Hi.

I've had cluster headaches for about a decade but my diagnosis came only with the last set of headaches, a couple of years ago, and then only at the very end of the cycle.  I began a fresh new set of headaches last week and SOMEHOW MANAGED TO START A MASSIVE HEADACHE IN THE WAITING ROOM AT THE DOCTORS OFFICE.  By the time I saw the doctor, it was a full-on pacing, snot-flinging, hyperventilating, sobbing headbanger.  Doctor asked me one question ("Does your head hurt?") and had me follow him into the back room where he gave me a face mask and told me to try to lie down.  Within five minutes the headache was significantly improved and in ten minutes it was gone.  It might have been the most amazing thing that's ever happened to me.

I have a fresh new prescription for Topamax and some lovely oxygen bottles and a nonrebreather mask.  I also have stuff to treat a sinus infection, which may or may not be related.  Since starting the O2 treatments I've found that my headaches respond within ten minutes to 15l/m flow, which is a wonderful relief - but that the frequency of the headaches has gone from one two-hour nightmare every other day to two or three 'treated' headaches each night.

What else should I tell you about myself?  I also have manic depression, I work full time, I'm a half-time geology student, I have a teenaged daughter, a husband, a dog, and a cat.  We backpack and ride bikes a lot, and we recently took up kayaking.

I've read a lot in the past week, primarily from your posted links and your conversations with each other, and I'm really grateful to have found you.  Thank you so much for being here!

Aly

Hi and welcome to the board Aly...
Oxygen is wonderful stuff, glad you finally found a doc who knows how to use it. Do read the oxygen info link for tips on making it more effective. I would recommend the O2ptimask, it works so much better than the standard mask.
Keep reading, knowledge is power against the beast.

Hey Aly,

Please let me second the welcome to CH.com. 

Your experience with oxygen therapy and the increase in frequency of your cluster headaches is quite normal.  If you stick with it for a few weeks...  the frequency of your CH will drop.

Take care and again, welcome aboard CH.com...  You've come to the right place.

V/R, Batch