I have so much more reading to do but I need a break now and wanted to say hello.

I live in East Yorkshire, UK and have had episodic CH for a little over a year.

I can't remember when to be exact but a little over a year ago, I started suffering these excrutiating pains. For 4 weeks I thought it was terrible toothache until I finally saw the dentist who could find nothing. I then went to my GP. This may be a first but my GP said right there and then that I had CH. I was given Imigran nasal sprays 20mg (sumatriptan). At the time, I though these had worked but I'm wondering now if this had just happened to coincide with the end of that particular cycle. I'm not sure of the GP's credentials but after he said they were CH, I found my way to this site and found that my symptoms were classic.

I'd been having three a day at pretty much the same time for 6 weeks and then they were gone. I'd read they can go away and never come back so I left my research there and hoped for the best.

Well, it turns out that was not such a great idea because they're back, and back with a vengeance! This is what I've had so far:
(Date in UK format dd.mm.yyyy)
22.02.12 0725-0745 + 2055-2115 (About 6/7 on kip scale)
23.02.12 0700-0720 (About 6/7)
24.02.12 0140-0205 + 1200-1230 + 1640-1710 (7/8)
25.02.12 0200-0225 + 0730-0755  (Both definite 9's, verging on 10's)

So as you can see, they've increased in frequency and pain level. I was beginning to think they may have settled at about every 5 hours but touch wood, I'm overdue.

I saw my GP on the 23rd and asked for Imigran as I though it may have worked last time. I didn't realise until my partner fetched my prescription that he'd prescribed tablets and not the sprays. These didn't seem to help at all. I saw my GP again yesterday and got the 20mg nasal sprays but as you can see by my last two CH, these appear to have done nothing and I've already taken the maximum dose for 24 hours. My GP put in an 'urgent' referral to a neuro.

I started this morning with the water treatment I've read about on here (a pint every 30 mins) and so far no CH but lots of trips to the loo.

I'm keen to explore O2 and will discuss this with the neuro. Having said that, if my CH continue at this level, I'm going to need help before then.

I've probably missed things out but at least I've made a start. This site has given me hope that I might be able to better manage this horrific condition so thank you to the site and it's members.

Hi wimsey1 and thank you for the kind welcome. I'm really grateful for the info. I've read so many different things but without structure so your post has helped me to focus and put my reading list in some logical order.

I'm going to have a good read about preventatives now. If the CH continue to be as problematic as the last two, I will no doubt be seeing my GP before I receive a neuro appointment and aim to go armed with info.

I'm still PF so far since my last post and have kept up with the water.

You're a player I assume? What axes do you have or have had? Style?

"Batch's Vitamin D3 regimen" mentioned in an earlier post has helped me tremendously. O2 is great as well, although my current insurance won't cover it. Morons will cover hyper-expensive Imitrex though. 6mg Imitrex(Imigram) injections work better than the nasal spray FYI. The D3 regimen has me almost off them entirely though.

Without my huge history with these bastard headaches, suffice to say that I couldn't play for years. Now I'm back and have to credit the D3 in my case.

Good luck, keep on playin'

Guitarman wrote on Feb 27^th, 2012 at 4:49am:


Nothing stopping you reading and posting both there and here to get the best of both worlds, maximising what you learn about CH and how to maximise living with it.