Went to GNC and picked up these things called Sheets energy strips. They are strips you put on your tongue that are supposed to give you energy. They contain vitamin E, B6, B12, Biotin , B5 and Caffiene 100 mg. I took 2 when i started getting the wonderful warning sign that the devil was coming to visit and the devil never came. I am going to try it again and see what happens if the devil decides to come again anytime soon. I dont know maybe it was just a fluke but....
Maybe it is something that will Help? will let you guys know if it works again.

Go for it, Bonnie, and let us know the result. Every bit of info, for or against, is more ammo in our fight against this monster.

Yeah, let us know. It sounds a bit lie chugging an energy drink, so who knows? My docs just scoff at it but I know it helps. God bless. lance

No taurine, but who knows? They sound pretty convenient.

I'm watching this thread like a hawk!

I am waiting for another hit for another experiment. I went to the doc this morning. I told him about this and he asked if he could try one so i gave him one and he he put it on his tongue and made a face and excused him self and came back in with his coffee in hand. Told me they tasted like crap. (Which they do!!!!) and said he sees no medical reason why it would help but if it worked for me it wouldnt hurt me.
I am telling you it really helped!!!!  yes there is no taurine but within 5 to 10 minutes the pain was gone!!!!  I wish someone else would give it a try and let me know if they help them out too. You can get them at GNC. 5.00 a box.

wimsey1 wrote on Apr 12^th, 2012 at 7:52am:

Yeah, let us know. It sounds a bit lie chugging an energy drink, so who knows? My docs just scoff at it but I know it helps. God bless. lance

My neuro was surprised too when she saw the words Red Bull in my CH diary, until I mentioned caffeine being a vaso-constrictor and taurine being a calcium channel antagonist. Then it seemed to make sense to her.

I've read of people using strong coffee rather than energy drinks.  I guess the caffeine alone might do the trick.  I always thought that the purpose of the taurine was to speed the effect of the caffeine.  Anyway, it makes sense to me that the strips would work. 

Back when clusters were 'histamine headaches' when my grandpa was a spring chicken.  He used to make kettle coffee.  Where he'd have my nonny brew a pot of coffee in the can then drink the whole pot down, grounds and all.  Sometimes this would help in in the begining of a headache.

Tara Ann wrote on Apr 12^th, 2012 at 4:20pm:

Back when clusters were 'histamine headaches' when my grandpa was a spring chicken.  He used to make kettle coffee.  Where he'd have my nonny brew a pot of coffee in the can then drink the whole pot down, grounds and all.  Sometimes this would help in in the begining of a headache.

That sure brought a smile :)...my own Nannie always made coffee like that...boiled in a pan. There isn't a member of my family that doesn't treasure the memory of straining grounds with teeth...and coffee ya can't chew is considered dishwater!

Back a few years...my need for a caffeine abortive was satisfied by 3 heaping teaspoons of ground coffee in a mug...boiled in the micro...allowed to settle...and boiled again. I actually enjoyed it...and it frequently worked.

If caffeine alone works for you...GREAT...I have found that the "energy drinks" with TAURINE...work better. Red Bull started it all...too expensive for me...you can get same ingredients for MUCH less with other brands.

Best,

Jon

I couldn't choke down my Nonny's version of the kettle coffee.  Boy oh boy did I try!   ;D Jon

Seems the strips would be a lot like putting the nitro pills under your tongue for heart issues, a faster way to get that caffiene into your system. Do keep us updated, could prove a valuable weapon to keep on hand.

Joe

when comparing the ingredients between the energy strips and the monster energy drink i have i noticed that they both seem to have alot B vitamins and caffiene. I wonder if the B vitamins have anything to do with anything. I know i have read that Alot of people with clusterheadaches are vitamin D deficient, which i am.  I wonder if we could be vitamin B deficient too. I dont know just putting that suggestion out there. Will keep you guys posted on how the energy strips work. So far the devil has stayed away. Thank god.

Here is hoping you never get to find out if it works or not!

Jerry

Thanks Jerry!!!!

