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@jon019 "...the replies above are absolutely priceless and practical...." Yes, I have been amazed at the support I've found here so far and the information has helped me. I'm so appreciative of your reply as well as the others. I'll be ordering that mask today.

You can hold mask to face, inhale, shut off O2, Exhale, turn on O2, inhale, repeat. Close those holes when you inhale so you get only the O2. I turn mine off at the tank when resorting to this as it is faster to get back to inhale than closing the regulator flow on the regulator. It saves gas if you don't have the bag. It worked better than a bag that was too small too. Just my experience.

I've got a lot to say to you, Titan, but I think most of it is in here, and I'm urging you to read it with some attention, even though it's long. https://clusterbusters.org/forums/topic/6213-basic-non-busting-information/ One important thing you will see in there is that you can open up your Imitrex injector and get 3 shots instead of one. Here's a direct link to that info. https://clusterbusters.org/forums/topic/2446-extending-imitrex/ Are you in the US? Because here, Imitrex is very expensive and most prescriptions are very limited, and it's hard to see how you'd be using so much. Yes, the theory is that Imitrex is for attacks that are not handled by oxygen -- taking too much of a triptan (Imitrex is sumatriptan) is bad for you and can not only extend your cycle but cause severe rebound attacks (triptan overuse attacks). Given my misgivings about your doctor, I have some fear that your oxygen setup might not be correct. You should have a tank or cylinder, a regulator, and a non-rebreather mask. (Much more detail in the post I linked you to.) I also want to note, not as a putdown but just for clarification, that there really is not such a thing as a "cluster migraine." Two different things, cluster headaches (CH) and migraines (although some medications, such as Imitrex, work for both). A small number of people have both, and for an even smaller number, a CH attack is always preceded by a migraine attack. If a doctor in the US said you have "cluster migraine," I would be very wary of that doctor. It seems more commonly used in other places, such as the UK (but it's still wrong).

...this be the Cadillac version NRB.....beloved by many a clusterhead, found at a sister CH site run by a fellow clusterhead, and the proverbial steal at $25. i've had 2 that lasted many years.....plug those damn holes in the meantime. ...the replies above are absolutely priceless and practical.... and make me smile. you won't get better anywhere else, and sadly not even a doctor's office unless you can find the exceedingly rare headache specialist.... ClusterO2 Kit - Clusterheadaches.com - Online Store

Hi @Titan32 - there is D3 info here - a thread started by the illustrious and ultra knowledgeable @CHfather. I advise anyone fortunate to receive input from him to take it very seriously. You'll notice this photo, worth more than a thousand words, at that link, showing exactly what pills (and quantity) to take for starters. It's the D3 regimen at a glance, something I particularly appreciate. Last I checked nobody should just go on that D3-50 as a set and forget daily dose though, without blood testing for D3 and calcium levels - it's typically more of an initial, high loading dose for fastest route to getting things under control.

.... a cool example of i betcha a game everyone of us have played in some form or fashion. am convinced that we resort to such because it also provides a distraction....something ELSE to do/think about....whether it saves anything or not. ...same here on the regulator/turn off the valve....fiddling with a regulator whilst being hit is beyond my patience/capabilities....

This is not a non-rebreather mask (NRB). NRB has a "reservoir bag" that fills with O2 until you breathe it in. Yours looks to me like a regular oxygen mask. NRB: You can buy an NRB at amazon for under $10. https://www.amazon.com/MEDSOURCE-Adult-Non-Rebreather-Oxygen-Mask/dp/B004Z8V47G/ref=sr_1_6?crid=9P5W6TOMN2PM&keywords=non+rebreather+oxygen+masks&qid=1657466467&sprefix=nonrebreather+oxygen+masks+%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-6 And/or presumably you can demand one from your oxygen supplier. The prescription should have specified NRB. I don't know enough to know how to get the most from the mask you have. You need to plug the holes while inhaling. Put tape on them and remove the mask from your face when you exhale. Since the flow of O2 is constant, you're going to be losing O2 after you have deeply inhaled and held (the standard -- but not only -- breathing practice for CH). This might be a situation where at least temporarily Batch's "redneck" bag would help. https://clusterbusters.org/forums/topic/4919-batchs-hyperventilation-red-neck-bag/

I think it's an individual thing (not everyone has a bad experience) you will have to monitor the personal effect it has on you and your cycle. I won't touch it due to it drawing out a past cycle of normally 3 months to just short of 5 months. The D3 regimen has made a huge difference in my ability to stay pain free for longer durations as well as tampering down the intensity when I do get hit. I'll have to find the link and send it to you If someone dosen't beat me to it. I'm passenger rt now headed to check on my mare but I'll check back here when I get back to make sure someone sends you the link.

This is horrible - really sorry to hear this is happening to you. As far as I'm concerned, @BoscoPiko has become one of the trusted experts, with some most helpful observations and ideas dished out above. ^^^ Yep, sleep (definitely including naps) is truly a very common trigger. If you're going to take an imitrex pill, some have found that if taken at bedtime, it can prevent the sort of wake up attack that occurs somewhere in the vicinity of an hour after falling asleep. Strange yes, but it is often the nature of cluster cycles. Legions of us have recognized what seems to be a predictable, repeated cycle pattern, only to have it out of nowhere then become unpredictable, much as yours has. Speaking of legions of us, that's about how many are finding significant prevention success with the D3 regimen and/or busting. They can be a major game changer/life changer. Busting info can be found at the blue New Users - Please Read Here First banner above, near the top of the page ^^^.

Well shoot.. Sorry your here but glad you found this site. There is some correlation to sleep, circadian rhythm, biological clock etc. I don't know enough about that but here is a copy and paste of a write up on it: Discussion Cluster headache attacks are believed to be modulated in the hypothalamus; moreover, the severe pain and typical autonomic cranial features associated with cluster headache are caused by abnormal activity of the trigeminal-autonomic reflex. The temporal pattern of cluster headache attacks suggests involvement of the biological clock, and the seasonal pattern is influenced by the number of daylight hours. Although sleep is often reported as a trigger for cluster headache attacks, to date no clear correlation has been established between these attacks and sleep stage. Conclusions We hypothesize that light, sleep, and the biological clock can change the brain’s state, thereby lowering the threshold for activating the trigeminal-autonomic reflex, resulting in a cluster headache attack. Understanding the mechanisms that contribute to the daily and seasonal fluctuations in cluster headache attacks may provide new therapeutic targets. Anyhow were you doing anything to prevent CH when you were getting 3 years off? Are you on any preventative medication now? Many on here get nocturnal attacks and keep something like a red bull or 5 hour energy shot close by so they can down it and get straight to the o2 (for some reason the caffeine helps the o2 work faster) and most are able to get right back to sleep. I am thinking by the way you wrote "took" immitrex that you have it in pill form which can be somewhat slow acting verses injection. I am not suggesting that you use the immitrex that often as it has been known to cause extended cycles in some (myself included). I'm sorry you feel down and alone and I completely understand the feeling but do try and keep your chin up, surf the site as there is a plethora of good information on here that can help you. Hopefully some of the real experts will chime in here with better information soon.