I have had clusters for over 20 years. 15+ years chronic. I have been to several Neuros, a dozen others who thought they could help. (Some did a bit). However if I got an attack at the Dr's office you can find out quickly if they want or think they can help. When a Dr sees a cluster, except for some of the Headache specialists, it may very well be the first one he/she sees. Some have thought a cluster was more like migraines except they come in a cycle (cluster). If yours come on really quick like mine do, they are usually a little shocked by the amount of pain. When they see your eye droop and your nose run they know it's very real. I asked a Dr at the ER how they could tell if someone really had a lot of pain. He said so many people drive to the ER and they ask them what their pain level is, They answer "about a 10". He said when they come in pushing their head against something hard and smack it or they can't hold still with a busted bone, maybe not walking around, but very restless and agitated, He said it's hard to fake extreme pain. Sometimes they go out and look in where they can see the patient without being seen. If the patient relaxes then goes nuts just as they come in they are concerned. I can't drive with a 7 or greater attack. I won't try to drive when I start passing a 5 pain level. When you break a major bone you don't usually lay down and say in a normal conversation "Man this is a ten" People see you're in pain. Or when a woman gives natural child birth (My wife has done it a few times) She is in some very real pain. And my wife has a huge pain tolerance for pain. Anyway my point is, that if you schedule your appointment during a time you normally get attacks (If you get 4-6 a day especially if they last a couple hours or more), The Dr sees what you are really going through. More then once I have asked if I could come in for a good part of the day and maybe skip some preventatives (if you have any that are working), it helps you know quickly if the Dr is prepared for or wants to treat you. Once at a Acupuncture session because I was so relaxed my Ch came a bit earlier then usual. (This time I wasn't trying to have him see an attack). I was on my stomach with some needles in and my CH came hard and fast. He took the needles out and asked my wife if that's what usually happened. She replied yeas and he ask if I had seen a regular Dr and suggested I went to the ER. My wife was giving me trigger point injections at that time. She grabbed the kit we had set up and gave a shot in head at the top of the neck and one around my temple. He was a bit shocked and said he would do a little research and get back to me. Anyway my treatment was often better and more aggressive after an attack in the Dr's office. Just something to consider. Thanks for checking this post out. This site is great Thanks to all who have helped me. MikeS

I suppose it is always a good thing for your doctor to finally see the human side of a CH, and not rely solely upon the textbook. But for me, pain is so personal, I never want anyone else to see the attack. Nevertheless, I'm glad you are finding some help. Blessings. lance

That's how I got diagnosed after 10+yrs of being un/misdiagnosed.

the doctor witnessed and popped a zomig rapimelt in my mouth and boom 7 minutes later I smiled for the first time in weeks. She said it's cluster headache and I said that's no way a "headache"