I'm not sure mental activity will bring on a CH, but can
bring on a headache, as for physical exercise, its known
to bring on an attack in some folk, but in others its a great
abortive, which makes us cluster heads unique, because
we are all different.

Cheers, Hoppy.

winner19 wrote on Dec 21^st, 2014 at 3:15pm:

Do you mean that you have one constant headache that lasts for several days? If yes, it probably is not a cluster headache. A cluster attack can last a couple of hours but not several days.

Hoppy wrote on Dec 21^st, 2014 at 4:23pm:

Really exercise is an abortive. Is it to be done on a specific time like at the beginning of an attack or it can be done anytime during the attack

What is your doc's experience in treating complex headache disorders? An experienced doc is the foundation  for a successful outcome.

With such an unstable pattern, that you report, it may be time to seek another evaluation from a specialist.
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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.
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WHY A HEADACHE SPECIALIST IS RECOMMENDED


Headache. 2012 Jan;52(1):99-113.
Cluster headache in the United States of America: demographics, clinical characteristics, triggers, suicidality, and personal burden.
Rozen TD, Fishman RS.

THERE REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT DIAGNOSTIC DELAY FOR CLUSTER HEADACHE PATIENTS ON AVERAGE 5+ YEARS WITH ONLY 21% RECEIVING A CORRECT DIAGNOSIS AT TIME OF INITIAL PRESENTATION.
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Beyond the problems you mention, would be useful to confirm the diagnosis of Cluster. See:

Link to: cluster-LIKE headache:

IN: "Medications, Treatments, Therapies --> "Important Topics" --> "Cluster-LIKE headache"

This is where we get caught in a bind. There are no tests which are specific to diagnosing Cluster. And you can see from the long (and incomplete)list of Cluster-LIKE disorders that rather specific diagnostic work-up is often required to diagnose should your docs suspect one of them.

Since you are dealilng with a headache specialist (not a general neurologist, I assume) I'd suggest a sit-down and asking directly about the possibility of a Cluster-LIKE disorder. (You comment about tests having been done is rather too vague to know what they were doing.)

Since you report that no improvement is in sight, it's time to push for an expanded diagnostic approach.

Hi winner,
From what I've read its best to start physical exercise
like jogging, on the onset of an attack before the pain
becomes to unbearable.

Hoppy.

Yes. Imigran and imitrex are brand names of sumatriptan. What a pity you are allergic to it, as it's a life saver for most of us.  Make sure you are using the oxygen correctly to get the best effect, and work with your specialist to find you an alternative treatment. Check out the D3 regime by Batch.

Bob Johnson wrote on Dec 25^th, 2014 at 11:30am:

Ok thanks for your help I'll talk to my doctor. He might be planning to increase the dose slowly.