I am a sufferer in good standing, since mid-80's if I remember correctly, and just got smacked again with the latest round of clusters.

Docs being how they are with pain meds, just left me out in the cold, I qoute "you can take the Imitrex, or not, the doctor won't prescribe anything else"

When the headaches hit (8 times in the past 2 weeks, including two trips to the emergency room), my right nostril closes up. 

Occurred to me that if the nostril wasn't closed, I might not get the headache, so I held it open when I felt it coming, and breathed deeply thru my nose.

No hard evidence yet, but I think I dodged two headaches this way.

Anybody else played around with airing out the sinuses as a cure?

Quote:

Anybody else played around with airing out the sinuses as a cure?

Nope.  What is no doubt happening though is that you are breathing deeply.  Pure oxygen using a non-rebreather mask and the regulator set to at least 15 lpm is what so many of us here have found to be heaven sent form of an abortive.  Read all about it at the link to the left of here.  It's in yellow. 

Your doctor is correct in not prescribing narcotic pain killers.  They do not work, and have a big tendancy to cause rebound headaches from hell.  Also, if you are episodic and say your cycle goes on for 3 or 4 months a year...you will have a much tougher problem to deal with.  Addiction!

Been there, done that, had a doc that would prescribe Stadol.

That worked very well, when my headaches were at least three days apart, but when they became daily, you are correct, addiction, tolerance for the med, and abuse became a problem.

As you say, rebounds are hell, and the addiction is worse.

Pete, I hope like hell that everyone reads what you said here.   :-* :-*

Also I answered your  PM about 02 , so check that.

Your nostril closing up (probably on the side of your cluster) is the result of the CH and not the other way round.

Check out O2. Makes a world of difference.

No question there is some type of relationship with the sinuses. I can use the 4Way Nasal Spray to help with shadows. And Drawing ice cold air through the affected side nostril....I do this by plugging the other side and either burying my face in a freezer or putting my face in front of an air conditioner vent...can help ratchet a hit down a couple of clicks.

All of the above will help with shadows...(those pesky not quite a hit but they almost feel like one attacks)...or are emergency methods when caught away from my oxygen. There have been people who have gone as far as sinus surgery in their attempts to stop the attacks. Have not seen any success with that route yet.

Joe