I started the D3 treatment with Pete Batch 18 days ago and have just had my 15th strait day PAIN FREE!!! This has never happened to me in 37 years of being a mostly chronic CHer...

I have never felt so good!! !8 days ago and 37+ years past ;) I had back to back Ch's every night and several during the day with occasional breaks except for a couple of years with 6 month cycles but the last 6 to 7 months they were 80% kip 10 I had actually passed out from the horrific intensity of these CH's.

I never had in my history with these any preventative that has worked for me since 1973.
My most sincere thanks to all here at this wonderful site and To Pete Batch for doing what I thought was impossible! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart! ;).....Johnny

Can you describe your regimen for the rest of us? How much did you start at, how much might you have tapered down, how much are you at right now?

Congratulations, by the way. It's pretty cool, no?

I was In really bad shape with my Ch's and getting 10 to 15 daily, 80% were a kip 10 and also my D3 was very low at a 17ohd level. So Pete suggested I start the D3 at an excellerated dosing of 50,000iu daily for 2 weeks (which is not for everyone) and then taper down to around 20,000iu daily which I did 2 days ago.

It took 3 days at the 50,000iu level of D3 to become pain free and I have been pain free ever since....16 days now which has never happened to me!!. My Doctor at UCSD is totally on board with this treatment plan and is spreading the word!! I take the calcium at 500mg daily, the omega 3 fish oil at 1200mg daily and a centrum silver multi vitamin daily which has the magnesium, zinc and vitamin A....

I had my 25ohd lab test on friday to see were my D3 levels are at also Calcium and PTH levels so i will know monday and dose will stay at 20,000iu or eventually 10,000iu daily with a loading dose of 50,000iu once a week depending on lab results., as we want to keep my D3 level between 80 and 100 ng/ml levels. All I can say is the D3 has done for me what has never been done since 1973 and that's made me PAIN FREE!!! Whoooo Hooooo!!!!......Johnny ;)

Great success, Johnnie.  Congratulations!





Quote:

Whooo Hoooo!

Maybe another tuna battle soon?  But better, sometimes you get a Wahoo.




schools of these are in 8 packs.

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:)

That is fantastic news!! 

what is this D3 that you speak of?

Look at Pete Batchs post "Anti inflammatory regimen and survey" on the medications and treatments page, it will tell you all about it.....Johnny :)

Great to hear you are PF. I maybe need to increase my dosage of d3 although night time hits still have been brutal for me this past week (kip7-8)   but last cycle around without the d3 batch recipie was at kip 9-10 at night time so any level lower on that scale works for me.

Hey Brian!
Have you had your 25ohd lab test done yet to see where your D3 levels are? Talk to Pete about upping your dosage. If you are taking the 10,000iu daily then it can take as long as 2 months to get your body up to the target of around 80 ng/ml D3 levels where most chers become pain free. Best of luck and so sorry of your hard hits! Try melatonin 10mg at night to help you with sleep. It takes a week or so to really start working but helps greatly for most folks......Johnny

Who is Pete Batch?? And are you talking about Vitamin D?? I am ready to try anything....everything to stop these damn headaches!! I have not slept more then a few hours at a time for over 15 days. Normally Prednisone puts them back in remission after about 9 days of taking them....but not this time!! I am at day 15 and I'm about to start another 15 day treatment!! I have never had to repeat the Prednisone treatment before. I am having surgery today and wonder if the very large growth on my vocal cord could have something to do with this abnormal cluster cycle. I just pray after surgery today they will be going back in remission! I can't take this anymore!  :'(

In my response to your last post, it's the post I referred you to, "123 pain free days and I think I know why" AS you can see by Johnny's hooting and hollering,  ;D the results can be amazingly fast! Doesn't work for everyone but about 75% are reporting positive results from it.

