Over the years, I've gotten good at making notes of one cluster, so I can apply it to the next (what I was on, in what doses, etc) but one thing I can't find making a note of is how I knew the last cluster was over...

How many PFD do you have before you assume it's run its course?  I know it's different for everyone; I just thought I'd get a sampling from y'all.

Time was never a sign for me, rather, I experienced the magical lifting of a fog-like sensation in my head. Sort of like having a piece of light cloth always resting on my head during a cycle: when it lifted, I knew the cycle was over.

Yeah, when I was episodic it seemed I just knew...Bob's description is as good as any. Now that I'm chronic, I don't have to worry about that. I just know it's 1PM and we have an appointment (or 3) with the big green monster (my J tank). I'm pretty sure though that I was more confident the cycle was over as time went by, confirming what I felt was the end. Blessings. lance

it is crazy how you just know when the last one is the last one. they kind of feel different when they end. like usually during an episode, you have that feeling or expectation that they will be back. it's kind of like they never really go away, they just die down. but that last one though? you just know! lol how weird.

Mine normally just die down sort of gradually. The last week or so is characterized by a few hits betweenk3-4 then that dies down to just some shadows which fizzle out and then start all over 6-7 months later.
However, this year the cycle started out incredibly bad because I broke my foot and was on pain killers(had been pf 1yr and 3 mths). I started taking my lithium and topomax and just when I thought the cycle couldn't get any worse, I began the omega fish oil, D3 and Ca citrate. And have not had one in 5 days now. No warning signs, they just stopped. Best wishes.

Pfunk 8-)

Mine have always just gradually faded away, becoming less intense and less frequent at the end of a cycle. 

It's been a rule-of-thumb for me that if I go a week without a hit or a shadow, that's it for this particular go-around.  It's not always accurate, but I'm usually right.

Best,

George

If I'm pain free for a week or so, I'll give it the old beer test.  If I pass that, the Chinese food test.

I'm with GrandPotentate on the beer litmus test.  I'm episodic.  As I feel the fog lift and a sort of lingering shadow that never quite manifests into pain, for over a week or so, I crack open a cold one.  On most of these ritualistic rites of passage I got it right, and happily cracked open another (and another...).   Only one time I got absolutely slammed by the Beast, and then was clear shortly after that...a sort of Grand Finale or encore performance I guess.    

PS. I didnt know that chronics can sometimes drink alcohol w/out any major difference.  I'm glad to hear that.



GrandPotentate wrote on Jun 22^nd, 2011 at 10:35pm:

If I'm pain free for a week or so, I'll give it the old beer test.  If I pass that, the Chinese food test.

My neuro says I can't go off Meds until two weeks w/o any CH symptoms (shadows, etc)

When I'm in a cluster I sleep with a frozen water balloon (wrapped in a dishtowel and then rolled in a bath towel to keep it cold) next to the bed. When the CH wakes me up I can reach over and grab it and press it to my cheek - the cold and the pressure help. I know the cycle is over when after two or three days I realize that I haven't needed my ice pack during the night. With that realization comes the awareness that I haven't felt the lurking shadows during the day either, so I know I can stop preparing my frozen balloon before bed.