I am so happy I found this site!!

I was diagnosed for the first time about 5 years ago with CH. I will never forget the first one I had.....I was in Atlantic City, sitting a slot machine when it started. I thought for sure my eye was going to pop out of socket.

Needless to say, I've had many ups and downs along the way, cycles and remission. It's hard to explain to my wife what is going on, I know she feels for me, but I don't think she can begin to understand how bad it can be to battle with clusters.

What brings me here today is, I am in the midst of a bad cycle, the first one I've had in about 3-4 months. I generally take Relpax at the onset of a headache and it has been fairly effective. However, the last few days has been REALLY bad. I am out of Relpax and I cannot get a refill until Monday and I do not know what to do.

Any advice would be appreciated....and thank you very much for letting me vent.

Ouch, caught with no meds, that hurts. Energy drinks, those containing taurine and caffeine, chugged hard and fast at the first sign of an attack, strong coffee in a pinch, ice packs or my favorite frozen peas on the effected side of the head, Ice cold air through the nostril on the affected side, my favorite is right in front of the air conditioning vents on the car, melatonin, an over the counter supplement available at health food and whole food stores, taken before bedtime can help avoid the night time hits, that and just keep reminding yourself they do end.

All that being said, we need to completely revamp your approach to these things. You should be on a good preventative medication when your cycle starts up, lithium, verapamil, topomax, many for you to read about and discuss with your doctor.  And you  MUST GET OXYGEN!!! Should be your first line abortive. Breathing pure oxygen, at a high flow rate, through a non re breather mask, has proved miraculous for many on the board. It's too cheap to not give it a try!

Glad you found us, sorry you got caught naked, I HATE it when that happens, been there done that.

Guiseppi

edited, what part of the world are you in, may be someone near by who can help you out..........

Prime,

O2 is not that expensive - if you have to go around your insurance -- do it... It's worth the cost. In the long run, it's probably cheaper than the copays on the Rx's.

there's a letter Dr.'s can write (or fax) to the insurance carrier saying, This O2 is prescribed for CLUSTER HEADACHES. But it has to be written with CH in the script. If your O2 level is high they will deny it unless it's specifically for CH.

Hugs BD

WELDER'S OXYGEN IS THE SAME THING.  GO BUY A BIG TANK FILLED FOR ABOUT $150.  ITS THEN ABOUT $25 FOR REFILLS.  OTHERS WILL LET YOU KNOW THE QUICKEST WYA TO GET A PROPER MASK AND A REGULATOR.   NO INSURANCE NEEDED AT A WELDING SUPPLY COMPANY.  JUST DON'T TELL THEM YOU ARE USING IT MEDICALLY.

Hi Prime,

Just be sure that the energy drink you are using contains both taurine and caffeine, preferably at 1000mgs. So do not take any of those sports drinks they offer you at the gym. My dear gf and supporter once bought me one of those when I was out of medication and asked her to get me an energy drink. They don't do shit! Off course she didn't know that. But be sure you do.
Remember, caffeine and taurine.

PF vibes from the Netherlands.

Have you tried vigorous exercise?  It has helped to take the edge off for me.  Get your heartrate way up high by doing jumping jacks, jogging, jumping in place has high as you can, jumping rope.  I think it helps the same way that breathing O2 helps, by increasing O2 in your bloodstream.