Joe

To answer the question "Who is Pete Batch" just go to the medications and treatments page and find the "Anti-inflammatory regimen" and survey thats were you find Petes thread.....Johnny :)

Thanks for the two replies as to Who is Pete Batch is and where to find the information about the D3. I had my surgery on the growth(s) on my vocal cord and they reduced the tissue  in my nose to help me breath. I had a cluster as I was on the bed waiting for my turn to have surgery! I had my Imitrex injections with me and used it. Since my surgery at noon on yesterday, I am happy to report almost 20 hours of pf. I am still going to read up on the D3, I am not sure the beast is back in remission yet...but I pray they are. Thanks again Joe and Johnny!!! ;)

I am not sure the beast is back in remission yet...but I pray they are.

Crossing fingers and toes for you, glad the surgery went well.

Joe

Best of luck Nancy!!
I hope you stay pain free!! Best wishes .....Johnny :)

34 days PAIN FREE!! WHOOO HOOOO!! .......Johnny ;D

I'm also at half a year now 8-). Still take the D3 every day.

Hi I'm new to the board, but have had great success with D3 after just my first day.  I suffer from episodic cluster headaches, and had a bad cycle start last week.

Yesterday, I took D3 (4,000 IU in the am and 4,000 IU in the pm) and 4,800 mg of Fish Oil in the am yesterday, and noticed a HUGE improvement last night.  Went from 3-4 KIP 5-6 CHs during the night to 2 KIP 1s last night.  Just woke to a little pressure, and was able to easily fall back to sleep.  This morning, I woke and started to get about a KIP 2-3, BUT after taking the fish oil and Vitamin D, gone, all gone!

I'll keep the board posted to see if the success of Batch's concoction continues!

Paul...Thats how I started and by the third day i was pain free....38 days now!! Best of luck and may you be pf soon!
:)

Thanks Johnny, that's encouraging...I hope to report the same results soon!

We're not seeing any change from this.  Continuing anyway as it's a generally healthy thing to do, but nothing dramatic has happened and it's been about 3 weeks.  He's taking 22000 IU of D3, Calcium citrate, fish oil, magnesium, zinc and a men's multivitamin.  The hard hits seem to be over, but shadows are just not going anywhere.

It took me 8 weeks of 20,000 iu/day with a loading dose of 50,000 iu once a week before I saw any results. Stay with it.

Quote:

The hard hits seem to be over, but shadows are just not going anywhere.

You don't think this is progress?

Not sure as it's also about the time when the cycle should be over...not sure if it's a coincidence or not.  The Smaller headaches and shadows just won't go...will stay with it anyway though...

As Brew said you have to be patient with this as it can take over 2 months but be sure to get your 25 ohd lab test done to see where your D3 levels are, the target area is around 60 ng/ml on the low end and as high as 100 ng/ml  and around 80 is optimum,so get that checked asap and then let me know where your at. I am no expert on D3 and do not pretend to be but I have learned the basics by talking to Batch often and many folks that are taking it and have learned alot about it. It sounds like you are making progress as this happens to many that i've talked to, ie: reduction in frequency and pain in your Ch and lingering shadows so HANG IN THERE!....Best of luck.....Johnny  :)

44 days pf now and life is good. i pray everyone can achieve this and live pain free!! :)

I think people's metabolism rates are all over the map when it comes to building up therapeutic levels of vitamin D. For those who report that it doesn't work, they either give up on it too soon or aren't taking enough to build up serum levels quick enough to see improvement.

Yeah Brew your right...  People want a quick fix and have trouble when they don't get immediate results but i try to get across to folks to be patient and let the regimen work. I was just one of the lucky ones that did get quick results but many do go pain free in as little as 1 day and the average is actually 5 days.

I think if everyone's a bit more patient and will pay more attention to following Pete's guide lines a bit more cautiously and upping there dosage when not getting results within a couple of weeks so as to give it the necessary dosing and time to work that we will have many more pain free and happy folks......Johnny :)

Day 11 pf for me!! I still feel the shadow once in a while, but no ch. I am taking 10,000 vitamin D3 and 3000 fish oil with Omega-3. I just pray this is the beginning of the end and I hope to go back in remission!! This has been a ruff 6 weeks! I wonder if I increase my dose if I can put that shadow to rest. I was just worried about overdosing on vitamin's! Can it be harmful to take too much vitamin's??
Thanks so so much for letting us know about this 123 pain free cocktail  :D. I pray this works on everyone!!  :-*

Quote:

I was just worried about overdosing on vitamin's!

