I have been on this site for a couple of weeks but have not discribed my situation. When I was 11 I fell of a cliff and a rock tumbled down and smacked me between the forehead and eyebrow and fractured my skull. ( right side) I don't know if this has any thing to do with. It was a couple of years latter when I started getting ch on the right side only. Kip 5 the max 4or 5 a month.

When I was 23 kip 9 and 10 at least once a week. Almost shit myself from the pain. Played the doctor game. Could be sinus, could be you teeth see the dentist. The older group knows what im talking about... I finally found a doctor that specialized in ch and got me on lithium and verapamil with o2. This was great I still had the ch but I could bring them down to kip 5-7 but still had them every week. Those were the good old day with insurance.

Now here is ware I get different. I don't have a brake for years or weeks, but I do have cycles. When I'm in the good I have 4-10 a week but to wear I can manage and might have two days out of the week with no ch. Kp 5 max. This last for about 5 years.

Then everything switches, for the next 5 years I have 3 -6 ch a day kip 6-8 and the ch last from one to eight hours, random sometimes morning, noon, night you name it. Changes the next day. I started recording the times and kip to see if I could find a pattern.

I am 47 and I started my bad 5 year cycle in September 2011 and I don't know if the medication I have been on has built up a tolerance but I'm in freaking hell right now. The ch have changed the shadow is the same but the endings linger on and sometimes slow down then ramp back up. All ch are kip 8-10 and last for freaking hours.

I currently am not in the position to purchase o2 or see a doc. I will have to go to the ER when I am having a ch. I live in the middle of the dessert in AZ and it take a while to get to the hospital. Wife can't drive. Ever try to drive with a ch full blown, party party party.

Anyway, thank you all! I have been able to read others experiences and try some other remedies to make me feel more comfortable. I have learned to deal with this nightmare to the best of my ability. I feel sorry for the people who have remission. Bet that sound funny coming from someone who never gets a brake from the beast? There is nothing that pisses me off more than not being able to control by body. I won't leave the house, afraid of a ch attack. Ch are what brings the big bad ass man down to his knees and cry to mommy.
Those that have a brake think that it's over and life goes on. It's not, just waiting.

Let's get my opening sarcasm out of the way! It's so comforting to know that conservatives want to protect us from universal health care.
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Parts of the following re. searching your local medical centers/hospitals for free/low costs care. Give the complexity of your history I'd really urge you to spend some time searching for sources of care.

LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. Search the OUCH site (button on left) for a list of recommended M.D.s.

2. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.

3.  Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.

4. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or On-line screen to find a physician.

5. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or Look for "Physician Finder" search box. They will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.

6. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
        Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.