Hi Annie

Welcome to your new family - the Clusterheads. Sorry you had to find us though.

I personally have never had verapamil, or any preventative but I do believe people use them alongside the abortives such as sumatriptan. Sumatriptan pills take too long to get into your system to be of much help. The nasal spray is better but best is the auto injections. They will abort the worst CH in 5 - 7 minutes. You can only use 2 per day though.

Oxygen is miracle juice. It will also abort in about 10 minutes. And of course it's not a drug so you can use it with anything, and as often as you like. I have 2 tanks at home and save the injections for when I'm out. I never leave home without them.

One thing with the oxygen - you must use it correctly to get results. You must have a flow rate of 15 litres or more per minute and a non rebreather mask. Get either of those things wrong and it won't work. CH is caused by dilated blood vessels, and the high flow oxygen is constricts them again - which is what sumatriptan does.

Check out a post by Batch entitled "123 days pain free". It's a very long read but worth the bother. It's about a vitamin D3 regime which works brilliantly as a preventative for 80% of folks who try it. If you send Batch a personal message he will tell you all you need to know.  He won't mind, he's a great guy and a legend on these boards. No drugs involved, all natural and good for you even without CH. Believe me it's worth it. You can get everything you need on line much cheaper than the shops.

Get on the D3, get some oxygen and some suma's and life will be so much easier. Feel free to come back any time if you have questions or want to chime in, or just to rant if you need to. There is always someone here who understands what you go through.

Tell us a bit more about yourself. Family/supporters and where in the world you live etc.

Hope this helps a bit
Maz.

You have an excellent support group which I'd encourage you to join--especially since you'll need support and information for a long time.

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
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When you contact them, ask for guidance about being getting a referral to a headache clinic. Under you health care law, this can be done by-passing your local doctors.

And by-passing sounds wise in the UK! We have had too many of your "landsmen"  complain about the lack of knowledge and kill in treating Cluster. Getting off to a sound start in dealing with Cluster will give you the foundation you'll need.

Print the PDF file, below. This is a list of the more commonly used meds for Cluster.

The standard approach is: 1. a med which will stop attacks within a day or two of starting using it. You take it for 10-days or so, then stopping it; 2. at the same time, starting a med which afford long term protection reducing/stopping attacks, a med which you will take daily.
3. And another quick acting drug which aborts an attack which may not be blocked by #2.

If there is any "blessing" in your family situation it's that they will be able to help you with the emotional  issues of coping with Clusters. It can be difficult but most of us have been successful, when we get good medical care, along with the support of groups like this one--hence, contacting the OUCH group.

Stay in touch....

Hang in there...