Welcome Howard.  I'm new to this board too, but have learned tons in just 2 weeks.  I already did some this stuff, but found more that I didn't know about.  You like us suffer from this beast.

Going to a neuro was the first right thing to do.  I didn't go to one till 2005 and i've had these suckers since I was 17 and i'm now 32.  I'm sure others will come on here giving great advice.  I'll just go ahead and tell you my abortive techniques.

First and foremost, stock up during your cycles with whatever weapons you have. 

I use 50 mg Imitrex sometimes twice a day.  Ask the doc for 100mg script so you can cut it in half.  It saves $$$.  During my cycle I usually feel out my hits when i'm going to get one and take the Imitrex an hour before a suspected hit regardless if it comes or not, i'm covered especially while at work.  Since being on Imitrex I haven't missed a day of work in over 4 years.  My GP first prescribed it to me before the neuro. 

My abortive techniques while at during those night hits is routine now.
I pound a Monster energy drink and do these pumping exercises to divert the blood flow to my arms from my head.  The Spaniard describes this technique in the thread he created.  It works for me.
I do as many sets as needed to abort.  I'm planning on doing a Melatonin test during my next cycle.  Starting at 3mg and then onto whatever more I need, but no more than 15mg.  I'm also going to try jogging since I'm a runner.  Exercise helps me a ton.

I don't take preventative drugs because I try to limit that stuff in my system knowing the possible side affects.  Vera and Top work for some though.

I have yet to get O2, but you can't get any more natural than that.
Can't wait to try it. 

I've tried mushrooms in the past and boy do they work at least for me.
They knocked off a week of pain after each dose.  Being a fan of the Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd made it fun too, LOL!

The best thing to do is not let the beast take control of you, but rather you take control of him.  Keep positive thoughts and never sit in fear waiting for the next hit.  Enjoy your PF moments to the fullest.

Wishing you PF days ahead.

Chad

Howard,

Lucky you.  I'd love to see Pink Floyd, but i'm a youngin I guess.  Had opportunities to see the Dead too before Jerry passed, but missed that also.   Anyway, in regards to the shrooms, yes, the illegal ones, LOL!
I don't know what it is, but they prevent clusters.

Check this site out:

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

About cutting the Imitrex in half, the box says "not to", but I do and 50mg is more than enough to keep my CH at bay on a daily basis, but sometimes my predictions are off and I have to resort to my other techniques like exercise and energy drinks.  I'm waiting to get into the neuro again to stock up on O2.
I have yet to try it, but excited to try.  At the moment i'm in remission so i'm enjoying my PF days.  I tend to come on here daily though to support and learn.

Also, I have been using the 4-way nasal spray to knock out the shadows and that has worked too.

Hopefully I answered some of your questions and if haven't read all of the links to the left of this site and listen to everyone.

Best of luck  

Howard L wrote on Aug 21^st, 2008 at 12:13pm:
Oops!

Ok Howard -- Welcome to Clusterville.....

Read up on the O2 -- it works for about 70% of us and is better than the drugs... Imitex pill don't work real good for most people here. Darvocett is about useless as are most painkillers.

Energy drinks with caffeine and taurine (at least 1000mg) work to abort for a lot of us (along with the O2 for me).

Melatonin at night before bed helps get you thru the REM sleep and helps keep those night hits away (so you get some rest at night).

Get back to the doc for the MRI and rule out any other things. Then get a script for the O2....

And if you've still got teenagers kid you ain't VERY old -- ya wanna talk OLD -- I'm OLD.....but I still think YOUNG and these damn headaches ain't got me down yet.

Welcome aboard....

Hugs BD

So glad you found us and that you got a decent diagnosis, that's the biggest hurdle. Another strong vote for oxygen here. 30 years of battling and it's still my first line abortive. You need a high flow regulator, at least 15 LPM, a non re breather mask, and you have to start huffing it at the first sign of an attack. I can be pain free in less then 10 minutes. It's damned near miraculous the first time you abort one with 02. None of the "imitrex hangover" feeling afterwards either.

You have much reading to do, you have found a second family, we'll do all we can to help you!

Guiseppi

Guiseppi, Barry, thanks for the info on the O2. In regard to regulators etc it's all french to me but I'll do the work and find out what it's all about. Time to hit the sack early, broke my record with 4 today...wish I could drink...

Hey Barbara, don't just "get" the assignment, fight for it.!  One of the things I hate about clusterheadaches is the lack of knowledge and informnation out there.  It's so aggravating to tell someone you have clusterheadaches and have them start telling you their "cures" for headaches.  The intent is appreciated, but it's so frustrating to try to explain it to someone without it sounding like an exaggeration.

I'm not even sure what the article would be for, but writing it for anyone who doesn't know what these are like increases the awareness of others and may even help others whose Drs are failing to diagnose them accurately.  If you have the power to help with that, please do so.  I'm sure you can find thousands of stories here, including supporters stories, to help.

Howard, I hope you take this message to heart also.  Isn't this the reason we are here?  To find those who understand us?  To you too I say, if you can help increase that number, please do so.

Thanks