I was in Walgreens yesterday and picked up a pack of Sheets. Last night at 1am I got a Kip 4 wake up call, got up to get the ice pack and decided to try a Sheets strip and hold off the ice for a few minutes. Within 4 minutes the pain dropped to a Kip 2 and 4 minutes later it was completely gone.
I don't know if it was the Sheets or not. I've been on a low dose Verapamil for 3 weeks now. I'll need to try it again many times before I'm convinced one way or another.
Maybe we need more people to try it?

watching this thread close! I have seen the sheets strips at walmart... I really don't like redbull so that would be a good alternative!

From the description it sounds like they are easy to carry around, so easily fitting inside a wallet, purse, etc., which means they are always close to hand.

Not seen them here in NZ, yet...

Bob I am so glad you tried it!!!!! Yes I hope some more of us do try it to see if perhaps it will be something that can help all of us!!! Please keep us informed of how it goes if you use them again!!!! Thank god the devil has decided to leave me alone for awhile but I will keep you guys informed of my progress with these energy strips.
Please if anyone tries them let us know how it works!!!

Bonnie lee wrote on Apr 14^th, 2012 at 7:11pm:

when comparing the ingredients between the energy strips and the monster energy drink i have i noticed that they both seem to have alot B vitamins and caffiene. I wonder if the B vitamins have anything to do with anything. I know i have read that Alot of people with clusterheadaches are vitamin D deficient, which i am.  I wonder if we could be vitamin B deficient too. I dont know just putting that suggestion out there. Will keep you guys posted on how the energy strips work. So far the devil has stayed away. Thank god.

I'm D deficient too.... interesting

I'm going to pick some up, next time I'm out and about.

Tara please let us know if you try it and if it works for you. I would love it if this is something that could help us all!!!! I wouldnt have even known about it but we were in the GNc and my husband picked them up and was joking around and said "I need these for extra energry for my PT test tommorrow!!!" (He is in the military).  I picked them up and looked at them and thought about the energy drinks that everyone was talking about and wondered if it was basically the same thing just in another form.
so i bought it just for kicks i guess. And when i tried it ... (because sometimes when you know it is coming you will try anything). I was really suprised at the results!!!!

The way we've accidentally stumbled onto some of our greatest treatments just astounds me Bonnie...still watching this one, with even more interest as more poeple try it. Fingers crossed! ;)

Joe

Wow...i just saw this @ the cvs the other day...after reading this thread,i will buy some later on and give it a try (just for the day hits)...this would be great if they actually do the trick...i will report back after a few tries

Thanks Lenny! I hope they work for you!!!! Please let us know!!!! 

0 for 2  :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(...both times nothing...i must admit the flavor is good and it leaves a nice after taste in the mouth (berry-blast) now if they can only make a toothpaste in this flavor  ;D ;D ;D...i will give it one more try...for the next attack,i will double up and see if that might do anything.....Lenny

Darn!!!!!!! Was so Hoping it would help!!!!! So sorry!!!! As with everything maybe it will help some but not others. Like I said might have been a fluke with me too. Havent had the devil come see me again to try again. which is a good thing. Thanks for trying.

Dang it, I just went around to CVS, Express Walmart, and Dollar General here in my little town.  No go.  CVS just sold out of the little 'sampler they in and they don't know if they'll get more'. 
I have to go a couple towns over probably this afternoon.  Hopefully I'll find somethere.  It's a bigger town.  A fullsized Walmart, Riteaid, Waglreens, CVS, etc...

I know they have them at GNC. I really dont go shopping much off the army base. I didnt even know they sold them at walmart and Cvs. good luck in your hunt for them.

I got a chance to try the Sheets again. I did something really stupid! I tried to take a nap. I know, I know........don't do that.
15 minutes after falling asleep I was awakened with a Kip 3 and climbing. In 2 minutes it reached a Kip 5. I waited 5 minutes to see if it was going to go away and it didn't so I took a Sheets. After 4 minutes, nothing and took another. After 6 more minutes the pain faded away.
I don't know if the Sheets helped or not. Need more attempts.

I got my Sheets at Walgreen's.

Thanks for the updates bob! Keep letting us know how it goes!!!!

