Greetings to everyone. I've registered to this forum exactly one year ago just after finishing a three week episode of cluster headaches. Sorry I didn't post anything then, but since the headaches were over then, I wanted to forget about it and live my life normally. Exactly one year from then here I am again. Not happy to be here, but knowing that other people have the same problems, I feel less alone and annoyed (if that makes sense).

Firstly, I live in Slovenia, Europe, I am 30 year old male. I live with my wife and now a 6 month year old baby in the capital of our country with a rather normal lifestyle, steady job, no financial problems. The first time I experienced CH was approximately 10 years ago and for a couple of years I went around undiagnosed and didn't know what the hell was going on with me. My episodes throughout this time were very periodical. At first I had them every year at the change of season in October-November, later I had them twice a year (in March-April).

Since I was diagnosed with Cluster headaches, whenever I had them, I got Imigran autoinjector which I injected into my leg muscle and the pain went away almost immidiately as if nothing ever happened. Other drugs with sumatriptan in them did the work as well, just not as quick as the injection (makes sense, right?). The oxygen treatment isn't really available. I would have to run to the emergency room, wait a couple of hours in queue, so it's not really an option for me - apart for spending a fortune on a machine to have at my house.

As for the triggers, I realised alcohol significantly expedites the headache, so I stopped drinking all alcohol soon after realising that (except for two or three crazy night per year). I drink at least one cup of coffee per day and smoke moderately (around 10 cigarettes). I do have an extremely high pressure which was inherited from my father (avg. 135/90). I do not take any medicine for that, yet.

What I realised (and which really annoyed me) that at the time of these headaches I can stop all bad habits, go out walking for hours ... basically eliminate all possible triggers ... without any use. After the first week I will have at least one episode per day regardless.

Based on experience, it usually takes around 3 weeks for this to stop. And it stops instantly.

This time, I had a feeling all week that something is preparing and just by remembering what's in store for me again, I was terrified. Yesterday it happened for the first time. At around 10 pm (I usually have them in the evening or late afternoon - at least at the beginning, later I can have them every 12 hours regardless of the time) I started feeling pressure in my left side of the head (forgot to mention, only left part of the head is affected - runny nose, watery eyes, you know...) and the headache developed in about 15 minutes. I took the only medicine I had left which was an Imigran pill which did the work after 30 minutes but the headache was only a mild beginner's one. These pills will be all but useless to me when the real ones begin.

I am now already terrified of the next three weeks as it both physically and emotianoly completely devostates me. The medicine is very strong and I can feel it going to my brain, but the pain is so excrutiating that I wouldn't think of going through a headache without medicine.

Anyway, this would be my story in the short. I would appreciate any guidelines, advise on anything you can think of. I'll go through the topics to find some relevant information.

Best regards,
Jure

Welcome, oh Slovenian ClusterBro. 

That would be nice if you could possibly get welders O2 as Iddy suggested.

About the Imigran injections - please check out the "Imitex tip" link on the left side of this forum view (or if it's not showing up here's the link: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or )

Following this method for using half dose injections (just as effective as full dose!!) you will double the amount of injections available to you, and halve the risk of side effects/overdose.

Your feeling of terror when an episode comes on is all too familiar of course, but you'll show this beast who's boss. There are some good preventatives to try, etc. if need be. Lots of good info about all that here, so you came to the right place. 

Just to let you know and to close my "getting to know ya" topic... my cycle is now officially over as it's been almost 1 week free of headaches. I am of course immensely relieved that the cycle lasted only three weeks and not more. I am even more happy to see that the Oxygen treatment that I've tested for the first time works for me. With the combination of both O2 and imitrex injections all of my 45 headaches I had in that 21 day period (I kept a strict list of all my headaches ) were completely bearable.
The only thing I realised about O2 treatment is that the next headache appears sooner than when treating it with triptans. At least in my case.
Now I just need to get a hold of that Bromo thing  I saw the NatGeo's Inside LSD documentary - very interesting.

Thanks for all your help and support, I'll keep in touch.

Regards to everyone,
Jure