I've suffered from the headaches for a few years, usually 3-5 day cycles every 6 months.  6 months ago they starting coming with more frequency and intensity.  A friend at work told me to look into CH in July, and I've done lots of reading on the subject since then.  I don't have health insurance, so I never went to a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

On Christmas Eve I was up all night with pain, and it's been constant since.  On Tuesday I was in such a bad state that my mother insisted she take me to the ER and payed the bill as well.  The doctor said I likely suffer from CH (based on my description of my suffering...no tests were run) and need to get to a neuro ASAP.  They shot me full of good drugs that knocked me out for a few hours.

I was prescribed Hydrocodone 5mg, which can help a little with small discomfort but are absolutely useless against huge attacks.  I was unable to get an appointment with a neuro as many were closed this past week.  From Wed-Sat I slept approximately 4 hours in a 96 hour time span, absolutely wrecking my life and causing me to miss an entire week of work (I'm not paid if I'm not there).  I've been in a shambles all week.

Drinking ice cold water and keeping it in the right side of my mouth, the same side of my head where the pain is located, helps for about a minute, then I have to rinse and repeat.  But last night I was finally able to get some relief.  I placed a bag of frozen peas on the right side of my head for 3 10-minute intervals.  At the end of the first I felt a calmness, like I was relaxed and not so jumpy.  At the end of the second session the pain was gone.  Did the third for good measure.  And I was able to go right to sleep, and slept for about 8 hours without waking up.

I'm looking into getting insurance this week and checking out options that may cover a pre-existing condition.  Luckily my parents and grandparents are in a position to financially assist me with my medical needs.  I will be seeing a neurologist ASAP to begin aggressively treating this affliction. 

I'm very thankful that I found this site.  It's encouraging to hear the stories of others who have learned to deal with the beast.  I'm sorry anyone has to suffer from this, but it's good to not feel so alone in it.  Those around me see the pain I'm in, and it's very upsetting to my fiancee, but they can't possibly understand how bad it truly is.

I'm optimistic that I will be able to fight CH and not allow them to control my life.  Thanks to everybody on this site and all the support they provide.

Thanks for that info, Bob.  I will be on the phone tomorrow to set up an appointment in my area.  I will also be purchasing health insurance.  I'm hoping that even if I can't get a plan to deal with treatment for pre-existing conditions, hopefully I can receive assistance with tests and scans and the like. 

I'm lucky to live in an area with a wealth of health care options.  Atlanta is a great place to be as there are many great specialists in almost every field located here.

Snarf wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2011 at 11:33am:


I'm optimistic you will too. 

Besides all the very helpful info here about effective ways to relieve CH such as O2 (which you can get without a prescription at a welding supply place), melatonin for night attacks, etc., here's one starter tip - since you respond some to "cold" therapy - that aborts CH attacks for some of us some of the time:

Try deep breathing freezing air at the onset of an attack for a good 10 min or so (along with the ice cold water in mouth or ice cubes that you're already doing). If the air outside isn't below freezing, sitting in the car with your nose at the blasting A/C vent can work.

Some of us find relief by slamming an energy drink at the first sign of an attack.  I prefer 5hr Energy because it is small and I can get it down quickly.  It also doesn't tend to upset my stomach as badly as some, but Red Bull, Monster, RipIt, etc work well also.  I am a bit hesitant to suggest this as you don't have a definitive diagnosis as of yet, so use your own judgement.  My concern is that there are CH like headaches that can indicate something much more serious and i would not want to exacerbate one of them if that is what you actually have.

Please take the cluster quiz on the left of your screen.  Understand though that it is NOT a diagnostic tool, but rather an indicator to point in the direction you need to have it checked.

Jerry