm, not because his lungs wouldn't handle it, but because it would provide the brain with too much O2. Odd what the medicos can still think or say. Try the O2. And the energy drinks abort method. You got nothing to lose but the pain. God bless. lance

darth_malted wrote on Dec 12^th, 2010 at 11:31pm:

Hey, I'm Theodore and while I've been a member here since 2007, I haven't really been back in a while other than to look for that post about a "miracle breakthrough" every time a new cycle starts.  When I'm not in a cycle, I tend to not think about the headaches. Anyway the last time I was here I didn't get a warm welcome.  I was accused of being a troll after my first post about using ginger root to abort. I came here to learn and to share my experiences, not engage in some petty internet bullying. So I left. My cycle this year started about three weeks ago, almost 14 months since my last one ended, and I wanted to learn more so I came back with the hope that things will be more civil this time. About my headaches. I'm 37 and have been suffering periodic cluster headaches since I was about 22.  I had no idea what they were at the time so I would just down a lot of pain pills and that seemed to work at first. Eventually I noticed the pattern and thought it was seasonal allergies. It wasn't. I went through all kinds of tests (like I'm sure everyone here has) trying to pinpoint what was causing these now severe headaches. Everything came up negative. Finally a neurologist diagnosed cluster headaches and put me on a medication called Amidrin.  That seemed to work for a while at aborting the CH but not 100% and it made me feel lousy with the high caffeine AND sedative.  When it worked I had no headache but I felt like a zombie and when it didn't work I had a headache and still felt like a zombie.  I stayed on that for a few years before trying something else that wasn't as bad on my liver, heart, and kidneys. Treatments I've tried that haven't worked for me: Amidrin Acupuncture Chiropractic Hypnosis Mushrooms (cluster buster) Sinus Buster nasal spray Abortive Treatments that have worked for me (60-75%): Red Bull (or other high caffeine drinks) Raw Ginger root Strenuous exercise (push-ups, skipping rope, punches, kicks) until I am breathing so heavy and cannot move anymore. I will use all three if available. I always carry ginger root in my pocket and 2 red bulls in my backpack. I'm considering O2 but worried about the long-term effects. (Oxygen is the most corrosive substance in the universe) When I fail to catch the CH in time or one of my treatments fails to work I know I'm going down for about 3 hours.  I prefer the dark and quiet. I prefer to lay down as I try to focus on the pain and mentally block it. If I'm relaxed, I can block the pain maybe 90% for a few seconds at a time before  it crashes over me. I grip my head, thrash around, scream NO NO NO. Then I try to relax again and focus and block. I know this sounds like a crazy claim but it's true. It's those brief moments of respite that keep me from completely losing it (although that happens too sometimes). If the CH is really bad, afterward the spot behind my eye will be sore all day with a burned-out kind of feel. If the CH is normal to mild I recover and feel Ok.  Anyway, that's where I'm at with these beasts.  I'd love to hear of more non-medication recommendations and would be happy to go into more detail about what has worked for me. When I'm not suffering these horrible headaches I do plant biology research, study karate, and play music with my wife. cheers, --theodore

    Actually water is the universal solvent.   Do you drink water?  Don't be too worried bout oxygen it freakin rocks.

                   Potter

I made a call in today to my primary to see if she will prescribe some O2. I'm going to request what the oxygen info page recommends. At this point I'm not going to replace my main abortives but I'll have the O2 on hand as a back-up plan.  I've read through the entire "oxygen info" page and while I'm glad that it works for so many folks (my Aunt included)I'm still a bit worried about the effects.  An internet search of "effects of 100% oxygen on the body" does not ease my fears.  One page I found interesting was this one:

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

QUOTE : "Several brain areas responded to 100 percent oxygen by kicking the hypothalamus into overdrive," explained Harper. "The hypothalamus overreacted by dumping a massive flood of hormones and neurotransmitters into the bloodstream.

From what I've read from other articles regarding CH, it seems like the hypothalamus and lower levels of testosterone are implicated.  It is my hypothesis that the reason that certain abortives work is due to it's effect on raising the levels of testosterone and other hormones.

