Johnd1983

Yes, same here. I have been doing it anyway and just gave it a shot, it worked, and has done each time since, thankfully but I am still taking verapamil also. I hope you get through your cycle alright mate! All the best to you.

I never tried the cold water therapy...yet anyway!! Only the breathing technique. I am going to keep it up for as long as it works. Just hoping it helps more people on here!

Hi everyone, I hope you're all doing well... I just wanted to share something with you. I have been suffering with clusters now for around 15 years or so and, thankfully, I did not have any cycles during 2020 but they kicked in for me this year on Friday last week (30th April 2021). I was prescribed Verapamil previously, in 2015/16, which has actually worked really well for me in the past but always takes a good few days to take effect - Luckily, I had a supply stored away so I started with them straight away on Friday evening and have been taking them daily, morning and evening, as before. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be working so great this time around for me, though. I have been practicing various types of breath work now for around 18 months in my day to day life, as well as meditation etc. and one of the breath work techniques that I have been using is the 'Wim Hof' method. On Sunday this past weekend, I was hit hard by a cluster and randomly thought to try the WH breath work, because why not!? Anyway, the long and short of it is that it actually worked and cleared my headache by the third and final round...completely (approx. 8-10 minutes)! I have since used it every single time I have had a cluster and it has worked every single time! I am unsure why this is working for me but I am guessing that it is due to the amount of oxygen that is being forced into my system - Possibly similar to the oxygen treatment? I wanted to share this with you guys to see if this would help anyone else, without the need for pharmaceutical medications (although I don't know if it is a combination of this and the Verapamil). The link to the video that I watch each time is below: I really hope that his information is useful to some of you and it helps you as it is helping me! Wishing you all the best John.

Hi everyone... I hope everyone is as good as can be! I've been dealing with CH for around 12-13 years now, normally occurring for me between June and September every years. For the past 3 years, I have used Verapamil with amazing success, at a super low, consistent dose. They have ALWAYS worked fine for me, as they did this year but after around 5-6 weeks, I felt a sensation that I haven't felt before. Imagine a CH but without any sensation of pain (I know it sounds strange!), still with all of the pressure build-up - This is what I am experiencing around twice a day now. My right eye reddens and waters slightly and my right nasal passage becomes completely blocked, just as they would during an actual CH. Whilst it's nowhere near anything like a CH, pain-wise, it's strange and uncomfortable! It is like a 'phantom' CH!? Has anyone else experienced this at all? Thanks!

Just registered. Hopefully it is still running... Thanks. John.

Hi, great post and similar sort of story here - 33 year old male, suffered with CH for ten years or so but it took me a couple of years to realise / be diagnosed due to just not having heard anything about CH previously. I was prescribed Rizatriptan wafers for a while, which did nothing and then I came of all prescribed medication and tried psilocybin mushrooms and truffles, which also didn't work. The last two years my cycles have been 'short and sweet', if you can say that, and the pain much less severe but this year the attacks returned in full force so I went to the doctors on Tuesday last week and was prescribed Verapamil (40mg) and advised to take 1 tablet twice a day and return in two weeks. By day three, even at only 80mg per day, I had a day free from any CH attacks. It's now Sunday and I haven't had one single headache... Maybe it's too early to tell what is what in my personal case but fingers crossed, this really does work! PS: chroniccluster252 - I read that constipation was a side effect in the leaflet but personally haven't experienced that. Sorry but hope you get sorted.