It seems every time I have a CH cycle start I've had an infection in my face somewhere. It could be a sinus infection, strep throat, or this time an abscessed tooth. I get bumps under my skin that flair up especially during a CH. I just checked out "lymph nodes" and when I get these "bumps" they are in the same places shown where there are lymph nodes.
Could there be a connection?
Here is a link that shows where they are.

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I've sometimes thought the ones in the picture called submandibular, which are easy to find, could be felt to be more noticeable in the first months of terms with CH, sometimes smaller glands, too.  Afterwards, I've just stopped paying attention. 
  Now without being CH affected, they're up in there pretty normal.  But I've never been sure of any difference, thinking maybe I'm feeling what I think I'm feeling when I think of feeling them.  Or not maybe. 

yeah the 3 times in my life that i have had ch they came after i was sick with a fever

Infection or trauma definitely increases the risks of going into cycle, or having an especially bad cycle for many people.

Some Italians have proposed a 'neuroimmune' hypothesis of clusters ... they say that inflammation and high levels of immune hormones (IL-1, IL-6, TNF) interface with the nervous system to create a feedback loop that results in clusters in susceptible people. We know that various infections can mess up the serotonin system. 

I also wonder about the thalamic mast cells - mast cells can travel through the blood and attach to various tissues, where they secrete histamine, serotonin, and other chemicals - it can be abrasive if these are too active.  The thalamic mast cells cross the blood-brain barrier, and (usually) go to the thalamus.  Maybe in cluster heads, they go to the hypothalamus instead, and this results in the strange things seen on fMRIs in cluster heads?? Or maybe they are around the trigeminal nerve, and when the brain sends its signal, they scream!! 

Corticosteroids are supremely effective anti-inflammatory and immuno-suppressive agents, and they do generally offer good cluster relief ... but the side effects of taking them too long are also pretty severe. So they are used as transition meds, to provide relief while a preventive starts to work ... and sometimes, they can break a cycle.

There are lots of of different things that suppress various immune hormones, but these are either broad spectrum with side effects, or more selective, and work for some things and not others.  Anti-histamines help some people, but are not highly effective for the group.  Will dig a bit more - some of the things I take work sorta along these lines.

Hello Bob and all,

27 yr vet of ch...rarely, if ever, had swollen lymph nodes connected to the cycle. IF you have swollen nodes that do NOT respond to antibiotics or simply stay swollen and spread...get thee to a doc and pursue it.

I've had two who initially missed what it really was...though the second sent me for tests that did determine.

I'm not trying to be scary here...what I do believe is that you MUST read your body...and I also believe clusterheads are VERY good at that. If it's unusual for your cycle and condition (which makes a ch diary imperative) it needs to be checked out. I did...and it may have saved my life...

Best,

Jon