Another victim of the AMA propaganda machine. Do you know how much vitamin D you'd have to take to overdose? Here's a little perspective:


Quote:

Taking an entire bottle of aspirin or Tylenol will almost surely kill you, but taking an entire bottle of Vitamin D, in the vast majority of cases, will be more likely to actually IMPROVE your health than to damage it!

Get your serum level checked. Keep it between 60 and 110 ng/ml. You'll be fine.

Do you know why the mainstream medical community tries to scare people out of taking vitamins? Because there's no money to be made in improving people's health without pharmaceuticals.

Thanks Brew for the information!! I will try to increase to see if I can put the shadow to bed!! I don't have the shadow all the time...it comes and goes!! I think the monster does that so I won't forget about him!! lol >:(

It took me a full 8 weeks at 20,000 iu/day with a 50,000 iu loading dose once a week before I saw consistent relief.

Steady as she goes Nancy!
Sounds like things are working great! Keep it up and the shadows should go away soon too! Love to hear that your not getting any CH's so best of luck and keep us posted......Johnny ;)

Hey Nancy,

Thanks for the feedback. As Bill suggested, do see your doctor for the lab test for 25(OH)D.  Knowing your serum concentration of this vitamin D3 metabolite after you've gone pain free will be important for you in the future.

Please find the time to take the Anti-Inflammatory Regimen Survey when you've been on this regimen for at least a month.  It's the weight of empirical evidence from a survey like this that will make it a lot easier to gain greater awareness of the benefits of vitamin D3 therapy with respect to its safety and efficacy as a cluster headache preventative and to get funding for an RCT.

Staying on a maintenance dose of 10,000 IU/day vitamin D3 is also a great idea for a lot of reasons.  Aside from the many health benefits, the biggest reason for staying on this regimen is it should make your next cluster headache cycle a non-event...

In other words, if you stay on this regimen...  when the next cycle comes around...  you'll be singing "I hear you knocking, but you can't come in," to the beast.

My wife has been on this regimen taking 15,000 IU/day vitamin D3 for two years... 

She looks great, feels great, hasn't had a cold or migraine in two years, and has more energy than I've seen in 20 years...  She's also kicked the heck out of 74 turning 75 this month... 

Her doctor called a week after her last annual physical when her labs came back and said...  "I don't know what you're doing...  but what ever it is, keep doing it."  "Your labs look like they came from a women a third your age."  Go figure...

Take care and please keep us posted.

V/R, Batch

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Johnny, I will keep you and everyone else posted...I think I have turned the page and I am at the end of this cycle!! Once I get this shadow to leave!! I like what Batch said!! I hear you knocking but you can't come in!! I took a short nap on Saturday and woke up because I felt a cluster coming, but once I got up the cluster left and never came out!! It felt so good knowing that was one ch I beat. Day 12 ch free!!  ;D
Batch...where is the Anti-Inflammatory Regimen Survey? I didn't know there was a survey!! I will definitely take the survey once I have made the 30 day mark with the vitamin's. Thanks for letting me know about it!!
I pray for pf days for everyone!!  :)

I've been taking D3 for over 7 months (I think) and so far, nada. I neither gave up on it nor shied away from taking a rather huge dose. My OHD levels came back as "normal". I am one of the few failures, thus far.

I continue to follow the thread, add things as suggested (such as low-dose aspirin), and still no love. I'm starting to get some jealous-type feelings toward the majority (?) who experience relief from vitamin D...  :(


Brew wrote on Nov 30^th, 2012 at 2:04pm:

I think people's metabolism rates are all over the map when it comes to building up therapeutic levels of vitamin D. For those who report that it doesn't work, they either give up on it too soon or aren't taking enough to build up serum levels quick enough to see improvement.

