Bejeeber

I'm also kinda figuring that if anyone else had success with GABA after seeing L2's posts they likely woulda mentioned it. I went back through my Cluster notes and see that I tried Now brand (a good brand) GABA 1500 mg per day for 17 days then went off it as it seemed ineffective for me - I was continuing to have the same strong shadows I had before going on it.

Sorry I don't know which SSRI is least likely to interfere, but there definitely have been encouraging reports in addition to Birdman's of CH'ers successfully busting while remaining on their SSRI. Have you been busting with Vit M? Would hope it would offer improvement in mood/outlook as it does - significantly as Jeff mentioned - for some of us, but if not, I guess that's something that would be good for us to know.

I think you've created a new slogan to include in your profile info Beast Buster! ;D

What Jerry said. We thinks about ya all the time, heck you're a central part of the family, and I sure hope Santa will put some shunt/vascular relief in your stocking already. Glad that you have those kitties - they can be great spirit keeper uppers indeed. Maybe we'll get to see some pics of 'em when you're feeling better. 8-)

After seeing Beast Buster's vibration technique for CH pain relief from the the lower branch of the trigeminal nerve I'm inspired to share my mid trigeminal CH reliever technique, although it may be a bit much to ask to get Potter on board with 2 of these in a row... I mainly experience CH centered in the mid trigeminal branch - the 'ol nuclear pinging right behind the cue ball eyeball. Once while up at 3 AM after a partial abort of a high cycle whopper wake up hit, I was sitting in a daze with my head in my hands, unconsciously pressing/rubbing what felt like a nerve ending spot on the the top of my eyeball (eyelid closed of course, eye "looking" downwards). The pain went entirely away to my surprise. I repeated this several times on subsequent days, was able to squelch shadows and lingering after hit pain, and like BeastBuster with his vibration technique for the lower trigeminal area, I think also potentially diminish the severity of a given full on attack. It's a weird thing to do when experiencing a CH hit because there is a temporary additional pain when finding the nerve or whatever it is, then pressing that spot while rapidly vibrating the finger, sorta like they do with reflexology. Also there can be a deep, creepy kind of "itch" feeling along that "nerve" when the bullseye has been hit. I think I'll dub my shadow killer technique the Jeebs-Jibulator.....um unless someone can think of a better name. To recap: the jeebs-jibulator in a nutshell: Guinea Pigs welcome - pay is lousy.

WHA??!! ;D BeastBust, Potter isn't necessarily known for agreeing with such treatments so this is a watershed day.

Well I've heard that sort of thing too, and of course it was very wrong, because being on the websites and learning about how other CH'ers had taken matters into their own hands, how they were beating this thing, was how I found out how to much more successfully approach it myself. It was a lifesaver. That's not an easy thing for others to understand, since the ordinary approach for a malady is to consult a doctor, follow the instructions given, and take your mind off of it, as too much researching on the subject can be counterproductive and obsessive. It's just not the case with us though, since most of us really have to take charge of our own treatment, and we have to be really well informed in order to do that. I hope that venting here here will help ya, this is a good place for it, and of course you're not really all alone, your HF (headbanger family ;D) is here for you.Â

Santa visited you early this year! Glad he knocked the beast down in the 3rd round. ;D

Certain terms for your neuro such as "a-hole" and "jerk" immediately come to mind. Â :-?

Understood. If one of the little concentrated energy shots would be easier to hold down, those have been known to work too. At least they only require one short swig before you're on the O2. 8-)

Hi Avril, fingers vigorously crossed here too for a successful nerve block today. So glad to see our voonderbar JackieB and CHfather have greeted you with some great info right off the bat. Many many CH'ers here (including myself) have found busting to be significantly more effective at preventing CH than any drug. So I'm thinking there's a very good chance it could help you too.Â

Well that's always a concern with the lousy once every hour night hits isn't it? HATE those. > Hopefully you are holding the mask to your face, so if you fall asleep it just falls away? It's dangerous as you already likely know to fall asleep with a mask strapped on. I suppose another idea to prevent running out of the O2 would be to set an alarm for 20 minutes or so from the time you start the O2. I'd be tempted to do this with my iPhone - maybe someone can comment on whether there's any significant spark/fire risk of operating a smart phone while on the O2.....

You go Birdman! Successful busting to you. 8-)

Now those are the kind of critical details, ones that if I see them I'm prone to forgetting them, that make CHf's contributions here so vital and helpful.

Oh man that sounds like horror alright. :'( I have my doubts as to whether Vitamin D could somehow cause an extreme reversion to CH attacks like that, but there has been a CH'er or 2 who has reported a worsening of their CH coinciding with going on the Vit D. So far it looks more like coincidence to me, a major return of the attacks that would've happened anyway. I wouldn't blame you for discontinuing the D for now just to be sure though! So sorry about this unexpected return of the beast. :'( I'll be interested in seeing what the others such as Chfather, Spiny, CH-hell, Ricardo et al think about this, and speaking of Ricardo, I wonder if you could look into his earlier intranasal ketamine idea?

I think CHf really may be onto something there.

I think that is one fine *supporters maniifesto* Elly. 8-) Folks like you and CHf who get it and fully empathize with CH'ers are really like some kind of saints to me. Official sainthood nominations coming up, now where are those pesky application forms? ;D I figure when your partner has attained some extended remission, there will be an additional great side benefit to the busting treatments, which will be the likely alleviation of any PTSD he might otherwise have, allowing him to resume normal life as if the CH never happened. Sorry that it won't help with any ptsd YOU may have incurred from the experience though! He may have to share his truffles with you.

That is ENCOURAGING! [smiley=thumbup.gif]

Good advice there from CHf on ordering the non-prescription components of your beefed up for CH O2 system while awaiting the arrival of the actual O2 cylinders.

What Ricardo said, because after reading this... It appears as if Derek very well may be one of those rare unfortunates for whom O2 just doesn't work, unthinkable as that is for the vast majority of us for whom it does work. :'( I think if I was Derek I'd be investigating the Ketamine as Ricardo mentioned.

UGH. Been there, done that with high cycle hits. :-? I suppose you've tried the D3 to see if it helps the O2 work better? Since the attacks have been starting in the back of the head I suspect 'ol DanBerry McHipShot may be thinking a facet injection could possibly bring some CH relief since it did for him.....?

Glad to see the good advice you're getting here B-man, and I believe this is one of the particularly pertinent nuggets: Here's to a good strong beast walloping tonight.

Birthday and birthnight greetin's to the inimitable Dr. R! [smiley=birthdays.gif] [smiley=beer.gif]

Well I packed some SPUT powder caps, but didn't end up needing 'em on my travels. A 1.7g Vit M dose the night before leaving on the trip landed a brutally vicious uppercut on the beast. It knocked him back very nicely, and when activity returned after 5 days, it stayed relatively minor, with some possible help from my efforts to keep it tamped down with RC and one energy drink. My luck holds for the moment.Â

Thanks leslie. I shoulda mentioned that 2g of this same powder gets me to the state of some mild visual hallucinations with eyes open, and lots of more prominent hallucinations with eyes closed.