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Sorry about the repost, I don't know what went wrong. Thanks again, it should be easier with a starting point of doctors who know what they're doing. I feel very misunderstood by most of them. I may have to wait another week to see the Dr, I started taking the d3 and fish oil yesterday and added the calcium today. So far I am seeing a difference, I have only had the shadow today and it seems to be fading out now. My attacks have always been sporadic, I have read that many people get theirs at certain times, I have good days and bad, so I'm not sure if today is just one of my lucky days or if the vitamins are helping. I'm hoping its the vitamins.

I will continue my hunt for the welders oxygen, I called a few places that didn't carry it, and by the time I found one that did they gave me their outrageous pricing. I've requested the rx from two doctors and the er with no luck and paid out of pocket for the office visits, its frustrating. The imitrex I get is the generic, and yes its the injections. I'm disappointed to hear it interferes with the seeds. But its very expensive anyway so I need a better solution. The vitamins I got are fish oil with omega 3, 1200 mg/ 360 mg, I take 3 pills, vitamin d3, 5000 UI, I take two, and calcium magnesium zinc tablets, I take 3 of those. Please let me know if that's the correct dosage. So far the imitrex is the only thing that has helped. I tried the energy drinks with no luck.I was downing six redbulls a day the past few days hoping it would work but I was still getting hit hard. I don't think ice will do it for me, I would probably just beat my head with it if you know what I mean. I am really hoping these vitamins do the trick. I remember my first cycles I would only get hit once a day, now I'm up to three a day and three to four at night. I'm exhausted and I have constant shadow and droop eye. Thanks for everything, I think we are better at solving our problems than any doctor.

Oxygen is essential. Busting works. RedBull or some other energy drink high in caffeine and taurine helps many people if it is drunk rapidly at the onset of an attack. Inhaling cold air from an air conditioner is a poor but sometimes effective short-term substitute for oxygen from tanks with a non-rebreather mask. Here's a more direct link about using LSA (seeds) as a busting method (the other files there by TommyD are also good): http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1290128974 The link Jeff gave you is very good for finding seed suppliers and other resources. I'd urge you to consider beginning right now the simple, inexpensive vitamin D3 protocol that has helped many, many people quickly and also lastingly. Take about 10,000 international units per day of vitamin D3, taken with food; 2 or 3 calcium citrate tablets per day, with or without food (ideally, these tablets should also contain magnesium and zinc); and 3,000-5,000 mg per day of Omega 3 fish oil, with food. You can find these ingredients in a pharmacy or drug store. Many people find that a glass or two of lemonade or limeade per day with meals increases the effectiveness. Many people start getting significant relief within a day or two. The levels I listed above are the "default" levels--you might wish to adjust according to your own tolerance. These are not "megadoses"--all are within standard recommended daily allowances except the D3, which is high but not inordinately so. To read a great deal more about the D3 regimen, you could wade through the following thread: http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1291969416/0 Or, you could try the licorice root method discussed here. Depending on where you live, the licorice root extract might be harder to find than the ingredients for the vitamin D3 protocol. http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1298659068 Everyone here has been where you are, Christina, or they've had a loved one who was suffering as you are. Today those same people are living lives without pain, or with far less frequent and far less severe pain. Stick in here with us and you'll be one of those people, too.

Thanks CHfather, I meant "not into drugs", meaning I was not seeing myself trying to find LSD at the corner of the street....like there's still people taking LSD and listening to Jimmy Hendrix still.....lol As for the D3, I tried the Jamieson Vitamin D3 1,000 IU Chocolate Chewable type I bought at Costco. (I'm in Canada, and they do not carry the ones Batch is getting...... will try to find something similar and try again) I was taking the Omega fish oil, the calcium citrate and the magnesium.....but not the lemonade..... I read some of the seed threads, and saw that most places in Canada for seeds are not in business anymore (?)....at least, the sites are down..... Thanks again

