So I was just throwing this out there it seems to me I've been reading and a lot of people seem to be only getting like 1 headache a day which sounds so so so awesome!!!  Sometimes I'll have like 5 or 6 in a day maybe even 8!!!  My cycle usually goes from the 2nd week in July to the end of September (oh how I hope it ends soon and doesn't fool me).  Anyways is it normal for other episodic sufferers to sometimes get that many HA's a day? I always get my 9am and 11am HA's everyday usually maybe one day of the week ill have none or just one which is so awesome. :D   To the point, does that happen to anyone else???

Quick answer is Yes. I've had times it felt like the imitrex shot hadn't worn off from the last one and it was time to go again. Having 8 a day can be soooo exhausting. With some of the things that are available now (O2, energy drinks, preventive meds) it seems the numbers are reduced for some. What treatments are you doing?

I think the most CHs I've experienced in one day was 5, when I was chronic (2 year span). I'm now episodic (again) and during a normal cycle I usually get 1-2 CHs a day, with maybe 1 being a Kip 6-8. When the end of my cycle nears, my CHs increase to about 3-4 with one being a Kip 9-10. Some cycles I get CHs everyday and some cycles I get them every 3rd day, seems to change each time. I'm still trying to figure out this "cycle" thing because mine never happen around the same time, but they usually last 8 months with 2-4 months off.

I don't think i ever had more then 2 solid hits in a day, shadows not included, in 33 years of dancing with the beast. Others are not so fortunate. Just the nature of the beast to be so different from person to person.

I must say since taking control of my CH with Lithium, Oxygen and the occasional imitrex jab, I can't recall my last KIP 10.

Joe

I've been taking Topamax now for about 3 weeks I feel like it might be starting to help but I'm not sure. I just started taking Verapamil like 2 days ago, I'm hoping the combo of the 2 will curb these or at least make them managable.  I got Maxalt as an abortive but it def. does not work at all and I used Treximet before and that def. did not work either.

Side note I didn't get my very usual 9am attack today and my 11am didn't hit yet either, its flight might be delayed, hopefully it crashed.

Man so I made it through the whole day today with no cluster headaches!!! Holy sh&t!!!  I've been taking Verapamil for 3 days now and Topamax for 3 weeks.  I'm really hoping that the Topamax is doing the trick.  Only unfortunate thing thats happened today is I got a (regular) migraine tonight around 8 or 9pm.  It feels like my brain is bouncing around in my skull but compared to cluster pain ha ha ha dont make me laugh you stupid migraine i'll take you all the time compared to CH's. 8-)

Also usually my cycle ends near the end of September so I'm also hoping that that could be the case as well.  Plus they usually get really really painful :'( before they go away for good.  Does that happen to anyone else???

I think the most I've had in one day is 5, although I once had 12 in 48 hours. I generally have 1-3, sometimes 4, occasionally 5.  They always get worse as they go.

Although, mine are typically shorter than what most of you lot have, lasting closer to 10-15 minutes most of the time, but 20-30 minutes sometimes. I don't very often get longer ones.

But, I am also chronic. Mine come on average every 3 days, and a good gap is 9 days.

Mine fade in slowly over the course of a cycle, then fade away again as the cycle ends. Others on the board have posted that like you, they get a butt kicking 4th of July grand finale of attacks that signals the cycle is over. My rule on the prevent meds is 2 weeks pain free, I start to wean off the meds.

Joe

Mine are more like extreme shadows, lasting 30-60 minutes, and I get anywhere from 2-6/day. However, mine are sometimes triggered by an external force, dehydration, a very loud noise, a mild bump to the head (I have had 3 concussions, and hits to the head are very painful to me), stress, etc. Sometimes, they just come on for fun. I'm luckier than most, as mine don't hit the point of smashing my head into a wall, and now I'm starting to just not pay attention to them, except to try and abort. Amazing what you get used to. After my 20 mile run on Sunday, I had many layers of skin peel from my toe. 2 days later, it was bleeding into my shoe, as it's just that bad. Even dropping soap on it in the shower isn't as painful as a CH.

There must be a reason why we can all tolerate this pain so much.

3-6 per day, average 4 or 5.  Episodic. 

No idea how intense they might get as I abort every one early on. 

Episodic.  I get hit twice a day during the first two weeks of my cycles, winding down to one per day and then one every couple of days towards the end. 
   
My last two cycles have been six and five weeks long, respectively.   Compared to what others on this board go through, I consider myself damn lucky.

I get between 2-6 a day. At least 2 biggies right now a day in this cycle.

I am 57 and have been dealing with episodic CH for 40 yrs. I am three weeks into a bout now. I typically get my first CH at midnight (during dream) and then get one every 70 minutes till I get up in the morning.

O2 is a god-send. Will abort my CH in 4-10 mins. I just saw a neurologist and started Prednisone, Verapamil and Melatonin yesterday. Not a single CH since. Hope it keeps up.

I just set a new record for me, 14 hits stopped in one 24 hr period. Peak time!!!

Don

Just got a nasty hit last night. The cycle has been advancing this time, came back early and is increasing in intensity. last night, "wrong side" of the head, I got a hit that was only about 15 minutes, but it took my breath away. Actually sat down on the kitchen floor. Frigging HAs suck.

Episodic for 22 years.  In the early days I would get 3 headaches minimum and usually like clockwork - one in the early AM to wake me up, one in the early afternoon, and one late at night.  One of those - usually the daytime one - was always at least a K7.  My maximum was 6 in a 24hr period.  Sucked through 2 tanks (ah, the memories...)   

