Hey all, I can't express how much of a relief it was to find this site.  I woke up 4 days ago, around 4 in the morning, unable to open my right eye, and confused by the sensation that there was an axe sticking out of the top of my head.  Half awake, I thought it was extreme drowsiness and tried to go back to sleep.  It didn't go away.  For 14 hours, it decreased and increased and decreased and increased... but didn't go away.  I finally took myself to the ER, thinking I must be dying. 
That's when I was introduced to Cluster Headaches... a condition I had never heard of, and probably wouldn't have believed to be true even if I had been told about them.  I'm now 4 days in, and am struggling to welcome this new part of me.  I feel like I can't talk to anyone, because the pain is so unbelievable.  I've no insurance, no family doctor, but finally landed an appointment with a neurologist in 3 weeks.  I'm going insane.  I get hit hard about 4 times a day, and even when they subside, I feel like someone is following me around with a fistful of my hair... pulling as hard as they can.  I'm being attacked.  And I've no idea when it will stop.  I'm afraid I'll never feel normal again. 
Anyway... it helps to read about your experiences, and makes me feel not quite as alone as I've felt the last few days.  This is real... and others are going through it too... Thank you for that. 

HillaryLayne,

Welcome aboard CH.com...  You've come to the right place.

Odds are you are vitamin D3 deficient.  I know this sounds like an infomercial, but statistically...  you are vitamin D3 deficient and that deficiency is making your cluster headaches much worse...

Start the anti-inflammatory regimen with 10,000 IU/day vitamin D3, then see your PCP for the lab test. 

The simple starter dose includes the following supplements as shown by brands purchased from Costco for $35 or 20 cents a day for a 5 month supply: 

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGESTART PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

The dose is two each...

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGESTART PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Take care and please keep us posted.

V/R, Batch

HillaryLayne wrote on Apr 28^th, 2012 at 6:32pm:

finally landed an appointment with a neurologist in 3 weeks.  ...   I'm being attacked.

Something helpful for the present can be gulping down a power drink like Red Bull or Monster at the onset of an attack, one that contains caffeine and taurine.  I take a preventative, verapamil, so just have a double espresso, it works with no taurine, which doesn't mix with verap.  During an attack, icepacks may take a slight edge off.  Some can get help while sleeping with melatonin - in the vitamin aisle at any CVS, Rite Aid, or Walgreens.

Breathing pure oxygen at a rate better than 12Lpm is a best abortive measure for an attack.  A hightlighted tab on the left has more about that.  There are ways to have a set-up in a short time without insurance.

Welcome      :)

Welcome to the board, so glad you found us. Start the regimen Batch gave you immediately. It's pennies a day, good for you even if you don't have CH, and the number of people showing positive results from this is just too large to consider it coincidence. Then read this link:

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Breathing pure oxygen is the fastest, cheapest, most effective way for me to abort an attack, usually in about 6-8 minutes. No side effects, no worry about over use, the first time you abort an attack you'll see why we preach it so heavily.

The energy drinks Kevin suggested, Red Bull, Rock Star, any containing the combo of caffiene and taurine, chug it down as fast as you can at the onset of an attack. Many can abort or really reduce an attack using those.

Finally, since insurance is an issue, check out our sister board for "alternative" treatments outside of mainstream medicine. They're turning out some pretty impressive results over there:

Clusterbusters.com

Joe