I used to be a member of the old board (I think) about a decade ago (I was Edski_1 I think)...

Well, a new "super-cycle" for me seems to be here.  From my past experiences it seems my cycle runs approximately like this:

1) A few years of on/off CH's with active and remission periods on the order of 3-4 months.

2) A few years of sporadic CH episodes that are not nearly as brutal as the initial phase

3) A few years of almost complete remission.

The last "super-cycle" started in late 2003.  I kept some detailed logs for a couple of the early CH periods, and all it seemed to do was allow me to create some scary graphs showing how the frequency and intensity peaked.  Essentially I could not find any consistent triggers, although it does seem at least at the outset of my super-cycle alcohol is a definite trigger...

I remember when I started my new job in early 2006 I was concerned that the CH's would be an issue, but I only had a mild episode later that year, where the HA's shifted to almost exclusively nocturnal.  About 2 years later I recall having a minor episode around the time of the baseball playoffs, and another minor episode in the summer of 2010 (again baseball is my milepost - I remember watching Matt Garza of the Tampa Bay Rays throw a no-hitter while battling a CH through inning 4 through 8.  Just had to keep watching...).

And then my few years of almost complete remission.  Few shadows here and there, maybe a day with what I call a "low grade" cluster (more like a minor migraine) here and there, but nothing like the pain I've had the last week and a half...

Tried Topomax abut a decade ago, but while it was effective stopping the headaches, it also removed my intellect.  And if I missed a dose I'd become psychologically "unstable".  I had to stop - those side effects were unacceptable.  I'd rely on using an occasional triptan, and eventually just an ice pack...my view on triptans is what is the use of having 6 pills a month when these things are coming at you every 15 hours?

In the time I've been gone from here 2 nephews have come down with CH's (one is blood related, the other via marriage), and both have had success with verapamil.  I go see my doctor Thursday morning to discuss this, and I think I will demand to start trying that medicine.

I do have essential hypertension, and I wonder why the neuro I saw 10 years ago chose dopeymax over vera, especially given my BP history.  Of course, that was not too long (a couple years) after I finally made a good faith effort to find a combination of meds to control my BP.  That was not a pleasant journey, and maybe the concern was not to upset the combination that worked for me with no side effects.  What I've heard now is that vera probably won't hurt my current BP regime.  I suppose I'll ask about that in another part of the forum instead of here.

Anyway, I think I see a couple familiar handles despite the long time away.  I guess it's "welcome back". 

Thanks Bob!

You are one of the names I remember.

What Bob and Joe said! You need to ditch those pills (you have if I read correctly) and trade them in for high flow O2, energy drinks, and injectables. The abortives are necessary for those times when our prevents aren't working, or we're getting used to them. blessings. lance