I am looking for some advise. Have just started a very strange cluster (or at least I believe it is a cluster) with severe headaches (which I NEVER get) and a numbing shadow like headache, a bit of fever and a lot of body pain. It seems like a cluster to me, but I have never ever had such an occurance. I am just turning 51 and have had clusters sinc the age of around 18. I have been thinking that since the beast is not attacking as evile (however still quite dibilitating) that this may be the beginning of the end, since I have read that clusters kind of stop after 50...? Can anyone help...?

Maybe this is just wishfull thinking or this time around it is not a true cluster?

Hi boriskaz

50 is not a magic time for when CHs stop. There are quite a few people who post on these forums who have hit that milestone and still get CHs, although for some they are not as frequent.

With a change in headache behaviour like you describe I'd see a neurologist (headache specialist) as it could be a change in your CHs or something else.

Hey Borikaz.
I am 43,clusters since i was about 22.This year,for the first time ever i have been getting shadows,my interval is 30 months and so far i have been praying out loud for it to stay as a shadow, this demon beast never fails me,always ontime the bastard.using cataflam dissovle tabs as precaution,no need for heavy pain stops as yet.i am about 2 weeks into my bout.Last time it was over 10 weeks.
Keep cool
from Bandit
SOUTH AFRICA

maybe check with your doc for hermicrainia contiinua. Its very similar to clusters

maybe check with your doc for hermicrainia contiinua. Its very similar to clusters. I wish u well my friend

I am just starting to get daily shadows....my neurologist has suggested I start Verapamil immediately to see if we can stop the cycle before it starts.

Evidently recent migraine research (I know, different condition) shows that early treatment can stop the actual headache from coming on.

Fingers crossed.

BTW, I have previously had cycles where shadows started and led to proper CHs and others where shadows started and did not lead to a full CH cycle.

Thanks so much for everybodies advise and support. As mentioned I have been suffering for so many years (episodic with cycles between 1.5-3 years each lasting between 6-16 weeks).

This is the firast time ever that the way the cluster seems to appear is abnormal from what I have been having - so maybe wishfull thinking that it may be a weaker and maybe an end to my cycles (have no idea where I read originally that mostly in men clusters start disappearing around the age of 50 and beyond).

I did take 240mg of verapamil on the first day only and tried to shoot myself with the magic (it always works for me) Imitrex, but the Imitrex failed to do anything to the painful shadows and the pain feeling I had behind my eyes, as well as painfull feeling in my joints or in the head at any fast movement. I took a 10mg of valium yesterday to be able to sleep well since I felt I needed some sleep and am feeling a bit better today. Have stopped taking verapamil and am simply drinking a lot of water and waiting to see what happens next.

Thanks to everybody

It takes about 7-10 days for verapamil to become effective, so taking just 240mg on one day is not a fair test.

As to growing out of CH, some people do, some people don't! How's that for encouragement? ;) I'm 51, still hoping I'll outgrow the danged things.  :)

I'd encourage you to take a much more organized, consistent approach to your treatment of CH. A prevent like verapamil takes 10-14 days to reach a therapeudic level in your blood stream, longer if you're still trying to establish what your effective dosing is.

AS to the imitrex not working, was it expired? I've used older imitrex and it always worked, but it was never more then a year old.

Have you tried oxygen yet? It works on my lower grade shadows, might be worth a try. And do get down to see the doc. We always worry a lot about people allowing CH to mask other, more sinister issues. In all likelyhood it's just CH morphing again, but a change that dramatic from the norm sure warrants a quick consult with the doc. Wishing you some pain free time soon.

Joe