I am new to the board but have lived with Cluster Headaches for my entire life.  From as early as I can remember I have had to watch as my father would pace the house, scream into a towel and wish the pain would end.  It was and is the hardest thing for a child to watch their father go through as you know there is nothing that you can do to help. 
2 years ago I started to feel the pain, I know they are not KNOWN to be hereditary but I was worried and got checked out.  It was confirmed by 2 separate doctors(as we know they can be wrong and there are not any exact tests to determine these) The day I told my father was the hardest of his life, the roles had been reversed as for the toughest thing for a father to watch his son suffer from.  Luckily I had more knowledge of these prior to the diagnosis than most do. 
The reason for the post (sorry for being long) is to thank all of those people who do support us, and more than you know it means the world.  I am extremely *lucky*  to have a father who knows what I go through and knows the wanting to end it all, but also showed me the strength to get through this from the beginning of my life.  And a wife who is beyond amazing and goes through hell when I have one just to do anything and everything she can for me. 

Welcome TBuck

There is a small increased chance of a child of someone who gets CH also getting CH, so you're not alone here.

Tell us more about how you deal with your CHs. Are you on medication to prevent them? What do you have to abort CHs?

Keep posting, reading and asking questions, you'll soon learn a lot about dealing with CH.

Hey TBuck.  First of all, I'm sorry for your pain, for your father's pain, and for you having to witness your father's pain.  My husband is a ch'er, and we believe his father was also.  When my husband was diagnosed and we explained it to family, it was like a light-bulb went on ("That's what dad used to do / sound like, etc").  Yes, they say it isn't hereditary, but they surely don't know everything, do they (who ever "they" is).

Take care.  Keep reading and posting.  You're family now.

From what I've read, it's MOSTLY not hereditary. There are instances where both parent and child have been diagnosed.

If I recall, I think the scientists said that any child of a CH'er was something like 0.3% more likely to develop CH than the general population.

If that's you, TBuck, I'd go out and buy a lottery ticket right now.

Lottery ticket it is!

But I am on 150 mg of Topamax a day as well as 25 mg of Indomethacin (mostly for the Ice Pick Headaches far as they told me) and Verapamil *forget dosage and Im at work right now* for my daily regiment.  To kill the beast I use 6mg Imitrex shots.  I dont like to use them, but as you guys know, its better than the alternative. 

I am grateful to find this forum since most of the people who you say Cluster Headaches to respond with "Well at least you dont get migranes!"  Its good to hear from and read the stories and information/treatments others have found.  I will post my information in the newbie section later on today since I am lucky and have an AWESOME headache clinic nearby my house at the University of Iowa.

Hi Tbuck,

  I have also "inherited" CH from my Father. When he was diagnosed, his doc asked him "who else in your family has them?". Well, now we know.

  Best of luck to you. If you haven't already, check out the thread "123 Days PF and I Think I Know Why". Vitamin regimen that helping quite a few us.

-dvb

Welcome,
On your way to get that loto ticket, pick up some oxygen. Your Imitrex supply will thank you.

Hey Buck, I'm married to a CH'r and this site has been a godsend to us. Do check out as others mentioned the 123 days pain free link. Also, didn't see you mention oxygen as an abortive. High flow o2 has helped many here abort a CH in a very short time without the after affects you alluded to with imitrex.

let us know how we can help.
Christy

Thank you all, I will continue to stick around, I have been busy with work and life in general but will post in the newcomers area when I can.  After yesterdays attack I have been on the site all day looking up tips and ways of informing my wife and family of other treatments and ways to deal with these demons. 

If anyone ever said to me "Well at least you don't get migraines!" they would receive a prompt falcon punch.  Hahaha

I do have gone from being supporter Of my father over the years. Now recently being diagnosed with ch and him helping me. He is so understanding gentle and knows my needs when I can't think or function. He let's me crawl like an Animal bang my head and sits handing me o2 pushing my hair out of my face or assuring me it will pass and he understands. Sometimes I just want someone there and they don't need to do anything.

wsnurse wrote on Nov 2^nd, 2013 at 11:17am:

I do have gone from being supporter Of my father over the years. Now recently being diagnosed with ch and him helping me. He is so understanding gentle and knows my needs when I can't think or function. He let's me crawl like an Animal bang my head and sits handing me o2 pushing my hair out of my face or assuring me it will pass and he understands. Sometimes I just want someone there and they don't need to do anything.

Someone who just gets it, yeah, I get that. [smiley=hug.gif]

Joe