Just want to introduce myself. I was just recently diagnosed with CH, however unlike most, I was diagnosed very quickly due to good doctors. In fact I am still in the middle of my first cluster and don't know how long it will last. I truly hope it's not chronic. But my god, this is terrible! I feel compassion for all of you that have had to go through this for so long. The only other difference is that my attacks seem to occur mostly during the day time which makes work a difficult prospect but I work for very compassionate folks.
It is great to find that I'm not alone in this. My heart goes out to all of you!

It will help us to direct you to good sources of assistance if you will tell us where you live (city & state, if U.S. or country). At the Home page: Help button-->Edit & Profile --> Location. (This will add your location, just below your name, every time you post a message.
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Wondeful opening words: good diagnosis from a good doc!
Too many folks have to wander for years to get the correct Dx.

Since this is new for you, just a couple of early heads-up:
1. symptoms often change for months or longer, so don't be concerned. The textbook description is a good approximation only of real life.
2. Start to practicing: Don't try and predict the future; only leads to tension.
3. Notwithstanding all the ideas you will get here, don't make changes in your treatment without keeping him informed. Changes in a treatment plan will mess up his mind because he can't judge the outcome of his efforts.
4. Read alot here and other sites:


Thre sites which are worth your attention: medical literature, films, plus the expected information
about CH.

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE
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START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE Search under "cluster headache"
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START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE
  Full of articles, blogs, book: written by one of the best headache docs in the Chicago area.
  Worth exploring. The latest book is in e-book edition, $10; comprehensive and worth buying for
  a careful read.

Biker..glad to have you amonst us, the most caring individuals you will ever meet in your your lifetime. well, not exactly glad...but you know what I meant.

Do what Bob Johnson has told you.  He is our guru, so to speak, and if you have questions, ask  them here we, who have suffered for more years than I can to remember, will be glad to help you through this.

   Can't tell you how happy I am you found us. 

also...Bob Johnson (above) quoted this under his name.

   "Only the educated are
free." -Epictetus

I hope you are not chronic, but  if you are, understanding what this condition is and how to treat it best is by educating yourself about this condition.  Many, many hours have been spent garnering the information on this site over the years.  Start with reading all the links to the left of here and then read posts in the categories titled CH specific, and medical treatment.

So happy to hear you've got a good physician.  So many here waited decades before they got a proper diagnosis and were treated.

Linda

Hi! I'm new too. You're not alone, the info here saved my life. Oxygen daily if necessary & acutely prescribed prednisone for major cycles unresponsive to triptans & oxygen. fyi steroids lower your immune system & have other issues so you don't want too much of those, but that and a shot of tramadol in the fanny pulled me out of the seventh circle if you know what I mean...

keep up with drinking water, no joke! dehydration is my nemesis!

absolutely not a drop of alcohol, i can barely even smell red wine anymore.

NO smoking!!!

hang in there, you can do it! you are an amazingly brave person to make it through this, and just use every single Pain Free moment to the fullest, to prepare yourself and find solutions, so you can be ready to pamper yourself when you have headaches.

the scouts were right when they said Be Prepared!

:)

{ big hug }