Hey Bubba,

We know what you're going through and the good news is it doesn't need to be that way.  Ask your PCP for the lab test for 25(OH)D.  This is the serum level metabolite of vitamin D3 that's used to measure it's status.

I realize this may sound off the wall but the odds are you are vitamin D3 deficient and that deficiency is contributing to the frequency, severity and duration of your headaches.  The normal reference range for 25(OH)D is 30 to 100 ng/mL. Unfortunately, most physicians will say you're results are normal at a serum concentration of 31 ng/mL so ask for the actual serum concentration when the results come back... 

As a headache sufferer and likely CH'er, you need to maintain a target 25(OH)D serum concentration around 80 ng/mL to prevent your CH.

Call your PCP's office and have them write the Rx for the 25(OH)D lab test.  If that doesn't work and it looks like it's going to take more than a few days to get the lab test... I'd start the anti-inflammatory regimen with 10,000 IU/day vitamin D3.

Over the last three years 400 to 500 cluster headache sufferers (CH'ers) have started the anti-inflammatory regimen of vitamins and minerals with 10,000 IU/day vitamin D3.  80% of them have experienced a significant reduction in the frequency, severity and duration of their CH.  75% experienced pain free 24 hour periods and 60% remain essentially pain free.  It's equally effective for episodic and chronic CH'ers.  This regimen is also >95% effective for Migraineurs in preventing their headaches.

The "Go To" link with info on all the anti-inflammatory supplements, their doses, drug interactions and contraindications follows:

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The following table represents the latest list of anti-inflammatory regimen supplements and doses:

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I've found the following supplements shown by brand in the photo below are formulated with the supplements we need at the right dose.  I buy them at Costco, but you should be able to find similar formulations at most supermarkets, Wall-Mart, the Vitamin Shoppe or over the internet:

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The vitamin B 50 is not shown.  You’ll need a 3-month course of vitamin B 50 to handle any deficiencies among the seven B vitamins.  Although the Super K with vitamin K2 complex isn't essential in preventing CH, it is needed to handle the increased serum calcium made available by taking vitamin D3 at the doses we take.

There are a growing number of studies finding the super K2 complex helps direct calcium away from soft tissues and arteries directing it instead to bones and teeth improving overall bone mineral density.

There are also a number of studies that have addressed the optimum ratio of calcium-magnesium supplements.  The general consensus is to keep these two supplements at a 1:1 ratio.  Many have found 400 mg/day sufficient.

Most CH'ers who have started this regimen in the last year and had their 25(OH)D results come back below 30 ng/mL, have used the accelerated vitamin D3 dosing schedule and found it got them pain free faster than taking the maintenance dose of vitamin D3 at 10,000 IU/day...  The dosing accelerated vitamin D3 dosing schedule follows:

On day one, take the entire regimen with 10,000 IU/day vitamin D3 and two of the Omega-3 Fish Oil liquid softgel capsules along with one each of the remaining supplements the first day.

If there's no allergic reaction to these supplements (very rare), take 20,000 IU/day vitamin D3 for the next two weeks along with the rest of the regimen.

In addition, for the first two weeks take a 50,000 IU loading dose (ten of the 5,000 IU vitamin D3 softgels) once a week on top of the daily dose for two weeks.  The day of the loading dose you'll be taking a total of 70,000 IU vitamin D3.

After two weeks on above vitamin D3 dosing schedule, stop taking the once a week loading dose and lower your daily vitamin D3 intake to 15,000 IU/day. Continue at this dose for another two weeks then lower the vitamin D3 intake to a maintenance dose of 10,000 IU/day.  At that point see your PCP for another lab test for 25(OH)D.

If you total the vitamin D3 doses you'll be taking 600,000 IU vitamin D3 over the 4 week period.  This should elevate your 25(OH)D serum concentration by 60 ng/mL, (150 nmol/L) above your starting level.  Assuming that starting level was less than 30 ng/mL, (75 nmol/L), your serum concentration should be around 85 ng/mL, (212 nmol/L).

If you're like most of the other CH'ers who start this regimen, you'll experience a favorable response within the first week to ten days.  Migraineurs sail through their usual cycle times with nary a twinge...

Take care and please keep us posted.

V/R, Batch