Happy to find this site.. I have been active for the last 4 months and started with CH about 5 years ago.  I can't even count how many hours of sleep I have missed over the last week.   Just changed medication back to predasone and am trying oxygen therapy for the first time in a few days.
While the pain is terrible, it is hard to keep my confidence and sanity during this episodes.  I don't know if anyone else feels this way sometimes, but I find I am doubting myself. Wondering if anyone else gets into this funk

Suzanne, with this combo of sleep deprivation and unspeakable pain, getting into a funk and having sanity issues is extremely common, I might even go so far as to suggest it is normal.

I hope we can help you find some true relief. Many of us long time CH'ers here have found that relying strictly on doctors was a surefire prescription for some metric tonloads of pain, but with the info and advice found here some breakthroughs and sustained relief are quite possible.

Your O2 therapy - if it is the standard prescription from a doctor it is very likely low flow, rebreather O2. Most of us find this to be of limited effectiveness. But step it up to high flow 100% O2 and WOW, big difference. The oxygen info link to the left of this page has good info on this.

Also, something harmless - and possibly even beneficial in other ways - is the particular vitamin D3 regimen that forum members here have recently been adopting, some with impressive prevention results. Here's the discussion topic about that: START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Melatonin can prevent the night hits for some. 9 mg before bed to start, up to 18 mg. Dang I thought I copied the particular form of melatonin that is thought to be best, but am not finding it now. Joe if you see this, how about layin' it on us again?

LOTS of other ways to fight this beast back are to be found here. Please stay, learn all about them, and then tell the beast we said hello right before you treat him to a swift uppercut to the jaw and knock his arse out.  :)

What Bejeeber said! :) This is the specific type of melatonin you're looking for as there are several varieties that all call themselves melatonin:

n-Acetyl-5-Methoxytryptamine

Glad you found us Suzanne, read like crazy, become your own best advocate! This is the 02 link Bejeeber was speaking of:

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Joe

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Cluster Headache Help and Support › Getting to Know Ya › Newbies, Help us...help you
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Hello Suzanne & Welcome to Clusterville

   . . . and ditto the above.

  One of my favorite motto's on this board is, "Nothing works for everyone, but SOMETHING works for everyone", and here you have a very good chance of finding the "something" that works for you.

  Read, read, read . . . ask any questions you may have, and know that the advice/information you receive comes from folks who truly know your pain.  You've found the motherlode of CH info/caring/sharing.

    Be Safe,   PFDANs

      Richard