Hi all, I almost cried when I saw this board I felt like I was the only one in the world with this but after reading your posts I know I am not alone. I am one of the 'Lucky' ones my period is 8-10 years! but the last episode cost me my job. It lasted 6 months no one believed me until I went to a neurologist and he said cluster The regular Dr didnt believe me untill I told him if it didn't stop the pain I was going to shoot myself! he then sent me to a Nurologest. Then it all came together. I still didn't know or even hear about them before and still am the only one who has ever had one that I know of. I am trying to still grasp the uniqueness of it.
If anyone has similar periods please let me know.
My last was like 10 years ago (very lucky) but lasted 6 months of beasting most of the day and only brief periods of shadows until I had a IV of HET or something like that. That day it broke the cluster beast and I had shadows for a while then they went away till now. Now I have the 'shadow' I also smell burnt toast this time. (amassing you people know what this is)  all day and during the 'cluster beast' which occures at 2am and lasts till 5 am and a shorter period from 6 pm till 8 pm, I lose vision in the effected eye (dont know if I cant see or cant open eye) Puke, cant walk sensitive to light in both eyes and smells  Can't even have sex during the shadow time or that triggers the beast, even when not at the time it supposes to appear. Last time my attack switched sides from left to right Thank the Lord, really it is easier if it switches cause it gives the one side a break.  I have quit smoking and drinking even when not in an epsoid cause it scares me so much I can't risk it.  This time 2 weeks in to it its been the right side only. I dont have insurance anymore and the meds are silly expensive. they got me on hydrocodine and Im trying a new one called ergotamine caffeine started it today.
Went to a Dr yesterday she prescribed some drug 9 pills that cost 215.00 I said there is no way I dont make that much and called her back and she said I had to suffer with hydrocodine which dont work till I went to nurgologist who will not see me till I have a referal from this other dr cause it has been 8-10 years. That is crap! what a scam. Later in the night she called back and said she called in this other stuff sure hope it works. I am going to monitor this board for a while to see if anybody responds I really feel alone in this world and am very depressed which I read on this board is a symptom so please respond. Please forgive the poor writing its poor even when Im not in pain. Have a good day fokes or at least as good as you can
Topledoviking

Thank you Dennis I just joined as toledoviking I will have to read this later too much for today