My episodes have morphed over the years and these days its more like 1 a day on average (almost always at night) and not as intense generally.    Once every few days I get 2-3 attacks in the night, at a range of levels but usually under a K5 or so (luckily), before the Beast is finally done with me.  Some nights I get none at all, just a shadow. 

Glad to hear you had a PF day.  Perhaps the verapamil is kicking in.  It did seem to make a noticeable difference for me when I started using it.   

DAMMIT. To update, my HA have increased in intensity, I'm getting more hits every day, and now waking up 3 or 4 times at night with massive hits. I'm so hesitant to go back on Topamax. It works amazing for my CH, completely kills it, but I hate the sleepy side effects. I have been unable to effectively manage all the pain with O2, water, aspirin, Red Bull, and all my typical methods. I can take the daytime pain, it's the lack of sleep that's killing me. Looks like the Beast will win this round and force me back on meds. At least I have about a 4 month supply on hand.

Yes, I have had as many as 10 skull-crushing hits in a 24 hr period. I was averaging 4-6 hits a day. Imitrex injections stop each one but also seems to cause rebound hits as the more I take, the more I need to take! My average now is 1 - 3 hits per day and ALWAYS at least 1 hit about an hour after falling asleep.

Typically I have 3 or 4 daily and my cycle lasts 8 to 12 weeks.

I was in a remission for 6 years up until 9 weeks ago.

The 1st 7 weeks I average anywhere 2 every other day to 2 daily, thinking it was just "rogue hits" and in denial that the beast has found me after all these 6 years living a normal CH PF life. 

Beginning two weeks ago, I became tortured by his claws 4x/day at same times each day & night.

Yesterday and Saturday I was hit every 2 to 4 hours around the clock.  I've never been so sleep deprived, helpless, useless, unproductive, non-motivated and sad.  Enduring 8 or 9 attacks per 24 hour period was too much for me to mentally and physically cope with.

So I got a hold of some Prednisone last night and started a high dose taper.  Proud to say I have not had any pain at all since 8pm last night, now 3pm.  Pred worked for me several cycles in the past cocktailed with Verapamil.

I've tried for past few weeks unsuccessfully with regimen of D3/Calcium Citrate/Lemonade/Omegas.

Am upping the dosage of Magnesium and D3 with the above mentioned anti-inflammatory regimen and hopefully will take effect by the time my Pred taper is completed in 2 weeks.

I have no interest in the Verapamil "male" side effects.

DAMN! :'( Sorry to hear you're in an "A$$ kicking" stage. I'm with you, in a cycle that high, side effects are the least of my worries. Here's hoping the pred holds for a while and gets you caught up on rest. [smiley=hug.gif]

Joe

I'm still getting an average of 6 - 8 per day mostly at night. Wakeups suck.

Don

Thanks Joe. 

Don, if you can get Prednisone, it works, today is Day 2 for me and had two KIP 1/2s yesterday and 100% PF all day and tonight thus far.

Guiseppi wrote on Oct 11^th, 2011 at 9:00am:

DAMN! :'( Sorry to hear you're in an "A$$ kicking" stage. I'm with you, in a cycle that high, side effects are the least of my worries. Here's hoping the pred holds for a while and gets you caught up on rest. [smiley=hug.gif] Joe

I agree that when you're getting your ass kicked by the beast, the last thing on my mind is side effects. It just doesn't matter. #1 priority is to STOP the attacks!

Sorry to hear you're in the "Ass Kicking" phase, hope it get's better soon ! Good Luck !

Hi folks. This is my first Post here. I sympathize with the pain of a KIP 10 HA. Before this website, I had no idea other CH sufferers were woken from sleep. Nor that 6-8 attacks a day was normal. I feel like even though I still suffer, you guys are on a whole new level. If I could take on a couple of your attacks I would. I know how it feels, and noone deserves that pain. Just the memory of the Devil is enough to make me wish I could take it on from others and spare them the suicidal pain. At least then we would all suffer equally. :P

Welcome to the board 831, glad you stuck your head in. Now all the nosey questions! ;)

You have a decent treatment regimen? A good prevent and abortive? Are you familiar with 02 to abort?

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Go to the meds section on this board, read the link "123 pain free days and I think I know why"

A daily supplement regimen, all OTC stuff, providing some pretty amazing results.

If you are interested in "alternative" treatments, check out this site:

Clusterbusters.com

Then just keep reading like a madman. In no time you'll know more about CH then 90% of  the docs you'll ever see. Welcome home.

Joe

hi there ,,
i'm a new joiner here ,,
last year had 7 solid  attacks a day ,, now the attack is back 2 weeks ago ,, but very strange it's mild pain ,, i mean i still dance but the pain didn't reach the level that i used to have before , wich is very nice ,, but never know ,, it might surprise me at any time ,,

My cycles start that way, takes several weeks to really establish itself. I'd check the abortives and the prevents, make sure your meds are in order. Nothing worse then getting slammed and finding your tanks are empty! Let us know what you have for prevents and abortives, maybe we can make some suggestions for ya!

Glad you found us, welcome home.

Joe

Thanks Joe ,,

just to let you know ,, i'm using some tablets now , it really helps. the pain is never the same since i started using these tablets,, advised by a doctor here in united arab emirates , where i live ,, and i'm going to give you the name of each one ,, and this is the only thing i'm using for the moment ,, but the problem is i'm a flight attendant ,, and some times the attack comes during the flight ,, and i dont have even the chance to show any one that i suffer from any thing ,, so imagine you have the attack and can't move otherwise you will be removed from the flight ,,and that is a very big deal in here ,,
thanx once again ,,

Yes please let us know what the meds are you're using, maybe we can help point you in a better direction.

Joe