Hi, This is my first post. Somehow I feel a little comfort knowing there are others like me. I just got relief from a nasal dose of Sumatriptan. I am just starting a series of clusters.
I have been suffering from this horrific thing for about 5 years now. Of course it was only a year ago that I learned that I was not having recurring sinus infections, but cluster headaches!!!
I now do Prednisone for 12 days, and usually need another 12, Varapamil, and Sumatriptan to abort. I used to try heavy duty narcotics for the pain but it wouldn't even  faze it!
Going to try and sleep now. Thanks everyone for being here! I don't feel so alone now and know that you all know!!!
Peace

Hi LadyChef

Have you tried oxygen? You can read all about using it with the link on the left, however it's here in the forums that you'll find people explaining how they can kill their CHs quickly. I can normally get rid of one in 5-8 minutes.

For night time hits, people are getting good results using around 9mg of melatonin, which normally means they get a normal nights sleep.

For shadows, try using an energy drink, like Red Bull (anything with caffeine and taurine). It's good for getting rid of shadows or for reducing the intensity / duration of a CH.

You're not alone at all, we all know from experience, either as we get CHs or we support people with them.

So happy you found us. It'll start to sound like an echo...echo...echo.......but do read the oxygen info tab on the left. I abort my attacks in 6-8 minutes just huffing my 02. Cheap, no triptan hangover, FAST and no side efefcts. Welcome home!

Joe

Hi All! Thx for your welcoming!!! Yes, unfortunately I'm here.

Where to start....In a weird way I feel comfort knowing you are here with me, but scared at some of the things I have read so far.

I didn't know I might need a plan B for treatments and aborting the beast. I know the steroids aren't good but I feel they are a jumpstart to the buildup of the Varapmamil.

I have not tried O2...yet. Sounds good if it kills the pain more quickly than the triptan.

But...I am a smoker. I'm not sure a tank of oxygen is a good idea?

And yes the triptan is $$$. $30 a pop for me. NO insurance at this time either.

I will check into the melatonin. I have heard of this and am intrigued with others positive results. The lack of sleep for nights on end during peak times wears on me! To say the least.

When this started 5 yrs ago it was like clockwork. Same time every night for weeks! Alway always the right side of my head. Please just slice my head in half and discard this BEAST!
Things have changed for me. Have had a couple of day CH's and they can wake me every hour at night. I can't believe I endured the excruciating pain for hours at a time night after night not knowing what this was.

Thank you so much for reaching out to me, bejeeber, MikeNZ, Ginger S, Joe & Barry. Thx for the PF vibes. Just starting to get the lingo down. 

Peace, Nora

Triptan at $30 a pop doesn't sound like you're using imitrex injections - Lordy they are expensive. 

Just so ya know though, the imitrex tip details how you can stretch doses and bring the price (and side effect risk) down a LOT. - maybe even down to that $30 per dose level. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

Sorry for alarming you about the whole plan B thing. I figure a great way to go for you could be using cheap and non toxic O2 to abort as your plan A, and reserving triptans for plan B. That approach sure brought me a whole lotta relief during my last 2.5 month episode.

A suprisingly large number of CH'ers are smokers! I've been accused of faking CH since I've never smoked.

That being said, it does require you pay attention. Oxygen is not flammable, it's an accelerant. So anything saturated with 02, specifically your clothing or blankets, will go up like a roman candle if exposed to an ignition device.

Obviously, you would never smoke while using 02. Just as important, you want to air your clothing out with a nice 5 minute walk outside, before you lit up, after aborting with 02. If you used 02 while lying in bed, you wouldn't want to then strike up a smoke while still in bed.

A few simple precautions like that, 02 will be your safe, inexpensive, new best friend! It really is that good.

Joe

And thanks bejeeber & Brew for your input on the O2 & imitrex as well. Appreciated!