You are in the right place for cluster headaches.

Narcotics tend to cause that all day feeling or strong shadows of full on attacks. Some antidepressants work well for CH and others cause the lingering headache.

Your no longer alone if its CH you have.

Welcome.

If your location is barrier to finding a good headche doc, the next best is to have a doctor who is open to being informed by you. We can lead you to solid medical information which you can offer a doc. If their ego will allow, they will accept and use the material to your benefit.
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Start exploring all the buttons (left) and the internal links. This will take time but you need some basic education for yourself NOW.
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Would recommend either book. The first one to give to a doc, the second for you.

MANAGEMENT OF HEADACHE AND HEADACHE MEDICATIONS, 2nd ed. Lawrence D. Robbins, M.D.; pub. by Springer. $50 at Amazon.Com.  It covers all types of headache and is primarily focused on medications. While the two chapters on CH total 42-pages, the actual relevant material is longer because of multiple references to material in chapters on migraine, reflecting the overlap in drugs used to treat. I'd suggest reading the chapters on migraine for three reasons: he makes references to CH & medications which are not in the index; there are "clinical pearls" about how to approach the treatment of headache; and, you gain better perspective on the nature of headache, in general, and the complexities of treatment (which need to be considered when we create expectations about what is possible). Finally, women will appreciate & benefit from his running information on hormones/menstrual cycles as they affect headache. Chapter on headache following head trauma, also. Obviously, I'm impressed with Robbins' work (even if the book needs the touch of a good editor!) (Somewhat longer review/content statement at 3/22/00, "Good book....")

HEADACHE HELP, Revised edition, 2000; Lawrence Robbins, M.D., Houghton Mifflin, $15. Written for a nonprofessional audience, it contains almost all the material in the preceding volume but it's much easier reading. Highly recommended.
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Print out the list of treatments in these two links and offer to any doctor you approach. How they respond to this material will give you some idea of whether they can/will work with you.

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor.  It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. Written by one of the better headache docs in the U.S.  (2002)
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Michigan Headache & Neurological Institute for another list of treatments and other articles:

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

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Stay in touch but get stated reading!!
 

Hi Karl,

Welcome from a fellow Idahoan.

Granted, headache specialists in Idaho are pretty scarce on the ground.  Haven't been to one in a long time, so I don't think I'll be of much help there.

Good to hear that your doctors at the VA are pursuing some worthwhile treatments for your CH.  As you've discovered, narcotics are usually of very little use in treating this condition.  Especially glad to hear that you're getting oxygen.  15 liters per minute with a non-rebreather mask is the most effective approach--the nasal cannulae and lower flows are generally ineffective.  You've gotten some sound advice from some good folks thusfar, so I won't add much.  Just wanted to say "hello", mostly, and again--welcome.

Feel free to vent, or ask any questions you'd like.  Most of us here aren't doctors, but we've gotten to be expert patients.   

All the best,

George

You've been given some great advice so I'll just say welcome, glad you found us, and NO!!! You're no longer alone. Glad you found your second home brudder!

Guiseppi

Check your e-mail, Karl.     Nice to hear from you.

Best wishes,

George

you all are so cool thanks, finally someone understands me and what i mean when I say oh crap its here again!!!!

Warm welcome, Karl!

Most of us have realized that our nearest and dearest do not understand what ch is all about and how it will affect us. Perhaps you can sit down with your wife on a PF moment and let her know what it's like for you and what you will need her to do - if there's something she can do. And yes, there is a place for supporters in here - she can talk to other supporters and get support herself.

Wishing you PF days,
Sanna