My prefered method of aborting the CH is a short burst of strenuous exercise after drinking a red bull (if one is available).  Just an hour ago I beat back the beast with 250 pushups, 120 jumping jacks and some leg lifts (about 10 minutes of non-stop maximum exercise). When I was done I was panting so hard I felt like I was going to vomit.  The trick is to go as hard as I can, catch my breath for a couple of seconds and then keep going until I can't go anymore or I don't feel the CH ramping up anymore..  Testosterone levels increase with short bursts of strenuous exercise.

There is also some research and anecdotal evidence that Caffeine and Taurine can increase Testosterone levels and that ginger root has a stimulative effect on the hypothalamus and testosterone. I've successfully aborted CHs with just a Red Bull or just some ginger root.

If 100% oxygen triggers the hypothalamus to release hormones, I'm guessing that testosterone is included and may be the reason why the oxygen works. 

Sorry this post has gotten so long.  I guess one thing I want to know about the Oxygen is how successful is it.  I know everyone swears by it but are we talking 100%, 90%, 60% ?  In my experience nothing has worked 100%. If the beast is determined, he wins.  Also my Aunt tells me she has shadows for a few hours after beating the CH with O2. Is this anyone's experience also?

--Theodore

Guess you haven't been reading much here.  Click Batch's profile and read what an expert has to say.

                 Potter

Deleted my negative comments

Hey Theodore....

A bunch of us are heading up your way in January from all over the US for a get together. Come join us and meet a bunch of clusterheads (we will have 02).

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

[quote author=5A797D79100 link=1292214667/10#10 date=1292376571]Hey Theodore....

A bunch of us are heading up your way in January from all over the US for a get together. Come join us and meet a bunch of clusterheads (we will have 02).

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE
Now that's an offer ya can't refuse.

               Potter

Thanks for all the great comments.

It seems like the take home message from all of you to me is:

"We don't think what you are saying is true or important. Just take the Oxygen and shut your mouth boy until you can agree with us!"

Thanks for setting me straight.

--theodore

darth_malted wrote on Dec 15^th, 2010 at 11:08am:

Thanks for all the great comments. It seems like the take home message from all of you to me is: "We don't think what you are saying is true or important. Just take the Oxygen and shut your mouth boy until you can agree with us!" Thanks for setting me straight. --theodore

          Now that's pissy.  Nobody questions your veracity and we understand pain.  What we're trying to do is get you to at least give the oxygen a fair try.

                     Potter

Marc wrote on Dec 14^th, 2010 at 8:20pm:

Deleted my negative comments

That's a real coward's approach. If you have something to say, say it.  Don't hide behind "I was going to say something negative but I didn't".  You already did.  I put up with 3 hour CH multiple times a day, I think I can handle your snide remarks.  If your comment is so bad that you're worried about getting cited, then send it to me personally.


--theodore

Jeez.   ::) 

Enough, already. 

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE
START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

As per one of my personal  hero's  Marc.

          Potter

Any and all drugs you may ingest will do far more harm to your body, both short term and long term, than all the O₂ you could huff from now until the cows come home. Take your head out of your posterior and start listening to people who've been there for far longer than you have.

You have a choice, pal - High-flow oxygen treatment is considered a first line of defense. Take it or leave it. I personally know many of the people who have tried to help you here. If O₂ hasn't worked for you before, you were doing it wrong.

What you choose matters not one iota to me. It should matter a great deal to you.

Well you never responded to my invitation to meet a bunch of clusterheads in your own back yard so I guess you have no interest in doing so.

Look Theodore, the 2 things that seems to work so well for so many on here are 02 and mushrooms.

You stated in your first post that mushrooms did not work so everyone focused on the 02.

I see nowhere where people disrespected you about anything. Marc may have started to but changed his mind. My advise to you (as if you care lol) is to take a deep breath and realize we want nothing but the best for you.  Thats it.

darth_malted wrote on Dec 15^th, 2010 at 11:21am:

Marc wrote on Dec 14th, 2010 at 8:20pm: Deleted my negative comments That's a real coward's approach. If you have something to say, say it.  Don't hide behind "I was going to say something negative but I didn't".  You already did.  I put up with 3 hour CH multiple times a day, I think I can handle your snide remarks.  If your comment is so bad that you're worried about getting cited, then send it to me personally. --theodore

I originally commented that your unwillingness to learn from the folks here was counter productive. I felt that it would result in continued unnecessary suffering. I also said that I would just move on and not try to contribute to this thread because it would be time wasted on someone who wasn't going to listen.

