Hello all,
Yesterday in the ER I was diagnosed with having cluster headaches.
I've suffered episodic periods for almost 6 years now, with
doctors always telling me it was a sinus infection or sinus migraine
due to the stuffy nose on one side.  
My symptoms,
Shadow pain warning me of what's coming.
The pain usually comes in periods twice a year, early spring and early fall - further making it difficult to differentiate from allergy and sinus.
The pain comes at the same time almost every day when I'm "in season."  Either waking up with a headache coming on, or about an hour after I get up.  Usually lasting 2-4 hours.  
When they're at they're worst, the pain makes me groan and moan out loud and wiggle and writh in pain in bed hoping to just pass out.
The pain is always in my left eye feeling like it's being stabbed or like it will just pop out.  I'm usually wishing I had a valve on the side of my head to relieve the pressure.  My left eye also tears up, cries, and turns red but I can see fine besides sometimes being blurry with tears.  My left nostril feels stuffed up at times and sometimes drips, but sometimes not during the whole duration.  At times during the headache I can breath fine from both nostrils.  I've told people that if removing my eye would make the pain disappear, I'd probably do it while having a headache.  
Treatments - Used to try ibuprophen up to 4 pills with little or no results.  
Allegra D used to work fairly well, but would still suffer for 2-3 hours, which now having been diagnosed was probably the duration of the headache anyway.  
Since my insurance would not cover Allegra D,
I've been using the real pseudoephedrine Sudafed.  Usually only 1 a day, sometimes taking it hours before an attack should occurr would keep me from getting one, but this year it's taking 2-3 tablets to knock it out.  Again, the headache is probably just running its course of 2-3 hours anyway.  Doctors told me I was probably having rebound headaches from eating so much Sudafed.  
Last year, like in previous years the doctor gave me Amoxicillan, told me I had a sinus infection and gave me Ultram for the pain.
The Ultram took the headache away mostly, but the side effects were almost as bad as having a attack.  Loopy feeling, hot, then cold, clammy/sweat bursts, feeling like I needed to vomit at times.  That lasted for 2 days as they were time release pills.  I threw them in the trash after that.  I've tried to be a 'tough guy' but these headaches are the only thing I've faced that turn me into a helpless whining child.  I can't think, or function, as the pain is so dissorienting and intense.  Once the pain is gone I'm usually exhausted from dealing with it, but otherwise fine.  
Yesterday I woke up with a headache coming on, ate my normal sudafed, threw some ibuprophen in with it, then more sudafed.  My fiance was getting upset with me for being grouchy with her and for having yet another day spent in bed.  I finally got fed up, and just went to the immediate care center instead of waiting for my Doctor's appointment on Feb 26th.  The immediate care said it didn't sound sinus related and sent me to the ER to have a CT scan.  Scan showed nothing that didn't belong (a real relief) and was then diagnosed.  They prescribed Imitrex until my Doctor's appointment this coming Thursday, at which time to be re-evaluated and follow up with a neurologist.  Amazingly after 2.5 weeks of every day headaches, today I've taken nothing.  Anyone know how well the Imitrex will work for me?  I'd imagine I'll get another headache tomorrow as my "season" usually lasts several months.  Thank God for this PFD.   Sorry for writing a book, but also, does this sound like a correct diagnosis.  Most everything i've read seems to describe it better than I could myself.   Thanks for any input.  Glad I found this place.  

     Welcome, you are amongst your own kind, you'll find a wealth of info. here, read and learn. I won't bore you with my details, Imitex works very well for me,however I rarley use it, since I've learned the proper use of O2. I lived through 12 years of cycles, before we had any abortives, you have a lot of ammo now.   
     Find out what works for you and good luck, we all know what you're going through. I got no relief form the Imitrex pills or nasal spray, but the injections do the trick within 10 mins. The stat pens can be broken down into three shots with very good results for most of us. You can find that information as well. It makes the Imitrex last three times as long, it's all good.
O2 is my friend.......

Let's start with the basics. Present treatments are not suitable for CH; you need to find a headache specialist, not just any neurologist. (Our collective experience shows that too many don't have training/experience/interest in treating complex headache disorders.) And we have found that, if a good specialist isn't available to you, that you need to know more than many docs do about CH--so that you can educate them in how to care for you. (That hard learned lesson is also part of our collective experience.)
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Start with some good learning:

 
Cluster headache.
From: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or (Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases)
[Easy to read; one of the better overview articles I've seen. Suggest printing the full length article if you are serious about keeping a good medical library on the subject.]

Leroux E, Ducros A.

ABSTRACT: Cluster headache (CH) is a primary headache disease characterized by recurrent short-lasting attacks (15 to 180 minutes) of excruciating unilateral periorbital pain accompanied by ipsilateral autonomic signs (lacrimation, nasal congestion, ptosis, miosis, lid edema, redness of the eye). It affects young adults, predominantly males. Prevalence is estimated at 0.5-1.0/1,000. CH has a circannual and circadian periodicity, attacks being clustered (hence the name) in bouts that can occur during specific months of the year. ALCOHOL IS THE ONLY DIETARY TRIGGER OF CH, STRONG ODORS (MAINLY SOLVENTS AND CIGARETTE SMOKE) AND NAPPING MAY ALSO TRIGGER CH ATTACKS. During bouts, attacks may happen at precise hours, especially during the night. During the attacks, patients tend to be restless. CH may be episodic or chronic, depending on the presence of remission periods. CH IS ASSOCIATED WITH TRIGEMINOVASCULAR ACTIVATION AND NEUROENDOCRINE AND VEGETATIVE DISTURBANCES, HOWEVER, THE PRECISE CAUSATIVE MECHANISMS REMAIN UNKNOWN. Involvement of the hypothalamus (a structure regulating endocrine function and sleep-wake rhythms) has been confirmed, explaining, at least in part, the cyclic aspects of CH. The disease is familial in about 10% of cases. Genetic factors play a role in CH susceptibility, and a causative role has been suggested for the hypocretin receptor gene. Diagnosis is clinical. Differential diagnoses include other primary headache diseases such as migraine, paroxysmal hemicrania and SUNCT syndrome. At present, there is no curative treatment. There are efficient treatments to shorten the painful attacks (acute treatments) and to reduce the number of daily attacks (prophylactic treatments). Acute treatment is based on subcutaneous administration of sumatriptan and high-flow oxygen. Verapamil, lithium, methysergide, prednisone, greater occipital nerve blocks and topiramate may be used for prophylaxis. In refractory cases, deep-brain stimulation of the hypothalamus and greater occipital nerve stimulators have been tried in experimental settings.THE DISEASE COURSE OVER A LIFETIME IS UNPREDICTABLE. Some patients have only one period of attacks, while in others the disease evolves from episodic to chronic form.

PMID: 18651939 [PubMed]
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Current treatments:
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

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:

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

1. Search the OUCH site (button on left) for a list of recommended M.D.s.

2. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.

3.  Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.

4. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or  On-line screen to find a physician.

5. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or Look for "Physician Finder" search box.  Call 1-800-643-5552; they will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.