Mike33

Hi all, I wrote on this board for the first time after many years of just reading, during my most recent cycle, which started in March of 2026. I remember the day distinctly because it was Daylight Savings on Sunday, March 8, 2026. I quit drinking beer for the duration of the cycle a week later as the attacks intensified. April was the cruellest month. (Hat tip to T.S. Eliot.) Finally, in the first week of May, they began to taper off slowly. By the second full week of May, it was over. It was about nine weeks total, which is kind of average for me. This was the first time I had oxygen and I have to say, it was a game changer. Oxygen aborted some attacks completely, lessened the intensity of others, and gave me an alternative to medications. There were a couple of times in this cycle where I had an attack a short distance from home, so instead of taking a pill, I just rushed home and used oxygen and it ended the attacks. If you suffer from cluster headaches and you're not using oxygen, you should try it. Go to a doctor and get a prescription for medical oxygen. It is much easier to use than I thought it was. Lots of places will even deliver it to you. You have to be careful with oxygen, obviously, it is flammable. I did not even turn on my gas stove once for the entire time I had a tank in my home. I would microwave stuff, get takeout, or just make a sandwich or something. It was totally worth it. Anyway, I just wanted to drop a line and say thank you and that my most recent cycle is over. If you are in a cycle now, hang in there. It will end eventually. I hope it is soon. - Mike

Hi everyone, I got oxygen for the first time today. I watched a demonstration on YouTube and got the breathing technique down. It definitely works in stopping attacks and that is awesome. The problem I am having is that it doesn't last. I have used almost a quarter of the tank on the first day. It stops an attack and then I need it again an hour later. Is this typical? What if anything can I do to prolong the relief? Thanks so much!

Hi everyone, I'm a long time lurker here. I'm 55 and have been suffering from Cluster Headaches for almost 20 years. I typically enter a new cycle every two years or so and they tend to last for 6 to 10 weeks. I am currently in my third week of a new cycle. I usually use Sumatriptan (100 MGs) to deal with category 10 attacks and just got my new prescription yesterday but am a little hesitant to use it because during my last cycle I think I may have overused it and made my cycle even worse and longer. I have never used oxygen but I am trying to get that now. In the meantime, like the rest of you, I would be willing to try anything to end an attack. In recent years, I have seen that some people have had success with Red Bull but I never tried it. I have never even had one before as energy drinks just aren't my thing, but last night I bought a few of the small/standard size cans at a gas station thinking I had nothing to lose. When I got up today, I had a shadow pain in my left sinus but it wasn't that bad. I figured it would pass within 10 minutes. I was wrong. In the span of about five minutes it escalated to a full-on attack. Pain level 10. I grabbed the Sumatriptan I just got and was going to take one but something in the back of my mind said - Try the Red Bull first. I opened a can and drank it all down in three gulps. About ten minutes later - ZERO PAIN. I am absolutely amazed. It was as effective as Sumatriptan and worked more than twice as fast. I wish I had tried this years ago. I realize that not everyone has the same success with each method, but I wanted to post this to let others know in case they want to try Red Bull as an alternative. I am positively stunned at how effective it was for me. Wishing you all a pain-free future. All the best. - Mike