This is kind of a log book or journal I thought I'd start this year on the forums here, for myself. It would be awesome if there was someway to do this within the user cp but I'm sure that would take way more programming and code than this forums capable of.

Anyway, I''m not looking for comments here, but you can comment if you'd like. I usually come to clusterheadaches.com when I have a cluster, so I figured I'd start a journal of sorts here instead of just a regular text file on my pc. Might shed light or help in someway, having a public journal. Might not.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011. Awoke 2:30pm to a pain level 7 or 8 out of 10. Haven't slept since around 7:30pm the following evening. First headache this year. Kind of caught me by surprise. I usually get them at the beginning of my cluster season around a pain level 2 or 3 for at least a month, leading up to a pain level 10 then rapidly decreasing until the cycle is over. For the last couple years, the onset began at the end of September into October. They began extremely early this year and without warning. Although I have experienced a very noticeable shortness of breath within the past week leading up to this. I'm not sure what contributed to this, I have actually slowed down on my smoking, since the shortness of breath.

Experienced regular symptoms, tearing right eye, clogged right nostril, headache on right side of skull. Headache lasted around 45 minutes after waking. Headache started within the first hour, hour and a half after laying down to sleep. I didn't have any redbull on hand, need to go to the grocery store to get some. Redbull has tremendously helped alleviate the headache in the past, very quickly.

I may end up editing if there is some things I wanted to mention and forgot. Spell check won't be on the list of priorities here.

Have you tried O2 as an abortative? If NOT - go to the yellowed Oxygen info on the left and read up on it. A lot of us swear by it -- and read about the PROPER mask for using it (that's the biggest thing for it to work properly).

The log is a good idea and MIGHT help the doc see what's going on IF your doc will read it.

I take melatonin before bedtime to abort any night hits (and it works for "some" of us). I don't usually get night hits (been on it for years). O2 at the first sign of a CH - Red Bull (or coffee -- whatever's handy) - Meds are the last resort..

BUT, I do have abortatives (forgot to mention that I'm chronic). I take topamax (not many can handle that, but I don't have the side effects and it's been my miracle drug since '99).

I don't know that low O2 is a factor - don't think anyone has checked that (might be something to watch - who knows) but mine has always been waaay fine when the doc checked it. BUT we do know that 100% O2 on a high flow rate works for "most" of us to abort in a few minutes if used properly. (I use a Demand Valve and usually can abort in about 3-5 minutes).

Also Pete has some vitamin and mineral therapy that is working pretty well... It's listed on here somewhere.

You're on the right tract with the log, but you need to read read read. And you should come here more often - not just when you're getting hit. Almost every day there is something to read that may be "new" or interesting or of help.