I am a newbie to the site. I have tried several of the remedies discussed here. Some successful some not. I hate to say this but I felt vidicated when I read the descriptions of "The Dance" on the home page. I thought I was the only person in the world that had tried hitting themself with a telephone reciever as a pain "distractor". I am just glad that a microwave oven will not work with the door open. Can someone tell me what the "Kip Scale" is?

Look at the tabs on the left. Bob Kipple, a board member here until he passed away to a CH Free World ;), gave us the KIP Scale. Just a way to rate our pain from 1-10. You'll find it scary spot on for CH pain!

Joe

And feel free to write describing your experiences and what you use to prevent/abort. Blessings. lance

Most of my experiences have been covered. I would sound like a broken record. I have never made the 10 on the Kip scale but 5-9 are very familiar. I started having these when I was 18. I am from a very remote part of Ky and in 1987 the doctors in the area had no idea what a cluster headache was. Now I live in the modern world and find that the situation is the same. Family doctors are useless for this. During the first attack I thought I was dying or having a stroke. The first one was that only one. It did not reoccur for a year. Then it made itself known. Still several years passed before I found a doctor that could name the beast. I am currently trying a combo of capcacium and licorice root. I will let you know how it works. First results were promising, three PFD's. The headache came back but only about a 5. I use ice packs to distract myself, and thankfully the tap water here is about 38 degrees this time of year. I have tried to drink them away. THAT DOES NOT WORK!. I have tried warm vibrating message to the head, this leads to unconsciousness and incontinence. This forum is a godsend. I do not know anyone else that suffers from these and trying to describe the pain is useless. The best I can do is "brain freeze that lasts for hours".

Here is a world of pain and support. Please whatever you do be yourself, and try to accept help when it comes. I have probably been the worst for asking for help with CH because I have never been able to get it till here. Still have issues with myself when I hurt but that is my issue. I am more of a comic relief around here, but dont get to get out to play much lately. Im only 48 and been brain dammaged since the 5th grade, I know CHenz that was only 2 years ago. :P
But be receptive to the help and try not to get offended with critizism, this should thicken your skin some the rest is being here for others and letting them be here for you.
There is alot of information here slowly absorb, dont dump it in all at once. I learn all the time from the folks here.(except when to shut my mouth.)

8-) ;D :D :D :P :P

Welcome aboard!  Wish to heck you weren't here!

There is a wealth of knowledge around here.  You will find some to be wise, and others to be otherwise.  Feel free to ask questions and to get the info you need.  May I suggest you read the oxygen info button on the left and use that as an abortive?  the only change I would make to that is to increase the flow rate to at least 25 lpm.

I'm glad to hear you are using the licorice root.  I hope you will pass along your experiences with it.  It has just been recently brought up on this board, and I'm interested in your results.

In Jan a group of us will be getting together in St Louis for a weekend.  I'd like to extend an invitation for you to join us.  Meeting another Clusterhead can be life-changing.  Look under the Meetings and Get-togethers page for more info.  BTW, we have a couple of other Clusterheads who also live in KY.  Be watching for them on the board.  You won't find better people anywhere.

Jerry

I can just ditto the O2 info.. It's been a godsend for so many of us (about 70% to name a few).

With the high flow rate I can abort in about 3-5 minutes...and I'm chronic (daily CH or just a LONGGGG episode that's lasted since '97  :))

Read read read - there is a LOTS of info on this board and feel free to offer anything you've got or to ask questions -- We've been learning from each other since WAAAAY back in 98 and still don't know what we need to know (how to STOP these darn things).

Have a Merry Christmas.. hope the beast takes a holiday for ya... BD :-*

Wow!  A Kip thread and Barb never mentioned Drummer's garage.  Merry Christmas!
;) ;) ;)

Chileowl,  I hate why you are here, but glad that you found us.  These folks know their abortives and treatments.  You couldn't be in better hands.

If you have a supporter (spouse, SO, friend) who supports you through the pain, please send them here, too.  We support supporters for the unique pain of watching those we love fight the beast.

I truly hope you find some relief from these very compassionate and knowledgeable folks.

Welcome home.