I had the headaches come back for the first time in 10 plus years.  I dealt with them with the usual oxygen.  I also used the new caffine taurine successfully.  The cycle was really bad though with one spree of headaches every two to three hours over a 42 hour period. 

After three weeks of hell, I couldn't take it anymore.  Prednisone had worked for me once in the past so I got an appointment with the Nurse Practicioner in the neurology department for the next morning. (It would have been a month to see the actual neurologist)  I had already obtained a script for Verapamil 240mg ER for the next cycle that started through my regular doctor, so I talked the N.P. into a pred taper of 60mg for 4 days, 40 for 4, 20 for 4 while starting the verap.  He must suck at math because he prescribed 10 too many 20 mg pills.  So, I did a 70 for 4, 50 for 4, 30 for 4, 10 for 4 taper while starting on the 240mg verap daily and it took effect immediately.  I had two very weak Kip 2-3 headaches within the first three days, but haven't had a cluster in three weeks now.  I've been off of the pred for about a week now.

PLEASE DON'T LET THIS POST JINX ME, but I figured I'd post it up for an FYI