Hello, all you cluster heads.

I'm in the UK and had chronic CH from 1989 until 2000 with no breaks. Dropped out of University. Drifted between crappy jobs and unemployment for a few years then was misdiagnosed as having migraine by my doctor. Prescribed beta blockers which just slowed me down to a standstill. Researching migraines, I knew this was wrong.

Stopped the meds and tried to get on with life. Went back to Uni, got a degree. Then I moved to Japan and had a two month break - bliss!  But not for long enough! Had another remission later for about one-and-a-half years before the Beast came back and I was finally diagnosed with CH in Japan in 2006.
Until then I had no idea WTF was doing my head in!

Miracle of miracles, I had a 5 YEAR stretch from the beginning of 2008 of PFDAN  - until December 

Since then I've had a Shadow hanging over me almost all the time and full on CHs 4-8 times / 24 hrs.

Due to not being diagnosed for the first 17 years - I have come to rely on massaging head and face, water - hot and cold - for drinking, sniffing up my nose, dribbling into my ears, getting shoes and socks off, getting naked, taking showers, sex, coffee, trying to rip my head off, aspirin, brushing teeth, and each of them seem to have worked for getting me through to some extent at some time.

Now I have been prescribed imigran nose spray which I keep but have never used - because even if it works it costs me £7.00 for two doses - so I'm saving it for a special occasion 

I am a teacher/tutor/lecturer and am dreading the next time I have to start doing the Dance during the intensive summer course I am teach from June to September.

My kids are 4 and 2, so have only just started seeing their Dad totally rolling on the floor screaming, and don't really know how to deal with it...

I really want a cure, not a treatment, but don't think having an artery ligatured to my jaw is the answer for me.

Wishing you all the best and most painless time,

kurobushi