I too am jealous of those who've had nearly instant relief! I am experiencing relief, but it is a bit slow and fairly sporadic. I've been keeping decent track of everything and will post a detailed account of my experience when things level out and I have the time to compile it all. For the sake of yourself and everyone else's potential knowledge-gain, make sure you're keeping track of supplementing and your CH activity :)

ANC,

I'm inherently leery when a physician says your 25(OH)D levels are "normal."  The normal reference range for 25(OH)D is 30 to 100 ng/mL.  Too many physicians will say you're normal at a serum concentration of 31 ng/mL.  That's too low for any CH preventative effect.

What was your actual serum concentration?  If it wasn't up around 80 ng/mL...  it may be still too low to have a therapeutic effect on your CH.

Chris,

Thanks for the headzup you've started the anti-inflammatory regimen...  Have you seen your PCP for a lab test for 25(OH)D?  You're shooting in the dark with respect to an optimum vitamin D3 dosing schedule if you don't know your serum concentration of this vitamin D3 metabolite.

Take care and please keep us posted.

V/R, Batch

Sorry Batch, I was sloppy in explaining. "Normal" was my terminology, not his. Test came back at exactly 95. And actually he said, in his usually conservative way, "I think that's actually a bit higher than it should be."

ANC - I'd say with a serum level that high, your next trip should be to an endocrinologist.

Yes, that was Batch's suggestion also. I do already take testosterone injections, so it wouldn't be surprising if I had some endocrine issues in general. Seeing as I just made an appointment for the new neuro, the dental surgeon, and the eye doctor, it might be a few weeks until I can steal another half day off work.

My body's a wonderland.  ::)

Been taking the d3 for 3+ weeks no real change gonna continue for a little longer and ck with neuro before stopping.

Did you get your 25(OH)D serum level checked?

not yet been working 12-14 hrs a night and having 2-3 hits a day so trying to get enough rest is primary at this point as soon as Christmas rush over will get it done.

Where can I find clinical back up of the numbers that Batch uses as a minimum levels for Ch suffers?

There's all sorts of data in the following thread:

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You say you are a CDL driver - how can you be working 12-14 hours every night?

Get the test done. Find the time. Nobody here will be able to help you if you don't help yourself.

The law only requires you have 10 hrs off and you can drive 11 there is dock work and other duties that can feel in the time. As I said it will be calming down soon and I will get this done asap.

Tim,

The only information on preventing cluster headaches with vitamin D3 comes from data collected right here at CH.com, a similar thread on ClusterBusters, and an online survey of the Anti-Inflammatory Regimen.

To date, the primary thread at START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE, has been viewed over 76,800 times with 1090 comments posted in the two years it's been running...  At least 20% of the comments mine.

Data from from the online survey of the Anti-Inflammatory Regimen with vitamin D3 is proving to be very useful.  That survey continues to collect data on efficacy, dosing, and lab results for 25(OH)D, calcium, and PTH (parathyroid hormone).  This survey also collects demographic and  epidemiological data.

It's not a gold standard RCT with A1 medical evidence.  That said, the weight of the empirical evidence and first hand testimony on the effectiveness of this regimen collected from well over 250 cluster headache sufferers posting here at CH.com and over 70 participants in the online survey is significant. 
 
So far, a preliminary compilation of the online survey results and tally of raw data collected here at CH.com are consistent.  They're also in strong agreement that the efficacy of using the anti-inflammatory regimen as a CH preventative is 76% for episodic and chronic cluster headache sufferers (CH'ers) combined. 

In addition, of the CH'ers who reported a favorable response to the anti-inflammatory regimen and who also had a lab test for 25(OH)D, the favorable responses occurred at 25(OH)D serum concentrations between 60 to 110 ng/mL.  These responses occurred in as little as the first 24 hours to as long as two months after starting this regimen.  Most CH'ers responded within the first two to three weeks.

What we're also starting to discover is why the other 24% of CH'ers who tried the anti-inflammatory regimen don't respond.  Comorbidities involving liver, kidney, thyroid and parathyroid insufficiencies lead the list of likely suspects that interfere with the capacity of the anti-inflammatory regimen to prevent CH. 

