Hello everyone,
My name is Paul and I am on my 15th straight day of CH.  I feel like the world is crashing down on me.  I have had these headaches for 23 years and believe it or not, was not diagnosed correctly until 2 years ago.
Right now the only med that works for me is Imitrex shots...down to 2 shots left....and doctors appt isn't for another 3 days........shoot me now !!!!!
I just quickly browsed some topics and I am looking or some advice if my shots run out. Plzzzzz helllllllppppp meeeeeee.
Does the water water water method really help?  Is there anything else i can try? 
At this point, I just want to give up....feels like my family and my job especially can not understand this torture I am going through......ANY advice i receive will be WELCOME.

To extend your Imitrex use the link below.
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
On the left side of this screen, where you click on the 'message board' are some more links. Read the "oxygen info". Oxygen (O2) is one of the best abortives available, and is safer than meds.

Many find slamming energy drinks or coffee can stop individual CH attacks. Other meds we use as prventatives are, Verapamil, Lithium, Topamax, Kudzu, but everyone is different so finding what works for you takes time and effort.

Welcome to CH.com & Good Luck,
Don

Ripblade, welcome to a place you can always get support from others who do understand your pain.  There is a ton of info on this site, just research everywhere and anywhere..seek and you shall find.  Need to take a look at a few things in particular...start with page 1.  Understand what CH's are and be able to intelligently speak to doctors, family, employers, etc.  Read up on o2 and get yourself some ASAP!!!  Try the Imitrex tip recommended, should help you spread out your doses over the next couple days.  Water?...works for some, try it!  There is a page called "letter to employer" or something like that, print it and give to those who are close to you so they can better understand, it is very well written.  You will need to understand the differences of transitional, preventative and abortive meds...each category is unique and important to your proper therapy.  There are youtube videos that also may be helpful for you to understand you are not alone and to share with any family or friends that you are close to, so they understand you are not the only 1 in the world suffering like this.  No doubt about it, this is a living nightmare, we all have battled and we all are still here today, including YOU, hang in there and come here not only to read, learn and print valuable info to share with doctors, family, etc...but also come here to vent, seek advice, etc.  Welcome aboard, this place is called Clusterville and we are called Clusterheads and this CH website is open 24/7 

Hi Paul and welcome. Great to hear you had success with the Red Bull!!!!

Now, as it has been mentioned read up and find out what will be the most effective defence for you. My savior has been o2, like many here.

All the best, Iddy

Sending along a couple of articles to help give you some grounding. #2 is PDF file below this message.)
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Cluster headache.
From: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or (Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases)
[Easy to read; one of the better overview articles I've seen. Suggest printing the full length article--link, line above--if you are serious about keeping a good medical library on the subject.]

Leroux E, Ducros A.

ABSTRACT: Cluster headache (CH) is a primary headache disease characterized by recurrent short-lasting attacks (15 to 180 minutes) of excruciating unilateral periorbital pain accompanied by ipsilateral autonomic signs (lacrimation, nasal congestion, ptosis, miosis, lid edema, redness of the eye). It affects young adults, predominantly males. Prevalence is estimated at 0.5-1.0/1,000. CH has a circannual and circadian periodicity, attacks being clustered (hence the name) in bouts that can occur during specific months of the year. ALCOHOL IS THE ONLY DIETARY TRIGGER OF CH, STRONG ODORS (MAINLY SOLVENTS AND CIGARETTE SMOKE) AND NAPPING MAY ALSO TRIGGER CH ATTACKS. During bouts, attacks may happen at precise hours, especially during the night. During the attacks, patients tend to be restless. CH may be episodic or chronic, depending on the presence of remission periods. CH IS ASSOCIATED WITH TRIGEMINOVASCULAR ACTIVATION AND NEUROENDOCRINE AND VEGETATIVE DISTURBANCES, HOWEVER, THE PRECISE CAUSATIVE MECHANISMS REMAIN UNKNOWN. Involvement of the hypothalamus (a structure regulating endocrine function and sleep-wake rhythms) has been confirmed, explaining, at least in part, the cyclic aspects of CH. The disease is familial in about 10% of cases. Genetic factors play a role in CH susceptibility, and a causative role has been suggested for the hypocretin receptor gene. Diagnosis is clinical. Differential diagnoses include other primary headache diseases such as migraine, paroxysmal hemicrania and SUNCT syndrome. At present, there is no curative treatment. There are efficient treatments to shorten the painful attacks (acute treatments) and to reduce the number of daily attacks (prophylactic treatments). Acute treatment is based on subcutaneous administration of sumatriptan and high-flow oxygen. Verapamil, lithium, methysergide, prednisone, greater occipital nerve blocks and topiramate may be used for prophylaxis. In refractory cases, deep-brain stimulation of the hypothalamus and greater occipital nerve stimulators have been tried in experimental settings.THE DISEASE COURSE OVER A LIFETIME IS UNPREDICTABLE. Some patients have only one period of attacks, while in others the disease evolves from episodic to chronic form.

PMID: 18651939 [PubMed]