Jimmy Martinez

Thank you Dallas Denny for your support! I hope you are able to view this communication. I saw a post you did recently where it says you can't "comment" anymore on a thread unless you are a moderator.

Hi Friends, this site and the incredible people on it who share LIFE SAVING information is invaluable. Thank you. I'd like to meet people in person or at least speak with them on the phone. Digital communications are awesome but I feel so much more can be gained by being in an in-person support group. Maybe even a ZOOM group. I'm in Los Angeles. I have questions about busting, DMT, and anything else that I can use against our common enemy. I'm hoping to get better and better at disabling the condition. No matter what happens, for the most part, if I'm not experiencing the agony of a you know what, I'm the happiest, luckiest man alive with ZERO complaints. I will say that if there is a positive to this condition, it's appreciating the time when life is CH free and I can sleep through the night. I'm excited to meet and know people who have found a way to successfully combat the condition and also those who are no longer affected/victims. If anyone is in LA or knows of anyone in LA, please let me know. I just want to learn more and get my arsenal ready for when the battle begins. That's a lot of fancy talk for learning more about every tool available that will weaken or eliminate the CH cycle. Thank you! Jimmy Martinez in the San Fernando Valley section on LA. PS: I'm excited about DMT. I don't know what it really is but if it kills a cycle or weakens it, Im all in.

Thank you Bejeeber! I hope you are receiving this communication?

Hi Friends, I'm 53, my CH began at 37. I get them about every 12-18 months for about 4-8 weeks. Maxalt, Verapamil, and Oxygen are my top 3 "helpers". I will though explore busting and anything else that can help prevent, reduce, or extinguish the pain. I'm thinking about the stretch of time between the attack. I'm basically healthy. No smoking, drinking, fairly decent diet. I'm thinking about what I can do to gear my body (and mind) up so that if a cycle comes, I'm ready for it and maybe I'm so "fit" that the severity and length of the cycle gets reduced. Should I take vitamin D regimen throughout the year? Bust every 6 months just to keep the brain peaceful? Lift weight like a madman? Breathe from an oxygen tank or get into deep breathing exercises? what can I do to prevent the cycle or if I I can't prevent it, what can I do to stockpile and prepare when the battle comes? Is sounds like people who bust do it every few months as a lifestyle thing that also either prevents the CH cycle or it makes it so that when the cycle comes, it's weakened dramatically? My primary doctor (not headache doctor) told me that the faster you get to the oxygen when a cycle starts, the better chance you have of destroying the cycle. Maybe just pound oxygen for a few days straight and perhaps that can kill the cycle before it can "take off"? we are all different but I'd love to hear more from the people who have either found a way to cure themselves or make it 1000% easier and better to deal with. is anyone in LA and would anyone be open to phone call about all of this? my thinking is that if I throw enough things at CH and try as many combinations or remedies as possible, someone will break loose and big time progress can be made. has anyone put together an entire list of EVERY SINGLE remedy or option we have to throw at this condition? I'd love to see that list and hear what other people think about it. also, if we use drugs like lexapro or Vyvanse or any type of drug for ADHD, depression, etc, could that help with the CH? how about cold plunge therapy. it seems cold helps with CH. or the caveman diet? there has to be a combination of things that can make a big difference. who is the most successful person to ever combat CH? I'd like to read their book. thank you all and I truly believe by sharing information and persevering, we can help each other end this ailment FOREVER.

Thank Goodness Mike you are pain free! I will pray it never ends and the only time you come back to this site is to encourage others and share your success stories. That day is coming!

Hi Bejeeber and Fun Times, thank you both so much for your help. Beejeber: I'm so happy you are in a long remission period. I will pray that it will be a permanent period. I have so many questions about the busting and everything regarding CH. The written communications are awesome but I would lone day love to talk to people or even meet them in person. I have to find a way to do this because I feel like there is so much more helpful information and guidance I could gather on a 5 minute call. Fun Times: I heart is broken to hear that you are enduring this with frequency. Stupid question on my part but have your tried everything? I feel like there has to be some sort of formula or combination out there that can either stop or tremendously reduce the CH. I wonder if we keep digging deep enough and keep the communications and cooperation super high, there can be a significant nudge forward. Right now I'm post cycle so I'm on my knees in gratitude because of the relief I've had the last week. I'm already thinking ahead to make I can do to prepare for the next storm. That is my next mission, to find out what I can do to get ready and be ready for the next storm. I would give every dollar and possession I have for your attacks to stop Fun Times. It would be my joy in life to know you never has so much as a headache again, ever.

