Well, I'm both sad and glad you made it here, Kat.  Sad because CH are certainly no picnic, but glad that you found the great source of info that this site offers.  Your doctor's plan sounds spot-on in terms of approach.  (On the upper left side of this site, you should see a section called "medical info"--check it out.) And I would add that you have several other abortive options than just a "shot in the leg", although that's certainly an effective one for most CHers (myself included).  Please check out the oxygen link on the left side of this site.

Others will likely be along soon with links and documents to read, but good luck and keep us posted.  And read, read, read.   

You doc is mainline, on target, in outlining the treatment approach. Now, it may take some time to work out the combination of meds/dosing which works for you--so be patient.

Learning is a major line of coping. In addition to reading here daily start reading:

1. OUCH site, buttons, left side of this page.
2.
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]

3. Print out the PDF file, below, for lising and evaluation of the major meds used for Cluster.

4.
A couple of sites which are worth your attention: medical literature, films, plus the expected information
about CH.

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
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Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or Search under "cluster headache"

Finally, please avoid the temptation to try other treatments which you will find here. Your doc needs to try his approach and see the results. Introducing other treatments prevents him from knowing which of the meds, etc. is, in fact, working best for you. Being direct & honest with him about his approach is your best  contribution at this stage.

Hi Kat, welcome to the board. With the exception of being suprised a girl has them...you got lucky and caught a doc who is spot on for treating CH. Discuss this option with him, it's cheaper then the imitrex shots, just as fast, and no side effects. My aborts run 6-8 minutes, it's all but eliminated my use of trex:

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

Joe

Hi Kat! My doctor gave me a very similar reaction. I was only 13 when I was diagnosed. And since this is more common in older men you could tell he pittied me.