Well this wont be popular...here goes,i tried it for the third time @ 11:20 a.m. pst...this time i took 2 and to be honest "NOTHING" in regards of aborting...i waited appr. 10 minutes or so and could not deal with the pain (@ work) so i trexed it...right now it's 9:00 p.m. here and i am wired like there's no tomorrow,i should be tired,since i have been up since 4 this morning with appr 1.5 hours of sleep...god only knows when i'll be able to fall asleep and i have to be up @ 4 again......this will definitely give you the boost (if that's what you need)...hopefully some of you will get better results...please don't let my experience keep any of you from trying this (as i have had not much success with red bull as well) and there are many that do get relief with that...great flavor thou.....Lenny

Got a wake up call. Kip at 4 to 5. Clock said 12:07am.
12:09 Kip at 5-6. Sucked on a Sheets.
12:13 Kip at solid 6. Took another Sheets.
12:16 Kip started dropping.
12:17 Game over. Pain gone. Enjoying the after glow.

Very similar results to attack yesterday but not yet convinced it was the Sheets. I say I'm not convinced because I started on Prednisone and Verapamil 3 weeks ago. I was getting 3 to 5 nightly and 1 or 2 daytime attacks. Now I'm down to 1 or 2 nightly and the pain and duration are way down.

I didn't get the boost Lenny mentioned.

You probably did it wrong Lenny!

Haven't tried the sheets yet... But when I couldn't find them yesterday I picked up 2 bottles of 'stacker 2, 6 hour power energy shots'  they are tiny bottles that contain caffeine, taurine, b vitamins.

I was shadowing heavy yesterday and had to take my 11 and 12 yr old's to a science day in the school gym yesteday.  So for shits and grins downed one.  Shadows gone.  ...

I'll let you know again next time...  just thought it was worth mentioning.

Bob P wrote on Apr 20^th, 2012 at 6:39am:

You probably did it wrong Lenny!

;D ;D ;D
Did you place it on your tongue in a horizontal or vertical position? Horizontal works best, ya know, because it aligns everything up with the direction of your bathtub, which really plays a major role in how your neurosynapses react to....oh, never mind.

Seriously (in case all ya'll didn't know the above wasn't serious) I know we're hoping for success here, and the only way we will know is when brave souls try it, and risk more pain for the sake of anecdotal research. Still worth pursuing I think and I'll be looking for them, too. Blessings. lance

;D :D ;D

I still keep thinking there is something with the B vitamins along with the caffeine.

Thanks everybody for trying the energy sheets and letting us know about their progress. Good or bad we want to know. And remember what works for some might not work for others. But if this just helps one person it will be worth it in my book!

Bob P wrote on Apr 20^th, 2012 at 6:39am:

You probably did it wrong Lenny!

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D...i have no doubt that you are spot on,once again...so for the next one...i think I'll try the suppository route and see if i get better results that way  :D :D :D :D :D.....Lenny

Well I picked up some up at Wallyworld earlier today while my loverlies where at school.  Bought a pack of Cinnamon and Berry (just FYI) .  Had the opportunity to try them not too long ago (bout half hour ago or so... but with kids and all... who knows how long this post has taken me) I popped it under my tongue  I have dentures (yep I do!) ... by the by didn't shove fthem up my ass (not as nicely put as Lenny  :-X )

It seems to have helped.  Before I get ahead of myself the CH started out as a K4 ... and was down to shadows so I'm thinking success!

Ok regardless of multible interruptions (from my daughter that is DYING for the PC)...... seems to have worked.  We shall see next time round, fingers crossed.

well the devil decided to visit me today too. Of course while i was at the mall. took one and within 5 minutes there was no more pain but within 2 hours pain was back again. It was if the devil was saying "Ha HA!!! You might have gotten me for a little bit but i am still here!!!" Took another one. Gone again for another 3 hours. Back again. Seems to be a game between me and the devil at this point. will let you know how the rest of the night goes.

Yeah I don't know.  He came right back, but my ch's have been weird lately... this whole up and down thing to them.  And I tried it again earlier today.  No go.  Maybe wishfull thinking or coincidence... ?  I'm going to try again though IF he visits again (yeah right lol)

Seems to be that it works for awhile and then comes back and then works for awhile and then comes back have to take the sheets every 2 to 3 hours to make it go away again. at least that is what happened to me last night. weird.

