Hi All,

I haven't been here in many years.  So long, in fact, I have long since forgotten my old user name and whatever email address I was using at the time.  No matter, I'll just start over.

Not sure when I started having CHs, but late teens/early 20's is a good guess (misdiagnosed for years).  I have always been prone to headaches, including migraines, at an early age.  Skull fractured as an infant due to a car crash (not sure if that has anything to do with anything, but there you go).  At least one, if not more, concussions through childhood (I was a fearless kid).  Once I started having known clusters, the series would last 8 weeks, starting in the late Winter (Feb every time) and on a three-year cycle, like clockwork.  Currently, even if I do not enter into a CH 8-week hell, I will have shadows in Feb/March and I have a significant increase in the occurrence of other headaches.  As stated above, I've been CH-free for seven years.  Not sure why, but I'll toss this out there for what it's worth (probably nothing, but you never know).

I was always active (before, after, during).  I used to smoke, but do not now and really cut back around the time I stopped having CHs.  That seems the most significant aspect, but who knows.  Last time I was on the verge of entering into a CH series (shadows, frequency and intensity increasing quickly -Which has always signaled the start of a series for me), I started taking Ritalin.  I did not begin having CHs, but attributing that to Ritalin would be fool-hearty. I know there's some discussion here about Ritalin and there is no scientifically significant study on the use of Ritalin and CH, but, again, just tossing that out there.  Doubt it made the difference, but who really knows. I have not been taking Ritalin since, yet the CHs have not returned and that probably tells the tale about Ritalin right there (it was likely just a coincidence).  I read a study that suggested a possible cause of CH may be the decrease in production of Testosterone.  Humm, if that's the case why did I start having CHs when I was likely at the top of my game (testosterone production-speaking)?  I do lift weights which, you may know, reportedly increases T production.  My diet has gone from eating junk food to treating my body as a temple, back and forth and everything in between.  No difference in CH occurrence based on my diet that I can tell.  Regular Coke and then a Diet Coke junky (yea, I know, I know).  Went off DC when I entered into one CH series and no effect.  I do not drink coffee, but based on what I've read here, I'm willing to start if ever needed.  Alcohol is a definite trigger for me.  I find it best to avoid alcohol during February/March just in case (beer & wine is all I generally drink when I do, and not that often, so no biggie to take it out of the equation).  Work has gone from active snowboard instructor, bartender, to college and grad student, to professional desk jockey.  No difference in CH occurrence based on job.  Generally hit the sack at 10PM and rise at 6AM, while waking up at least once around 2-3AM.  I snore like a busted chainsaw and have untreated sleep apnea.  I do not know why I've been CH-free for the past seven years and certainly wish I knew why, but certainly grateful.  My 12yo daughter is prone to have significant headaches, so, sadly, looks like I passed that on to her.  The Boy does not have headaches, so looks like he's lucky.  Perhaps there's something in here that someone can use to his/her benefit.  Again, the only thing that jumps out at me is quitting smoking.

Hi Offroad

CH can be a tricky bugger; I got my first dance with the devil just before I turned 50 now 63 that lasted 12 weeks & went away for 5 years before it came back & I went chronic & been that way since.

Like you I've had life style changes but nothing stands out as a winner.

Lets hope your's stays away forever.

Cheers
Barry

I am also 7 years with no CH.  What changed?  I got older.

12 years pf for me so far. Age 63. I sure hope that I have outgrown them. Goadsby says no but I told him he doesn't know everything.

Well it's been six years since I started this thread.  Zero lifestyle changes.  Nothing new to report that might help others.  Every Spring I get some shadows, but miraculously, still no clusters.  When I get a shadow, I breathe deep and rapidly in through my nose and out my mouth in hopes of upping my O2.  Seems to help as the shadows tend to go away when I do that.  Thankfully, cluster-free for thirteen years now.  That's all I've got.  Hope you all are doing well.

Just what Brian said. We get people who are having a really tough time with CH and seem to be on the edge of losing hope. So posts like this where people go pain free (or close to it) from years is a real balance check, saying there is hope and it can happen to them too.