Welcome, Yan! Sorry for what you are going through, and hoping we can help you. That's a very tough thing, going from episodic to what seems more like chronic. I can assure you that most people here are not "into drugs," and most are able to arrange their busting strategies so there is little or no psychedelic effect--only a cessation of cluster attacks. And many are much older than you: "Hipshot" (Dan), for example, is about 97.  I think it's safe to say that seeds, such as rivea corymbosa seeds (RC), can almost always be used with virtually no psychedelic effects. You can learn more about how to use seeds here http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1290128974 and also in other files by TommyD in the "Clusterbuster files" section of this board. Ask questions -- plenty of very kind and knowledgeable folks here will help answer them. I suppose your biggest challenge will be "detoxing" from your meds, some of which interfere with the effectiveness of "busting" with psychedelics. So let's be sure you're giving the vitamin D3 regimen it's best shot. You say "maybe the vitamin D I'm using is not the right one." Is it D3 -- that's what the regimen calls for. You can find it almost anyplace, but here's a list provided by "Batch" over at ch.com: >>>>>>>>>>>>I buy these items at Costco. Sam's Club has some of these vitamins and minerals under Member's Mark label. You can buy the Kirkland brand over the Internet from Amazon or go to Puritan's Pride web site. They carry the same items. Costco has the best deal on the 5,000 IU vitamin D3 softgels: $6.99 after $2 OFF Trunature® Vitamin D3 5000 IU Extra-strength 500 Softgels < 3 cents/day 20 cents/week Sam's Club: Member's Mark® Vitamin D-3 5000 IU - 400 softgels $10.68 < 6 cents/day, <38 cents/week Puritan's Pride SUNVITE™ MAXIMUM STRENGTH VITAMIN D (D-3) 5000 IU: 500 softgels for $14 <6 cents/day, <40 cents/week<<<<< And of course the D3 protocol also calls for calcium citrate, Omega-3 fish oil, and maybe a couple of glasses of lemonade or limeade each day. I trust you've also done that. Also, in terms of being able to detox, there are some oxygen strategies, sometimes referred to as "power using," that seem to work quicker and more lastingly than the 15lpm flow rate and the standard non-rebreather mask. If you're interested, ask about these and someone will advise you. Even at 15, many people say that the O2ptimask is more effective: http://www.clusterheadaches.com/khxc/index.php?app=ccp0&ns=catshow&ref=LifeGas As I say -- ask questions. In one way or another, we're all in this together, we all learn from each other, and we all care about each other.

enjoy, wade, and congratulations for taking control. some people suggest a bust between cycles, maybe three months from now if you're on the fairly typical twice-a-year schedule, and also to be sure to bust at the first sign of a new cycle (some people here have regretted waiting too long). i would also recommend that you do the maintenance-level D3 program: 5 IU of D3; couple of calcium citrate tablets; and 2-4 mg of fish oil. probably can't hurt, and lots of evidence that it helps.

Hey everybody, Thanks for the lyrical stylings and advice. I have been diagnosed with cluster headaches, yes. And I have all the pain criteria anyway, but the last neuro I saw confirmed cluster headaches. As for the Zoloft -- I know much of the reason I started it was because I was in constant pain. It would keep me up several nights in a row (back in the mid-1990s), and that triggered major depression. In other words I got depressed initially because I'm always in pain and I just reached a point where I wanted out and went a bit nuts. That being said... I've already been doing the D3, calcium and fish oil thing for quite some time anyway, but it has not helped any over the course of the past year or so. Prior to losing my med insurance my doc was fussing about my D3 level being so high, but I insisted I need it so he didn't argue (it won't kill me, LOL). What's more effective though, shrooms or seeds? Are the shrooms legal? I'm going to wean myself off the Zoloft, my husband has agreed to keep an eye on me and let me know if things start looking like they might be going badly. To be honest, I had an attack Saturday that was so bad I just wanted to end it, frankly. Zoloft couldn't even counter that. Will check into the oxygen and read up on all the links you kind folks have supplied, and I thank you so much for your help.  P.S. I forgot to mention this: Percocet is the only thing that has ever given me "temporary" relief from the pain. I say temporary because if I'm already in a cycle, it will only alleviate (not eliminate) the pain for an hour or two, then it's right back at it again. However, none of my docs ever want to provide it, they freak out thinking I will become an addict. After 28 years of this, really? Hasn't happened yet. LOL!!

Lynn, I'm so sorry for what you are going through. It's not clear to me whether you have a diagnosis of cluster headaches, or have concluded that CH is what you have. Certainly the pain is terrible enough to be CH, but do you have other typical CH symptoms (intense "drilling" red-hot-poker pain around the eye or temple; eye symptoms such as drooping eyelid; running nose or tearing from the eyes; etc? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_headaches I'm not saying that seeds are not worth trying regardless of what you have, since pharma meds aren't helping you, but some approaches, such as oxygen, are first-line treatments for CH but not particularly effective for other kinds of headaches. You can get an oxygen set-up without a prescription, using welding-oxygen tanks and other equipment you can buy separately. Even without insurance, it's not hugely costly and is a lifesaver for aborting CH attacks. You might want to look at this file: http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1299901790 You might also begin the simple, inexpensive vitamin D3 protocol that has helped many, many people with CH quickly and also lastingly (again, I can't say how it might help other kinds of headaches, but it's basically safe and, I would think, worth trying). Take about 10,000 international units per day of vitamin D3, taken with food; 2 or 3 calcium citrate tablets per day, with or without food (ideally, these tablets should also contain magnesium and zinc); and 3,000-5,000 mg per day of Omega 3 fish oil, with food. That's it, except that many people find that a glass or two of lemonade or limeade per day with meals increases the effectiveness. Many people start getting significant relief from CH within a day or two. The levels I listed above are the "default" levels--you might wish to adjust according to your own tolerance. These are not "megadoses"--all are within standard recommended daily allowances except the D3, which is high but not inordinately so. To read a great deal more about the D3 regimen, you could wade through the following thread: http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1291969416/0 You mention that you've read the FAQ about LSA. Have you also looked at the very valuable files in the "Clusterbuster files" section of this board, particularly those by tommyd, detailing ins and outs of busting principles and methodology? Here's the one on seeds, but there are several others there that you might want to look at: http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1290128974 Keep us informed, please, and we'll keep doing our best to help you.

