Bit of history, I had "mild" clusters starting in September 2015. In 2017 after my 3rd year (each September), I found the vitamin D3 regimen. September 2018 and 2019 passed without headaches (started the regimen last week of August and took through first week of October). But then I started a new cycle in mid-November. I was caught off guard without the vitamins.
This cycle has been more typical of CH's, with more frequent attacks and much more painful (what used to be 7's as the worst are now 9's and 10's).
Because my previous cycles had been so mild, and the vitamin D3 thing worked so well, I'd never sought out a doctor. After a 10/10 last Thursday, I got an emergency appointment with a neurologist Friday (4 days ago). He put me on Indomethacin and I had to beg to get some kind of treatment, which ended up being Imitrex. I mentioned oxygen and he said it'd be almost impossible to prescribe. I'm not sure if that's legitimate, but I have seen that a lot of insurance doesn't like to pay for it.
This is the first cycle I've tried other methods. So far, energy drinks seem to work decently well, but since I'm limited to probably 2 a day, if I get multiple shadows I'm torn on when to take them. I've got a clearance, so "alternative" illegal substances are off the table. Outside of that, I tried a vibrator to my eye socket. That...mostly just distracted a bit, but didn't bust it. That's about the extent (I'm only 3.5 weeks into this new, hellish cycle).
As I said, the Imitrex is basically a last resort if I get something in the 9-10 pain range that I just can't handle. I'm curious if using it gluteal would work?