Hi everyone, I'm Andrew. Though I've suffered with CH for over 12 years, I'm new on the site. When I first had em, I had a 6 to 8 week episode each summer, for 3 years. Finaly, having been diagnosed, and trying various medications, I was prescribed with something that seemed to work. Epilim as the preventative and sumatriptan. I had a bad bout, around six years ago, and ended up in hospital, As much due to overdoing the triptan.
I've then been pretty ok. Episodes every six months, regular as clockwork, lessening each time. Neurologist signed me off his register bout 3 years ago. Episodes since averaging just a couple of weeks, attacks virtually all at night, mild background headaches on some rare occasions. So, all in all, an amateur at the side of you lot. And considered myself very lucky after earlier years experiences.
Unfortunately, got an episode started early November '10. Same as usual, so I thought. After four weeks, the proverbial hit the fan and I suddenly remembered the old days. Getting attacks the sumatriptan wouldn't touch. Four per day, and rising. Taken into hospital twice, totaling 8 days. They just filled me full of morphine. Did try the steroids, again, with no effect, but having had the same ones six years ago, I did try to explain to the doc that the dose would be insufficient. Anyhow, the attacks peaked at 9 per day, but with a pretty much constant background headache. THIS IS THE WORST EPISODE I'VE EVER HAD.
Having pushed and pushed with my GP, the hospital, and anyone who would listen, I finally got referred back to my Neurologist. Thanks to the Great British NHS, that will be on March fourth 2011!!! WOW
Back to the point, though, as I can't ask the Neurologist, just yet.
I had the last CH of the episode on 17th Jan. But I've still got this insescent background headache, with peaks and trough's. Standard painkillers help some of the time, but with breakthrough pain, but not a CH. My eye remains bloodshot, though this usually clears within days of an episode ending.
So am I still in an episode? Or something different. Is there something I can take, either over the counter, or to suggest to my GP to prescribe. Any advice is greatfully received. 

You don't mention oxygen. It should be your first line abortive. I kill my attacks in 6-8 minutes just by huffing 02, many here have similar results. It has almost eliminated my use of triptans.

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This link will give you the low down. Good luck, hopefully some members from your side of the pond will chime in with some ideas for you.

Joe

It has been a long time since I have posted anything...mostly because I am so frustrated at this point. I was recently diagnosed with "chronic clusters". From what I was told...the only thing makes a chronic cluster...well chronic, is the lack of remission. Since July I have had at least 1 CH per day. On average however I have 5-6 lasting anywhere from 10 minutes to couple hours.
I am now getting lidocaine, Decadron, and Toradol injections int he back of my neck every couple of weeks. These injections are wonderful for the first couple of days (simply because the headaches have a decreased intensity).
I can't take triptans because of the severe side effects I have and oxygen only makes the headache go away for a couple hours. I have tried caffeine to abort, but ended up more on edge and still with a headache. My neurologist gives me narcotics for the pain but I just end up useless with a headache. Anticonvulsants and beta blockers do not work. I am now on a calcium channel blocker and other then tanking my blood pressure...no luck so far.
I have tried alternative methods too.
A pure organic diet, acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga...nothing.
I'm not quite sure where to go next.
Sorry about the rant...hope everyone has pain free day.

Andy....if you got oxygen in the hospital, most of the time they do it wrong, nasal canulas, low flow, etc. For 02 to work, it requires a high flow, at least 15 LPM, and a non re breather mask.

Joe

I can almost guarantee you that the hospital will not give you a full non re breathable mask at 15 LPM.  I was in and out of the hospital for years with Cluster's and just recently (Jan 5th) I was in there because my husband was getting operated on.  I got a hit and the pain was so bad that I passed out (could have been my sugar also) but anyway I told them that I needed O2 and they were fantastic about it and ran and got it but they came back with the nasal then the the mask which was just the mask.  I explained quickly what I needed.  They did run and get it but as I was huffing on the O2 the kept saying that no ones goes on that high of a flow rate.  When they saw how well it worked they all said they would remember this. (Would help out with the drug seekers that use so called clusters for narcotics.)  I even after using this for two cycles just learned the right way to do it and it made a huge difference.  I was also having lasting shadows until someone here jumped in and told me about the caffeine when finished.  This group will help you find the help you need and will also guide you on how to do what they have told you to do the right way.

Blessings,
Sami