Normally, I can deal with pain. The only thing that takes me down is the beast, but lately the shadows are really f*cking me over.

Today I have had a shadow at a high level, k7 or so, and with pain like this, there is no way I can lift. And what really pisses me off is that it's chest day, my favorite lifting day, and a necessary day because my chest is lagging way behind all of my other muscle groups.

Pain killers, as we know, won't touch it, whether it's aspirin or Vicodin. I don't have any O2 yet, and I wasn't able to get to an energy drink in time. I just have to suffer and hope it passes with enough time left in the day for me to get my workout in.

I started lifting, eating right, doing cardio, all in an effort to help combat this (and so the physicians would stop blaming it on inactivity/unhealthy lifestyle). Now I am addicted to exercise, and instead of helping the headaches, they just get in the way of my workouts.

There's no rhyme nor reason for them to strike, no trigger (that I know of) and no abortive techniques available to me, and all of that just really grinds my gears. I'm at the mercy of an unseen assailant for which I have no recourse and it's trying so hard to disrupt my life.

All I can say is F*ck off beast, take your shadows and your attacks and shove them straight up your a$$, cuz I refuse to deal with them anymore! >:(

Rant over.

Suck, don't they?  I'm right there with you bro.  I've been in a miserable cycle, which I thought I was starting to break, I had some really stable days.  Then, the last 3 days I'm shadowing again really heavy and all day.  I've thrown excedrin, energy drinks, and oxygen at them and they just won't quit.  Feel like I'm losing my mind.  If you really like working out/lifting I urge you to keep doing it whenever possible.  It's very easy to give up things due to this condition, but when we do, the beast wins.  Don't let the beast win.  PF wishes!

Another tip I have for you is, if you have a facebook account and haven't already, check out and/or join some cluster groups.  I like cluster headaches and clusterheads, they're great places to vent and get information.  There also seems to be a much quicker response times to posts.

I would not call a K7 a shadow. Sounds like  a full bore attack and raises the question: is your treatmen program working? Adequate dose level on your preventive med?

A possibility that you exercise program is a factor. For some people, evelvated body temp will trigger an attack. The eleveation can come from physical activity, exposure to high temp (air temp) just from being outside--if you're one of the people sensitive to this trigger.

Sadly, at the moment, I don't have a preventative treatment program that works. I ordered some Vitamin D3, and am now waiting for it to be delivered - HOPEFULLY that will be the answer.

Don't forget the co-factors with the D3.  A kip7 is a hit!  Use your abortives; ask your neuro for imitrix injections.  They help when you do not have 02.  Good luck. :-[

Bob Johnson wrote on Apr 28^th, 2014 at 3:44pm:

A possibility that you exercise program is a factor. For some people, evelvated body temp will trigger an attack. The eleveation can come from physical activity, exposure to high temp (air temp) just from being outside--if you're one of the people sensitive to this trigger.

Oh man, if I am one of the folks who gets that trigger, I'm screwed: I live in Florida!  :o

[quote author=785447546A77475C504750350 link=1398708489/5#5 date=1398735597]Don't forget the co-factors with the D3.  A kip7 is a hit!  Use your abortives; ask your neuro for imitrix injections.  They help when you do not have 02.  Good luck. :-[/quote]

It took me out - totally. When I got home I slammed an energy drink followed by the only other caffeine I have in the house at the moment - and that did the trick for about 45 minutes. I got my work out in (and with the extra caffeine I blasted through it quick!).

Right after, it came back, and so the battle raged on for another hour before it finally abated. At least now I have a plan for getting my workouts in if a big one is hitting. I don't think it will stop a K9, but put a K7 onhold - I'll take it!

You haven't said so but does, "no treament plan" mean that you have not seen a doc, been diagnosed as having Cluster?

If diagnosed, have you ever used the standard meds for Cluster?

I've been diagnosed and tried Verapamil, Topamax, all of the triptans (they actually make it worse), different pain meds, different channel blockers, even eastern medicines.

So far, nothing really helps to stop or to prevent. I am going to try the vitamin D and the O2 and see how it goes. It would be awesome if that was the bits I need! 8-)

Same boat...I was just about to start a workout regimen since my son was born, but nope, here come the headaches.

[smiley=bomb.gif] [smiley=bomb.gif] [smiley=bomb.gif]

svargas05 wrote on Apr 29^th, 2014 at 11:13pm:

Same boat...I was just about to start a workout regimen since my son was born, but nope, here come the headaches. [smiley=bomb.gif] [smiley=bomb.gif] [smiley=bomb.gif]

I feel for you man. Most of the time I try and just power through - if its k6 or less, I can do it. Anything worse and I have to rest. You know, I am starting to think that just going forward regardless of pain is raising my pain threshold. Or maybe I am just wishful thinking :)

Wishful thinking = Thinking it's over but realizing the pain just dipped to come and stab your eye again 3 seconds later.

I couldn't even eat lunch yesterday because I was having a CH. I had just ordered my food! Looked so good....  :-[ It was pretty shitty.

When the standard treatments have failed it's time to consider that you don't have Cluster.


Link to: cluster-LIKE headache:

IN: "Medications, Treatments, Therapies --> "Important Topics" --> "Cluster-LIKE headache"