Viral infections and allergic reactions that challenge the body's immune system are also suspect, as are medical and dietary conditions that result in a lower than normal systemic pH.

There is information from formal studies on the pharmacokinetics and safety of vitamin D3 at the doses we're taking including the resulting 25(OH)D serum concentrations. 

These studies were conducted by doctors and professors, most of whom are endocrinologists.  The authors include names like Heaney, Veith, Hollis, Garland, French and Baggerly.  These are the Jedi Masters of vitamin D3 Therapy.

Many of the studies they conducted and published employed a meta-analysis approach comprised of statistical techniques for combining results of multiple studies to obtain a quantitative estimate of the effect of vitamin D3 on 25(OH)D serum levels and overall safety.

When you combine data gathered here at CH.com, the survey data, and information from the formal studies of vitamin D3 above, it provides a compelling story of hope for cluster headache sufferers all over the world that a strong correlation exists between cluster headache and a vitamin D3 deficiency.

Moreover, when the vitamin D3 deficiency is treated with a regimen of vitamin D3, Omega 3 Fish Oil, and vitamin D3 cofactors, cluster headache symptoms either disappear completely or are significantly reduced to provide a good quality of life. 

Again, this is not a gold standard RCT...  but it appears we now have a safe, inexpensive and effective alternative treatment to prevent cluster headaches, as opposed to taking the standards of care prescription medications... with all their side effects.

Finding time to go in for the 25(OH)D lab test is important for a couple reasons...  The first is I'm not a doctor and second, it's best to involve your PCP or neurologist, whoever knows your most recent overall medical history and prescribed medications best.

In my second career following 24 years in Naval Aviation, I worked as a technology consultant for defense clients for 14 years, living with episodic cluster headaches 6 years and then chronic cluster headaches during the last year.

I know what it's like working with cluster headaches.  I worked 12 to 14 hours a day with a 2-hour round trip driving commute 6 days a week and was determined not to let my cluster headaches impact my work...  I was successful until I turned chronic. 

At that point I started falling asleep in the middle of team meetings with my software and electrical engineers...  I would also go out to my car to suck on oxygen 2 to 3 times a day for 10 to 20 minutes at a time to abort the hits that came while working... 

After a year of that, I hung up my consulting spurs and retired...  My health was more important...

Take care and please keep us posted.

V/R, Batch

Thanks Batch I will take that info with me as my Neuro is one of the top in the area and is open to new therapies she will be interested in this I am sure thank you again.

Tim,

Be sure to take along the following graphic when you see your neurologist...  A picture is worth a thousand words...

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Print the attached file and take it along as well...  It should ease any worries about vitamin D3 intoxication.

Take care,

V/R, Batch

---

Thanks again I will.

Batch, that's a really good explanation of why some people (like me) probably need to check in with an endocrinologist as you and others have suggested. I'm looking forward to seeing one soon in order to find out why I don't respond to D3. I will certainly report back what I find out.

ANC,

There are a couple things to try in order to improve the preventative effects of the anti-inflammatory regimen while you're waiting to see an endocrinologist.

The first is the baking soda tonic...  Your systemic pH may be at the low end of the normal range (too much acid) for one reason or another. 

As this condition can trigger a level of vasodilation that makes most cluster headache abortives and preventatives ineffective, drinking a baking soda tonic 4 to 5 times a day should neutralize enough stomach acid to elevate your systemic pH to the alkaline side of neutral (above a pH of 7.4).  A systemic pH above 7.4 acts as a vasoconstrictor so it should make preventatives and abortives more effective.

In other words, drinking a tonic made with a half teaspoon of good old Arm & Hammer baking soda in 4 ounces of cold water four times a day, (2 hours after eating), and right before bed might just do the trick...  The directions are on the box.

If you don't have any baking soda (sodium bicarbonate - NaHCO3), try an Alka-Seltzer.  It contains a combination of aspirin, citric acid, and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).  When dissolved in water or the stomach, it has pH is 9.2 so should make short work of a low systemic pH condition.

