Been dealing with CH for 25 years.  Also have TMJ and get headaches with those, so it's been a long road but like so many others, I'm actually relieved to finally have a name associated with the pain.  Today has been mostly about research and waiting on the doctor to see if oxygen will be an option with our insurance carrier.  Glad to be here and look forward to intereacting with many of you. 

It's that firm diagnosis that makes all the difference,  Jason,  because it means you can now embark on a course of action aimed at reclaiming your life and everything that's good about it.

Welcome aboard,  though this is probably the maddest ship that ever sailed,  but at least you're among friends now who really do understand.

Full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes!

Brian down under.

Welcome aboard!

Oxygen is great and we've loads of info - START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE.

However there is a lot more to CH abortives. Find out more about imitrex, either as an injection or as a nasal spray. This is really useful as it isn't always practical to drag O2 tanks around (like flying).

Have you got a preventive to cut down how many CHs you get? This could be something like verapamil, lithium or topamax? Or a lot of us have been having great result with D3, many going years of CH pain free (including me) - START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE.

Read up more and ask all the questions you have.

Hi Jason,
Sorry to read you have suffered 25 years and have inadequate medical care, but you are fortunate to have found this website that provides everything and anything you may need to educate yourself about this debilitating neurovascular disease.

There is not a single website nor any other documented resource available that comes close to the wealth of information available 24/7 on this website regarding Cluster Headaches.

If you need a recommendation of a different doctor near you in Cali, send me a DM and I will look up some recommended doctors and provide to you.

As for o2, if you are getting the runaround by insurance, there is always the welding oxygen route that has proven very effective as an abortive treatment.

You are not alone, and we do understand what you are enduring. Please keep us updated and do plenty of research on this website to educate yourself, as you probably know you will need to self advocate at times. Pain Free Wishes ;)

-Gregg