I am eposodic and had gone nearly a year without an attack.  I thought this could have been partially due to the fact that last March I had a mild heart attack and had 6 stents inserted (did avoid joining the zipper club though) and then a pace maker inserted in June because my resting heart rate was averaging around 35 bpm.  I was thinking year now my heart beats faster, better O2 and that is what is keeping the demon away.  Wrong, attacks started back in Feb.  At first only a couple a day and not every day, then as usual the hits increased both as number per day and every day.  Now they are every hour or two hours at most with shadows in between.  Since last Friday I have run through 18 E Tanks and 2 M Tanks.  Fortunately most of the hits are only around 5-7 but I have had some 8-9 and even some I could not abort with O2 and right, wrong or indifferent resorted to my last line of defense (zomig nasal spray).  I have been on Batch's recommended Calcium Citrate and taking Fish Oil (but not quite the dosage) for over a year but as of yesterday I began the D3.  I also take Ginger, which surprisingly (or is in my head, no pun intended) seems to help some with the shadows.   Hopefully, once I get full steam on the D3 and increased Fish Oil the hits will decline, but in the meantime I need a back brace as my back and stomach are killing me from all the O2.   I wish all of you a PF time and if not PF the strength to cope.

Wishbone

It sounds like your are at your peak. Hopefully as the next couple of weeks go by, that you will start having them less and less. Usually my last few weeks go down to 2-3 a day and I knock them out quickly with 02.

Don't know if you read but our convention this year is in Nashville in case you want to make it. Goadsby is going to be there.

Quote:

...but in the meantime I need a back brace as my back and stomach are killing me from all the O2.

I'm not sure I understand this. Could you elaborate? How does breathing O2 cause back and stomach pain?

Brew that was a little bit tongue in cheek, I meant standing so much and exhaling and doing the stomach crunch like Batch talks about.  Sorry to have confused you.  I am not in complete control of my faculties so my humor is misguided.

Wait Jimi I hope I misread your post.  You were talking about the past right. You have not begun to have HA again, please tell me it ain't so.

wishbone wrote on Apr 5^th, 2011 at 6:35pm:

Brew that was a little bit tongue in cheek, I meant standing so much and exhaling and doing the stomach crunch like Batch talks about.  Sorry to have confused you.  I am not in complete control of my faculties so my humor is misguided.

10-4. Got it.

No Ernie....I was talking about the past.

I am still painfree. It will be 11 years this summer. I am blessed. :)

Going thru that much O2 may be a sign you're not using it with the correct mask or proper technique. Getting to the O2 at the first sign of pain is very important.

If you haven't allready please read the "oxygen info" link below.

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Don

Don thanks for the suggestion, but I have been using O2 for several years now and normally I can abort up to a 7 Kip in 6-8 minutes. I am sure I could be doing something wrong, but I am now getting hit about 18 times a day so you figure it up.  Thanks again however for your suggestion.

Whew Jimi so glad to hear.  I thought I had misread your post, but wanted to make sure.  Hope you and Ruth are doing well.

Ernie

wishbone wrote on Apr 6^th, 2011 at 2:30am:

Don thanks for the suggestion, but I have been using O2 for several years now and normally I can abort up to a 7 Kip in 6-8 minutes. I am sure I could be doing something wrong, but I am now getting hit about 18 times a day so you figure it up.  Thanks again however for your suggestion.

Yeah, that's a lot. I've been there, man, and it ain't a nice place. My O2 supplier began fussing at me because they had to make so many trips to my house. Do you have a plan of attack, apart from the D3 I mean? Any of the more exotic approaches on the table for you, or busting? I know I needed to know there were things I hadn't tried that might help, just to keep the depression at arm's length. I'd put Deep Brain Stimulation at the bottom of the list, and then make the list as long as I could, but things like ONB and ONS? Maybe worth a thunk. lance

Well the demon is at it again, just like my original post.  I am getting hit in early afternoon, can abort with O2 but then get hit again in an hour.  Then from ten o'clock to midnight on I get hit every hour.  Again I can abort usually quickly with O2, but another awakens me an hour later.  I know some you posted that the first headache probably was not gone.  This may be true, but I don't know how to tell.  I feel no pain, I rub my head and all the ridges are gone, all the sore spots are gone.  The left side of head feels the same as right side, so I think HA is gone, I don't know how else to tell.  I have been is this cycle now for almost 4 months and these frequent hits have been going on for about 3 1/2 weeks.  Needless to say besides the pain, they are about to wear me out for lack of good rest, which is something I know I need to help prevent HAs.  Oh well life of a Clusterhead. :'(

Ernie,
Are you taking Melatonin at night before you go to bed? That's helped me over the years (but it takes a while to get in your system - don't give up for a couple of weeks or so.. I take 20 mg before bed).

And the D3 regimen has been working great for me. I've been PF since Oct. 2013 and counting. BUT you have to do it like Batch says and religiously.

Also something I do (and have for years) is sleep with my bed at a 45 degree angle. don't know if that helps or not, but I've done it for about 15 or so years and can't sleep flat any more.

But seriously do try the melatonin .. it's got me thru night hits for years and years.

Been right where you are now and my heart goes out to you. wishing you PF days and nights soon.. :-*

Thanks Barb and gosh so so glad to hear you have been PF for so long.  Only pray this will continue.  I was PF for about a year and wham.  I have been on Batch's regimen and I thought that was why I was PF.  As to melatonin I had not been taking but since my attacks have been so severe I started, but only taking 10mg, maybe I need to up the dose to 20mg.  Also I will try sleeping more up right also.  I can only sleep on my right side as it seems even on my back I get hit (weird), I must turn my head in my sleep the wrong way or something.  Good to hear from you.
Ernie.