If a low systemic pH is not the problem, it's possible calcium homeostasis is preventing 25(OH)D from being metabolized in the kidneys into the active hormonal form of vitamin D3, 1,25(OH)2D3 (calcitriol). 

Calcium homeostasis and vitamin D3 metabolism are interrelated processes that work together to maintain the total calcium serum concentration in a very narrow range.

As the total calcium serum concentration approaches the upper end of the normal range, this condition signals the parathyroids to slow or stop production of PTH (parathyroid hormone)... 

As PTH is essential in the metabolism of 25(OH)D into calcitriol, a drop in PTH slows or stops production of calcitriol and that can stop or hinder the preventative effect we get from vitamin D3. 

As calcitriol is also essential for pulling calcium from the gut and pushing it into the blood stream, a drop in calcitriol results in a drop of the total calcium serum concentration. 

As these two processes are autonomous and run all on their own...  the only thing we can do is bias them by changing the intake of vitamin D3 and or calcium supplements.

As your 25(OH)D was ≥92 ng/mL, and that should be high enough to prevent your CH if it's being metabolized into calcitriol.  Stopping the the intake of calcium supplements for a week or so should increase production of calcitriol and that should increase the preventative effect of vitamin D3.

Hmmm...  I know that may be confusing...  Just chalk it up to better living through chemistry...  and a yin-yang thing that maintains total calcium serum concentration in a very narrow range... 

In short, skip the calcium supplements for a week and see what happens.  If you're eating a well-balanced diet you're likely getting sufficient calcium to maintain bone mineral density.

Now if that wasn't confusing enough, there's another path where 25(OH)D is metabolized into calcitriol, but it doesn't occur in the kidneys...  It called the autocrine mode of vitamin D3 metabolism that enables gene transcription and it takes place at the cellular level within all the different types of body cells... 

In this case, the metabolism of 25(OH)D into calcitriol is controlled by retinol (vitamin A - β-carotene) not PTH.  Magnesium and zinc are also essential in this process.

Vitamin A is hard to find, but it's readily available in other formulations like Centrum Silver, the "old foggy" vitamin and mineral supplement. (That's what I take)...  You can also get it from the carotenoids found in carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, collard greens, papaya, bell peppers, and tomatoes.

Hope this helps...

Take care and please keep us posted...

V/R, Batch

Batch, that's certainly more than helpful! I have to assimilate technical concepts pretty quickly at my job, so I have no problem with the complexity. It makes sense, what you're saying. Thanks!

Don't you just love the way Pete explains things!
The man definitely know what he's talking about and has the research to back it up! So sorry the D3 isn't helping you yet but the endocrinologist should be able to give you some answers.....Johnny :)

The other day before I had a chance to read this I had a bout of indigestion and mixed up Grandma's cure baking soda and water, funny thing and I didn't think about it until right now the normal 2 visits that I have were very minor that day. Now I don't know how that could have made that difference but the 9:30am hit was so minor that I went right back to sleep no O2 or trex and the 2:30 pm hit took about 8 min of O2 and was more of a shadow than a CH. I have been maintaining 20,000 of D3 10 when I get up at 6pm and 10 right before I go to bed.

Thanks, Clusterman! I'm still working on it, but I'm not giving up.

That's great my friend!
I am glad you are giving this 100% of your effort and i truly pray for you that it works so keep hanging in there and keep us posted.....Johnny :)

That's GREAT news Tim!!
So happy for you!! I think you will be totally pf soon and enjoying the good life! keep us posted on your progress and  pf wishes to you my friend!! :)

Does anyone think that there would be any issues with taking such high doses of vitamin D? it looks as though it could result in hypercalcemia, atherosclerosis, and higher risk of kidney stones, among other things. I know that anything is better than getting hit, but should I be concerned about these things? my family has a history of high blood pressure and stroke. thanks!

ressa36 wrote on Dec 28^th, 2012 at 5:49pm:

Does anyone think that there would be any issues with taking such high doses of vitamin D? it looks as though it could result in hypercalcemia, atherosclerosis, and higher risk of kidney stones, among other things. I know that anything is better than getting hit, but should I be concerned about these things? my family has a history of high blood pressure and stroke. thanks!

