the beast is back after 11 yrs free from it, the last cycle 11yrs ago,coupled with migranes, the migranes filled in the blank days and gave 'relief' from the clusters,. back then i did a bit of searching on the web and found that feverfew was supposed to lessen the intenstiy of the clusters and migranes,so i started takeing feverfew daily 2 caps,. over the last year i had a few migranes, but no were has intense as before, just the 'flashing zig zag lights and very mid pain, each attack lasted for 15 mins or so, THEN sat morn around 3am a old enemy came to visit, i was awoke by the familiar throbbing in my upper teeth, sweat, and headache, i thought im gonna suffer today, but the toothach went after 45 mins, i had the feeling i should be in pain but i was not, it was a very strange experience, indeed, for the rest of the day the only pain i got was when i clamped my teeth down , i can only put it down to the feverfew ive been taking over the last 11 yrs,.

...but cluster headache doesn't throb. It's constant - until it's over.

Your symptoms are unusual--but in the medical literature--found three reports as long ago as 1990 about painless clusters. Obviously rare.

My personal experience was that pain in, for example, my temple area, and in the teeth, pulsed in sync with the heart beat. This only in the most severe attacks but the experience was, for me, a measure of the severity of an attack (many years before the Kip scale was even thought about).

I can feel the pulsing in much of my upper body and fingers even before the ha starts. Temple and back of my head pulse the most before and during ha. It continues and intensifies thoughout each hit. Jay

So Steve, the beast hasn't forgotten you? That bites.

Do start reading on the board, the days of rocking back and forth with a hot or cold compress for 90 minutes are long gone for most. We have some great prevent treatments, Verapamil, Lithium, Topomax, which will cut down the number and intensity of attacks for many.

Then there is oxygen, the magic remedy for so many. I abort attacks in 6-8 minutes with 02. I'm male, 50, a 32 year sufferer. Nothing compares to the ease, speed, and lack of side effects of 02.

Then there is imitrex injectables and nasal sprays...pills don't work for most as it takes too long to absorb...then depending on your inclinations check out the   clusterbusters    web site. They've been reporting some amazing success stories.

Energy drinks have been an amazing find. I prefer Red Bull but any containing the combo of caffeine and taurine are effective. Chug one down at the first sign of an attack. Aborts or at least reduces attacks for many.

A SH%$load of stuff has changed in 11 years. Don't curl up and take the hits, we'll help you any way we can.

Joe

Hey Steve, very glad that it isn't hitting you as hard as it used to!

Considering the potential severity of this condition (I'm sure I don't have to convince anyone here about that!), I do think you'd be well advised to put back up plans in place immediately, and get your alternate beast fighting arsenal well primed, because unfortunately so many of us find that the beast will morph, and at one point will likely stop responding to what used to keep him away.

Here's hoping you don't have to end up joining that club.