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I get those effects in my sinus after a DMT hit. It's very weird, the sinus is moving or something. Sometimes it even kinda hurts a little.

Hello friends, I wanted to see if I could gather some information about a weird side effect. This is hard to describe so bear with me haha. When using Vitamin L, sometimes I get a weird clicking/popping/pop rocks cracking feeling/sound in my head. I wouldn’t say its directly in my ear or eye, feels more in my brain. There’s no pain. Its usually when a bust is working and towards the end of the trip. I always take it as a good sign. After 10 strong busts (and a few more that weren’t the right dose before that), I am 5 weeks CH free. My last bust was 8 days ago. My shadows have been still present but slowly getting shorter/less noticeable/less frequent. The last 3 nights I have felt the popping/clicking which has never happened outside of the busting for me. I think I’ve maybe felt it during the end of a headache before but its hard to remember now. I’ve tried searching but mostly are seeing people talking about it in their jaw and during a headache. Just wondering if anyone knows anything. Worried this means my cycle is kicking back up and I should keep busting. After 10 plus busts I am very much looking forward to a break, but getting headaches again wouldn’t be worth it.

Boost Oxygen was a life-saver for me when I was traveling. Getting oxygen from my normal prescription supplier, Apria Healthcare, is sometimes very difficult. I'm was extremely thankful to find Boost Oxygen at a CVS when I needed it in a pinch. Yes, it is not economical and, yes, it is not as pure. But it still worked for me in 10 min by essentially hyperventilating a whole can.

I've suffered from CHs for 25 years. They used to occur every year or so and last 8 weeks. Like many CH sufferers, I'd rather "check out" than face a full-blown cluster without oxygen. Thankfully, high-rate oxygen always works for me in 10 minutes. I've been able to skip a few years by doing the following: at the first indication of a shadow, completely cease both alcohol & exercise, and start taking 100 mg of caffeine every few hours. My neurologist told me that there is not only one pathology for CHs. I guess there are different types. For whatever type I suffer, during a cluster period, vasodilation sparks a CH and vasoconstriction can prevent/abort a CH.

Yes, caffeine is a great vasoconstrictor. My clusters also last about 8 weeks. (Almost every year or so for 25 years.) But I don't know what a mild CH feels like -- I'd rather "check out" than face a full-blown cluster without oxygen. I've been able to skip a couple years by doing the following: at the first indication of a shadow, completely cease both alcohol & exercise, and start taking 100 mg of caffeine every four hours.

Hi vanguard Caffeine has been discussed on here quite a bit with mostly positive references. It is know to help quicken the abort time when using O2 (quick shot prior to jumping on the tank) as well as helping with all sorts of things us cluster heads suffer with so my guess is that no, it was not a placebo. It's hard for me to be certain if something definitively caused an abort or if the CH attack just happened to end at the same time but I do remember grasping for straws one hellish attack and having it end with a cup of coffee..

Hello, I’m a new member of Clusterbusters, though I’ve been following this website for a long time. I got my new cluster again, which usually lasts for approximately 2 months (1 of which has already passed). My CHs are surprisingly endurable (a pain level of 7/10 and a duration of 30-45 minutes). When I got my attack today, I immediately remembered reading something on Clusterbusters about caffeine being an abortive. So I drank a cup of coffee. It didn’t abort my attack, but greatly reduced the level of pain. Is this a known occurrence, or just a placebo?

I'm just super grateful that the condition is tamed with less cycles and supportive tools for when in cycle. I consider it a huge win. DMT vape pens are magical abort tools for our condition.

Follow your instincts & wisdom & knowledge of your own body, Jimmy. Adaptation for survival. On Verapimil you wrote on November 21st: "...it makes me feel very "off" and like I'm going to have a heart attack or seizure. And I feel very nervous exercising or exerting myself while (I) take it. " Being active & outdoors on average 2+ hours/day is the game changer that shifted my "new normal" for my Chronic CH. We are all unique physiologically & changing too. Exercise sounded insane to me 16 years ago when I had Episodic CH. When you are able to go 5 days without meds that are blockers (& cause rebounds) it may be possible to try busting again with better results. Have your O2 ready & cold caffeine if a CH hits. Ginger soft gels & CBD/THC help me with nausea. Still busting every 7 days since starting out with every 5 in September after getting hit at the CB Conference & getting rescue O2 & compassionate support & encouragement from our CB family. Grateful. Best wishes.

