Hi there, I've already had the pleasure of talking to Clusterman and Lobster in the tens unit topic, but thought I'd make a proper intro.

Hope you are all well? (as well as you can be).

I'm never good at first posts, so please forgive me if this is in the wrong area or whatever. I'll just start by detailing my experience with CH.

Had my first attack when I was 18-19ish and after a few years of various diagnoses of Migraine, Neuralgia, Sinusitis (and being prescribed various painkillers that didn't work, Tramadol etc, and various nasal sprays, antihistamines etc) I was finally put in the right direction by a Med Student/Junior Doctor on a random trip to A&E who had seen a documentary on Cluster Headaches the night before and printed me off some notes on it and told me to go to my GP with it(This was when I was 22).
This led to a prescription of Verapamil 40mg 4 times a day & some Sumitriptan Tabs. Was also referred to a Neuro who recommended an MRI which confirmed the diagnosis in December 2010 of Episodic CH.

So basically I've had Cluster bouts between Oct-Dec every year, with 1-2 attacks a day,  usually one at 10am and another in the early hours of the morning. Except for this year.

Oct-Dec 2 012 passed with not even a shadow, but then on January 9th 2013(The exact date of birth of my baby daughter) wham, sudden attack. Since that day it's been as regular as clockwork, attack at about 6-7pm and another at about 4am. Off to the Doctor I trot, now have Verapamil 40mg 4 times a day and Sumitriptan 6mg Injections(as the tabs don't work).

So there we are.

I have a couple of questions - Basically, every employer I've had has been ignorant and intolerant of my CH and I've generally been fired or forced to leave every job I've ever had while in a cluster period. Do CH sufferers have any rights in this area, or any possibility of getting DLA?

Second, my god how do you convince a GP to prescribe O2!??! I've read it's the best abortive but damn is it like a brick wall when trying to get some.

Thank you for your time.

Yes, welcome. So you're experiencing what so many of us already have experienced...there is a vast divide between us who are Cluster Heads and those who just wanna be. You can tell who they are when they say, oh yeah, I had clusters, too. OJ in the morning did the trick, you oughta try it!

Anyway, it seems you still have a bunch of things to add to your arsenal. For example, your verapamil dose is really low. Many of us don't see its preventative effects until around 360-480mg/day. Some as high as 960mg/day. And then there's energy drinks coupled with high flow O2, and the D3 regimen. Lots to explore. Hang in there, read a lot, and let us know how you're gettin' on. blessings. lance