After 7 years of predictable clusters they've gone haywire.  Last year was the start with a shift from clusters in the spring to the fall.  Had them again this fall ending in late October.  Now on December 31st, safely out of cycle, I had two glasses of wine and got hit with another cluster, since then everyday I get either shadows or serious 10's.  Last night was the worst, scared my daughter, wife was crying, and I was cursing my life.  I don't know what to do.

Yes, I have O2, Imitrex, topomax, and percocet. (Yes I know narcs are not recommended, but they help relax me.)  I'll make an appointment for my Neurologist tomorrow, as well as a mental health specialist.  I really am at my wits end.  Thanks for the reply.

You may not be so safely out of cycle yet. Alcohol, especialy red wine and beer, and the codiene in percocet are major triggers for CH.

Do you have the Imitrex injections? Some use the inhaler but the pills are just too slow... Marc asked about the O2 to verify you are using a NON REBREATHER mask at a flow of at least 10-15 lpm.

Just trying to help,    Don

Sorry for the lack of response, it's been a rough couple of days.  Hitting 2 to 3 attacks a day.  I run 15lpm O2, as soon as I can get to it.  Unfortunantly if I'm in a meeting or away from my desk at work that becomes a problem.  Funny that my nuerologist didn't tell me codeine could trigger a headache, I think I'll give them up and see if that helps.  So at the onset of a headache this is my routine.

First sign of pain, percocet, O2 if available, if after 15-20 minutes it's still going stong, imetrex inj.  This seems to work better for the nightime headaches then it does for those that hit during the day.

I have an appoitment at Walter Reed Medical Center in DC in a couple of weeks, we'll see if they can help a little better than my current nuerologist.

There are some on the board who jack the 02 up to 25 LPM. And you didn't mention any preventative meds. A med you take daily, while on cycle, to reduce the frequency and the intensity of your hits.

I've had great luck with lithium for many years. I use 1200 mg a day, blocks 70-80% of my hits, 02 and the occasional imitrex poke do the rest. Without the prevent I'm a 2 hit a day guy while in cycle. I'm in law enforcement so very limited on my treatment options. This dose of lithium is hardly noticeable.

Verapamil and Topomax are 2 other popular preventatives, lots of others to read about and  talk with your doc about.

Wishing you some relief soon.....

Joe

For the best aborts with O2 you must start at the very first twinge of the attack. Hyperventilating is also key to a quick abort, don't worry you won't pass out.

As Joe Guiseppi suggested, many of us use 25lpm regulators. You have to purchase one of these and you DON'T need a prescription for it. Sometimes you can find them on Ebay, but they are available from Lifegas under the 'oxygen info' link at the left of this screen.

I also use the O2pti mask from Lifegas that is designed just for CH and is a huge help. It makes the old NRB look like ancient technology. These things are to be sold through CH.com soon.

Keep up the good fight,
Don