Hi Hoppy,
Well I didn't go to bed till 1am and I took an imigran tablet,and slept all night. Woke up at 8.15 with a k6, but it only lasted 15 mins and they are normally 45 mins. So thats a huge improvement.
What you describe as twinges sound like what I have been calling a k3, or a little one, and I have loads of those. I sometimes even get them when I'm not in a proper cycle, and haven't been taking any meds. I had lots when I was away on my recent holiday, but had 3 bigger ones that I had to abort. They were so random though that it wasn't a proper cycle. I think it was all down to the holiday it's self, the heat, flying, jet lag, excercise etc. So, holidays are a trigger for me - bugger!!!
What ever you call them, If the little ones are a consequence of getting rid of the big ones, thats ok with me.

Good morning Brian
I'm glad I didn't show myself up too badly. It was only a k6 and I can usually control myself for those. 7 or above and you would have seen the devil in me.
But "pretty" ?  Thats a real stretch of the imagination.

Don't they have some kind of REVIEW board there. I know here the VA "appoints" doctors, but if you get ticked off at them or they don't do their job there is a way of firing them and getting a new one. And you can do that until you get one you can work with.

You might check into that. And if you have a good relationship with your GP you need to tell him/her that this guy was a nut case and didn't know anything about YOU.

But if you don't stand up for yourself - you're gonna suffer. Good luck.. 

Torturedminds, that is great!  Not so sure about the induced HA part of it, but I'm glad you have a Dr with an open, inquiring mind!  If we had a few more of those around perhaps we wouldn't have such a bad attitude toward Dr's around here.

I know a few around here have had great experiences with their Dr's, and I absolutely love my Neuro now, but I went through several before him who were worse than useless, and one who definitely should have her license rescinded.

Jerry

Bumped again to recap
Fast forward 15 months.
After the neuro cancelled  my appointment 3 times I finally got there today,and I went in full of dread. All the appointments were running almost an hour late again, but eventually I got called in, and it was a different doctor.A woman.

The first thing I said to her was "I have cluster headaches, but doctor ****** says women don't have them, but I know I do". She seemed astonished.

I told her all my symptoms, meds etc. and she agreed instantly that it's CH.  She understood how rediculous the word "headache" is, she understood how frustrating all the irritating silly responses are, She understood the desperation, feeling of hopelessness, and most of all she understood the pain. Hearing the way my cycles happen, and the way I have a single "one off" attack in the middle of remissions, she thinks I have gone chronic. I told her I feel I have it under control with sumatriptan injections and 02.

She told me she often does some teaching and uses you tube videos of people having a CH to make her students understand that this is not a condition than can be lived with. She makes them watch it all and tells them that without treatment suicide is the only option that some sufferers can see.

We talked about all the meds, oxygen, correct mask, body clock,lack of sleep etc - absolutely everything connected with CH.

At last - a doctor who speaks my language !!! I aked if I could be transferred to her list as I don't have any confidence in doctor ****** and SHE SAID YES !!!

As it's under control she has actually discharged me, but said if I need help I can phone her department at any time in the future,  and she will call me back by the end of the day.

I left her office feeling like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders.

Great news Maz that you finally got the confirmed diagnosis from what sounds like to be a really enlightened doctor that isn't just doing good work with patients but is also training the next generation of doctors so that less people will have to go through the kind of experience that you have had to go through with things like "women don't get CH".

That's great... I'm doing a happy dance for you. Getting a good neuro is a BIG STEP..

I've been lucky to have a great one for the past 20 or so years.. He always asks, "What's new in clusters?" And he checks our board when he has the time. And he "listens" to any new treatments we come up with (like the Vit. D3).

I wish you PF days and a great relationship with your new neuro.