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During my last cluster I applied for the cluster buddy program. I hadn't seen a reply until I checked this week while starting up a new cycle. I was wondering what everyone else's experience has been with this program. I'm back to working. I'm working more and making more than ever. A coworker left a leaking bottle of PVC primer in the cab of a work truck that apparently set off the cluster i'm hoping I just busted last night. But I'm hoping to build my own at home and hoc oxygen system and get myself back into insurance. Since my last visit I've started trying to eat healthier, started taking GNC MEGAMEN advanced test booster and micronized creatine, put on ~12+ kg in healthy weight, and over all I think I'm in much better health than I was during my last cluster. I'll probably be active seasonally, closer to my cycles and what not. This last year or two the attacks have been getting harsher, lasting longer, with shorter remission periods between clusters so there's a chance I'll be online more and more as time goes on. I've been informed that there may be a meet up in Dallas at some point this year. That's some 6 hours away one way so I'm not sure I'll be able to make it but I'd love to socialize more with people who haveore experience dealing with this miserable issue. Hope you're all healthy and well <3 NeitherHere

Thank you very much for all the advice

Contact anna@clusterbusters.org for Cluster Buddy questions.

Hey everyone. Been awhile since i’ve been on here. I hope everyone is well and in good health. The last time i was on here, I made some pretty anxious and depression-ridden topics about how i thought my life was over.. boy was i wrong. I’m posting this to further support the tools and methods that have been written about on these forums.. and to possibly give hope to those that feel lost, as I once did. The last 4 years have been some of the most eye-opening years of my life. I’ve made drastic health conscious decisions that aided in my relatively pain-free years. I’ve tried “busting” and diet changes. Both with great success. I listened to my body and found that a combination of Vitamin D3, magnesium glycinate and omega 3 supplements help keep my headaches at low pain levels or at bay. An (almost) gluten free, no msg or additive, low histamine, anti-inflammatory diet helps maintain that low inflammation in my body. Sleeping with my head slightly elevated and neck supported also helps me keep the blood pressure from building. I also found that getting sick with a cold/flu will immediately bring a cycle on. I assume because of the sudden onset of inflammation in the body. Especially in the face/sinuses. Taking valuable information given by Pete Batcheller, (don’t know his @ at the moment, sorry!) the cycles have been very minimal in times where they should have been grave and unforgiving. I’ve learned to accept the fact that I may have clusters for the rest of my life. I’m 24 years old, and for the first time in the 16 years i’ve had clusters, I’m finally OK with it. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. But it’s important to keep in mind that pain free responses will not happen over night. Not every piece of information helped me. Some worked, some didn’t. Having a strong support system of people helped immensely. I can partially attribute my positive attitude to one of the “busting” methods that we know about. These headaches made me appreciate the little things in life, which in turn, makes life much more beautiful. Music sounds heavenly, sights are awe inspiring, love for those around me increase. I can live my life knowing I have the tools and resources to stop a cycle, should it come back. I also learned that hardships and trying times await each and every one of us, but will never make life not worth living to the absolute best of our abilities. The human spirit is truly indomitable. I extend my love and thoughts to everyone here! I’ll be sure to keep everyone updated as I grow older

Basic finding: Oral steroids generally more effective than occipital nerve injection of steroids as transitional treatments. Half or fewer of the subjects received full temporary relief of symptoms with either method (50.6% with oral prednisone, 36% with injections). https://www.docguide.com/greater-occipital-nerve-injection-versus-oral-steroids-short-term-prophylaxis-cluster-headache-retro?tsid=5 OBJECTIVE To investigate our experience with oral steroid and greater occipital nerve (GON) injection with steroid as transitional treatments for cluster headache. BACKGROUND Cluster headache is a primary headache disorder characterized by multiple episodes of intense unilateral pain with autonomic features. During cluster headache attacks, transitional therapies are useful while prophylactic dosages are initiated or increased. There are limited data comparing the efficacy of oral versus injected transitional treatments. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed charts for patients evaluated with cluster headache at our center and captured episodes of transitional therapy utilized from 1995 to 2014. Treatment benefit was categorized into complete, partial, or no response. RESULTS Forty-three patients received transitional therapy over a total of 151 encounters, of which 140 were available for analysis. Encounters featured oral steroids (81, 57.9%) and GON injection (59, 42.1%). Of the 40 patients with treatment response data available, 24 patients received only one type of transitional therapy and 16 patients received both therapies. More encounters featuring oral steroids versus GON injections led to at least a partial response (82.7% vs 64.4%) and to a lesser extent a complete response (50.6% vs 35.6%). Among 16 patients treated with both therapies, 8 (50%) responded to both and 6 (37.5%) responded only to oral steroids. CONCLUSIONS Our single-center, retrospective data suggest the majority of patients with cluster headache responded to both prednisone and GON injections for transitional treatment, with a higher response to oral steroids. Our results may inform study design for a randomized trial, which is warranted.

And/or . . . see if you can get sumatriptan in vials, and syringes, so you can self-measure. The 6mg in the autoinjector is way more than you need--2mg or 3mg is all that's needed. There's also the 3mg Zembrace (in the US) injectable sumatriptan.

My cycle has been ramping up faster than usual as well. On week four and going through week eight BS. Yeah, the first couple weeks are a walk in the park for me as well.

My cycle is just starting. only Kip 4 atm, but frequency seems to be ramping up faster than last time. Hang in there!

I could use a buddy these days. In the middle of a banger cycle. Only sleeping a cup hours per day since falling asleep triggers more hits. Had a 3 hour attack last night! Stay strong warriors!