It was 14 months since I had my last cluster headache.... at least until this morning. Shadows, maybe, but, no attacks. It was wonderful. Attack started at 10 am, as per my usual time, and just now ending. I'm happy it was only a kip 2-3, but, the pain is unforgettable, a cluster. and now im a little scared, trying not to be, that there are many more and worse to come.

Living in Canada, shorter days maybe decreased my vitamin D, and its been rainy and overcast for a week so maybe the barometric pressure? Friggggg, with these things, maybe its my damn laundry detergent or the fact I was picked second in gym class. Having a cause wouldnt help me; I've got my imitrex needles(thanks CDN healthcare), guess I'll get used to carrying 'em around with me again.

Anyone notice signs before a cycle? In hindsight, my sense of smell and hearing have been incredibly sharp the last few days, and I've also been more moody and irritable. Seems it happened last year too...

Hi Martin,
Sorry to read your life may be turning into a living nightmare, but you are not alone!  Everything you wrote is understood and quite common.  Hopefully just a rogue hit and you will not begin a cycle.  However, it might be worth considering to prepare for the worst, while you hope for the best.

Get yourself some o2 with a high flow regulator and NRB mask. 

Also, might want to stock up on energy drinks containing Taurine and Caffeine such as Redbull, Moster, Rockstar, etc. 

As for Vitamin D deficiencies, you might consider reading the thread titled "123 Days PF And I Think I know Why" on the medications board.

Definitely get your preventative meds started ASAP, as relying on abortives equals a slave to your o2 and outrageous expense of trex shots; not to mention trex is known to cause rebounds.

Ask questions if you need to and vent your frustration right here on this board.  You are not aone and we truly understand your pain and can be very supportive to you and your unfortunate bad timing.

PF wishes to you!

-Gregg in Las Vegas

I used to do a work out when the beginning of one started. The vessels seemed to constrict before and during my ch, so getting those vessels to open more seemed to help me some.

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2001 Feb;5(1):55-9. 


Premonitory symptoms in cluster headache.

Raimondi E.

Catedra de Neurologia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, 9 de Julio 3826, Rosario 2002 PKP, Argentina. raimondi@cablenet.com.ar

Cluster headache is one of the most excruciating headaches affecting human beings--especially the male sex. Most of the cluster headache cases are of episodic nature, with active cluster periods lasting generally between a few weeks and 2 or 3 months. A still undetermined percentage of patients report nonpainful sensations preceding the onset of the pain attack for a variable period of time. If occurring only a few minutes or a few hours before the onset of pain, such symptoms are called prodromal. When occurring for several days, weeks, or months before the pain, they are termed premonitory symptoms. The author believes that premonitory symptoms have not been properly diagnosed and emphasizes the need to investigate their presence, because by knowing them advances can be made in the understanding of the physiopathology of this particular cephalalgia. Furthermore, it can also allow the physician to be ahead, by giving preventive treatment and stopping or diminishing the intensity and duration of the pain attacks.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 11252138 

Thanks Bob Johnson, I'm going to try to find the study! Thats exactly what I was talking about.

Thanks to this site, I have learned to live with my clusters! Going to see my DOC about verapamil which helped my last cycle, but I'm going to try the 123 pain free day suggestion first. I prefer the idea of omega 3 and vitamin d versus a medication designed for treating high blood pressure.

Interesting to me that the obvious and most glarying symptom, the UNBEARABLE PAIN, is only one part of this complex beast... My super-human hearing is kinda cool though, when it is not annoying and distracting.

Martin,
Word of caution....

You stated Verapamil worked for your past cycle, right? 

The anti-inflammatory regimen may or may not work at all for your CH's, although there are many health benefits to take this regimen year round regardless of CH's.

Why gamble on the "UNBEARABLE PAIN" if you have a doctor willing to prescribe something that has been effective for you in the past?

I took the gamble and held off on Verapamil in hopes the anti-inflammatory regimen would be effective and it was not effective. 

My 2 month delay of starting Verapamil, relying strictly on hope of the vitamin regimen, has absolutely destroyed many aspects of my current life including prolonging the UNBEARABLE PAIN; as it was not effective for me. 

However, it has been effective for about 70% who've tried it.  Good Luck with your decision! ;)

PS  I also have super human hearing only while in cycle, otherwise I can't hear the dog barking in front of me ;D

Thanks for the word of caution about holding off verapamil. I completely understand that its a bit of a gamble, and there are pretty big stakes when wagering with Custer attacks... Heres hoping im part of that 70% the regimen helps! Sorry to hear you delayed your relief for those months. That is a long time to live with clusters.

I guess I should've stated that I started to get smaller, increasing frequent hits as i continued to use verapamil my last cycle. It seemed to work for the big hits, but these more constant headaches became annoying. Once I stopped the verap, I had kicked the beast, and my little attacks subsided as well.

For this reason, I'm hesitant to start verapamil, as I'm worried the rebounding effect will get worse with continued use.

HAHA about your hearing... maybe its an added benefit to being in cycle, like karma? Clusters mostly suck, but there are a few (hidden) bonuses along the way!

Martin wrote on Nov 30^th, 2011 at 3:54pm:

HAHA about your hearing... maybe its an added benefit to being in cycle, like karma? Clusters mostly suck, but there are a few (hidden) bonuses along the way!

Nice you have a sense of humor which is vital to not losing your mind while in cycle, I personally see zero "bonuses" to CH's and consider it a living nightmare and plague!

Sense of humour is my lifeblood; without it I would die.

Also I'm an eternal optimist, so my bonus list includes:

1. super sense of hearing and smell in cycle
2. more appreciative of my pain free days
3. confidence in my tolerance to pain
4. having met people on this board,
5. the strength we share, as sufferers and supporters alike.

I refuse to beleive that clusters, a source of so much negativity, pain and despair, can be entirely evil. But I still hate them passionately

Well respected and understood ;)

PF Wishes