Is it an airplane ride that starts setting off the attacks, or just travel in general? Are your headache issues generally well controlled, or satisfactorily controlled, when you are not traveling? Do you mind saying what meds you are using (in part, I'm curious about what works for both CH and HC, or whether you have to somehow treat each one separately)? Vitamin D regimen comes to mind as something that might help. D3 regimen - ClusterBuster Files - ClusterBusters

Hello, My name is Liz and I am looking to find my tribe within a tribe. I am struggling with both my bipolar and cluster symptoms that limit my ability to travel. I also have hemicrania continua. Anyway, when I travel, my headaches are off the charts crazy and I can never enjoy a vacation. In addition, I tend to go manic immediately as soon as I step off the plane and often have suicidal ideation. I do not know how to manage these symptoms. Every time I travel, I wish the next time will be different. I plan. I try to change my sleep pattern to adjust, etc… I do not know what to do.. Any advice would be appreciated. My kids live in a different state and it’s easier (time wise) for me to visit them so they don’t have to miss work. They are young and don’t get lengthy vacations from work. Suggestions? Advice? Anything

Not sure what a "Normal" life is anymore. My new normal is to deal with things one day at a time and adjust. I know I am going to get beat down with a massive cluster at any time of any day so I am always ready to fight back with whatever I can. I keep oxygen in the car at all times, I have it in my office at work keep a triptan injection near by as much as I can and a 5hr energy drink in my pocket. I can no longer drink alcohol so my new norm in a social aspect is water and coffee. I am not shy or hiding my clusters so when someone who does not know what I deal with and comments about not drinking or avoiding some sort of smell I tell them how it is. I can no longer burn a candle, my wife can no longer ware perfumes and depending on how my clusters are on any given day I need to avoid other scented things like cooking dinner. This is my normal life, not great but it is what I have so I embrace it and know things could always be worse. The new normal and I still love it.

Happy Holidays friends, I've been having CH since age 37, I'm now 52. They happen annually lasting for about 2-6 weeks. I've tried many many things (Vitamin D, oxygen, Verapamil, MM, acupuncture, Chinese herbs, Maxalt, etc.). What works best for me is: * Oxygen to stop an attack but not KILL an attack. * Maxalt: is my "go to" when I need to KILL an attack and extinguish for good. In terms of dealing with this affliction and having it under control, I'd give myself a 2 out 10 rating. I feel I could be doing a much better job preventing cluster cycles, reducing the pain and frequency of attacks when I'm in a cycle, and curing myself completely. I've read some stories about how some people have completely cured themselves of CH and they no longer have them at all. That is incredible and what I'm praying for. I've read stories from people who seem to have a normal life and are able to successfully deal with and thwart their cycles/attacks. They still get CH but they seem to have it fully under control and mastered in terms of keeping it manageable so they can live a normal life. And I've read stories like mine where people are not yet able to beat CH or manage it and they are in the throes of suffering (as I am now in my current cycle). I'm basically a novice at dealing with CH so I was hoping some of you who have mastered either beating this demon or taming it very well can share some of their tried and true success stories. Based on scanning the cluster buster site, it seems like MM is the most prevalent device used to successfully combat CH. My problem with MM is that I don't know when my cycle is going to happen and I believe if you "bust" you cannot be on Verapamil or Maxalt which is impossible for me when I'm in a cycle. So I guess the answer is to "BUST" when you are not in a cycle and hope that during the busting session a cycle doesn't occur. I really need more info on Busting if anyone can start a thread with me I would be so grateful. I vow to never leave anyone behind and that even if I find myself CH-Free one day, I will always donate, support, and be a part of the CH community because no one should ever experience pain like a CH attack. Also Gamma core, anyone have sustained positive experiences using it? For the people that rate themselves a 7 or higher in terms of managing this horrible affliction (and having a normal life), please share your success stories and formulas and remedies as people like myself need help and hope. I wish we could speak on the phone and have more FaceTime together. By the way, I'm a healthy guy who doesn't smoke or drink/use drugs. I'm more stressed than your average bear and have always wondered if stress is the real cause of my CH. Thank you! Jimmy M in Los Angeles.