After reconsidering, I figured that you were having a hard time and didn't need additional friction thrown at you. I left that message behind to explain that I was initially being negative toward you, but I had reconsidered. (I was hoping that others would also stay on a positive track despite your negativity)

Yes, I know about really bad CH's. I also know how much can be learned here. Taking a combative posture here will prove to be counter productive.

End of cowardly rant...

Marc

Quote:

End of cowardly rant.

Yella belly.

Look,

I'm not trying to disrespect anyone here. Unlike most boards on the internet, we all know what each other is going through when we have to deal with these beasts. We all don't need an extra fight on our hands, the beast is enough.

Maybe what I didn't make clear in my original post is that I really like the "exercise method" of aborting the CH.  I read about it somewhere on this board about 4 years ago. I've been using it for about 3 years now and it has really worked well for me. My success rate is at least 75% and this year it has been closer to 85-90%. (I'm tracking every CH, abortive and win/loss in a spreadsheet) The beast essentially forces me to exercise at least once everyday for three months. 

The positive aspects of this method are:
1. Nothing to buy or carry with you when you go out.
2. Getting in shape
3. No known side effects.

The negative aspects:
1. You can't do strenuous exercise everywhere. (I've gotten some strange looks doing push-ups and jumping jacks in parking lots or hallways, but it's better than the alternative)
2. Sore muscles and general fatigue. 

And to be honest, after fighting back three or four CH attempts in a day using this method, I'm beyond exhausted.  At this point I would like an alternative and therefore was asking about the O2.

I want to make clear also that I don't doubt anyone's success with the O2. I'm glad to hear that people are getting relief. No one should have to suffer like we do. However, I would be doing myself a disservice if I didn't do more research regarding the negatives of this therapy. This is the only body I get in life. That's why I quit the meds. It wouldn't be right for me to base a decision solely on the opinions of a group of people on a message board, be it 10 or 1000 no matter how well meaning, nor solely on the medical community. Just because it works for so many people doesn't mean that it is safe in the long term. No dis-respect to Patch but I can't base something's safety on whether the military forces it's soldiers to use it. We each have a risk/benefit ratio that fits our comfort zone. If this was my only option, I wouldn't think twice about it.

So please don't attack me for being cautious.

That being said.....I am planning on trying the Oxygen to see how it works for me.  You cannot have too many weapons against the beast. 

--theodore

Have at it then. Do your research. Personally, I'm the type who doesn't like to reinvent the wheel. If you think there's some poisonous side-effect to O₂ therapy, then you'll need to convince yourself before you pursue it. None of us will be able to do that.

You got questions? Ask. Somebody will answer. That's why we're here. Some of us have even stuck around to help noobs like you even though we've been pain free for months or years. At the very least, that deserves a little gratitude and humility on your part.

Marc wrote on Dec 15^th, 2010 at 7:30pm:

Hang around - there are good people here that just want to help - and they actually can! Marc

Hey Marc,

Thanks for the support. I apologize about my earlier post. I felt like I was being provoked and overreacted. It doesn't help that I'm always anxious and on edge this time of year constantly thinking  about when the beast will strike next. It's easily the 2nd worst part of the cycle (the 3rd is watching my wife enjoy a nice seasonal beer while I can't have a drop.)

Cheers,
--theodore

Marc wrote on Dec 16^th, 2010 at 8:14pm:

darth_malted wrote on Dec 16th, 2010 at 7:19pm: Marc wrote on Dec 15th, 2010 at 7:30pm: Hang around - there are good people here that just want to help - and they actually can! Marc Hey Marc, ............................It's easily the 2nd worst part of the cycle (the 3rd is watching my wife enjoy a nice seasonal beer while I can't have a drop.) Cheers, --theodore Well, hell - that explains being grumpy!  ;D (yes I'm  kidding with you because your post was friendly) I would be willing to bet that your previous experience here preloaded your approach. Stay with us, man - it really IS worth the investment in time and energy. Best, Marc

Not to mention that if you are like I am, being in-cycle has every nerve in your body wound-up so tight they are ready to start snapping.