Hi there, welcome to clusterville   
Don't despair, there are things you can do to help yourself cope. Find your way around this site and read all you can. You will find many remedies and tips. We all suffer as you do and over the years we have all found things that help us.

Go to the board titled "medications, treatments and therapies" and then to the thread titled "123 days pain free and I think I know why". This is a vitamin therapy that has worked for over 80% of those that try it. Also go to the "oxygen info" link on the left of your screen. Try knocking back a red bull at the start of an attack - the combination of caffeine and taurine has a good effect for many.

And most importantly see a doctor and get a proper diagnosis. There are preventative meds and abortives that can be prescribed. Sumatriptan (imitrex) auto injections are my magic bullet.

Lastly, keep coming back here. This is where you have a whole new family who understand completely what you go through. Any time you want to talk, rant or just need a little support, there will be some one here to listen, for you and your family too.The friendship and support on this site is a life saver.

Take control of this thing, fight back and don't let it beat you. You will feel better just knowing that you are doing something positive. Take care, and come back and tell us how you are. Hope your episode is a short one.

Take care, Maz.

Yes! A good diagnostic workup is essential firs step.

If you start treating yourself it will confuse the picture. This is not a self-diagnosis, self-treatment disorder.
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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.