I never have a break in my cluster ,is this normal? and a Q for all others on this site,are you able to work with clusters? i feel bad not being able too and was wondering if there is more like me :)


The V.A.

There are people who don't get breaks in their clusters. Once this has gone over a year you can officially call yourself chronic. For those, like myself, who haven't yet gone a year, we're still labelled as episodic.

I work even though I'm still getting over a concussion (from last Easter) and I get clusters. I just manage my time around the impact of them plus have oxygen to hand. However I'm lucky in that I only get a handful of CHs each month during working hours.

TheVerbalArchitect wrote on Jan 5^th, 2011 at 2:55am:

I never have a break in my cluster ,is this normal? and a Q for all others on this site,are you able to work with clusters? i feel bad not being able too and was wondering if there is more like me :) The V.A.

When you say "no break" do you mean no day goes by without a cluster, or your cluster never ends? I pray you mean the first because that is not uncommon, as Mike attests and I as well. If you mean the second, get yourself to a dr right away, don't pass go, don't stop to collect $200. I've had days when the shadows wouldn't quit, but they didn't rise to the level of a full hit. What are you doing for preventatives and abortives? Blessings. lance

When you reply to questions asked in reply to you, please add some info about the doc who is treating you--background in treating headache, treatments he has given you, etc.

I am currently on varapimil and taking the suma shots,i have been having C.h.s for 5 years now,im 26 years old

When i say no break i mean no day without a C.H.

Welcome to the family. 

You didn't mention anything about an abortive.  O2?  With O2 I can kill a hit and go back to working.  Energy drinks like 5 Hr Energy, Red Bull, Monster, etc will also help. 

Go to clusterbusters.com and read that site carefully and strongly consider the recommendations.  Very remarkable results have come from it for some very good friends.

Jerry

Welcome to the board, I'll echo the 02 advice. I feel that nasty tension and pressure in my ear, the eye lid starts to droop, the pain begins....6-8 minutes of huffing oxygen, I'm pain free. Has almost completely eliminated my use of imitrex.

Joe

What dosage of verapamil are you on?  Have you tried prednisone?  What other types of prevent have you tried.

Votes for the O2 too!

Even though I am on medication daily I rarely go a day without getting a CH hit even if it's a mild one.  So for me this is normal.  It beats the number of hits per day I was getting before being on medication.  Please check out the O2 info. and check with your doc to see if there are other medications that may help you or if your current dosage can be upped; if so ... take advantage of it.

PF Wishes to you!

720 mgs,but i am coming down from that detoxing,cant afford o2 at the moment and i had to fire my doc because that wasn't in his plan and yes i have also tried prednisone . In a couple days im trying an alt. using Red Bull at the moment too.Close to having an attack, bye bye

'sup VA?  Your story is pretty common here and many of our techniques can change your cluster life.  I am a daytime guy so most of my attacks over the last 26 years have been at work. 

If you work in one place or on the road you can rig up some O2 and make it work.  Try the welders stuff if costs or prescriptions are a problem.

I work outdoors all over in the woods and wetlands.  I use the psilocybes to prevent and back that up with caffeine for shadows and small hits. 

No matter what route you choose, there are tons of us here that can support you and ease the pain :).

Good luck daddy-o!

--Shaggy

ps, caffeine is really a great tool for most of us daytimers if your system can handle it.

Everyone has already been a great help. ;)


Thanks Shaggy

One Love

The V.A.

I am currently in your situation- I am looking for a new doctor and have gone over a year without breaks more than 1 or 2 days.  I am currently on leave from work and will more than likely have to resign my position at the end of this month.  Unfortunately I waited to long to find this site.  I am now taking the advice of others and hoping at some point I will have positive results!!

I will think of you as you move forward and here if you need anything!

Casey