Hi. Just wanted to say hello, and that I'm so thankful to have found this site.  My name is Amanda, and I'm a teacher in south Mississippi.  I'm 26 years old, and I have a wonderful supportive husband and 2 cats.  I've had clusters for several years now, and I'm just now really understanding how to really deal with them. 
Just from reading about treatments on this site, I've realized that the first doctor I ever went to really understood what was going on with me... she gave me a de-escalating dosage of Prednisone which totally stopped my cycle. It was amazing. Unfortunately, she never told me what I had, and since she worked for my university health service, once I graduated, I couldn't go back. Every other doctor I've told about the Prednisone treatment has looked at me strangely, because they just don't know about cluster headaches. I've been treated like a drug-seeker and an over-reactor at several doctor's offices, and the doctor I've got now, though he diagnosed me, and prescribed me Imitrex, doesn't seem to know or care about ways to stop my cycles.
That's all kind of a bummer, but I have to say that I'm so glad to know that there are others like me out there, that there are so many treatments I can research, try, and suggest to my doctors, and that it's all here on this website.  I've got so many questions. I'm excited to be on this message board.

Thanks.   

Many of us, living where a headache specialist is not to be found, have worked to educate our doctor. IF their ego will accept it, our feeding good MEDICAL information to them works to our benefit. In any case, print this entire article as an introduction for you and your doc.
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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--link, line above--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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Both these sites have much to offer and are worth your time exploring. Ditto for the buttons, left, starting with OUCH.
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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)
 
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
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Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
ALL NEW!! HEADACHE 2008-2009
The new 72 page Headache 2008-2009 is hot off the press! Click here to download the PDF instantly! (free)

If you would like a bound copy, send $12 (includes shipping) to
Robbins Headache Clinic
1535 Lake Cook Rd.
Suite 506
Northbrook, Ill.60062

OR call 847-480-9399 to use Visa or Mastercard.
(Even if you don't want the booklet, explore the site.)
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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.

Welcome to the board! Aren't supporters great? Mine has stuck with me thru 30 years of these damned things and hasn't dumped me yet!

Bob has given you your first reading assignment. Most find they get the best results by educating themselves first, then assisting their doc in planning their treatment program. And yeah....oxygen........hard to beat! Glad you found us, welcome home!

Joe

welcome to the mad house, i can only confirm what others have and will say O2 is the best got mine down to 5 min or less. the people who support u are great but remember they need support allso.

Mark (the loony toon with the key to the door)