Hello everybody.
my name is Mahmoud, 61 years old. my first CH came in 1982 and they typically last about 2 months with 1 or 2 occurrences per day. the would go away and return after 18 months.
the time window has been stretching over the years, 18 month, 2 years then 3 years. the last time I had them was Sept 2010 and I thought they would not come back. well they did this year Oct 2015 after a 5 year absence.
I was diagnosed in 1991 by a Neurologist who gave me topamax. in 1998 I switched to Imitrex 100mg and it has worked for me as long as I take the pill as soon as the headache starts, and it usually takes less than 20 min for the pill to kill the headache. If I wait too long or wake up with the headache already well underway, then it may take up to 45 min to kill the headache.
Mine is always on the right side and as the pain passes it most intense phase and I feel the pain coming down, my right nostril starts running with my right eye.
The whole episode leaves me drained after the pain disappears and it takes me at least 1 hr to finally go back to sleep.

Mahmoud,

Welcome. You are among friends who all understand what you have been through.

My first thought is that 20- 45 minutes is much too long to wait to kill the pain. Have you tried Oxygen?

Read everything about the Vitamin D3 Regimen. You will find the information in the thread "123 days pain free..." In the medications section on this board.

It is worth putting some time into reading Batch's instructions. It has worked wonders for lots of us here.

Keep well, read lots and ask questions.

Peter.

Mahmoud wrote on Oct 15^th, 2015 at 10:03pm:

in 1998 I switched to Imitrex 100mg and it has worked for me as long as I take the pill as soon as the headache starts, and it usually takes less than 20 min for the pill to kill the headache. If I wait too long or wake up with the headache already well underway, then it may take up to 45 min to kill the headache.

As you can tell the pills are about worthless for CH....injections are far better if you want to go that route. If it will work for you, High Flow O2 is far faster with less side effect.....

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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Your age when the attacks started is unusual. It raises the question about the accuracy of the diagnosis.

There is a surprisingly long list of disorders which mimic Cluster but which are not headache disorders.

Given these two facts, I'd consider finding a headache specialist and confirm which is your diagnosis. If you have access to a headache specialists (This why the question about your location is impotant: do you have access to a specialist.)

If you don't wish to change doctors, then print the PDF file, below, and use it to discuss some changes in your treatment program.

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Hi Mahmoud
Those pills are pretty useless. If it takes 45 minutes to get relief, it may not be the pills that are working at all, but the attack ending naturally. Imitrex injections on the other hand are fantastic, and will kill off a really bad attack in 5 - 7 minutes.

Check out the "oxygen info" yellow tab on the left of your screen. You must have a flow rate of at least 15 litres per minute and a non rebreather mask but if you get it right it's almost as fast as imitrex injections - 10 - 15 minutes for me.

Take care
Maz