Name is Mark- 58 yrs old- good physical shape- workout regularly - very active. Having cluster headaches for about 15 years now. Typically winter and spring onset. Current cluster one of the most extended ever- started week of April 13 and still going strong. As I type I'm in dark office at work and am in agony. Pain begins like clockwork at the three o'clock AM and PM hours. Amazing how faithful the pain is. Needless to say after 4 weeks I'm exhausted. Its got to the point now where pain never totally leaves me- but EXPLODES at 3 o'clock.

I dread 3 o'clock. 3 o'clock is in my worst nightmares. It has always been 3 o'clock- for 15 years its 3 o'clock.

During day I begin getting anxious about 2:30- wondering if today will be the day the cluster ends. Well- not today.

At night I awaken like a BOLT and barely get back to sleep.

Imitrex doesnt help any more.

Ive given up on medicine- and just try to tough it out until cluster ends. Pray and pray.

Maybe tongiht will be the night.

go to the medication and treatment section and read this

{Anti-Inflammatory Regimen Update and Survey}

this should help your ch.

Mark

Boppo wrote on May 13^th, 2015 at 3:43pm:

Imitrex doesnt help any more. Ive given up on medicine- and just try to tough it out until cluster ends. Pray and pray. .

Welcome to the board. Have you tried O2, energy drinks, ice packs, D3 vitamin treatment?

I was so fortunate to find this site.  First, a brief introduction.
I've been suffering from CHs since the age of 13.  Up until 3 years ago I'd average around 6 CH's a year.  For the past 3 years it's been 3 a week.  I don't have to explain the pain...we all know.  I've been to the emergency room on 6 different occasions because of these headaches.  At times it seems death would be a better alternative.
I've been on all sorts of meds but it wasn't until I was perusing this site that I learned of Butterbur.  This little plant extract has literally been life-altering for me.  I've been taking it for 6 weeks now.  I went from 3 CH a week to 1 in the past 6 weeks.  I hope it continues to work for me.  I know everybody's different...but if you haven't tried it it might be worthwhile.  Just do the homework.
Again, so happy I stumbled on this site.  Always good to converse with fellow sufferers.

On everything Iv"e read on Butterbur it"s more for Migrains but if it"s helping you that"s great.You should read about vitamin D-3 it has helped a lot of people here.

Mark

A first experience of Cluster starting in your 40s is not common. This suggests the absolute need for a solid diagnostic work-up before it's possible to start treatment.

See:
Link to: cluster-LIKE headache:

IN: "Medications, Treatments, Therapies --> "Important Topics" --> "Cluster-LIKE headache"
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The point of this link is to make it clear that Cluster is not a simple condition to diagnose. And there are some serious conditions which are masked by cluster-like pain.
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It's troublesome to find a doc with knowledge/skills in treating complex headche disorders--but start looking.
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LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.

2.  Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.

3. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE; On-line screen to find a physician.

4. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE Look for "Physician Finder" search box. They will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.

5. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
        Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.
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WHY A HEADACHE SPECIALIST IS RECOMMENDED


Headache. 2012 Jan;52(1):99-113.
Cluster headache in the United States of America: demographics, clinical characteristics, triggers, suicidality, and personal burden.
Rozen TD, Fishman RS.

THERE REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT DIAGNOSTIC DELAY FOR CLUSTER HEADACHE PATIENTS ON AVERAGE 5+ YEARS WITH ONLY 21% RECEIVING A CORRECT DIAGNOSIS AT TIME OF INITIAL PRESENTATION.
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Please avoid the temptation of self-diagnosis and self-treatment!