I was wondering what works best for your cluster headaches???

Before the cluster headaches, when I just had regular migraines I took Maxalt and Fiorocet, but that doesn't seem to be helping much...I have to take 3 doses. Going to DR. next week....looking for something else.....

What do you do when u get an attach??
~~Newbie here!!!

JENNIFER ::)

O2 @ 25lpm....that's what I do.

<<<====  check out the O2 info on the side bar.

B

So it seems lots of people get help from O2? Any idea why that helps???

xrayjd wrote on Feb 4^th, 2009 at 6:36pm:

So it seems lots of people get help from O2? Any idea why that helps???

Nope Never asked, but it does work.

           Kinder gentler Potter

Imitrex Injections (see your doc). For me it is definately the best abortive. Give 02 a try too, works for many.

GL and wishing you PF days and nights.

xrayjd- Please read this link: START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Print it out and take it to your doctor.  Also, please take the time to read all you can on this board and the cluster headache specific board.  It's important to educate yourself.

Take care,
~mel

That was very helpful...thanks! Its just very frustrating trying to figure everything out. Used to be just regular migraines...but not totally different. Thought it was my sinues, but ENT dr. rec researching CH.

30 years of battling hgis royal a$$holiness the beast, and 02 is still my front line abort. I can shut it down completely in 6-8 minutes. It's a great feeling knowing I don't have to wait in fear like I used to. Works for over 80% of the men who try it, definitely worth trying.

Joe

Do they return later in the day at all? or not usually??

I'm one that they return about 20 minutes after I shut off the 02. I've tried staying on the 02 longer, still come back about 20 minutes later. What I've been doing my last few cycles is popping an oral cafergot when an attack starts, then firing up my 02. 02 beats it down, cafergot buys me up to 12 hours pain free time.

When I first posted that, several people on the board posted they had the same results as me by chugging one of the energy drinks before they started the 02. Same idea, 02 beats it down in less then 10 minutes, the enrgy drink keeps it at bay for several hours. I intend to try that next cycle, maybe dump the cafergot altogether.

Joe

Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.  I hit the O2 @ 25lpm and kill the initial hit.  If it comes back then I drink some coffee or an energy drink (if I'm not on Verapamil) and hit the O2 again.  If I still can't kill it - and this is rare - I turn to my 4mg stat dose Imitrex.

-Dennis-

Hi and Welcome

Melissa pointed you to a great article.  I pored over this information , read the boards here and was armed and ready when I visited a neurologist.  I even brought a copy of the article with me so I wouldn't forget what to discuss when meeting with him.  

Coffee, Red bull can kill some shadows for me and immitrex injections can abort a hit for me in a couple of minutes.  

You've already gotten some great advice- hang in there and good luck

Kelly

As a lot say O2, but if you don't have resources for that like me or a insurance that covers it, you must find alternatives.  First and foremost, rc seeds for prevents and since I have dosed on them every other month, I have been in remission.  When I did get CH (2-4 daily), I'd find a quiet, dark room to fight it out usually with meditation or some kind of exercise along with chugging a Monster energy drink and of course lots of positive thoughts as hard as it is.  At work, I was taking 50mg of Imitrex at the very first tingle I would feel and 80% of the time the attack was aborted.  The other 20% I spent in my car to fight it out.  I'm hoping the seeds are really working because i've been PF since last August and I was due for a cycle to start in Jan.  However, we all know the beast can change his course so right now, my fingers are crossed.  

I hope some of the responses help.

Best of luck!

Chad

FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH, I like rhodiola (a root something like ginseng). plenty of clean (not distilled) water and sleep, and no caffeine. I concentrate on benign images (no horror movies) and going toward God so I can sink into a a deep, peaceful sleep at night.
INCIDENTALLY, since I AM not near my usual cycle (late spring) there might be some wishful thinking there in my RX. WHATEVER, I have developed the saying, "A day without CH is a day in heaven." I think we should be extremely grateful for the days we go pain free...
PRAISE GOD! --Daniel R Peterson

02 is a friggin life saver.  I kid you not

"So it seems lots of people get help from O2? Any idea why that helps??? "

O2 constrict the blood vessels.

Charlotte

I use O2 when I can, but I can't always carry around an oxygen tank. So get some imitrex injections. They are very quick in aborting a hit.