That's what the FDA would have you believe. Because there's no big pharma money to be made in vitamin D3.

It's bullshit.

Well went 6 days almost PF some real mild shadows and then wham only about a K-2 so not to concerned more concerned that I may have gone chronic since its been 7 going on 8 months now. Still taking D and will see Doc first week of Jan. Yes I will make sure I take all of this info to her.
:-/

Chronic, by definition, is going one year without a pain-free break of 30 days or more.

Following Batches regimen has been proven to be safe as the body can produce alot more than 10,000 iu of D3 daily just hangin in the sun so followed properly and getting your 25 ohd tests regularly there should be little concern of safety here however on another note everyone is different and some may not be able to tolerate oral D3 or other supplements so for general purposes though this is a safe regimen and is helping so many to become pain free from cluster headaches....Johnny :)

thanks Brew

Have seen the Doc and showed her the info, Shes reviewing it. She had heard of the d connection but had seen little info on it. I gave her a small book to review. I am continuing to take 20,000 units a day also taking Varapamil and using O2 for flairs. Have had shadows about once a week and a few CH since the beginning of the year. I have only had to use trex 2 or 3 times since the beginning of the year. Doc should give me the order within the next few days here so until I am going to continue what I have been doing. Now for the kicker if I miss 2 doses in a roll of the d-vap regime I get the shadow so I will wait for results and go from there.

Hi all,
   I am supposed to go to the lab and get my levels checked today, but upon further inspection,  my "new" doctor, wrote my script that says just , vit D levels, CBC, etc.   is that the right test for the 25ohD, test that I should be getting?   Im confused.......    help anyone? :-/

My neuro wrote the same thing. Sure enough the lab knew to check for the right thing.

Yes Chris that is correct and it is the 25 ohd test to check your D3 levels and as long as your doc says to check D levels it is the same... Johnny.... ;)

Just went through a week where I got hit 5 days in a row after switching D3 brands to a cheaper discount brand and paid for it after 191 days CH free on the regimen.
I have seen that there have been some tests done in Europe on different brands of D3 and some are grossly deficient in the actual amount of D3 in them. My recommendation is to use a reputable brand such as Batches recommended "Kirkland" brand from Costco or I take "Natures Made" brand and "GNC" is another good one that comes to mind as i know several folks using it with good results.
The brand I switched to that was obviously deficient was "Rite aid" brand but may have just been a fluke?? I don't know for sure but about 8 days after switching from Natures made to the Rite aid brand is when I got hit.
I had the opportunity to bust so i did and have been CH free for a week now and have not restarted the D3 regimen to see if it was the busting that worked and it appears that the busting has worked and I am going to give it some time to see if the CH free effects will continue but have all intentions to continue the D3 regimen for the great benefits that it has regardless of being CH free as I have no doubt that the regimen will continue to keep me CH free and feeling good!...;)

I posted this on another thread as well. I hope it will help the other 30%.

Its also important to know where your d3 is coming from as most company's derive it from lanolin in sheeps wool. If you are sensative/allergic to wool, I would look into d3 that is derived from vegitable sources. Also you do need to supplement the d3 with the omega 3 fish oil. I use the omega 3 fish oil and the omega 3 flaxseed oil. And it is also important to take Magnesium along with it. Magnesium aids in d3 absorbtion. I'm not sure how much magnesium to take, but I have seen reports of ppl taking upwards of 1600mg's. Recommend talking to you doc about how much to take. Hope this helps.

Between 400mg/day and 500mg/day is the recommended
daily amount of Magnesium Citrate you should be taking.

Yes 280-300mg for women and 270-400mg for men. Being especially careful if you have kidney problems. Thanks for correcting me. But I have heard of ppl taking a lot more. Check with your doctor first. Of course.

