Welcome, and sorry you are here; or rather, sorry you are in so much pain. Episodic or not, tell your doc you don't plan on smoking in the house or while you're breathing O2. Or get a new doc. Just plain dumb is what that is. Energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster or anything that has a combo of caffeine (85mg+) and taurine (1000mg+) can help abort an attack. Batch has a great regimen of Vitamin D3, fish oil and magnesium/calcium tabs in the medications section that has helped so many. You haven't mentioned any preventatives like verapamil, lithium, topamirate? Just because you are episodic doesn't mean these can't help, and you can always go off them when the episode cycles down. Looking forward to hearing more. God bless. lance

You have an excellent support group--explore:

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

I understand that, by law, you have the right to get to any headache clinic of your choice. One way to by-pass your local doc. Explore with your support group.

If your local doc is open to suggestions, might print out the PDF file, below, and give him a copy. Good basic information  for you, in any case.

May also print out and study:




Cluster headache.
From: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or (Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases)
[Easy to read; one of the better overview articles I've seen. Suggest printing the full length article--link, line above--if you are serious about keeping a good medical library on the subject.]

Leroux E, Ducros A.

ABSTRACT: Cluster headache (CH) is a primary headache disease characterized by recurrent short-lasting attacks (15 to 180 minutes) of excruciating unilateral periorbital pain accompanied by ipsilateral autonomic signs (lacrimation, nasal congestion, ptosis, miosis, lid edema, redness of the eye). It affects young adults, predominantly males. Prevalence is estimated at 0.5-1.0/1,000. CH has a circannual and circadian periodicity, attacks being clustered (hence the name) in bouts that can occur during specific months of the year. ALCOHOL IS THE ONLY DIETARY TRIGGER OF CH, STRONG ODORS (MAINLY SOLVENTS AND CIGARETTE SMOKE) AND NAPPING MAY ALSO TRIGGER CH ATTACKS. During bouts, attacks may happen at precise hours, especially during the night. During the attacks, patients tend to be restless. CH may be episodic or chronic, depending on the presence of remission periods. CH IS ASSOCIATED WITH TRIGEMINOVASCULAR ACTIVATION AND NEUROENDOCRINE AND VEGETATIVE DISTURBANCES, HOWEVER, THE PRECISE CAUSATIVE MECHANISMS REMAIN UNKNOWN. Involvement of the hypothalamus (a structure regulating endocrine function and sleep-wake rhythms) has been confirmed, explaining, at least in part, the cyclic aspects of CH. The disease is familial in about 10% of cases. Genetic factors play a role in CH susceptibility, and a causative role has been suggested for the hypocretin receptor gene. Diagnosis is clinical. Differential diagnoses include other primary headache diseases such as migraine, paroxysmal hemicrania and SUNCT syndrome. At present, there is no curative treatment. There are efficient treatments to shorten the painful attacks (acute treatments) and to reduce the number of daily attacks (prophylactic treatments). Acute treatment is based on subcutaneous administration of sumatriptan and high-flow oxygen. Verapamil, lithium, methysergide, prednisone, greater occipital nerve blocks and topiramate may be used for prophylaxis. In refractory cases, deep-brain stimulation of the hypothalamus and greater occipital nerve stimulators have been tried in experimental settings.THE DISEASE COURSE OVER A LIFETIME IS UNPREDICTABLE. Some patients have only one period of attacks, while in others the disease evolves from episodic to chronic form.

PMID: 18651939 [PubMed]

Hi
It can't get worse than this
Was episodal but havin 2 or 3 a night now
Been doc's
Rizatriptan, apparently all meds are the same
Codeine and paracetamol 4 times daily, as if I wasn't tired and drowsy enough!
Still muted a visit to the neuro guy
Still no O2
Gonna have to give up smoking and pass the test
Trying the omega3 etc method, won't give me much D3 though, vitamin supplements was all I got
Time to switch docs me thinks

Quote:


Why? There should be no reason why he can't prescribe O2. Look at this link on the OUCH(UK) website)

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

You say you've tried most UK med's but you don't say what - they could be Smarties.

Bob has suggested you explore OUCH(UK)  - Have you?  You make no mention of it in your last post or even acknowledge the fact that he's trying to help you.

If you're looking for help then I suggest you ring the Helpline - Number below - leave your number and somebody will call you back. 

Rod