Usually shadows don't last months and months.  That's not to say they can't but it isn't common.   I've had a shadow right now that's lasted 6 weeks, but that is abnormal.

   Those energy drinks like Red Bull, Rock Star et al....can and do give relief sometimes.   Make sure it has caffeine and TAURINE in it.  Also....if you are drinking any kind of alcohol....stop for a while and see if that shadow eases up.   Alcohol is a trigger when in cycle but it could be causing shadows when out of cycle for you.


Linda

Welcome Paul. Are you still on any ch medications even though your cycle is over? Like do you still take an imitrex tablet or even 1/2 one every day?

The reason I am asking is because if you have been taking the Imitrex pills every day for awhile, when you quit taking them you will get this feeling for a few days until your body gets accustomed to life without them again.

Welcome, have you tried oxygen to bust up that shadow? If i get a " long shadow " i just puff on my 02 tank and that seems to work for me. Shadows SUCK. Coach Bill

I'm having annoying shadows this time too. When they really start to bug me I use my 02 and that takes care of them for a while.  Tried Red Bull, but it doesn't like me.
Tabitha  

Paul, I can't recall that we have ever had a conversation about the duration of shadows but I suspect that the experience is quite variable and not associated with the intensity of your active period.

I'm reacting, however, more to your expressed constriction in our life as you wait for the next bout to begin. This kind of anticipation is a real source of distress, need I say, that does not help the quality of life. Let me suggest that you look at his piece and see if it doesn't give you some ideas:

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You mention Imitrex pills: most folks find this form less desirable for Cluster because it takes long to take effect compared to the injection form. Just speculating: if you are not getting deep and quick results this may contribute to you fearful anticipation. Just something to consider.

If you like the ease of a pill, you may ask your doc for a 5mg sample of Zyrexa. A numbero us have had excellent, fast response with it as an abortive. (See in the Rozen article:
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Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor.  It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. Written by one of the better headache docs in the U.S.  (2002)
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Michigan Headache & Neurological Institute for another list of treatments and other articles:

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Thank you for the insight and suggestions.

My apologies in advance as this has become a bit long winded.  Its just that no one else, not even my wife understands (rolls her eyes whenever I bring it up).

I had a Redbull for lunch today (I like Redbull) but have noticed little if any affect on the Shadows.  I am more productive though.

I have typically stayed away over the years (more on that later) from medications of any type, asprin and alike.  I'm just not one to take them and I rarely get sick.  Imitrex I take when I feel I'm either at the point of no return and a full CH is imminent, meaning severe eye droop/watering, left side scalp pain, knot in the left back side of my neck, and upper left gums itch.  Or, when I'm woken at 2:00am in the middle of a full blown CH.  I rarely take Imitrex as a preventive measure due to the data I've read on Triptan rebound events.

What I have found (works for me anyways) is that if I cut a 100mg Imitrex in half, take 50mg, the partially broken pill will abort the CH is approx. 15 minutes.  (yes, 15 minutes of rocking back and forth holding my head, or pacing the house, waiting for relief to begin).  Oh and btw...why can't spouses understand this level of pain!?!? nevermind...I don't want to start that rant.

A whole Imitrex tablet takes much longer to start working.  This I discovered when I was advised that my insurance company limited the number of pills to 9 tablets per script.  25mg tablets to begin with which as you can imagine lasted all a few days when taking two at a time as one 25mg had absolutely no effect.  I asked my Doc to prescribe 100mgs so I could cut them and was surprised at the difference in the speed of relief.

I was unaware that other abortive measures as discussed on this board even existed. That is of course until yesterday when I found this site.  I had been content for the last 7 years with the fact that Imitrex to me was the only silver bullet to kill the beast and I was damn happy for that alone.  And 15 minutes vs. 2-3 hours of having my head in that vise again to me was just amazing.

With these prolonged shadows, I've recently found that taking 2 Advil during the day does a good job in reducing the tightness in my neck and to some extent my left eye issues for a little while.  I've also started taking 1/2 of an Equate sleep aid tablet with the Advil at bedtime when I feel there's a probable chance of a CH that night.  I would say I've had some success with that combination.

I'm pretty sure I'm now near or at the end of my current CH cycle since I have not had a major event since 11/24/08.  (crossing fingers).  But again, the shadows are a part of my daily life.  Sitting here writing this, I have slight sensitivity of my left scalp, back of the neck, again on the left side, and the watery left eye with minor fuzzy vision and I can feel the pressure on the back of my left eye.  So yes, I would describe it as a CH hangover that just won't go away.

It was to the point where I had accept that this was the way it was going to be forever until again yesterday when I decided to take another look on the web to see if any new information was available.

I will look into the other suggestions such as O2, 5mg sample of Zyrexa, etc.   O2 just amazes me as an effective option.

Oh and one more point about the "shadows".  I have found that during this time, that my event side (left side) eye is hypersensitive to bright light and can trigger another event.

Thanks again to all of you!

-Paul