I have had CH for years. Prednisone has always worked in the past. For some reason it does not work anymore. Has anyone out there had the same thing happen? The attacks are very sporadic. They hit me at  different times of the day. Sometimes I go 2 days without any attacks then all of a sudden I get three in one day lasting for about 1.5 - 2.5 hours of hell. Can't afford Doctor right now, I can't keep going like this. I am at the point to try anything. Does anyone out there know of a inexpensive way to help, ethical or not, I don't care anymore, I just want these to go away.

Sounds about like the cycle I'm in right now. If you don't have oxygen you need to get some. Until then get some Red bull energy drinks and chug one or two at first sign of the headache. Then run in place or do a brisk walk.

I'm on the D3 regimen for day 4 now and haven't had a headache since day 2 of the regimen. I'm also taking 9mg of Melatonin at night and last night not hits at all.

I guess my first question for you would be is do you have oxygen to take for this?

I am trying to find an oxygen tank right now on Craigslist. I am going to try the "Filling a plastic bag with o2 and breath from the bad trick". I read that on here and I hope it works. I have never had any other treatment since the prednisone has always worked in the past. The melatonin, Is that something you get at the vitamin store? I am going to get red bull also. If I don't get control of this, I don't know what I am going to do.

I am not sure about the breathing from a bag trick... I do know that the effectiveness of oxygen is very dependant on administering it correctly. Check out the oxygen info link to the left. I would recommend an industrial tank for welding, medical tanks you own are very hard to get filled, welding supply places will fill welding tanks without any questions.

I'm using Nature's Bounty Melatonin 3mg tablets and taking 9mg before bedtime. It must say n-Acetyl-5-Methoxytryptamine on the bottle (tiny letters). I have used other Melatonin before and this has worked the best for me. Try and stay awake during the day. Naps bring on the headache so don't fall asleep.

If you can get on the D3 regimen. Here is the link. I felt great within 2 days. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

You need to order the mask right away to connect to an oxygen tank. I purchased the regulator at Harbor Freight tools. You rent the tank at a welders supply house.

You order the mask from this site you are on right now.

Cluster Headache Help and Support › Medications,  Treatments,  Therapies › MEDICATION $ ASSISTANCE: 12 sources

Some nice source of assistance with meds.

In answer to the first question you asked, yes, many of us (myself included) found prednisone did not work after the third, or even the second, time we used it. The beast morphs, and what used to work, often will no longer be effective. There are links here, as it seems you have read, about how to use welders O2 effectively. Perhaps you can rent a welder's tank? Anyway, the sooner you couple Red Bull with a means of hyperventilation, the better. You can hyperventilate on your own by breathing deeply and rapidly, expelling all lung air with each exhale. It's harder and takes longer, but it can be done.

I'm not sure what you mean by nonethical. Clusterbusters is a homeopathic means of regulating the beast. The ethics of an action are not determined solely by whatever laws regulate the action contemplated. For example, it is illegal to jump on top of someone and start pounding on them, except when attempting to give CPR. Circumstances and the desired goal play a large part in determining the ethics. Using nonconventional means to tame the beast is not unethical, in my opinion.

Let us know how you make out. Blessings. lance

YES! I got a welders O2 tank on craigslist and the guy also gave me an old regulator with it. I am going to try and get it filled today. I am also going to do the vitamin regiment. All I need to do is figure out a good way of delivering the O2 to my lungs without the mask. If anyone has a good Idea, Please let me know. I will be ordering one from here but until then I have to improvise. I am also going to get a case of red bull. I also wanted to thank everyone for there wonderful support. Most people do not understand this condition and how painful its is including most doctors. Again THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!   

It's simple. Take a small trash bag, poke a hole in the bottom, tape the 02 line so it's air tight. Fill the bag with 02, exhale completely, inhale from the top of the bag, close it back up with your hand, exhale. Repeat as fast as you can to achieve hyper-ventilation. You'll be delivering 100% 02 to your lungs, that's the critical part.

Joe

Besides all the great advice you've been given already and yes...I too,  don't understand what you might mean about your  "ethical or not" comment.  This (link below)  has helped more people to have a normal life than almost any other. 


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I, personally... have a love/hate relationship with my 02 tank.  I hate the look of that green e-tank.  I HATE the sound it makes. It clashes with my decor.  I LOVE the relief it gives me within mins.  The Inexpensiveness of it. The fact that...unlike Imitrex and other abortives...gives me NO side-effects.   

After being chronic for 24 years..something happened and I've been PF for the last year.  IF and when they come back I will be trying the "busting"  route.  I hope you will look into all of it and make your own decision.  TOO many folks have found such relief going that route, that to dismiss it, simply doesn't make sense.

I wish nothing but success for you. 
   Linda

wimsey1 wrote on Oct 3^rd, 2011 at 7:43am:

I'm not sure what you mean by nonethical. Clusterbusters is a homeopathic means of regulating the beast. The ethics of an action are not determined solely by whatever laws regulate the action contemplated. For example, it is illegal to jump on top of someone and start pounding on them, except when attempting to give CPR. Circumstances and the desired goal play a large part in determining the ethics. Using nonconventional means to tame the beast is not unethical, in my opinion.

Most excellent post Lance!!!  I guess you could say that the folks in the VA mental ward seemed to think my 2 failed 1998 suicide attempts were nonethical........ neither of which would have ever occurred had I known then what I know now about controlling the beast via the clusterbuster route!!! 

Dallas Denny

Ethical or not means he doesn't give a rat's patooty.  ;D

I'd drain my checkbook or somebody else's if it meant getting rid of the pain when the beast catches you off guard like it did him.  :P