A few weeks ago I was surprised with a cycle after being pain free for 6 years.  I was hoping I had outgrown them, but no such luck.  This has mercifully been a pretty mild cycle compared to some I've had though.  I would typically get an attack an hour or so after going to sleep, sometimes wake up once more during the night.  I would abort it with a 1/4-1/3 shot of long-expired imitrex and go back to sleep.  I got my script renewed to start stocking back up, and ironically, just yesterday saw a great Neuro who prescribed O2 therapy, since it looks like all of you have figured out how to make that work since my last round.  I'm still a few days away from getting the tank and mask though.

Anyway, last night the pattern turned evil and ugly.  I had one before sleep, which isn't too unusual, then another bastard of an attack about an hour later.  My usual small dose didn't hit this one, so I had to endure 30-40 minutes of the worst pain I've felt in years.  Since the invention of imitrex, I don't think I've had one develop so fully. 

I was hit 2 more times before my alarm went off, both responded to what had become more like a 1/2 shot this time, not taking chances.  As I write this it feels like I'm getting a 5th!!

Anyway, my question is, what the hell is going on!  What on earth would have caused me to go from my pattern of 1 or 2 a night to 4 or 5!!!!!
Now I'm scared shitless to go to sleep tonight, and I've got a big few days of travel ahead of me.

The only thing I can think that is different, is that I did go from my old expired batch of imitrex, to my new script of generic. I'm not out of the old stuff, just wanted to give my leg a break and use a nice new sharp needle for a change.

Let me know if anyone has any insight.
I promise to let you know how the oxygen does when I get it.

Deltoid injection is vastly more effective then the leg for getting into the bloodstream at therapeutic levels according to research - I don't have a link I just remember reading it when looking at imitrex information. Also, you want to be doing the injection right - subcutaneous, aka just a little below the skin, kinda like a bee sting, not into the muscle.

Google proper injection technique for subcutaneous and go for the side of your arm, deltoid, instead of your leg.

Also - treatment should be 3 pronged.

You have one of the prongs down, but you didn't mention the other 2.

1. Abort the headaches - Imitrex / O2

2. Temporary Interim Measures - Short term Corticosteroid taper, especially since you have to travel soon.

3. Preventative - Topamax or Verapamil or Lithium or some combination. These take a few weeks to get to the right dosage, hence the steriod listed above as a temporary measure (which has nasty long term dosage side effects.)

You need to do some reading and re-discuss with your Dr.

This condition is permanent - you are not cured. You will not ever be. Sorry. Keep in mind though: this cycle will end. At the same time at some point another will start so you need to be prepared.

Thanks for the advice.  I will reconsider my standard injection site.  My thighs will thank me.
I just got a prescription for a medrol dosepak late yesterday, dropped it off, but haven't picked it up and started it yet.  It took me this long to get in to see a neuro.  I have used this before, and honestly don't remember if it stopped the cycle or not.
The neuro said to call if the dosepak didn't work and he would call in verapamil. I have tried this also, and not sure if it worked or the cycle just ended on it's own.
Hope the O2 gets filled soon, they said it may take a few days.

Don't know where you are, but there are 24 hour pharmacies ;)

The medrol is the corticosteroid.

You still need a preventive one way or the other - the chances of the steroid aborting the cycle are pretty slim. The idea is to use the steriod as a stop-gap until you reach the right blood plasma level with a prevenative, which can take up to 4 weeks.

Loric gave you the textbook response to CH. I'll just add, be patient with the prevents. Most take 10 days to really kick in, which is why he mentions the steroid taper...they generally provide a good block temporarily while you wait for the prevent to build up in your system.

Also, a good prevent MAY block all hits. I use Lithium, if I'm good about avoiding all of my triggers while on cycle, it'll reduce my number of hits by about 70%. Oxygen, Red Bull and the occasional imitrex shot will generally beat down the rest.

Joe

Don't let the increase in number of hits scare you.  It is just the beast morphing on you again.  Sometimes they can go to 10 or more a day for some of us, but for the most part they will stay lower, esp once you get on a good prevent. 

If you are not happy with the steroid and Verap approach you might want to add Lithium to the mix as Joe suggested, or you might want to consider something like Kudzu as an alternative.  For me it works better, but YMMV.

Jerry

Thanks again for all the tips.  Up until last night this had been a relatively mild cycle.  Small hit of trex knocking it out fairly quickly.  I almost didn't go see a neuro, thought I could just ride it out.
Last night really scared me though.  Before imitrex I rode every one out, but I guess I had blocked out how horrible it was.  I haven't felt one for a long time.
Now I feel really stupid for not getting the steroid picked up before I had to leave town.  In a hotel in a strange town alone without my supporter.  I feel shadows and am terrified to go to sleep.  Very important meeting in the morning, have to get some rest.
It's nice knowing there's a resource like this available.  Thanks again.