My cluster symptoms began after a traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness However, there were other mitigating factors as well: other concussions, 2 cervical spine surgeries including a fusion (followed by an eventual 3rd surgery and 2nd fusion post-CH as a result of the TBI), sleep apnea, male, etc. But no prior drug use, heavy alcohol use, smoking, or family history of CH So I personally believe there may be a strong connection between brain injury and/or spinal injury and cluster. But the exact mechanism in play may unique to each person.

I’ve been using Migraine Buddy for several years as well. It is very customizable and is regularly updated.

Migraine buddy includes clusters these days It actually has great functions of adding meds or other ways that gave some relief or not. most ways of aborting are already in the app, so it's really easy to add them in a log. If it's not in there, you can create it yourself it's definitely worth a try. I think it's really helpful to keep track All I have to do is try to remember start/end times so i can put it in when it's over

Hi Chris, I don't know of any specific to CH but I know there have been some posts on here with folks attempting to create one and I think one other that had successfully created one. In the very beginning of my joy ride when being told I had migraine, I used an app called migraine buddy which was good for tracking dates, medications and pain scale but I soon got tired of it and switched to a self created excel log which I also tired of at some point in my journey. I guess I just felt like looking back at all the bangers made me depressed which I was already really good at doing especially when in a cycle which seemed to be the time I was most apt to visit the log. Anyhow, tracking can be a good thing especially if you are trying to gauge your next doomsday and get in front of it.. Lastly you can use the search bar at the top of each forum page and plug in key words like App and a bunch of past discussions will come up for you to review.

Hi - Anybody have an app that they like for keep tracking of clusters? Lookled in the App Store and there are a bunch with in app purchase with 2 or 55 reviews or some with 47k reviews. Don't mind paying for an app, just don't want to buy stuff in it. I'm sure there was previous post on this, but I'm day 30+ of an attack and my search and read skills arn't great at the moment. Thanks, Chris

@Kevin Broderick In this document (same one I sent you earlier with the O2 information), toward the end, there is a section headed "Treatments without O2." Some of them might help you. https://clusterbusters.org/forums/topic/6213-basic-non-busting-information/

I'm getting slammed for the second time today and that is unusual. Took a pill and did some very deep breathing. Earlier today did this and it really helped but right now, not working... was talking to a good friend and it started to hit me again....just don't know. My brother is sending me some O2 equipment and just wish it was here right now but just saw your post and decided to ramble on about my problems. Happy holidays and merry freaking Christmas...whatever. No joke take care.

Suppose I'm special as all I did was stand up from the darn couch to let my Abby doo inside (best dog in the universe), turned the handle and Shazam! Shocked to my very core, nearly thought I somehow got an electric shock but yeah me.. no such luck. I'm sure there are many reasons one is afflicted with the fluker bunny and I sure would enjoy more methods to rid ones self as apposed to why. At the same time I understand how the why plays into the rid as far as treatments go. That being said, I'm darn sure sending my list to Santa this year and hope he checks the flipin thing twice!! Keep on being the coolest kids in town!! Admiration to all of you CH survivors!

I am Autistic with ADHD. I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder, cluster headaches and migraine.

I'm not clear on whether Gamma Core has worked for me. I've used it for almost a year along with Verapamil and Ajovy. Not sure if one of those, or the combination, has helped reduce my CHs. I was getting CHs chronically for about a year (before that, for a few months every Spring and Fall). But since I started the combo, I only get them 1 week out of the month. I'm afraid to stop Gamma Core though...don't want to mess with what is working. I believe Gamma Core has helped with calming my ADHD/Autistic brain a little bit (but not enough to make the price-tag worth it, though).

I started getting CHs after a severe concussion.

Hi there, In my experience with the D3 reg the magnesium has been the culprit for praying to the porcelain god from the wrong end. You could try taking it at bed time after eating or start out with a lower dose of the mag and work your way up. You can also try switching the type of magnesium you are using (not sure what type you are currently taking) but typically magnesium glycinate is the easiest on the stomach.