Here's something Ricardo posted recently at another thread about seeds no longer working. Can't vouch for it myself . . . >>>The real thing I want to throw out there though, is something I've said over and over and kinda surprised no one else seems to have tried it. Once you seem to be getting tolerance to the seeds, get a new batch, grind em up and soak them in cold peppermint tea for a few hours. The peppermint tea is high in acetaldehyde, and according to our good friend (and my avatar) Albert Hoffman, the combination of LSA and acetaldehyde will make LSH--Which he said at low doses is indistinguishable from LSD. Higher doses tend to give some people anxiety so I would start with a small amount and work you're way up (especially if you are an axious person to start with, I am not, and have taken damn high doses without any anxiety) I can not attest to the chemistry behind all this, but what I can say is that it is a different drug (LSA makes me sleepy and kinda narcoticized, This stuff definitely did not make me sleepy--if anything got a slight stimulant effect from it, and it kept me up for 12 hours) and it seems to help my headaches.<<<

Chris1331 posted on another thread (see that post at end of this message), but I think a new thread is a good idea, so I'm starting one. Chris, there are many, many people here who have been through what you're going through, and they're now living normal lives that are relatively pain free, where CH might be an occasional reality but the beast has been greatly diminished in its ferocity. You've shown great courage. Now it's time to start getting better. I'm going to re-post parts of a message I just posted, because it's faster and it contains some essentials. You can go from there with questions. You meds do not all sound wise to me (is the imitrex injectable??), but others will comment on that. Most importantly, it doesn't sound like you have oxygen. For 90-plus percent of people, a proper oxygen setup, properly used, will stop CH attacks within 15 minutes. You can read more about oxygen here -- http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1299901790 -- but the main thing is for you to get a prescription for oxygen, or to get it on your own through a welding-supply company. You need to contact your neuro immediately about this (preferably after reading the file I have linked to). Since it's Friday, I'd recommend making the call today . . . but we're here to discuss it with you. Except in very, very rare cases, oxygen therapy for CH has no side effects. You could also start right now trying something that has helped many, many people with CH, is inexpensive, and uses ingredients that can be found at any decent drug store or place that sells nutritional supplements -- probably in a grocery store. Take the following every day: 10,000 International Units per day of vitamin D3, taken with food; 2 or 3 calcium citrate tablets per day, with or without food (ideally, these tablets should also contain magnesium and zinc); and 3,000-5,000 mg per day of Omega 3 fish oil, with food. That's it, except that many people find that a glass or two of lemonade or limeade per day with meals increases the effectiveness. Many people start getting significant relief within a few days. The levels I listed above are the "default" levels--they might wish to adjust according to their tolerance. These are not "megadoses"--all are within standard recommended daily allowances except the D3, which is high but not inordinately so. To read a great deal more about the D3 regimen, you could wade through the following thread: http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1291969416/0 This D3 approach is almost certainly harmless, but given all your meds maybe you'd want to check with your doctor. It's inexpensive and effective for many people; you really should start it ASAP, in my opinion. In the short run, you can also try using "energy drinks" at the first sign of a headache. RedBull and Monster are two popular brands: the main thing is to get plenty of caffeine and taurine, which those drinks contain. For some people, catching a headache early and chugging down one of these drinks can stop a headache or keep it from getting as bad as it might have. Lots of folks with CH have success with this. Again, because of your existing heart-rate issues, it would be wise to check with your doctor about the effects of the caffeine and taurine. The major anti-CH strategy here, after oxygen, is "busting" with mushrooms, seeds, or other substances. You can't really start that without "detoxing" from some of your meds (which don't seem to be that helpful, anyway). The oxygen, D3, and energy drinks you can all do without detoxing. Lives -- including the life of my daughter and of many people here -- have been saved by this method, and by oxygen and D3. If you want to know more about it, you could read the series of posts by TommyD in the "Clusterbuster files" section of this board, probably beginning here -- http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1290127865 -- and then going on to other posts of his. Keep talking to us. Things are going to get better for you. ORIGINAL MESSAGE FROM CHRIS1331: I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!! I now have been up for 48 hours straight with this latest CH. The hospital can do nothing. I am already on 8 different meds just to control them-neurontin,1600mg daily. Depakote 1000 mg daily. The CH's also affect my BP so I'm on propranolol which is also a beta blocker known to help with CH. Nadolol for my BP and chest pains because the CH's give me panick attacks. Xanax and Lexapro for the panic attacks, the neurologist also claims those meds are good for clusters too. And the imitrex which upsets my stomach so they give me phenigren to take for that. Sometimes I just want to give up but my family keeps me going. Â

