Bejeeber

Glad to see you're getting that O2 set up in place, then taking the next steps after it's working for you. It also sounds like you have a good strategy, requesting an effective O2 prescription from the doc, but having a good back up plan when/if that doesn't work out as hoped. The vast majority of neurologists are unaware of how O2 is effectively used for CH and refuse to prescribe it properly. So if you're losing that argument with the doc, just saying "OK I'll administer it at 10 LPM, gimme the prescription" while your eyes are rolling to the back of your head and your fingers are crossed, then proceeding straight to harbor freight and cranking your tank up to CH busting LPMs oughta work. 8-)

I agree with the above statements made by our esteemed Ron/Bonkers, including the dosage advice 8-) Sorry to hear about your dad , and yes definitely understood why you'd want to really pull out all the stops to end this CH episode ASAP.

Sorry you got hit bad like that Laura Ann - I've seen the long time busting veterans around here mention that increased CH activity immediately following busting is a known phenomenon, often with attacks significantly subsiding right afterwards. Hoping the the subsiding thing is what you'll be experiencing now! I hope I'm not being too much of a pestering pest here, but just checking to see what sort of regulator you have on your O2 tank - does it go to 15 LPM? Asking because that's usually considered the minimum LPM for achieving the really effective O2 aborts with optimask (many of us have ordered high flow regulators online). There's more O2 info here about regulators and stuff if you haven't perused this already: http://www.clusterheadaches.com/O2/index.html

Interesting - I may just look into upping my intake of cayenne to 3 grams a day. What I think I remember reading about cayenne is it has all kinds of health benefits, it doesn't hurt the stomach (and is actually good for the stomach) unless there's an ulcer present. Pill form's an easy way to go, but it certainly is a nice hot food spicer upper when just eaten!

House band alert!! Yes, yes yes The Fuster Cluckers will be the year 'round entertainment! [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif] Maybe Mad 6 string and the others (you know who you are!) will be up for it too. 8-)

The brainstorming is really gettin' good now! ;D

Looks like a nice setting for bustin' some CH. 8-) Hey Jammin, I'm sure you're well aware of the fear many of us have of alcohol when in cycle (or chronic). I wonder if this rum could be rendered non alcoholic if it was boiled or something, and if the mushrooms would still retain their active properties? Is alcohol a trigger for you, and if so, how did you deal with the rum component?

I'm in the TakinItEZ and FunGuy camp on this one. Now I'm starting to understand how those two got their names. ;D (Also agreeing with dereksgirl, who at the rate she's going may be up for a CH medal of honor nomination )Â

Yay! I think that could really give you something to look forward to. I think I recognize what you've been experiencing with the O2 - years ago I used to use O2 in the conventional rebreather manner, and it would work some at first, but at a certain point during an episode I'd end up giving up and sending the O2 tank back. Between your decision to try the optimask and your soon to arrive RC seeds it sounds like your future could be looking brighter - and less painful!!.Â

I have the same concerns as Dan - if you're getting hit hard and a quarter of an M tank could last as long as a week, I wonder if you've adopted the power user method of administering O2 that can make the difference between abort or no abort? (deep and vigorous hyperventilation using an Optimask with large reservoir bag retrofit and a liter flow of 25 LPM +....) Then there are those who swear by downing an energy drink right at onset, and believe that it can tip the scales in favor of sustained abort with O2 (granted an energy drink can have it's side effects at night). And Hipshot, I like the way you're signing your name now. Dam, Dan! ;D

Now THAT is AWESOME. ;D

So good to hear about the decreasing hits! Since he was using imitrex pretty often, I'll bring up the imitrex tip that details how to stretch out the doses, just in case you haven't it yet: http://www.clusterheadaches.com/imitrex.html Or maybe I posted this link for you earler...? If so, sorry, please disregard (doh! memory going going...gone )

Good point since a post count can be more a show of how much someone blabs and blabs on *glances at self in mirror* than how much they listen. It would be cool IMO if the forums could also display a "views" count for each of us in addition to posts. 8-)

Nothing yet after 1 hr? He may be a heavyweight . Me: lightweight. I'm feeling plenty within 20 minutes.

Wendy - here's wishing the best of luck with that mushroom bust! 4 K9's in one night is very good reason to go for it IMO. BB - We'll have to agree to disagree a little I guess - I do think that when someone has read enough accounts from other CH'ers on a particular issue they do tend to get a feel for what approach to take is the most likely to be reasonable, and personally I definitely listen to such a person with a little more vigor than someone brand new who is more shooting from the hip. Disclaimer: I'm not saying you guys were shooting from the hip though! In the back of my mind on this particular issue was a comment in a recent thread on a similar detoxing/busting topic - it's from someone I won't drag by name into my *insert foot in mouth* spectacle here, but this poster has been here from the start and has observed a lot. The comment: "If you have easy access to busting materials, give it a shot w/out detoxing. If it doesn't work, all it'll cost you is a week more of pain, during which time you can detox and then try again."

Ha - sorry if that was disrespectful to any other posters here so far. I think that certainly Psiloscribe would be a top guru, and heck as far as I know you're one of 'em too thebb! I haven't been around long enough or paid enough attention to really know yet. I also figure that a member's post count often (but not always) reflects their knowledge of the subject.

