JeffC

"Most believe that CH has to do with a problem in the brain, with the hypothalamus" Yeah, I know. It's wishful thinking. A doctor (one of 3 I've seen so far at the clinic) today said it might be my neck. On the right side of my neck is real tight and kinda more muscular than the left side. R side is where I get tension headaches and Cluster headaches. My spine is shaped like an "s" with my back having the curve at the bottom by my right hip, then goes left , then goes to the left , then goes back to the right towards my right shoulder, causing my neck a lot of tension. I have a lot of muscular atrophy on the left side. My right side basically does all the work. They said they haven't seen anything like it... my left side is about half as strong for no particular reason. From my core to my arms to my legs. He kept asking,"did you get in an accident?" ...It's kinda strange. No accident. Either way, the rehab and the therapy to my neck has felt good! EXCEPT for when he put his finger into a spot of my neck that reproduced the feeling of a CH for about a minute. He held it there, told me to wait a sec and that the pain would go to zero...from about 8....and it did! The pain was exactly pin pointed where from CH are then gradually as he massaged the area it felt as if muscles in my head by my temple unwined... Surprisingly. Kinda scared the crap out of me since I haven't had pain from a CH in months and months. Well, we'll see.

Hey peeps I have been here before but its Been a while. I have Been CH FREE since last November (I think)!!! Question, I went to a physical therapist/sports medicine guy yesterday and was told I have scoliosis. He is one of the best doctors around the region. He says the tension headaches (not CHs) are from my misalignment. My question, can my scoliosis (my back literally is shaped like an "s" ...but not severely painful...) cause my CH. I'm episodic and I believe my CH cycles are linked to my exercising. I always have thought this. Anyone have any experience with this? I'll let you know how the therapy turns out either way! -Jeff From New OrleansÂ

As someone that took a TON of adderal in college...and had severe episodic CH, I think adderal / and or Ritalin added to the severity of my cluster headache CYCLES. I never really had a CH while I was ON adderal or ritalin BUT as a person that at one point in time took that stuff every day in college, I noticed when I got off that crap my cycles are WAY WAY WAAAAAY less frequent and less severe. Just saying. Ritalin and adderal create a lot of tension and anxiety...both bad bad bad for CH sufferers. Not the answer.

I never really thought about it until now (after reading about all the head trama) But when I was about 15 I was at a 311 concert and got a concussion. I was crowd surfing, got thrown into the air by two huge guys (I weighted about 120lbs) and on the way down my heel hit someone's shoulder and I landed head first. I literally felt my had bouncing on concrete. The whole place stoped and helped me to the paramedics in the middle of the concert. I started having the headaches maybe about a year after. Around 16 I suppose. Here's the thing. At that time I was using LSD, mushroom, E and other thing for recreational purposes...I'd have a couple of weeks of "migraines" and then would go to a party...do drugs. Then no more headaches. I did drugs like this, maybe twice a month (hallucinogens) , until I was about 20. After I stopped the recreational drugs on the weekends, The headaches came. At 21 I was told I had "cluster migraines"...by a few doctors until I was almost hooked on pain meds from a 4 month cycle, I finally was referred to a doctor in Texas that happened to be an expert on cluster headaches. He was a neuro-optimologist. The guys was like,"I know your problem. But You are not going to be happy about this. You have cluster headaches." I was like,"Damn, I thought these migraines were way worse than that...how can this be just a headache" Then he told me it was worse....and that it wasn't going to go away anytime soon. What a fucking terrible bunch of shit. So, I'm getting mushrooms to try next. Eventually

So does it work?

Cool, Thank you.

Cool Thanks man. I think a friend of mine in California MIGHT (and I stress might) come through for some shrooms. If not, I'll keep in touch. Yeah New Orleans is great. I love it. Whats the "Licorice root" I just read about?

Yeah definitely. I am by no means a doctor BUT I majored in psychology and chemistry(pre med). I studied pharmacology quite a bit. I know my meds. I was just tired of school and eventually opted to go in my family business. Most doctors aren't that bright (at least the ones I've dealt with) I actually taught my doctors most of what they know about CHs. So yeah, definitely...do YOUR research for you. No doubt. Now a days there is sooooooo much info out there it unbelievable.

I hear that, man. Sorry to hear about your suffering.

Now trying to get a script of Verapamil might be aggravating. I have no clue if I can get shrooms here. Which states can receive the seeds? Can Texas or California? I have friends there. Maybe I could get them to sen them to me. This condition is so fucking ridiculous. It makes me so fucking mad that NO FUCKING DOCTORS HAVE A FUCKING CLUE about any of it. And neither does my family... They think they do...but they don't. Fucking sucks. half the time I can tell they think I'm overreacting to it all. Like "suck it up and don't take any medicine. It's just a headache" kinda of crap. Sorry for cursing. Hipshot, I live in New Orleans.

