There are pretty graphic descriptions around of the attacks by the beast, but I don't really see anything about shadows. I am wondering what they are, and if I am indeed having them, or perhaps it's not something else.

From between late December to late May, I will have daily headaches. Usually it's a 30 minute period of low to mild pain on the left side of my head (where the beast attacks) that repeats itself several times throughout the day. Every time it happens in the evening, it's enough to make me wonder if the beast is about to come on strong and hard, or if it's just growling at me.

There doesn't seem to be any rhythm or trigger to them. In fact I have one right now as I type this.

Is this somewhat like what your shadows are?

Shadows are difficult to explain.  They're most likely a low grade headache, that show up throughout the day during a cycle.  Sometimes they are advanced warning that a full blown cluster is imminent, sometimes no cluster comes.  They are extremely annoying.

I'm with Jason. I regard them as: have had  a major muscle strain/injury, has been healing nicely but--some low level, residual irritation which, while not restrictive, just annoys.

To me, they are a very mild cluster. I get a watery eye, slightly blocked nose and a tingling feeling across my cheek bone and a headache in the temple area which is where my clusters hurt the most. Sometimes toothache too. It's all just a step or 2 "below pain" if that makes sense. These symptoms are exactly the same as a cluster but much milder and livable with, although annoying.  A "shadow" of the real thing.

I abort them with 02 if I am at home as soon as they start, just in case they are a warning of worse to come.

Your symptoms do sound like what I would call shadows.

My experience matches that reported by Maz. I just treat them as a low level CH and will deal with them accordingly, which could be an energy drink for relatively mild ones or oxygen for the more annoying ones.

Thank you everyone. This helps a lot.

Do any of you fine folks get the shadows ALL day during your cycle?

My shadows never last all day but they may come and go for 15 minutes or so. My shadows start at the back of the head where the trigeminal nerve root is, also the top of my head..both on my cluster side, my eye may water a little. When I am not in cycle...never get them but when a cycle is trying to rear it ugly head, I may get 1 or 2 a day and go a week without. If you have O2...use it.

Judy

yes my shadows can last all day and infact have been almost constant since beginning OF January!

I guess i'm having a shadow cycle.. all other cycles over 25 years have been classic CH cycles..

my new neuro doesn't recognize them as part of CH but admit's they don't fit any other headache type either.., so it's a bit of a learning experience all round!!

It seem's to me shadows are very much a part of CH and they don't seem to follow the same rules as a full blown attack/cycle.

much love

Jo :)

My shadows came with twitches (eye) which is common in
a lot of folk. Other wise I classed them as a rebound Headache. Also a shadow can be a warning sign that the
beast is just around the corner.

Hoppy.

Shadows is like having a bad guy in your neighbourhood. Not one who actually knocks on your door or breaks into your house but you know he's out there somewhere.

You'll glimpse him in your garden, or peeping through your window, and while no direct threat there's always that feeling of unease.

That's shadows.

When I have shadows that just hang on and hang on I take a shot of 5 Hour Energy drink and it'll be gone in about 7 minutes.

Shadows are what the cluster headache feels like when it's over.

The moment you realize you can bear the pain again and proceed normally.

I tell you what, a full blown cluster headache makes it a hell of a lot easier to cope with a regular ol' headache.

My main cycle, as I will call it, has been over now for about a month but have had shadows ever since.  They are definitely getting more mild so hoping the full cycle is almost gone.  They are a slight ping or pang at the top of my head on the cluster side, sometimes a little pressure in the eye or a teary eye.  :'( .  In answer to some of the questions above, mine sometimes hang around all day or just momentary shots. The wacky weather doesn't help as when I am around a cycle I feel I am more sensitive to mild sinus headaches due to pressure changes.  Hope this helps and I did not get too wordy.   But even with some slight shadowing I threw in the towel and went on the roller coasters at great adventure this weekend with my kids.  No I'll effects, except for the food poisoning from the food truck festival, but that is another post.  Healthy days to all.

this is quite a timely topic !  ive been having shadows for about a week, just little niggles, even a day with a real crook neck.  im nearly off the verapamil, a week to go, so im basically stand alone on the vit d regime.  my last cycle was in mid January, but it wasn't anywhere near the pain levels of before, red bull and only once I took an imigran tablet and I rode thru it.   todays shadow started first thing this morning and like ive been doing for the last week, im about to scull a red bull and it then slowly goes away.
if this is all my cycles end up being, im a happy camper !
but , is this a preview of the beast coming back hard ?
time will tell.  before batches regime, it was 1 or 2 weeks of shadows then BANG !  so the shadows are making me
nervous, but im trusting the vit regime this time around.

colin

Hi Colin,
A little bit worried for you over here in the West. I have
my fingers x the beast isn't lurking. Since I've been on
the regime Spring 2012 not a sign of the beast.

Best, Hoppy.