My opinion: With the RC seeds he won't get anywhere in the vicinity of the kind tripping he's already experienced with LSD (which I imagine is the most dangerous of the busting hallucinogens to combine with schizophrenia). Plus it sounds like his brother is schizophrenic, but he's not. That said, if he ends up trying mushrooms, I think something to keep in mind is that some of us who didn't experience any bad trips with hallucinogens in our youth can find the experience sometimes unpleasant as older adults, especially if anxieties are creeping in about family responsibilities and other stuff like CH. It goes away after a couple hours though. 8-) 400 is a lot of seeds that will last for several doses (and in my experience you usually actually receive significantly more than you ordered). So I would go ahead and take 50 or so before bed if he gets them by Tuesday, because he'll have to be detoxing anyway for 5 days or so if he gets that O2 around then. And from what I know it couldn't hurt. If some of the true gurus on the subject pipe in here and don't call it that way, listen to them though. I will find myself tripping like a futher mucker on just 1.5 g of mushroom powder, but 50 RC before bed = *no tripping* and a better than usual night's sleep for me. Of course I haven't taken them right in the midst of a full blown episode so I've always been able to sleep through without any CH wake up calls.

I see lotsa people are trying licorice tincture. Let's do a poll! (Question: Has licorice tincture helped your CH?) If you or a cluster head you support have tried licorice tincture, please participate, whether the results were good, bad or inconclusive. It'd also be appreciated if you could comment in a post here with any helpful info such as what brand of tincture was tried, what your dosage was and for how many days, etc. THANKS!

Hey Jeffrey - I tend to hit a peak at around the one month mark myself. Sucks? Yes very much so. I'm with Kaboom 100% about ordering the seeds (while you continue to hunt for some shrooms). The seeds could be there in just a couple days. Have you tried chugging an energy drink at onset? Asking because some feel that it helps the O2 clinch the deal and keep re-attacks away longer. Also are you hyperventilating the O2 at a seriously high liter flow (in the 45 LPM range) with large reservoir bag, such as a retrofitted 40 gallon trash bag? That's the only way I can get an O2 abort at peak cycle. I see you're getting night hits. How about melatonin, 9 mg or more, up to 21 mg at bedtime? Some folks have very happily found it will prevent their night hits. If I can get an O2 abort in 10-15 minutes I consider it a fantastic success, but of course we all have differences in the nature of our attacks. It's the 3 to 4 hour long high kip hits that I particularly fear.

I agree with Jsmacks on the dosage. I've only consumed with citrus essence type sparkling water. it seemed like the carbonation and slight flavoring made it go down the hatch easy enough. 8-) It certainly kicked in fast.

Hi Eamon - I didn't notice this particular thread til now, but one way I would contrast mushrooms with Zomig is that a dose of mushrooms offers the possibility of knocking an entire episode out (especially if caught before it really starts), whereas a dose of Zomig may knock a single attack out. So I'm personally more enthused about the mushrooms - not that they don't have their potential drawback of an unpleasant trip. Here's one strategy I would consider: 1) RC or mushrooms as the first line preventative - dosing ASAP 2) O2 as a first line abortive 2) The Zomig you have on hand (or the possibly more effective imigran injections if you can get them) as a back up abortive if the O2 fails. Once you use these drugs though, keep in mind you should detox for days before any busting attempt.

Agreed that Ting is continuously looking out for the well being of others - when she isn't hunting them (snowball throwing kids) down. I don't know how either of you - Ting or Kaboom - do it, with the continuing chronic attacks, and routinely getting hit while busting even. For the definition of toughness in the dictionary, I think it could simply read "Ting/Kaboom". The dictionary folk should go ahead and use that for the definition of perseverance too! Y'all have earned tremendous admiration around here.Â

Hi Eamo, I think getting an appointment is worth looking into, but in any case, my bet is that you'll have to do some of your own configuring for the O2 set up. Doctors and medical supply places are just basically unaware of the optimum way to administer O2 for CH. So whether you get O2 tanks via a doctor prescription or from a welding supply place without prescription, here's the link that describes how to set stuff up: http://www.clusterheadaches.com/O2/index.html The widely recognized O2 guru known as Batch over at ch.com just posted some more O2 instructions in a discussion thread there. They're probably worth looking at too - just scroll down until you spy his typical gigantic font size. : http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1295724510 It's much easier to bust a cycle before it starts raging BTW, so if you are considering RC seeds or mushrooms for busting, and can get ahold of any, now would probably be the best time for that.

Hey Eamon, From what I've seen people report, results with energy drinks appear to vary just as much as other treatments for CH. Some people really can abort an attack with one. Energy drinks don't work THAT well for me personally, but I have been able to quash some mild to moderate shadows with one. Also, there's the potentially very valuable advantage of an energy drink helping the O2 to work better as DD mentioned, plus encouraging reports that it can help prevent rebounds after such an abort. 8-) Red Bull tastes fine to me, and although I didn't have any of the little concentrated shots handy during my last episode, that sounds like a good way to get one down in one quick gulp. This would be the optimum time for busting - before your episode goes full blown - BTW, if you're considering that route.

We got Ting and Kaboom both back on the boards now - at the same time - all is right with the world! ;D (Well except for that pesky CH thing. )