Hi Layla,
You certainly are NOT alone with your pain nor your suffering of CH's-Cluster Headaches!  We here on this site (we call Clusterville) truly understand what you are unfortunately experiencing.

You also are not alone with some challenges you mentioned and some you didn't but are common among many of us here on this website...i.e. inability to keep basic jobs, hold a long term career, concentrate on education, keep relationships without difficulties, empathy from friends and family, finding a qualified doctor, medical insurance issues, financial status overpowered by medical bills and loss of job income, overall emotional health,  missing out on special occasions, public embarrassment, etc., etc.  You are NOT alone!

Try your best to keep your cool and keep your distance from your boyfriends brother.  You mentioned he is on the other side of the country and you list Boston as home, right?  Well if he happens to reside in Las Vegas, please PM me his address and I would be willing to speak with him 

Certainly understand that there will always be somebody in our lives that is annoying and disrespectful.  We, as mature adults, need to figure out how best to not let those jerks get on our nerves.  We with CH's have no shortage of issues because of our disorder.  We certainly do not need to let some insignificant and ignorant person living far away from us make hurtful comments and let it control our emotions.  He is a jerk and no education on CH's will change his ignorance nor his mean character. So try your best to avoid conversation. Maybe set up a phone number block on your phone so that he is unable to send texts or call you.  Maybe consider letting your boyfriend know that he should respect you by limiting his conversation with his brother when you are present.

Please do visit this site often and read as much as you are able, ask questions and vent when needed.  Maybe even ask your 13 year old to take a peek at this website so your kid can better relate to his mother.  My 14 year old is my best advocate when I am in cycle!  We try our best here on this website to help each other with emotional support and solid advice.  I sincerely hope this reply helps you.

Wishing you PFDAN
(Pain Free Days And Nights)

-Gregg in Las Vegas

Las Vegas and Aussiebrian,

Thank you for taking the time to respond to me.  Las Vegas I will be rereading what you wrote many times, and Las Vegas and Aussiebrian you helped me more than you probably know. 
Aussiebrian, I have had all the problems you mentioned and looking back over time to when the HAs started 26 yrs ago I can see, I can see some of the things I did to survive mentally were probably not healthy.  One thing I did when doctors were either not diagnosing the problem, giving me wrong medications, being outright disrespectful at times, referring me to a psychologist "because headaches are in the brain", etc, etc, etc and the end result was I was suffering through cycles untreated, the coping method I used for knowing another cycle was coming because mine at that time could be marked on a calendar when 3 month cycle (in those early yrs it was 3 mos long) would begin was to block out thoughts and fears of them and not talk about them to anyone.  The damage they caused in my life was huge kinda like a tornado coming through a town except it was my life.  Anyway, keeping everything inside was what I did to survive mentally (kinda like PTSD where the person just doesn't want to talk about it) but I think it created a sense of isolation or being different from others or something I can't put my finger on it.  I just appreciate you making me feel a lot less crazy and less alone.  Like a concrete block lifted off my shoulders.  I will be rereading what you wrote many times.  Thank you!
Aussiebrian, thank you a million times for what you said "His problem is bigger than yours.  Those of us with CH at least have the hope of controlling the problem in our heads, but there's no cure for bigotry like his".  Amen.  Exactly.  It's true that people who get stuck in that kind of ignorant judgement towards others who have already grappling with enough pain have something seriously wrong upstairs in my opinion, a lack of empathy or decency for starters and probably a mean streak. You guys thank you both from the bottom of my heart for making my spirit feel a lot lighter.  And I hope both of you have painfree days and nights always.