Hello everyone, my name is Brandon and I am new to this site but certainly not new to cluster headaches.  I currently live in Maryland and have been in the Air Force for 11 years now where I work as an IT/Admin.  I had my first encounter with cluster headaches when I was in high school and have had them ever since.  Although, the cycles change from year to year so I never really know when the next cycle will start. 

So, unfortunately I am here because I just started another cycle and thought that by talking about it, that it may bring some relief, if not just some comfort knowing there are others that understand how this feels.  Over the years the cycle seemed to start around September and last for about a month or two, but it was wierd because last year the cycle never came.  I was waiting and waiting but it never came, so I pretty much convinced myself that I they were gone and I was free.  Well, 2 years later, here I am.  It's wierd how your mind chooses to forget what the headaches feel like, but as soon as you get one you're instantly reminded.  You try to tell your family what it feels like, but there is nothing you can that can truly describe it, and since most people have never had a hot poker to their brain or eye, they can't relate.  I've tried squeezing my head as hard I can, shoving it in a door, hurting another part of me to take my mind away from the pain in my head, getting in a freezer, restricted air circulation, everything.  Nothing helps.  I pray that this cycle will not be long.

Not sure if any of this will help, but there are some small triggers and remedies that I've found that may help you.

Triggers: As far as triggers go, these are primarily geared to the onset only.  If I do any of these things once I feel the shadow then it goes full blown.  (lying down, touching left side of face, touching small segment of hair in about a one inch area towards the center of my head, turning the lights off, rubbing the back of my neck)

Relief: So far nothing has helped more than large doses of caffeine.  Tylenol, Motrin, all that stuff is a waste.  Excedrin Migraine, but only if you take 3, 2 will just keep the worst of the pain away while 3 seems to take it out completely.  However, there is a drink called "Spike" that I have only seen at 7/11 and Supplement stores like The Vitamin Shoppe.  It has 300mg of caffeine and if I drink it when I feel a headache come on, it usually knocks it out within 10 minutes and I never get all the way to the peak of the pain, whatever that is.  I have never tried oxygen, but did try Cafergot one time which helped, but not as fast as the Excedrin migraine or Spike. 

Well, I'll keep up with you guys and hopefully we'll get through this.  Take care.

Yes, I received a diagnosis from a headache specialist when I was in high school who put me on a test drug, but I don't remember what it was, and by the time I actually got the medication the cycle was over.  Unfortunately, I really didn't know enough about it to really understand so I just kind of dismissed it as normal since my mother always got headaches.  Well, then I came into the military soon after high school and the level of medical care is significantly lower and they refused to use my civilian records, so I was never properly diagnosed again until about 3 years ago, but even then they didn't truly understand and could only treat me based on what they reviewed on the web.  They prescribed the O2 and cafergot, but often times because the nature of my work I was not able to use the O2 and the cafergot seemed to take too long, so I just stuck with the tried and true Excedrin and energy drinks.  I'm sure they take a toll on my system during my cycles though because I pop them like candy.  Based on what you have said, I may use this cycle as an opportunity to try and get referred to a specialist that may be able to assist.  Thanks for the info and take care.