CHfather

Welcome, eric'. You might find this post helpful for an overview of things related to CH. Basic non-busting information - ClusterBuster Files - ClusterBusters At the end of the post there is core information about "busting," which is the reason this site was created. Of course, nothing beats interaction and direct answers to your specific questions, but that post might have some useful information in it.

That is a very nice article!!!!!! My only wish, small in the context of how good the article is, is that RC seeds could get a mention in these kinds of stories. A discussion of them being generally legal to purchase and possess, highly effective, and generally tripless, would be very valuable for those folks who think MM would be too much for them, or too risky for them.

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Wait . . . You mean everyone doesn't already do that?

This is unrelated, except that taurine is involved. I post it here only because I just read it tonight, and thought it was fascinating, and taurine gives me the excuse. From What It's Like to be a Bird (great book!): "Chickadees mostly bring caterpillars to their newly hatched nestlings (they can collect over a thousand in a day), but for the first week or so after hatching the adults make special efforts to seek out spiders to feed their young. Spiders provide the nutrient taurine, which is essential for brain development and other functions."

Here's someone talking about a dose of 2000mg taurine to abort attacks. Taurine to stop onset of Cluster Headache - General Board - ClusterBusters It's hard to tell how much taurine is in a 5-Hour Energy shot, but one place lists it as roughly 480mg. An 8-ounce Red Bull is said to have 1000mg of taurine. This is another discussion of taurine: Taurine Supplements - General Board - ClusterBusters If you put taurine into the search bar at the top right of any page, you'll see quite a few entries, of which some might be helpful, although most don't mention specific dosages.

I can't imagine that anyone here will be able to help you find Imigran in Namibia, but maybe I'm wrong. If you do get them, be sure that you/your dad split them so he gets more use from them: Getting partial doses from sumatriptan injectors (Imitrex, Imigran, etc.) - ClusterBuster Files - ClusterBusters The nasal spray, called Zomig, is similarly effective. There is also a sumatriptan nasal spray. This website says you can get that nasal spray "no questions asked." Is that true? Is the stuff reliable? Will they ship to you? I don't know the answers to any of those. Sumatriptan - Nasal Spray Oxygen is very effective at stopping attacks. Can you get that? Could you set up a system using welding oxygen? Notes about welding O2 - ClusterBuster Files - ClusterBusters DMT has been found to be a very effective abortive. Do you have any chance of getting (or making) that? DMT experiences and advice - Theory & Implementation - ClusterBusters

Tommy', glad you got that answer from Jeebs, which is the same as what I would have said -- probably not, but I'm no expert -- and he actually did some work on your behalf, which I didn't. Hope it all goes well!!

I've been to a few new dentists/oral surgeons lately. They give me a big form to fill out asking whether I now have or have ever had any of a whole lot of medical conditions. Of course, CH is not on the list. I have been urging them to add it, or ask about it, since they could save people a lot of misery by not using epinephrine with patients who have CH. Will they do that? Probably not. But unlike virtually all of the conditions that the form does ask about, knowing that a patient has CH could actually matter. Just recommending that maybe you do the same with your existing dentist or any new ones.

lovely. thank you for checking in.

This is what Batch has written about testing: "You will need to see your PCP/GP for lab assays of your serum 25(OH)D3, calcium and PTH. Adjust the vitamin D3 dose to keep the PTH serm concentration between 20 and 14 pg/mL and still keep the calcium serum concentration within its normal reference range to obtain the maximum therapeutic effect. Once at a stable vitamin D3 dose, annual labs are sufficient. It’s important to drink 2.5 liters of water during the 24 hours prior to the blood draw for your labs. Once you’ve established a vitamin D3 maintenance dose that keeps you CH pain-free, an annual set of assays is sufficient." There is more information about why these tests matter at Cluster and Migraine headache treatment protocol - Sept 2023 | VitaminDWiki

Some people find that staying on the O2 for five minutes or more after the attack has been stopped can hold off future attacks. Others don't find that it helps. Worth trying if you aren't already. Just to confirm that you know about this: Getting partial doses from sumatriptan injectors (Imitrex, Imigran, etc.) - ClusterBuster Files - ClusterBusters And this: D3 regimen - ClusterBuster Files - ClusterBusters

@Drew28, you're not actually the first person here to report that some form of sex helps abort attacks. As I wrote in a post a few years ago, "Some people have reported that sex stops their attacks. Other people have been amazed that it’s even possible to consider sex during an attack." As jon' says, oxygen will get you the same results more reliably, if not maybe as enjoyably. With your relatively infrequent and relatively short-lasting cycles, though, I can see that maybe you would just go with what gets you off through them, but on the other hand (so to speak) you did do that vegan thing, so I'd suggest that you look over this document and consider what might be helpful. The D3 seems like a no-brainer for long-term effectiveness, and oxygen maybe for aborts. Basic non-busting information - ClusterBuster Files - ClusterBusters

@MiloS, thank you for this input! I think virtually everyone here would recommend that you start on the D3 regimen right away. It might or might not help during this cycle, but it will help you with future ones if you stay on it. D3 regimen - ClusterBuster Files - ClusterBusters And split those triptans: Getting partial doses from sumatriptan injectors (Imitrex, Imigran, etc.) - ClusterBuster Files - ClusterBusters And maybe try a 5-Hour Energy or some other energy beverage as you start with the O2. This speeds up aborts for many people. Consider the mask made for CH that many people say shortens their O2 abort time by 10% or more. ClusterO2 Kit - Clusterheadaches.com - Online Store And at least keep busting as an option (click on New Users - Please Read Here First in the blue banner at the top of each page).