Red bulls or any other energy drink with taurine is probably your best option for now. I have aborted or lessened many an attack by chuggging 1 or 2. Works best if you catch  it early.

Hi Cbo,
Welcome. Sorry you had to find us,you have a long road ahead
but their is lots of help here. I'm wondering why the neuro
did'nt give you any meds to tye you over until you see your
doc. My advice is you get straight on the D3 Regime,and get
some Melatonin at the same time, they have a good record to
get you through the night without a REM wake up call. Also
you can try useing ice blocks wrapped in a cloth and apply it
to the back of your neck. Also inhale deeply through your nose
for 15-20 minuets. Also avoid all processed foods and alcohol.
Hoping these tips help.                                                          

Hoppy.


minuets

Chris, with the Red Bull, take it at the first sign of an attack is
on it's way.

Did you get to the doctor today?
wimsey1 is right on with the prednisone advice. If your doctor prescribed verapamil (a preventative) you need to start on it now along with the prednisone. The verapamil will take a week or so to get working in your system.

G'day Chris,
That's quite a common remark from doc's on vitamin D.
"BATCH" has reseached this thoroughaly and has proven
it to be safe.

Hoppy

Oh Im so sorry for you CH suck so much!!!  I didn't have any meds to help me out for a long time it was brutal.  9-12 attacks a day lasting like 30min to an hour.  All I could do was tough it out.  It sounds weird but I find if I have a bad one sometimes I just get down on my knees in my room and rock back and forth.  Sometimes I find a really hot shower helps me out I don't know if that works for others but its helped me out many a times.  I've recently gotten on the energy drink fix and I gotta say they've helped me out a lot.  Good luck to you I hope your one of the lucky ones that gets a medication that works wonders for you.  Verapamil at a high dose has been working wonders for me.  1 bad headache in 3 weeks is pretty awesome.

Thanks for the replies! I sort of felt that way at the Dr. Office, I could tell the we're out of there scope of their profession. The melatonin seems to be keeping the night attacks away pretty good, only small headaches. I plan to keep my appointment with the specialist even if my headaches are gone by then (hopefully)... A question I have is what the best way to treat the daytime "baseline" headaches that I constantly have? I've been drinking a lot of coffee and I think it's helping... But is there something else you could suggest? Also how much melatonin are you guys taking before bed? Thanks again for everyone's help.

Quote:

Piss poor advice.

        Potter

G'day Chris.
on your ? Melatonin, how much to take. I use the brand Bioglan,
the dosage they suggest is 3-5 tabs 1/2 an hour before bedtime
As a rule i normally take 4 tabs which works for me. Your daytime headaches could be rebound
headaches caused by the med's you are taking, try a can or two
of Pepsi, that normally knocks them on the head for me.

The best way to treat "baseline" headaches is with O2 and a taurine/caffeine combo energy drink, like Monster or Red Bull. Have imitrex injectables as a backup, or Migranal nasal spray. But O2 is far and away the best.

As for melatonin, how many capsules you take will depend upon the strength of the capsule. I'd rather talk in terms of amounts: 1mg, 5mg, 10mg etc. We did a survey and discovered (head shake in disbelief here) that we are all different! Some need less, and some need more. While there was some correlation to size and weight, it wasn't compelling. Start high or low, and see what happens, then adjust as needed. Blessings. lance

Be absolutely relentless in getting in to see a specialist immediately.  In fact, be relentless in all dealings with medical professionals.  It's a sad truth that many of us here have had to do our own doctoring because the doctors we went to see either know nothing about clusters or are too timid or fearful of liability to really prescribe what we need.  Get verapamil, it's cheap.  Get imitrex (sumatriptan), shots AND pills.  Personally, I cut both of them in half and they work fine (YMMV).  Get oxygen, and don't take no for an answer. 

My ex-neurologist said he was an expert in CH (lie), and prescribed me oxygen at 2 LpM by nasal canula.  I laughed at this and tried to explain more about CH, and he got pissy and said i was patronizing him.  Then he wouldn't prescribe any more than 4 shots of imitrex a month.  He's so fired. (Dr. Petroff in Austin, FYI).  I detest being my own doctor but you're ultimately responsible for your own care and comfort.  Point is, get what you need, get it now.

HA!