I tried the Sheets again this morning. It seems like it may have worked to get relief. Mild pain woke me about 5am. The pain was like a bad shadow rather than a real attack. I waited about 10 minutes then tried the Sheets and within 3 minutes the pain was hardly noticeable.
The Sheets might be good for some of us but more people need to try them before I am convinced.
Tara Ann mentioned stacker2 energy shots. Since it has taurine and caffeine it may worth a try. I'll get some when I go into town tomorrow.

First try, took a strip and the pain didn't change, second didn't help.

Next time took a strip, pain gone in about ten minutes, back again 45 minutes later and worse than before, second strip no help.

I also do not like the taste of the cinnamon strips...

One of the guys over here @ work gets migraines and yesterday in the afternoon was complaining how painful it was (to be honest,i wanted to smack him and tell him to act like a man)  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D...instead,i handed him the box and told him to try one...he came to me 10-minutes later with a big smile on his face thanking me and asked me where i got this...it made me feel good to see that it helped him...being the nice guy that i am  :D :D :D :D :D,i told him he could have the rest

WoW! That is great!!!! Glad to hear that its helping some of us!!!!

I've tried the Sheets a couple of time since my last post. For a Kip 5 or higher the Sheets had not helped much or not at all. But, they seem to work to kill shadows. Yesterday I was shadowing for about an hour before taking a Sheets. The shadow was gone in about 3 minutes. This morning I had the same results.

Yep I'm finding the Stacker2 energy shots more effective.  But it is hard on the stomach.

I couldn't find the Stackers so I started reading labels on the other energy drinks. I bought a six pack of '5-hour Energy' extra strength 1.93 oz. bottles. The label says the caffeine is equal to a 12oz. cup of coffee and also has taurine. The label says to use a half bottle at a time and that's what I've done. I've tried it 3 times over 2 days and it seems to help reduce the pain from a Kip 6-7 to 2-3 in about 4 to 6 minutes. It seems to have promise so far so I'll continue to experiment for a while.

Thanks for all your input Bob. I am going to try it too. Seem to be getting alot of shadows lately and the energy strips help the shadows to a certain point. they help for a few hours and then i have to take them again. They energy strips seem to really be helping my migraine friends which is wonderful. Just wish they would work a little better for us. I guess it has been alot of wishful thinking.

If you have an Aldi store near you, try their brand of the 5 hour energy shot called Red Thunder.  They help me a lot and only cost a buck a piece.   They don't taste very good but none of the energy drinks taste good to me.

It's been 11 days since my last post on this subject and I've tried the 5 Hour Energy shots ( a half bottle, about 1 oz.) a dozen times. Most of the shots have helped reduce the Kip number from 6 to 3. They also are good to get rid of a shadow, most of the time. I've tried the Red Bull type drinks but can't stand the taste unless it's real cold and gulping down a cold drink isn't something I like. The 1 oz. energy shots are quicker and easier but still taste like skunk poop. I recommend others try this stuff. It may help and it may not but I think it is worth the try.
This thread started about Sheets Energy strips...I've tried them and found they are only, sometimes, good for low level shadows.

yes i have found that they are only working for the shadows too. well at least we gave it a try and i thank everyone that did for doing so.  :)

i have used caffiene alone for a long time before i got diagnosed.  when i went to SFAS, i knew i couldnt bring my energy drinks or coffee with me, so i made a past out of guarana pills and caffiene pills.  i got a tube of baby toothpaste, emptied it, and filled it with the paste i made from the pills.  whenever i would go to sleep, i would act like i was brushing my teeth with my "no-spit baby toothpaste" and then try to quickly go to sleep before it started to kick in.  since i was only getting a couple hours of sleep a night, i was usually tired enough to still fall asleep. 

after i got diagnosed, right before i went to iraq, i remembered the crushed pill paste thing working a lot faster than just taking a tablet as they are.  i stocked up on taurine pills, caffiene pills, and guarana pills.  before each mission, i would dissolve them in a small bottle and have that on my kit, just in case.  it usually did the trick.

what point am i getting at? 
i just found pills at walmart called "stress tabs".  they have about the same ingredients you would find in an energy drink, and you get 75 pills for about 6 dollars.  im going to try dissolving a couple into some Kool Aid and see if i can make my own energy drink. 

for the cost, it might just be worth it.  it would be far cheaper than Sheets, shots, or drinks.

