Howdy. I'm Andrea, and I'm not from Texas, I live in California. I just like saying howdy. I'm 24, married, and I'm a freelance web designer. I also have a cat named Hiccup.

I started getting cluster headaches 4 years ago. I was diagnosed with cluster headaches by my primary physician in January of this year. I'm grateful to have been diagnosed so quickly. Although my symptoms are so textbook I was able to diagnose myself from the very beginning using WebMD and the quiz on this site. I've been lurking here for several years, researching and learning.

I'm on my fourth episode. The first two happened in January, exactly a year apart. I skipped a year and had another cycle this January, and started another cycle a couple days ago. It scares me that they're starting again so soon. I hope 4 months is not going to become a regular remission period for me.

Every ch that I don't or can't abort is a kip 9. They happen almost every night at 9pm. Sometimes they wake me up early in the morning too. So far, the cycles only last a week or two at a time.

I tried Imitrex once, I think it was 5mg. It made me feel horrifically ill immediately and I projectile vomited across my entire apartment trying to get to the toilet. It sucked, but it was also extremely impressive in sheer coverage and makes for a good story. Sadly, I can never eat bacon jerky again. 

I just recently tried maxalt MLT and it did nothing, although I enjoyed the bubble gum flavor! The only abortive I've used with success is 5 hour energy followed by deep breathing while pressing with my figertips all over my brow bone and temple on the afflicted side. I visualize tiny little red mites pouring out of an open wound on my face, crawling down my fingers and into my hand, where I crush them in my fist and throw the remains across the room. Thus my display name. Is it weird? Hell yes. But I think we all follow the same axiom: whatever works.

I haven't tried any preventative measures. I'm not sure where to start. I've been trying CranioSacral therapy, but not long enough or consistently enough to know if it works. I've tried cutting out gluten, sugar, dairy, fill-in-the-blank and I've tried cutting it out of my diet. I take omegas and vitamin D fairly regularly. I've tried drinking a ton of water but I can't keep that up as a preventative or I'll have to move into my bathroom.

Did I mention I have severe depression and anxiety? So I am often too emotionally crippled to take very good care of myself. Sometimes I'd rather suffer the physical pain than the anxiety of trying a million methods of relief and facing failure over and over again. Or god forbid, having to make a phone call to set up a doctor appointment. The horror.

The cluster headaches don't have a huge effect on my job, since I'm self-employed and my cycles only last a week or so, once a year, and then only at night or early morning. I will be super out of it and exhausted during a cycle, especially with the caffeine abortive ruining my chances of sleep, but it's usually not a problem to take it easy and lessen my workload for the duration. Basically, ch's do very little to effect my social and day-to-day life compared to depression and anxiety.

I keep a faithful diary of my health and mood and have never noticed a pattern to what causes my ch cycles. My only trigger during a cycle is alcohol. Maybe super strong cleaning chemicals, probably stress? Interestingly though, my headaches coincided exactly with adult-onset allergies. They're year round and I've done skin testing with everything showing up negative and tried every antihistamine on the market and nothing works. Has anyone else noted a link between cluster headaches and allergies? Or nonallergic rhinitis? I can't help but think they're linked, since all my health issues are "all in my head". That's actually another thing I struggle with, thinking this is all psychosomatic and I'm bringing it upon myself.

Anywho, it's nice to share my story out in the open, to an audience that understands what I'm going through. I'm going to try to add a pic of myself, but I'm new to this so bear with me.

Hi littlered, and welcome. You have come to the right place for help and advice.

Have you tried imitrex auto injections. They are far, far better than the pills and will abort a k9 i about 7-10 minutes.

Also have you tried oxygen. This is almost as good as the imitrex but obviously far safer. But, you must have a flow rate of 15 litres per minute minimum (more is better if you can get it) and you must have a non-rebreather mask.

For preventatives, ask your doctor for verapamil which seems to be everyones fave.

Then there is the vitamin D3 regime which you will find on the medications ad treatments board. Or, send a PM to Batch - the regime is his baby - and tell him your circumstances and he'll help you. I know you already take vitD but the doses and co-factors are vital for it to work.
Batch is a great guy and has helped so many of us.

Keep us posted how you are, and read all you can on this site. There's more knowledge here than a whole hospital full of doctors.