I have just started my second cycle. My first cycle was over 3 years ago and I really thought they would never come back. I remember it being the worst time of my life and I just don't want to have that again. I am very miserable. They have hit everyday the past 6 days at least 3 times a day not including the lovely middle of the night wake up call. I hate living like this.

Have you been to a Neuro or a headache Doc?

        Potter

I went to the diamond head clinic in Chicago the last time I had them. I didnt even know what a ch was until they told me that was what was happening to me.

Well, Dear Heart--get moving! You are in a city full of good health care and you know where to go. Git!

I don't have insurance right now...been researching alternative medications. I read something about a saline nasal spray that they sell over the counter. I think thats my next step for right now. Yesterday I drank coffee all day and even though its for migraines, I popped about 10 excedrin migraine throughout the day. I didn't have one til 6am this morning. I felt really sick all day, but it was better than letting that evil demon have his way with the left side of my head

Hi Rosalie.  Don't tell anyone but I skip the doctors too.  Sounds like you got diagnosed last time and if you think it was accurate just follow all of the advice on this site minus the prescription meds. 

Look up how to get and use O2.  Liberal use of redbull/caffeine.  Caffeine works for me without the taurine but try both ways if you want.  Look at some of the nighttime kudzu stuff.  I bet you can manage the CH cycle.  Yes, some will slip through, but try hot or cold or excercise or meditation or sex.  All of these things have helped people on this site so read up and try it out. 

Since you are new to the clusters?? it may take a few cycles to figure stuff out.

Now on to the excedrin.  I too was an excedrin user until I read a lot of the postings here.  Seems like caffeine works but not aspirin or acetamenaphen.  Since most of the excedrin products contain all 3 of those I stopped excedrin and just got onto the coffee/colas/teas/redbull/caffeine pills.  All of these have worked if I took them right at the first hint of an attack.  And I don't get the other 2 things that don't work, just the caffeine.

Nighttime sufferers might do other stuff but mine are almost always 9 or 10am.  Check out clusterbusters.com for other alternatives.

Don't get mad, get even with your CH.  Read through this site and get your arsenal ready and see what works.  Don't worry about getting on the meds. :) (smiley dude for you)

--Shaggy

The coffee is helping...I will stick to the caffeine thats for sure. I am a little afraid to go to bed right now tho and that sucks. Im really afraid its going to kick my butt, like im due a big one or something since I managed to dodge it all day. haha I feel like a weirdo, like the ch monster knows if Im beating it somehow and is planning his attack the second I let my guard down. I'll check out that kudzo for nighttime, thank you for the tip!

Rosalie wrote on Apr 23^rd, 2010 at 12:06am:

I am a little afraid to go to bed right now tho and that sucks. Im really afraid its going to kick my butt, like im due a big one or something since I managed to dodge it all day. haha I feel like a weirdo, like the ch monster knows if Im beating it somehow and is planning his attack the second I let my guard down.

I feel this way as well alot while the CH is cycling...

good to hear, now i dont feel like such a weirdo

Welcome to the board Rosalie. Coffe is effective but energy drinks can be far superior. The Taurine they contain seems to add a turbo boost to the caffeine. I am currrently using the sugar free Red Bull and it works great. Chug one down at the first sign of an attack. Try and avoid the OTC route with excederin etc., they do almost nothing to relieve your pain and are really tough on your insides.

Joe

hi... Rosalie..
I'm on my second cycle of the beast too.. and i found that the energy drinks are very helpful.. the moment you feel it coming just have one drink and you'll see the difference!!

and i think you should find a doctor like head or ache specialist..

good luck and sorry to hear you have the beast too...  :-*

high dose of melatonin before bed helps some of us get through the night time attacks a bit easier and without insurance you might consider getting welders oxygen