Was on the golf course on saturday in 94* heat ( I learned that is not a good thing while I am in cycle) and started with the pain. I had a Maxalt with me & took that but things started to go downhill. My husband got me to the car & I popped 2 energy strips that I had in my purse (OMG, do they taste bad) & blasted the AC. I was painfree in 10 minutes. Don't know what did it but I will keep those energy strips in my purse just in case.

Does anyone know where I can get these in the UK? I'm probably in an ideal position to try 'em without any external influences.
Won't get any meds until I see the doc on Monday and ran out of O2 yesterday morning (horrible, horrible night). The delivery van just rang me up to say they've broken down. They'll try to get to me today but aren't promising anything.
I've been out and about this morning looking for these (and melatonin which I think is prescription only here) with no joy. Not in Boots, Superdrug, Holland & Barrett or Sainsbury's anyway.
Cheers
Steve

After a 6 month resbit - I've found myself in a cycle that usually hits me in November - 2 -3 clusters a day - just survived 6 in the last 24 hours. I prefer the taste of coffee, so If i'm home I;ll make a capacinno after I take a MAXALT or SUMATRIPTAN and go on the oxygen - usually it's over in 15 to 20 minutes....problem is I have an awefull time falling back to sleep after words. I'll try the Walmart stress tabs today and post back the results - if it works it's going to save me hundreds - literally :) This cycle seems to be affected by the heat and me over doing it also, so the water is flowing down my throat all day long. So great to have all of you to share with - together we may find our miracle potion. [smiley=clap2.gif]

After all this time I still found Stackers 2 Energy Shots to be "it" for me.  It really did work as an abort some of the time.  I don't believe it was a fluke.  It worked very well for shadows.  And sometimes if I caught a CH in the very beginning.  After all these years of not having a working abort (other than darn ICE and cold showers) This was great.  I know everyone is different, so not everyone will have the same results. 

I think everyone needs to be a little careful before jumping on the energy drink/sheet/shot bandwagon. There are a lot of chemicals & ingredients in those things, and they should be taken with extreme caution!

whooligun wrote on Jun 25^th, 2012 at 11:48am:

I think everyone needs to be a little careful before jumping on the energy drink/sheet/shot bandwagon. There are a lot of chemicals & ingredients in those things, and they should be taken with extreme caution!

It's not a bandwagon.  It's just putting it out there what has or hasn't worked.  That's part of what this message board is all about.

*edited to add... The medications we take are chemicals.

Quote:

I think everyone needs to be a little careful before jumping on the energy drink/sheet/shot bandwagon. There are a lot of chemicals & ingredients in those things, and they should be taken with extreme caution!

With all due respect, poppycock! A hundred energy drinks carry less risk than one shot of imitrex.

Wanna let you know that Sheets are today on sale on shnoop.com (US 1 day only) - 120 strips for $10 when you use this promo code: sheetsenergy1
Seeing as some people had some success with this stuff, I bought a box and will try it when I'm in a cycle again (hopefully never).

has anyone tried the mio energy water enhancers?  its a concentrated energy drink liquid that you add to water to make an energy drink of your desired strength.
here its ingredients:  Water, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Caffeine, Contains less than 2% of taurine, Guarana Extract, Ginseng Extract (Panax), Niacinamide, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Natural Flavor, Sucralose and Acesulfame Potassium ( Sweeteners), Sodium Citrate, Potassium Citrate, Blue 1, Yellow 5, and Potassium Sorbate (Preservative).

my lithium and verapamil combo is working better than anything i have ever tried, so im not in a position to test it.

i may try it though.  if i miss a days dose of my meds, i get hit(happend twice in the last couple months), so it may be worth it to keep on hand.  its already in liquid form, and costs about the same as two of the cheaper energy shots, but it makes 18 8oz servings.