So it's been 2 yrs since I quit smoking and 2 yrs without clusters.
A few months ago, I began lighting up a cigarette for no good reason.
The clusters are back. And I am afraid they might have turned chronic. BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN 3 MONTHS!
I quit the smoking, the drinking and basically turned down the social scene I used to attend.
I travel for a living and had to go to an urgent care Dr. in Oxnard, CA for some imitrex and I let him know I had cluster headaches.
He told me,"No, No, No. You have Horton's Headaches."
I said,"Doc, I've been diagnosed and I've done research. They're cluster's."
He said,"I've been to med school, I know what cluster headaches are."
The whole time, I was thinking, "These are probably two different names for the same damn thing."
And when I looked it up, I called the clinic and left a very informative message for that nice young man. 
You know what, Screw close mindedness. I'm through trying to explain my situation to rocks.
I watch the letters of my streaming sentences bounce of the skulls of these imbiciles, one by one. Blink, Blink, Blink.

Time to find someone with skill !

1. Search the OUCH site (button on left) for a list of recommended M.D.s.

2. 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.

3.  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.

4. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or ; On-line screen to find a physician.

5. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or Look for "Physician Finder" search box.  Call 1-800-643-5552; 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.

Get the referral to a good doc!  Many of us suffered for years (without the help from this site) before we found someone who could really help.

O2 has been very very good to me.  A few slugs of caffeine usually gets me through the workday.  Rad up on both.  Your mileage may vary.

You'll find lots of differences of opinion on smoking.  I think it reduced the frequency of my cycles, and severity of the hits.  But how does one really know for sure?   I think that the elevated CO and other chemicals dancing around in my head from smoking probably had some effect.  But maybe not.  Smoking doesn't cause CH.  But there is one certainty on the plus side: I'm several thousand bucks ahead - that is easily quantified!  And I am healthier and better able to deal with the beast.

The beast goes by many names.  Don't get overly pissed at the doctors.  You've got a rare thing, and most docs lack experience in treatments.  Keep shopping and asking for referrals until you get one with experience (best) or willing to research and learn ( a distant second best).  Stay away from the poor listeners.   The OUCH site was not useful where I have lived and suffered.  I wish you better luck.

Energy Drinks!!
If you have no other meds (you didn't mention any) try drinking an energy dring with 1000mg of Taurine and caffine (Redbull, Rockstar) Drink it at the first sign of a hit or for shadows - it can be amazingly effective and you don't need to wait to find a  Dr who knows what he's doing to get a prescription!

Welcome
~Kris

I also believe in energy drinks an oxygen but dont rule dissolving Zomig (high dose) it can be very effective in place of imitrex. for me the combination of the three delivers a heck of a punch in that cage match of the hit we all get.