For this vitamin regimen, Magnesium Citrate 400mg daily is recommended. ;)

-Gregg in Las Vegas 

227 days CH free now on the regimen...
It has no doubt changed my life totally and my thanks to Batch for his tireless work to help me and so many CHers with the regimen and ending over 37 years of CH. Unless you have a medical condition that could be adversely affected by the regimen then in my point of view this is a must for everyone to try. It is helping so many to either become totally CH free or greatly reducing the severity and frequency of CH's. Unfortunately it as well as all meds doesn't work for everyone but the odds are definitely in your favor...Best of luck to all for pf days ahead...Johnny...:)

Clusterman59 wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 1:47pm:

227 days CH free now on the regimen... It has no doubt changed my life totally and my thanks to Batch for his tireless work to help me and so many CHers with the regimen and ending over 37 years of CH. Unless you have a medical condition that could be adversely affected by the regimen then in my point of view this is a must for everyone to try. It is helping so many to either become totally CH free or greatly reducing the severity and frequency of CH's. Unfortunately it as well as all meds doesn't work for everyone but the odds are definitely in your favor...Best of luck to all for pf days ahead...Johnny...:)

I'm not counting the days, but it's been over a year for me. If anyone doesn't try this method - and I mean really give it all it's got - for at least three months before dismissing it, then I got nothing else for you.

Brew wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 3:02pm:

Clusterman59 wrote on Jul 7th, 2013 at 1:47pm: 227 days CH free now on the regimen... It has no doubt changed my life totally and my thanks to Batch for his tireless work to help me and so many CHers with the regimen and ending over 37 years of CH. Unless you have a medical condition that could be adversely affected by the regimen then in my point of view this is a must for everyone to try. It is helping so many to either become totally CH free or greatly reducing the severity and frequency of CH's. Unfortunately it as well as all meds doesn't work for everyone but the odds are definitely in your favor...Best of luck to all for pf days ahead...Johnny...:) I'm not counting the days, but it's been over a year for me. If anyone doesn't try this method - and I mean really give it all it's got - for at least three months before dismissing it, then I got nothing else for you.

While I agree with Brew that every CH'er should try this before dismissing it. 

I don't think many of us could handle three months of CH's on this regimen alone without the help of another preventative treatment.  In fact I think it would be self torturous to put all your eggs in one basket testing this regimen alone for the 1st time while in cycle.

Think about it, logically how does one reasonably understand that this regimen is truly effective if also taking Verapamil or another preventative med? 

If I were to begin this regimen while in ECH cycle and after a week or two add a preventative and started feeling better, how would I know which is working more effectively?  Was it the Verap taking a couple typical weeks to titrate blood levels or was it the D3 and cofactors building up finally taking action?

After a typical 12 week cycle ends, how would I know which one, the D3 or the Verap, was the most effective treatment? 

So to avoid self torture and to avoid uncertainty of which preventative treatment is most effective, my recommendation is to try this regimen year round. 

And one would know with certainty that this vitamin regimen is truly the effective preventative treatment plan when their cycle is due and they remain pain free. 

This is what I am hoping for, having started this vitamin regimen a month ago with my next cycle due next month/this Fall.

My recommendations and example and questions above are obviously relevant to ECH'ers. 

For CCH'ers, I would think one would have to slowly reduce their preventative med/s until they are pain free while on this vitamin regimen alone to know it was truly the one and only effective treatment.

Good luck to all of us ;)

-Gregg in Las Vegas

LasVegas wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 3:25pm:

For CCH'ers, I would think one would have to slowly reduce their preventative med/s until they are pain free while on this vitamin regimen alone to know it was truly the one and only effective treatment.

That is what I did. I was getting reasonably good results with verapamil, then started on the D3 and went pain free before tapering off the verapamil. I remained pain free for a time exceeding when I'd expect to have 2+ cycles.

Taking the regimen year round is recommended for ECH and a must for CCH. It is a healthy inexpensive regimen to take regardless of CH also. There is also evidence that it may help migraines or other primary headaches too. It has many good benefits for the body. The good thing about it is you can take it with most any med for CH too (read the regimen)....:)