Hello everyone,

My fiance has been suffering from cluster headaches for over 10 years, she was only diagnosed on her last cycle(3 years ago) before that all attacks were called "Migraines". She started this most recent cycle about 6 weeks ago. It came slow with a lot of shadows at first, then a few attacks a day, then days where it was easier to count the few gaps of time when she wasn't in an attack, and now they seem to be slowing down a bit.

My question to you all is:

Is this common? A 3 year gap between cycles. Starting out slow(few per day), Peaking (All Day) and then slowing down(Few Per day)

Also these cycles are always a few/couple years apart but ALWAYS in the late winter/early spring. Is this also common?

Thanks for your help, you are all heroes, watching my fiance go thru an attack is heartbreaking. You all deserve recognition.

Artonio wrote on Mar 11^th, 2009 at 11:57pm:


Thanks for the suggestions and encouragement. We are from a small town in northern Canada so "Specialists" are few and far between. To add to the frustration the doctor she is seeing is stubborn and not open to her suggestions on O2.(She managed to get some from a doc in the ER during her worst attack this cycle. and it did wonders). She is only taking sedatives now(to allow to sleep thru shadows and short attacks and get a full night sleep) Right now we are just waiting for the end of the cycle.

Thanks again,
Kevin

Do her a favor. Get thee to the welders supply outfit nearest thee, and quickly! Renteth thee or purchaseth yea a tank full of O2, as well as a regulator and high-flow valve. On the Internet, checketh thee out a place to obtain the OptiMask and puchase one of same forthwith. Presenteth all to thine girlfriend fair, and rejoice in happiness forever.
Loseth soforth, forever and henceforth, the doctor who won't provide a prescription for oxygen. Then, tell him/her why!

Hello FixMyBee!

Everything that you posted about your fiance is completely the norm for CH.

Mine come on as shadows, develope into full throttle "Kick My Ass" hits 5-6 times a day hits with shadows in between, and then when I'm to the point of hopelessness the beast decides "WHOO HOO..I messed her up really good, now on to someone else!!"

Get her on here and have her talk to us also so she will be with people who are very well educated and compassionate....something most docs aren't!

What meds is she on right now?

I'm a seasonal boomer, which means I have my "yearly" cycles either in late fall going into winter, or winter going into spring.

I've had periods a couple of times where I hadn't had a cycle in two years....unfortunately for most of us they return 

It's a shitty card she was dealt...BUT, thankfully for episodic sufferers the cycle ends and it's back to living life again.

Glad to meet you. Stick around, read, and talk to us. This site has been a lifesaver for me!

Kimmie

if you can't buy a tank outright you can rent one. some doctors won't prescribe o2. the welders o2 bypasses pleading with the doctors. many of us use it and it's perfectly safe

Yep... what everyone else said.  I have gone 4 years in between cycles a couple of times.   THis year I am pretty sure I was starting a cycle in March ( the first week in March is when a cycle when come if it comes that year) but was able to so far, despite strong shadowing that first week,  prevent it using RC Seeds. 

Also my cycles are typically brutal in the beginning and wane over time. 

Maybe some one has already pointed you to the OUCH Website ( look at the buttons to your left.  You can find a link to Doctors who have experience with Clusters.  If not,  as someone mentioned there are a couple of members here from Canada - Barry Sword is one- that is from Canada.  Hopefully he'll chime in or you could PM him .

Good luck to you and your fiance

Kelly