Thank you Bejeeber. Chat GPT said Melatonin might help reduce or prevent my midnight CH attacks. I'd love to meet with you guys or have a phone conference because the typing and emails are nice but seeing and hearing is much more powerful. I'm sure everyone wants their privacy but I'd love to one day talk to someone in the CB community so I can get more clarity on things. It sounds like the busting is a miracle for many in the CB community. I assume some have perfected it to the point where they barely even get an attack and they have the beast fully contained so to speak. I wonder if there is any long term mental damage that can occur from busting. How are you Beejeber? are you pain free right now and have you mastered the CH monster? I can only imagine what people did back a hundred years ago when they were getting attacks, they must have just jumped off a cliff. The levels of pain are various for me. But even the weakest level is enough to keep me awake and uncomfortable. The highest level makes me wish I were in heaven. The oxygen works but only temporarily. it will quickly kill the pain but once I go back to bed, within an hour the pain comes back. The good news is that in this current cycle, I have been able to fully kill the pain a few times without the Maxalt. I hear people chug a 5 hour energy drink to abort an attack but if the attacks happens at 1am, I guess I'd be up all night wide awake and then suffer from sleep deprivation. are you on any other CH forum or website and have those sites helped you in any way? Thank you, Jimmy

Hi CH Father, Denny, BJeeber and Bosco, I hope this message reaches all of you. Thank you all so much for your care and concern. I've been meaning to see how you were all doing during my recent pain free period which lasted over a year! I'm going to do the FULL Vitamin D regimen, the blood draw thing isn't easy because seeing a doctor here in LA takes months with the insurance I have. I'll ask my doctor about the Naratriptan. He gave it to me and told me to take it an hour before bedtime so that my super punctual Midnight attacks would be prevented or lessened. I guess Naratriptan is not effective and no longer used. It's funny because this doctor is supposed to be THE headache guy in LA. I have the non-breather mask and I usually get the proper oxygen tanks. I'm awaiting on the oxygen, it usually takes some pulling teeth to get it all because of the insurance company. I'm tempted to go back on the verapamil (I stopped it about a week ago because it just makes me feel lousy and I thought I was coming to the end of my cycle). It sounds like FULL Vitamin D regimen, oxygen, and verapamil are the way to go for now. I'll bust (tried it once about 2 years ago and I couldn't tell if it ended my cycle or helped my cycle) if I continue to get these midnight attacks. Getting help like this is so incredible. Thank you. I wish there was a way to do all of this by phone or with a CH specialist here in LA who knows all of the things you guys are talking about. I'm guessing none of you are 100% pain free at this time or that your attacks have permanently ended. If this is the case, I will put you all in my my sincere and strongest prayers so that the switch turns OFF forever and the only reason why you would ever visit this site is to help people in pain and to encourage and guide them. When this affliction ends for me permanently, I will always be a part of CH community so I can help people and hopefully deliver them from pain permanently. Thank you!!!!

Hi friends, I hope everyone is well and not in a cycle. If you are in a cycle, my prayers are with you for a quick (and permanent end) to the the cycle. I'm in a cycle right now and hopefully at the end of it. I've been taking verapamil (3 times a day) and maxalt (to abort an attack when all else fails). I'm getting a prescription for Oxygen and Naratripan today. My attacks occur 95% of the time about 1 hour after I fall asleep. I have had some light success taking 3 Advils, applying an ice pack to my head/temple, and deep breathing to abort the attack. But lately I've had to take the Maxalt in order the fully abort the attack and end the pain. The pain has had me literally in tears. My question is this: is it too late to "bust"? If I do bust, do I abstain from the verapamil during the bust? Looking back I think I should have done an "emgality" dose at the beginning of the cycle which began over a month ago. Is anyone have success with or "wins" they can share? I'm also doing a version of the Vitamin D regimen but it is an abbreviated regimen with vitamin D and Fish Oil only. Hopefully there are some things that are working very well for you all. My doctor who is a headache specialist told me he has had several patients who stopped having cycle altogether for several years. They just stopped one day and never came back. My cycles have happened at different times of the year but typically happen every 12-18 months. It would be great to find out why they are happening but also how to prevent them and better extinguish them. Thank you! Jimmy Martinez

