I thought I'd dodged the bullet this fall.  My first CH episode started in early November of last year and the second in early March of this year.  When I made it through all of November and most of December pain free, I was starting to get optimistic that I might make it until spring without another episode.

No such luck.  The beast came back last night, which means it missed the solstice but got me near the equinox.  Three hits, midnight, 4am and 6:30AM.  I had a couple of shadows the day before.  At least it waited until after the kids were home for Christmas.

I am doing all of the normal things (except heart health issues keep me off Immitrex injections.) 

I need to convince the neurologist that I should try Batch's regimen, so I can convince the wife that is isn't dangerous.  She won't accept your testimony, claiming you can't trust much of anything you read on the internet.

Of course with wing nuts suggesting I drink my own urine to cure CH, I can hardly blame her for being distrustful.

Anyway, I figured I'd let you all know that I literally feel your pain.  I'll be sticking to sparkling cider tonight as we celebrate the New Year.  (Much better than urine in my opinion, not that I have tasted my urine.)

Here to hoping for a great and pain free New year to all of us.

Mark

Hi Mark,
What a way to start the year. The beast brought me a present on christmas eve this year and another every night since, but luckily only one per night and very mild. I've not had a really really bad one for about a year.

My doctor checked out the D3 regime and gave it the ok, as long as I had the blood test to make sure calcium levels etc were ok. Get her to join us for some reassurance.

As for the other suggestion - I thought red bull was bad enough. Think I'll give this one a miss.   

Happy new year, and lots of PF time.
Maz.

Hi Mark,
You seem to fit the book as an a typical CH sufferer like
myself, and many more clusterheads, Spring and fall, this
was me for 43yrs, but since starting the Vitamin D3 regime
in the spring of 2012 I have been CH free, and certainly
no other ill effects since being on it, in fact I've never felt
more healthy in my life, its certainly worth a go, you've
got nothing to lose, and hopefully plenty too gain.

Cheers, Hoppy.

Sorry to hear you are having headaches maz, but I am glad they are mild so far.

And Hoppy, I am glad the regimen is working for you.

I will be trying the D3 regimen soon, it is just a matter of socializing the program a bit here at home.

Just dealing with a couple of shadows so far this evening...

Have you tried slugging back a Red Bull or similar, the
ones that contain Taurine, this is known to abort an
attack if caught quick enough, and knock shadows
right on the head in many of us.

Hoppy

Happy New Year all. Maz, sorry to hear you are dealing with CH on any level. I haven't posted much lately myself as I have been dealing with shadows, nerve pain in the eye and teeth, ice pick stabs to the temple etc. I didnt want to jump on and complain as it is still a relief from the intense pain of CH. It does seem to be getting worse and I am losing patience once again with everything as though the cycle may be ramping up again. staying with D3 and feels as though the O2 may not be far off. Anyway, thanks to all for the support and all the best in the New Year   

Hi Don
Mine have been quite strange really for the last year or so. It's been almost constant, with breaks of just 1 or 2 weeks occasionally, but as I said, very mild. It's still definately CH - there is no mistaking it is there, but kip 3 or 4, and 02 knocks it out in a few minutes. It's always at night, but only one per night. It's annoying that I don't get real breaks from it, but I think I prefer it this way. Those kip 10s are just unbearable and destroy your quality of life. So I guess I'm lucky at the moment as they are not having much impact other than feeling a bit tired from the disturbed nights. Hope it eases off for you soon and you have a better 2015. Happy new year.
Maz.

Hoppy wrote on Jan 1^st, 2015 at 2:54am:

Have you tried slugging back a Red Bull or similar, the ones that contain Taurine, this is known to abort an attack if caught quick enough, and knock shadows right on the head in many of us. Hoppy

I have been a coffee addict for many, many years.  But I have gotten to the point where I am a bit sensitive to too much caffeine. I can have my cup of coffee in the morning, but more than one gives me benign heart fibrillation.  My cardiologist wants me to be very careful with caffiene.  And if I have caffeine after noon, I can't sleep at night at all.

Since my hits almost always come at night, I would be up all night if I slammed even one energy drink, and my heart would probably be trying to jump out of my chest.

Getting old is not easy.   :-/

Don, hang in there.  Somehow we manage to get through it.  But I understand your irritation.

I actually had an easy night last night, just one at about 12:30, and about a K-3.  I am feeling pretty good this morning since I got a good night's sleep.

I married into a Japanese American family, and they have a feast of all different kinds of Japanese food every New Year's Day.  I am looking forward to all kinds of great food today.   :)

Thanks Maz, Hop, & Mark.
I always thought that I was episodic as only every few years the Kip 10's would hit for a few months. then I would get a break, but only from that level of pain. I learned to cope with the shadows, not knowing early on I had CH, I was just glad to get relief from the big ones. As I can recall it's been about 25 years now. I wonder what it feels like to feel good. once in a while I have a good day and it's amazing. would love to string them together. I know there are many worse off, so I try to keep that in mind. Enjoy the good eats  :)   

Yeah to what Hoppy said. For the shadows try an energy drink. I use "Energy Shot" the Costco brand for 5 Hour Energy. Same stuff, just a lot cheaper. For me anything KIP 5-6 or lower will be gone in about 7 minutes.
Warning: it comes in 3 flavors.....arm pit, booger & ear wax. Dump it down your throat quickly. Try not to hit any taste buds.  :o

Wow. I needed a laugh. Thanks Bob