Thanks Balanchine, glad to hear from someone else who can tolorate the topamax as well.  Also thanks Kilowatt, may need the recipe someday.  The topamax works well for me at this time, been on it for a couple of years.  However, I really don't know if I'm chronic or episodic, as I've never been through a real remission before going on the topamax.  The CH just arrived one day about three yrs ago and it was almost six months before the doc sent me to a neuro who got me on the topamax before I found any relief and CH were d & n non stop.  What many call a shadow I have to assume is what I have always called a 'curl'.  A kip 1-2 pain inside my right eyebrow or head (I once thought I had a brain tumor, or had broken my radial bone  ), that used to proceed the CH, but since the topamax is just a constant dull reminder that I can still get hit occassionally. However, the curl/shadow is there almost 24/7.  Wonder if that means I'm chronic w/o the preventative topamax?  Anyway, I'm very happy to have found this place and wish all the best.  I'm very lucky myself at this time to be virtually PF and have only some mild side effects.