Hey Sam. Most of your questions have to do with the effect drugs and otc remedies might have on stopping a cycle, but you ended with this:

Quote:


I can't answer most of your questions but this one is easy: no one knows. We don't really know what a CH is, why it comes when it does, or how to prevent it absolutely. We only know some things work pretty well (O2, prednisone, verapamil, etc) and some don't work at all. Our main mission is to find what works for us and stick to it. Someone will chime in on the rest of what you asked. Take care, and God bless. lance

Hi Lance,  Good to see you.  When I say that I know for me some drugs OTC or script mainly this connection accrued for me when I took the 5HTTP to help elevate mood.  After 3 weeks I was pulled out of a remission of almost 4 yrs.  After stopping the 5HTTP my cluster's went away several weeks later.  My 2011 cycle was not like any I had ever had the prior 30 yrs.  Shorter and was able to abort most and only lasting about 4 weeks. No where near my normal cycles.  Which every cycle can be different but this was drastic for me.

Funny thing is if any one thing happen I would be able to pinpoint what is my trigger but it always seems to come when several changes take place.

It's extremely frustrating to go long remissions only to change one little thing (not knowing what it is) and your thrown back into a cycle and once this occurs there is little to do but let it run it's course.  It's like the perfect storm.  What was the one thing you change among other changes that was the culprit.

I knew for years that this wasn't just a vesicular migraine which so many Doc's will tell you.  They had no incentive to persuade this further years ago.

I have T2 diabetes, Thyroid and Cluster's all with a central component of a damage Hypothalamus.  Not one of these condition should have occurred on it's own.  My Thyroid is fine yet it doesn't work right.  My diabetes there is no rhyme or reason as to why.  Yes, I had gained weight  (due to steroid use) it was like someone glued my numbers because nothing changed it even with a 55 lb weight lost.  I don't have high fasting sugars my sugars go super high after eating and don't come down normally.  I have had Adrenal issues also which is what the steroid use was for.

Putting all my questions into a thought provoking post is difficult because my mind is moving faster then my fingers...LOL  there just has to be a better way to give back quality of life to many.  For me it's a walk in the park compared to many but still the fear of when and if will always haunt you.

Has anyone stopped a cycle using the Dose pack?  I have also upped my vitamin D3 from 5000 to 9000 and my Omega 3/fish oil from 1200 to 2400 thinking that the steroids may be giving me time to implement these changes.  I also added in Magnesium which I have laxed on.  I drink about a gallon to a gallon and a half of water a day but I've always done that.  So many of the therapies that have been posted I've done anyway.

Well thanks for reading my ramblings.  I'm glad this site is here to not only let us have a place to ramble but to help the newbies that fear they are all alone.

Hi Joe, Sorry did not see your post.  I agree trying to figure out why is like finding a needle in a haystack. It just hasn't prevented me from asking questions knowing that really there is no answers.

Lance,  Thanks for your prospective.  Trying to find an informed Neuro is not that easy.  Every time I think I find one that works it takes months to get in to see them when I cycle.  And because I don't use Preventives due to longer and longer remissions I'm not really able to build a repure with them.  Not an easy spot to be in.  Having these as long as I have and finding pretty much my own way I have a GP that will listen to what I need and then guide me with the other medical conditions. 

I have been doing fairly well.  No major hits and I'm have not needed to use any meds.  The weather has turned quite cold here within the last week so this may have something to do with it also but only time will tell.  5Http was used prior to the 2011 hit and I have not touched it since.  Won't be doing that again nor will I try anything  know to have an effect on Serotonin.

I come to this board because it's a great support system for me.  One because there doesn't need to be a political correctness just a truthful guidance.  I value that.

I've been doing good.  No real hits just a lot of pressure.  I've not had to take any meds as of yet for pain.  I can deal with this for now, where I go from here is yet to be seen.  I finally was able to find a place after calling 6 places including the one I used in 2011  and was turned down this year to get O2 funny thing is in 2011 no one wanted to deal with you if you had insurance for the O2, now no one wants to deal with you now that I don't.  Trying to find someone that will take self pay is frustrating in itself. I finally today have a place that will allow me to self pay for two M tanks and two E tanks when I need them.  I have two E tanks here on hand of my own. I have Imitrex on it's way so I should be fully prepared within the next 10 days if this should escalate.

Coddling is not needed but the support is and I've always have gotten this here.