Hi Elizabeth and welcome.

Everyone here understands what CHs are like and that you just can't compare them to migraines (although they can be annoying enough).

Whilst imitrex pills work well for migraine, they are not too useful for CH, but imitrex injections or nasal sprays work well. Although there are limits on how many you can use and are not exactly cheap compared to oxygen.

Do you have any preventives, something like verapamil, lithium or topomax?

Have you checked out using vitamin D3? Read up about it - Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

It's well worth working with a headache specialist as most doctors, even most neurologists have limited experience of CH.

Keep reading and you'll learn so much about dealing with CH.

LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. 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.

2.  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.

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

4. 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.

5. 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.

Thanks everyone. What is so strange about this episode is that it is not predictable at all. 20 years of the same thing and now it is all over the place and today it switched sides (has happened before but not in the same episode).  I guess my right side is getting some relief.
I will look at the suggestions given.
Thanks again.