I definitely haven't reD all the posts here, but does anyone else get chills with their ch? I do much like one gets with the flu.

Amanda

Yeah, I get chills. And pills are definitely ineffective during an attack. They take too long to metabolize. It's important to see a headache specialist who can start working with you on long term preventatives. Many have found a prednisone taper can abort a cycle. Also, verapamil in high doses (240-960mgs) as well as lithium and topamax have worked. Read, and read, and read some more. Make a list of everything someone else has tried that has worked and go for it with your doctor. You may need to educate your neuro, though, so be prepared. It's your head and your pain, so it's your fight! Put on the gloves, get armored with info, and go for it! Blessings! lance

Hi Amanda,
          Keep searching and learning as Whimsey said. Lots of good info and support here. Finding a treatment for this dreaded thing called CH requires time and a lot of patience. Most important thing is to find a good doctor, one who specializes in headaches and who knows how to treat your CH.
          Hang tough and be diligent!

Donna Mae   

Hi Amanda.  I'll throw this out there so you will know that there are different ways to approach this. 

The reason to get an accurate diagnosis is so you can know that it is not more serious (you probably already know this).  If you believe that you do indeed have the cluster headaches then you have many options on your treatments.

For me, after 20 years of misdiagnosed and episodic pain, my allergy doc said that he thought it sounded like clusters.  I had them long enough to know he was right when I looked further into it and never saw another doctor about it.  But I was certain that was it.

Sooooo, caffeine, oxygen and melatonin work wonders for most here.  I also use the Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or protocals.  Extremely effective for most.  Check them out.  I have skipped the pharmaceuticals and possible side effects and expensive doctors visits.  You can even get oxygen without a doctors visit if you want.

Like I said, I say this so you know there are options and it is up to you.  Clusters are lifelong but we can manage the pain down to nothing if we are committed.

Good luck and read a lot on these 2 sites.   Standard treatment experts live here and 'alternative' treatment experts live at the other place.  Both have a lot to offer and can get your extreme pain down to a nuisance only.

--Shaggy

Welcome to the board. I found this site about two years ago when I was suffering yet another cycle of CHs. I have found this site to be full of extremely helpful and knowledgable people willing to help and lend a sympathetic ear to your plight. Have you tried to get a prescription for oxygen for your primary physician. I just got mine two weeks ago as imitrex is very expensive and my insurance plan only allows me a very small amount(4 packages a month) and I sometimes have as many as 8or ten attacks a day so the oxygen has been a real life saver as it aborts my hits almost every time providing I can get to it as soon as I feel a CH coming on in the event that I dont or am having a real bad attack then i hit the imitrex. You should also look in the "imitrex tip" thread for a good way to make your imitrex go farther. I also recomend red bull energy drink as an abortive. As soon as I feel a CH coming on I get on my oxygen and crack open a red bull which I sip between breaths of O2. Stay strong and know that this site  is run by people like us  for people like us. Feel free to PM me if you need to talk I might not get right back to you but I will answer.

Joe