Its back?!? This is the first time i have ever had a cycle in the fall/winter and the first time i had one for so long- 12 weeks. I thought it was over had 5 days of heaven then i took a power yoga class this morning in a heated room and BAM! I got hit super hard the 02 didnt even work.. So confused & frustrated... Have i ignited another cycle? Back on meds? I dont think i have the strength to do this again... :-[

Yeah, you can handle it.  ;) It's just what we do. I remember my first wake up attack, didn't come until my mnid 30's! I was pissed!!! Sleep had always been my safe haven from Beasty, he's a morphing mother f%$%er when he puts his mind to it.

3 years ago 02 started failing me and I went on the early version of the batch regimen. Goy my 02 working again. As that cycle ended I continued on the Batch regimen, modifying it every time he changed it. I've been pain free almost 3 years now. Please give it a look see. It's cheap, good for you even without CH, certainly worth a shot:

Follow this link  to the medications section of this board and read the post  START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Joe

Yes you can do it.

Do try the Batch method with vitamin D3. I'm someone else who is benefitting from it.

Also let us know what else you're using for preventives and abortives. We might be able to offer suggestions.

Have you tried using energy drinks with taurine / caffeine (like Red Bull or Monster)?

I was just getting off verapamil... Maybe i need to stay on it? I started taking 10,000 d3 last night but im a little unclear how much i should take(i weigh 120pnds) & with what else? Is vegetarian d3 ok? I have O2 but i can go through a cannister pretty quick and its hard to get refilled all the time... I am on a 6 month wait list to get in w dr. Goadsby in san francisco(haha)

Go to the meds section and read the post "123 pain free days and I think I know why." There is a lot more you need to be taking to keep everything else in your body on an even keel. It's not really complicated but you need to read the more recent postings to get the regimens maximum benefit.

Joe

I took Verapamil as a preventative a few years ago, but my remission period was so long that it wasn't worth the side effects for me.  Once I stopped taking the Verapamil, my cycle started back up, this was in the late Fall, early Winter months.  I had never had a cycle any time other than the Summer and now I feel they are less predictable. 

I can't say if it was the results of taking the Verapamil, but I will occasionally get a cycle around the same time as when I stopped the Verapamil.

Yes, you can and that's why your here so that we can support each other when we feel we have hit that wall.  For me preventives never worked.  In the beginning my cycle was every May-Sept everyday one a day.  For a 17 yr old girl this sucked big time not to mention keeping friends wasn't easy.  This had been my cycle for about 10 yrs. 

I finally found a Doctor that started me on real meds trying to find a preventive but nothing worked.  I entered the hospital for DHE45 intravenous treatments to break a cycle for the first time but you guessed it that didn't work so we started using DHE45 as a preventive.  That got me though a cycle which for the first time only lasted 6-8 weeks but at a different time.  This was the first time my cycles jumped around.  He later discharged me a year later because I got pregnant and he refused to treat me or even help my OB.  I canned his ass big time.  He told me not to ever get pregnant. 

When pregnant with my first I was hit with a cycle in my 8 month (Mar)), not fun because I knew nothing about O2 and I did the dance without meds while pregnant and even after.  So YES you see you can do it.  My second I was hit when I was 4 month pregnant (Nov) This time they wanted to abort the pregnancy but I refused.  Again without meds or O2.   I had to have a MRA to prove it wasn't something more serious.  They said OK I continued the pregnancy the cycles ended at about 5 1/2 months pregnant (1995) and I was good to go.  I didn't get another cycle until I believe 2001 this cycle hit me in July.  2007 was the first time I used O2 and it was a God sent.

What I wanted you to know is this.  My cycles came like clock work until intervention occurred. Once real meds had entered into the mix my cycles moved around with no rhyme or reason.  Getting hit in the Summer, Winter, Spring, Fall no time was safe for me.  Also what I noticed is if the beast gave me a rest (long remissions) I had to pay the price with cycles that were pure hell going from one a day to maybe several a day.  It was almost like the beast would not let you win.  He was going to get you one way or another. 

I'm now 50 My last 4 cycles have been Nov 1995 6 weeks,  July 2001 6-8 weeks, Feb 2007 6-8 weeks,  Jan, 2011 4 weeks, Still on the fence Jan 2013. (if I can remember correctly)

I don't take preventives and solely use abortives and O2 to get me through.

Yes, you can do this.  It's not what we choose to do or asked for but we are a strong bunch and here we all understand without you having to explain or justify just how bad it can get.

Ok,new guy here.  I don't know how to get this information out to everyone but I can start with you. I had CH over 10 years ago and they went away and have come back just a few weeks ago.  While I had the headaches last time I found by accident, a total killer for my CH.  Yes oxygen cuts down on the time ofthe headache, veraprmil and imitrex can also help.  I tried this when I thought I was going to end it.  My wife is a nurse and as a last ditch effort in the shower crying like a little baby she told me to snort lidocaine. To be honest I was at my wits end.  However when I snorted the lidocaine ( the side where my head hurts always, right side), it immediately went from a 10 of 10 to a 5 out of 10. I then placed a few more drops into the same nostril with my head all the way back and my pain was gone.  That was 10 years ago and now the Beast is back. I use oxygen 15 lpm NRB non-rebreather mask, verapamil , and Imatrex.  I only use the lidocaine if the Imatrex doesn't work. You just have to make sure that your nose is clear first. (no snot or flem) The lidocaine has worked EVERY TIME  except for once when my nose was running too bad and I didn't have a tissue (at work on my ambulance).  Lidocaine solution 1% is good enough for the job for me. They make a 4% lidocaine solution. I only use up to 2 mL at a time of the 1%, slowly putting drops in until my headache is tolerable(2 out of 10 or so). when I use the 4% I only use 0.5 ml at a time.

    It will burn.....you won't care when it's really bad. It has seriously saved my life as a abortive measure. As soon as you put the drops up your nose ( make sure your head is all the way tilted back )immediate relief. Make sure it is the same nostril as the side of your headaches. ( example right sided headache use right nostril)

     Seeing a neurologist and he knew about o2 , verapamil , imatrex. Hehad no knowledge about lidocaine. Don't do this if your nose is bleeding. Hope this is a help.

Rob in STL

Thanks for jumping in and sharing what worked for you Dog. I tried it in the early 80's with minimal success, it would ratchet an attack doen 2-3 clicks. Glad it works well for you.

Since you're already perusing the board, check out the medications board, the post "123 pain free days and I think I know why". A simple vitamin/anti inflammatory regimen...good for you even without CH. It's putting people into remission and stopping cycles. Cheap, good for you, worth a look see.

Here's hoping you never need the lidocaine again. Welcome to the board.

Joe

JMA,yes you can..no Im not Obama..LOL ok trying to make you laugh.  Try everything...don't ever give up people on here care.  I care..I know you all suffer but like tonight when IM alone I look for advice from all of you.  DOn't quit..keep us updated.  I'm Imatrax,verapamil,D3,B-12,red bulls,02,massage,acupunture,try everything

Is there is any compelling reason for not looking for a headache specialist other than Goadsby? Surely, there must be competent docs in your area.
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LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.

2.  Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.

3. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE; On-line screen to find a physician.

4. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE Look for "Physician Finder" search box. They will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.

5. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
        Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.

One major compelling reason, is no insurance.