Oxygen is durn near free.

         kinder gentler Potter

Hi Hippie Fish and welcome!

I am a newbie to the Board, too, and like you, I have danced with the beast for 18 years.  I was just diagnosed last year however; I know, it took FOREVER or so it seemed.  I used Maxalt as an abortive until it no longer worked.  My visits begin with an evening dance after I have been asleep for a few hours.  I have about five minutes to do something or I am in for a long and difficult period as my dance lasts for about three hours.  The second visit starts around 6am and then a third comes around 1 pm.  These hit every spring and last from February through mid-June. 

Last year, my PCP diagnosed me even though I had been suggesting this as a diagnosis for some time.  I have lupus so she thought that the headaches may have been related to that.  They are not.  On the other hand, lupus has taught me how to live with a chronic disease; I thoroughly enjoy pain-free times and make accomodations as I need to so that I can enjoy more pain-free times.  I also believe in "better living through chemistry" and I do not shy away from options that may work.  She  sent me to a neurologist.  After describing the clockwork nature of these attacks, the right eye pounding, closing, and the the nose running only on that side, and my desire to bang my head against the wall to have a reason to hurt, he smiled, diagnosed me, and put me on prednisone and verapamil.  They did the trick and I enjoyed the spring for the first time in 18 years!  I mean, I love spring as a season, the snow disappearing, etc., baseball, BUT the demon.  This year, I've had breakthroughs So... we've increased the verapamil after another prednisone series, added more imitrix and maxalt as needed, and I am going to try O2.  I tried melatonin last night (after making sure it would not create a problem with the lupus) and did NOT have a visit from the beast!  Not sure if it was the melatonin or the increased verapamil but I'll go with the former since I did have the morning visit.

This site has been a godsend!  I don't feel so isolated.  And I love the humor!

There are times that can feel as though I have more than I can handle, however I know that those moments will pass because I have handled this for a long time and managed, somehow, to get through!  Of course, explaining it to other people is a challenge since they talk about migraines and don't really "get" that these are NOT migraines.  I've had natural childbirth and these are more painful and NO baby at the end of them.  Of course, since I am now 51, that is a good thing, too

Thanks for letting me share my story with you and thanks for sharing yours...

okay your picture about had me wetting my pants!!!

Welcome to the board. I know all too well the depression that hits you, especially after a long remission, when you realize the arsehole is back again. It sucks.

Now go get some oxygen! Been battling CH for 30 years, Oxygen is my first and most effective abortive. I can abort an attack, be completely pain free and happy, in as little as 6 minutes. Read the link on the left, "oxygenInfo" you'll know everything you need to know!

Welcome home, sorry he's back, the good news is you're not alone with him anymore.

Joe

Hi Hippyfish,

Your name suggests you might be interested in looking at alternatives such as clusterbusters.com or Kilowatts herbal regime.

Glad you have had some good results from medication. Hope you remain pain free from now on.

Best wishes,

Ellick.