So, verapamil won't make me have ED problems? I can't order the damn seeds. I am going to try a few college buddies. F*#K!

I just tried to order RC seeds. It told me I couldn't ship them to my state...Louisiana. Fuck. Any way around this?

So, If I want to order RC seeds (which to me seemed the easiest to take when I read all the info) can I order them legally in Louisiana? I want the weakest trip and the easiest ones to make/take. Correct me if I am wrong on this. I looked up "Rivea corymbosa" and saw this shamansgarden.com and saw them there for around $10. Howe many do I need and is that the best place to get them...and ship them to my house? Thanks again, Jeff C

Damn. So I can't have sex on verapamil. I haven't gotten a CH BUT I felt SERIOUSLY CLOSE to the feeling of one starting up about ten times today. Maybe I should just chill out with the exercise and see what happens in the next few days. As far as the "Busting"... Shrooms freaked me the fuck out last time I did them recreationally. And I barely took any. Do you just take a small amount? and what does the detox involve? I haven't been taking any meds. Well, I guess I did take a muscle relaxer the other day for my neck. Does that mess it all up?

Hello to all. I was here a bit in october '10 asking advice to stop my CHs ...and ...I'm back. I am episodic BUT am so far CH free since November. I recently started exercising again. That for some stupid reason seems to start (at least I believe this to be true) my cluster headache cycle. I can do yoga...and only yoga without starting a cycle. Today, after 5 days of doing maybe 25mins of the elliptical machine/2 to 3 miles, I all the sudden feel like I am about to get to a cycle. I usually have way more time between cycles for me. :-/ :-X :-X :-X I am going to hawaii with my gf in a month and I am scared shitless that I will be in a cycle then. What do you all think of taking Verapamil as a preventative. I client of mine said it worked wonders for him. He hasn't had any CH for 10 yrs. If any one knows about it, give me a holler. Anything would be helpful...positives, negatives, etc. Thank you, Jeff C

I guess it depends on the person. Right now I've been CH free for almost 2 months (AWEsome!) and can do whatever...but when I am in a cycle, even smelling alcohol gives me a CH within a few minutes. I'd stay away from it all. And hello all, thanks again for the help last cycle. Y'all were awesome. -Jeff

No joke. After about ten years of my dealing with this CH Crap. I did learn some things on my own through trial and error...lots of error. I found this place about 2 weeks ago and it made my myself and my cycle a whole lot better. The experience some of you all posted and helped with with has been phenominal. Seriously. I don't feel crazy... I don't feel Like I'm over exaggerating my headaches like some ignorant people make me feel. I don't feel like I'm the only one who's who knows The F I'm going through like before. Ignorant doctors....ignorant uncaring people....except for my family. Thank y'all so much for the help.

What a badass Doctor!!! I have yet to meet one like him/her. That's great.

Thanks! I just got Oxygen! I got 7 E tanks with a regulator that goes up to 15 (it was the best they had). I'll see if the non-rebreathable mask they gave me will work. Hooooooray! I'm optimistic.

What kind of mask? All I know is a Non-re breathable mask...

Hi to all, I've been having CH since 2000. I have been in remission since January of 2009 until Oct 12th 2010. Longest ever by FAR. Anyways, I have been taking relpax 40mg more the most part. I have between 1 (at least at 2am after I fall asleep) to 4 CH each day. Relpax stopped working altogether this cycle. I have been on a mission to get Oxygen in my household. Literally when I told my primary care dr. that I have tried, calcium blockers, anti-seizure meds, ssri's,pain killers, imatrex, etc etc and the only thing I haven't tried is botox in the optical nerve (w/c i won't do), anti psychotics, lithium and oxygen, she laughed and told me that it wasn't an option....and that I would have to go to emergency room. Thank the F'n lord I have a really dear friend that's a doctor. He is writing me a script for 02 today. I found a local place here that i can get the equipment from...so I think I'm good. My point is/ question is, why are doctors SO IGNORANT about Cluster Headaches? Why do they want to give us pills when 85% of the people that use oxygen to abort the CH are successful? I have been treated like a drug addict when asking for f'n oxygen. I could have gotten ANY painkiller (w/c doesn't even work) I would ask for...like Oxys and Vicodins...but Not Pure oxygen? WTF. What a backwards ass world we live in. Jeff From New Orleans