This is to all of you that know that things like fish oils, oxygen, etc, gimmicks, do not work on you.
I would like to share my experiences with both safety, and effectiveness in living with clusters.
I have been going through this for over 25 years.
Sumatriptans (Imetrex) is the ONLY thing that works, and I suffered these headaches before it was available. Too much can cause heart problems, and I will show you how to overcome this when you are in the peak of a cycle with as many as 8 to 12 in a 24 hour period, that would surely be overdosing the measured amounts of the injection.
here is a link to a video of mine instructing my step daughter on this method.
wouldn't allow te to use a link on this post, but if you search with this next sentence, you will find it.

A safer way to use Imitrex, and it will last longer too geemack101 youtube

For those of us that use Imetrex, it is like gold, being so expensive the Ins Companies allot only small amounts monthly. I recommend that you get your presciptions filled throughout the year, and stock up when you are not in a cycle. With the method I use, it is not only safer, but you use less, and it goes farther. It is just as effective.
Also, after trying everything imaginable as a blocker, or just a drug to try to manage these headaches, i have found only one thing that works. It lessons the degree of pain, allows the Imetrex to work faster, and makes the cycles come less often. The drug is Lithium, and I begin taking it at the onset of a cycle, and continue until the cycle has ended. It works. Everything else either didn't work, or, and gave me terrible side affects. With the Lithium I feel nothing, but the relief of the headaches.
Watch the video for the easy method of using less of the sumatriptan, into thirds, or halves. In this way you will not have to go over the recommended limits of use for your safety. Too much can cause heart problems. Now even with as many as 12 headaches in a 24hr period, you will not go over the recommended amount. 

  How much time did you spend reading on this board before posting?

  I said "reading" because it obviously wasn't enough time to call it research.

  I'm speaking as one who came here 2/02, after 13 months mis-diagnosis, non working meds, 6-8 attacks daily, sometimes 3-5 at night, I'd mention the Kip scale, but you probably didn't read that either. 

  There's not a med, treatment or surgery re CH that can't be researched here . . . a site made by and for sufferers.

  For most that 02 doesn't work for, the majority find that when used correctly, it is one of the most effective abortives.

  If Imitrex is your magic bullet, well good for you . . . . but what about those of us with artery blockage and cholesterol issues .  . . not a "magic" bullet, but a bullet to the heart (as in cardiac arrest).

  As to fish oil and "gimmicks" . . . well the current D3 regimen "gimmick" has given me 19 months of PAIN FREE days after over ten years chronic . . . that's some gimmick!

   Apologies to the board . . . . first post I've made while angry at anything but the beast.

    Richard

Colin, I can't speak for Richard, but it could be that someone said his preferred abortive does not work. Clearly bull poo for him. There are a lot of people in this forum who get very upset when others talk out of their a$$. Most of them are upset by intolerance toward one therapy or another. It's like being told you don't have cluster headaches because what works for me doesn't work for you. Clearly bull feces. The Beast presents a different face to us all and not everyone can use the same thing to scare him away. Suggesting otherwise can be considered offensive. Reader discretion is advised.

Colin

  Why the anger?  I got "reached", a term I borrowed from a close friend and retired navy chief over 30 yrs ago, denoting any words, deeds, or situations that produce  instant anger/hostility.  repguy2020 summed it up perfectly.

  What "reached" me was the implication that 02 was a gimmick and the "ONLY thing that works" are sumatriptans.

GEEMAN101

  I believe you are a Clusterhead, and therefore welcome to this site and all the info available.

  If 02 didn't work for you . . .how did YOU use it . .  what flow rate, what kind of mask.  For most who come here, with limited Imitrex available, the first thing we suggested (before D3 regimen showed up) was 02 as abortive.  Most (70%+) have been able to abort the majority of attacks with 02 and save the trex for situations where their 02 wasn't immediately available.  The suggestion to episodics to stock-up on trex during the PF times has been offered since I've been here.

  Please read the links on the left and spend some time reading questions/responses/histories. 

  Perhaps, after some investigation, you might be willing to give the D3 regimen a try and end your 25 yrs of cycles with the beast.  Not guaranteed, but 80% effectiveness would be worth the experiment.

  Be Safe,   PFDANs

     Richard

GEEMAN101,
Try hyperventilating 100% o2 at a flow rate of at least 25 lpm, using a NON-rebreather mask, sitting or standing in an upright position.  Maybe even slam a RedBull just before you hit the o2, helpful for many of us. 

10 - 12 lpm is very low and too low to successfully hyperventilate.  One could abort attacks with such a low lpm, but realistically why would one want to suffer for a long duration instead of hyperventilating and aborting the attack with a few minutes?  Yes, hyperventilating o2 will provide a FAST ABORT!

Might give it a fair try before considering o2 ineffective.  Of course this go round you will be using it correctly as I just outlined, right? Plenty more details available by clicking the yellow Oxygen tab, left side of your screen.

O2 is the least expensive abortive treatment and has absolutely no adverse side effects.  PF Wishes!

-Gregg in Las Vegas

ok, well explained Richard, I see your point, and im glad geeman101 got to read a bit more and maybe see that this site is all about helping.
i cant thank the people enough on here for the help and information that is available, especially to a relative newbie to the cluster club as i am.

kindest regards
colin

GEEMAN101 wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2013 at 9:45am:


That is because the majority of the medical community (including neurologists, emergency room staff and paramedics) are not properly educated about CH's. 

Most of us CH'er regulars on this site are more knowledgeable than most doctors regarding CH's. 

Doctors and medical students visit this site to learn about CH's, specifically new treatments. 

We often have to teach the doctors when we go for an appointment.  The common doctor will often misdiagnose and/or prescribe old/ineffective treatments.  The best doctors are able to put down their ego and actually learn something we share with them, resulting in proper patient care. 

This website is the best resource for CH education, worldwide. 

Welcome to Clusterville

-Gregg in Las Vegas

FrankF wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2013 at 2:23pm:



and now you are educated from this website knowing that testing your blood for o2 levels are only relevant to those in need of respiratory treatment and have absolutely nothing to do with your need for o2 to abort CH's, right?

-Gregg in Las Vegas

GEEMAN101 wrote on Jul 31^st, 2013 at 8:43am:


Many people have found that taking too much Imitrex can cause rebound headaches.  At one point I felt the same as what you said, that Imitrex or Relpax (another triptan that is similar to Imitrex) was the only sure fire way to get rid of my cluster.  Eventually I found out this was because I was just taking it too often and getting rebounds.  Once I got to where I only took the triptans as a last resort my clusters improved dramatically.

-Ricardo

Hey Ricardo,
Quote:


You just made my morning.  Thanks for the laugh, but really, how do you improve a cluster?