Happy Holidays friends, I've been having CH since age 37, I'm now 52. They happen annually lasting for about 2-6 weeks. I've tried many many things (Vitamin D, oxygen, Verapamil, MM, acupuncture, Chinese herbs, Maxalt, etc.). What works best for me is: * Oxygen to stop an attack but not KILL an attack. * Maxalt: is my "go to" when I need to KILL an attack and extinguish for good. In terms of dealing with this affliction and having it under control, I'd give myself a 2 out 10 rating. I feel I could be doing a much better job preventing cluster cycles, reducing the pain and frequency of attacks when I'm in a cycle, and curing myself completely. I've read some stories about how some people have completely cured themselves of CH and they no longer have them at all. That is incredible and what I'm praying for. I've read stories from people who seem to have a normal life and are able to successfully deal with and thwart their cycles/attacks. They still get CH but they seem to have it fully under control and mastered in terms of keeping it manageable so they can live a normal life. And I've read stories like mine where people are not yet able to beat CH or manage it and they are in the throes of suffering (as I am now in my current cycle). I'm basically a novice at dealing with CH so I was hoping some of you who have mastered either beating this demon or taming it very well can share some of their tried and true success stories. Based on scanning the cluster buster site, it seems like MM is the most prevalent device used to successfully combat CH. My problem with MM is that I don't know when my cycle is going to happen and I believe if you "bust" you cannot be on Verapamil or Maxalt which is impossible for me when I'm in a cycle. So I guess the answer is to "BUST" when you are not in a cycle and hope that during the busting session a cycle doesn't occur. I really need more info on Busting if anyone can start a thread with me I would be so grateful. I vow to never leave anyone behind and that even if I find myself CH-Free one day, I will always donate, support, and be a part of the CH community because no one should ever experience pain like a CH attack. Also Gamma core, anyone have sustained positive experiences using it? For the people that rate themselves a 7 or higher in terms of managing this horrible affliction (and having a normal life), please share your success stories and formulas and remedies as people like myself need help and hope. I wish we could speak on the phone and have more FaceTime together. By the way, I'm a healthy guy who doesn't smoke or drink/use drugs. I'm more stressed than your average bear and have always wondered if stress is the real cause of my CH. Thank you! Jimmy M in Los Angeles.

Wow thank you so much Spiny. I am grateful to you and all of the information/guidance you have shared with me. I have a terrible mask. I have a to get the non-rebreather. What is a "PRED TAPER"? is that prednisone? I wish one day I could talk to you on the phone because I understand easier verbally instead of reading text. Right now I am still in my cycle but it is far less frequent and far less severe. I've had like 3 nights straight of no attacks but then I get some "pings" of pain like an attack is coming and then I hit the oxygen and take 2 advil and I'm okay. I think the mushrooms helped me decrease the power of the cycle. I did the mushrooms about 2 and a half weeks ago. My hope is to learn more and more hope to not only manage a cycle but ultimately to prevent a cycle. If you are ever up for a phone call, just a few minutes, I'd love to talk to you since you have lots of experience. But mostly, I wanted to let you know I am praying for you, me, and all of the people who are dealing with this insidious affliction. I hope right now you are pain free and I hope and pray that you never even get a mild headache ever again in your whole life. Like gone forever and that you can be one of the lucky one that are 100% rid of any type of headache. I pray every day and I pray for you, CH Father's daughter, and all of us in this forum and around the world who battle this demon. Thank you so much for helping me fight and hopefully win against this enemy. I feel like the answer or cure is out there and it's fairly simple. I think all of us get them for different reasons and if we can just prep our systems in advance of when we know a cycle is coming, we can avoid the cycle entirely. Take good care and please tell me how you are doing. Thank you, Jimmy

Thank you BoscoPiko for your help and great info. My prayer is that you never have a CH attack again and that is disappears forever.

Hi friends, I hope this is the right place to post this question. I am in the midst of a cycle right now. My doctor told me that Verapamil is mostly used to help prevent daytime attacks. 85% of my attacks occur late at night about an hour or 2 after I fall asleep, so like 11pm or 12am, I get hit. With this said, should I take the verapamil in the early evening (one 80MG pill) in the hopes of preventing the night time attacks or should I just take 3 pills a day with the hopes that the verapamil with be in my system strong enough to prevent an attack whether it happens at night, day, or whenever? I really don't like taking verapamil because it makes me feel lousy but I would rather take it and have a good chance of preventing a nighttime CH attack. I'm also doing the vitamin D regimen. Last Sunday I busted but I did it with maxalt in my system so I don't know if it was entirely effective. I'm working on getting oxygen and should have it on Monday. I also have maxalt and naratriptan which I use to kill a painful attack when nothing else (like advil) works. Verapamil in the past has helped me manage a cycle. I wish it could help shorten a cycle. I sincerely appreciate all of the help and support and kindness I have received from everyone on this forum. I will do my best to help people as i learn more about how deal with this condition. if there is anyone if los angeles, please let me know. Thank you, Jimmy

Thank you Michael for sharing your amazing experience! It gives people so much hope. To your continued excellent health, Jimmy

Hi Friends, I didn't think I would be back here after going almost 2 years without an attack but in the last few weeks, I got hit. It must be either stress or the hot weather or a combination of both. I'd be curious to hear what other people think causes their attacks. I have a very renowned headache specialist doctor and I asked him if he ever head of anyone "beating CH for good" and this was his response: Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone who has “beat” cluster headache. I know a lot of patients in whom it went away and never came back and in whom it got milder over time. To answer one of your prior questions. Fortunately, we have some pretty good medications to control the attacks and reduce frequency. If this is old news to many of you I apologize. When he told me this it gave me some hope and I hope it gives you some too. As I tell my wife, I would give every penny I have, every possession I own, to have this dreadful condition disappear forever. Wishing you all zero pain and deep restful night's sleep forever. Praying for us all, Jimmy M.