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Hi Nick, Unfortunately you will have to take into account that this can indeed be a lifelong adventure. I once read a study about this and that is what I remember: An early onset has a higher chance on an early termination. If you get it later in your life, then it will probably also take longer Many doctors will say it goes away once in later 40's or early 50's. There is indeed a tendency to longer remissions (several years) once over that age but from what we see here in this forum, many come back in their 70's having attacks again after having 10, sometimes 20 years of remission. After many years, most patients come to a point they learnt to deal with it very efficiently and so they do not need help anymore from doctors or specialists at later age If I look at myself, I got my first migraine attack when 12 years old, now I am 51 and still no signs of stopping. So that is 39 years and that as a man ! Migraine is called a women's disease ! Then at 43 yrs old, I got suddenly plagued with Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania , the female version of CH. So I would say, never take these pain free periods for granted and do not count on a "magical recovery" but think seriously about a strategy on how to deal with this the best you can. All the best ! siegfried

No Escape Today is like any other, Yesterday, today & tomorrow, all blur together. Day in and day out, everyday the same, I wish I could escape this game. The Beast visits most when least expected, My face drains of colour, and I feel quite infected. Into one eyeball, always just the one, the Beast comes, Blinding and piercing like I’ve been poked hard, with a thumb. My eye seems to freeze as if turned to ice, And the pressure builds as if placed in a vice. My nose starts to run and my eye begins to tear, As my body is gripped with fear. Red hot nails, they pierce and twist in my eye, The burning is such that I wish to die. Sharp blades cut and rip through my skull, As I pace the room and bang my head on the wall. I can feel my cranium crack, As all my world turns to black. For one hour or maybe two, How long it really lasts, I dare not tell you. For all that time, I pace and I walk, Sat on my bed, back and forth I rock. I suck on oxygen and drink caffeine, I can be quite snappy and downright mean. But eventually the nails are removed, as are the blades, And the pain within, all but fades. I am drained, I am spent, My energy is at zero percent. I need water, I need food, But instead, I lay here unable to move. I take one deep breath, and maybe two, Before the next symptoms ensue. Then the crying truly begins, As my body shakes from my bones to my skin. I am racked with hot convulsions in wave upon wave, To this terror I am now but a slave. Eventually, even this fades to a whimper, As my body begins to shiver. Wrapped in a blanket I raise myself up, Sloshing some water into a cup. Today was like any other, Yesterday, today & tomorrow, they all blur together. Day in and day out, everyday the same, Oh, how I wish I could escape this pain.

@ThatHurtsMyHead I agree! Sounds like a great idea. I have found that neurologists are very medication forward people. I’m sure they get some sort of commission from pharmaceutical companies for pushing these meds. If you had the opportunity to prescribe an oxygen tank which is known to be the safest and best abortive, why wouldn’t you? Kat

Welcome to the community Nick! Unfortunately, there aren't any answers to your questions that are set in stone! However, the Beast does morph over time......mine were just a few weeks with mostly late evening hits the first couple of cycles but by 1998 they had progressed to 20 to 26 weeks weeks with an 18 to 19 month remission period, and the vast majority of my hits were nocturnal. The good news is that you have a bonafide dx just months after your clusters prevented......7 years from onset was the average when I was dx'd in 91..mine began in 84, so I fit exactly! And, you've found us and believe me, collectively, the active members here know more about clusters and their treatment than most docs! Many excellent treatments available to you in the way of oxygen to treat individual hits in cycle, anti inflammatory vitamin D3 regimen that you can take all the time to lessen frequency and severity, and for some it even seems to prevent cycles......and other remedies you can read about in the clusterbusters files and busting stories section of the forum! Although it can vary, many of the clusterheads I've known for a long time have been dealing with the Beast for 30+ years...36 personally and I'm 73....but, like I say, you've got a leg up on us old farts with what's available to manage clusters today!! Read and ask questions! Be well! Dallas Denny

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