Hi Everybody,
Although it's my first post here, I'm a cluster headache sufferer over 19 years. I've tried many different medications over these years and luckily as I got older, pain-free periods got longer, starting from one or two months, now up to 3 years.

Last time it lasted for again 5 weeks when I used to live in Singapore, but with the use of Epilim Chrono (sodium valproate), Verapamil (calcium channel blocker), Melatonin and of course Sumatriptan syringe it was much better than the early days of CH.

Recently I moved to Dubai and I'm in a search of a doctor as I'm having small attacks in the last few days as an early warning of another 5-6 weeks suffering.

Appreciate if any one can advise me a doctor or an institute in Dubai if you had such experience there.

Many thanks
Ozan

I can't help you with a doctor referral, but follow this link to the medications section of this board and read the post 

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

It’s a vitamin/mineral/fish oil supplement, all over the counter stuff. It’s up to an 81% success rate of those who try it and respond to the survey so you’re just shooting yourself in the foot if you don’t give it a shot. I’m 3 years pain free on it after a 35 plus year track record with episodic CH. Best of all, it’s healthy for you even without CH!

As of January 20, 2013, the compiled raw data indicates an efficacy of 80%. 240 out of the 300 CH'ers who have started this regimen and stayed on it for a month or more have experienced a significant reduction in the frequency and severity of their CH... 78% of the 300 CH'ers experienced a pain free response and 60% of the 300 have remained essentially pain free. Episodic and chronic CH'ers respond to this regimen at roughly the same rate.

Preliminary survey results indicate most of these CH'ers were pain free before the end of the third week with some responding in a little as 12 to 24 hours. The average time to respond is five days

Worth a look see!

Joe

Ask your local hospital for information. They should know who serves your community. Local health department, or some such public health organization....

Hello Ozan,
I made the move to SE Asia 16 years ago and from my own experience I can empathize with your predicament. It did not take me long to realize that finding a doctor that knew anything about cluster was a challenge. I still have not accomplished that. When I visited the few neurologist that were available and began to talk about injectable sumatriptan or O2 therapy, their eyes would just glaze over. After several starts and misses I learned that Imitrex (sumatriptan injection) is simply not sold here. The nearest place it was available was in Hong Kong. Researching I found a Canadien pharmacy that would ship it to me labeled as personal effects. These shipments over the years have triggered only one inquiry from customs and I simply explained that I was ex-pat here and required medicine not available. They let it pass. It could be very different in Dubai, I do not know. You first need to check with a neurologist for sure. For Oxygen I went straight to the industrial gas company that supplied hosipiitals in  the area. I was pleased to learn that I was able to order med grade O2 and even arrange delivery on a canister swap out basis. You did not mention Oxygen but if you are not using it I highly recommend that you check out the info available here. The O2 and the supplemental regimen mentioned above have been enough, in my case, to manage my clusters effectively. I use the Imitrex only when I travel and have greatly reduced my reliance and expense for it. I wish you well in your adjustment to your new location.