tomboy, that's a terrible, terrible story to which everyone here can completely relate. and we know how to change it, pretty quickly, to a very different story of wellbeing and hope. none of this kind of pain, maybe never again. i'm not saying they'll be cured, but life will be completely different. i guess i should say that it definitely sounds like cluster headaches, and you say they have it . . . do they have a firm diagnosis from a doctor? first thing is that they don't seem to have an oxygen setup, which is the #1 treatment for cluster headaches. for 90-plus percent of people, oxygen will stop CH attacks within 15 minutes. you can read more about oxygen here -- http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1299901790 -- but the main thing is for them to get prescriptions for oxygen, or to get it on their own. so you need to get back to us -- or get them on this board themselves -- about why they don't have oxygen (never been prescribed for them? "tried it" but don't think it works?). do they have confidence in their doctors, so that they could go back to the doctor and request -- demand -- oxygen. do they have medical insurance (this is not necessary--oxygen can be obtained without a prescription -- but it's good to know)? like i say, if you could get one of them on this board, it would be good. you have done a great deed for them by coming here. they could also start right now trying something that has helped many, many people with CH, is inexpensive, and uses ingredients that can be found at any decent drug store or place that sells nutritional supplements -- probably in a grocery store. Take the following every day: 10,000 International Units per day of vitamin D3, taken with food; 2 or 3 calcium citrate tablets per day, with or without food (ideally, these tablets should also contain magnesium and zinc); and 3,000-5,000 mg per day of Omega 3 fish oil, with food. That's it, except that many people find that a glass or two of lemonade or limeade per day with meals increases the effectiveness. Many people start getting significant relief within a few days. The levels I listed above are the "default" levels--they might wish to adjust according to their tolerance. These are not "megadoses"--all are within standard recommended daily allowances except the D3, which is high but not inordinately so. To read a great deal more about the D3 regimen, you could wade through the following thread: http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1291969416/0 Since doing this D3 approach is almost certainly harmless (though they could check with a doctor) and inexpensive and effective for many people, they really should start it right away. In the short run, they can also try using "energy drinks" at the first sign of a headache. RedBull and Monster are two popular brands: the main thing is to get plenty of caffeine and taurine, which those drinks contain. For some people, catching a headache early and chugging down one of these drinks can stop a headache or keep it from getting worse. The major anti-CH strategy here, after oxygen, is "busting" with mushrooms, seeds, or other substances. They should come on here themselves if they want to try that kind of treatment. Lives -- including the life of my daughter and of many people here -- have been saved by this method. If you want to know more about it, you/they could read the series of posts by TommyD in the "Clusterbuster files" section of this board, probably beginning here -- http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1290127865 -- and then going on to posts of his. We are here to help them, and if necessary to help you help them.

Hi My mom had her first chemo therapy this friday and my father got into the hospital today. He had cancer in his stomach, don`t know exactly what`s causing problems right now. I have a brother and a sister, my sister`s on vacation and my brother will be soon. Difficult this situation, not really sure what to do. Been painting my daughters room today, actually it didn't trigger ch. This morning i realized i was feeling afraid of the painting, lol, i`m serious, i`m seriously afraid of painting. Not so much of the water based ones anymore, but just thinking of oil based out door paint gives me chills on my back, yuck!! So now you folks know i`m afraid of sheep's while hunting and paint. Now i've been painting and soon hunting season starts, meeting my fears. LOL...... Ok now i`m rambling, just needed to vent a bit.... Thank you for listening, what would i do without you folks PFW to all Tingeling

thoro, the thing that's weird about the busting alternative, of course, is that if it was legal if would be the first preventive anyone tried, not the last. Effective for most people; no real side effects . . . What more could you want? I suspect that some of our wonderful Scandanavian members might have advice for you about how to get busting materials. We can all follow up then on specifics, based on what you decide. So many people have come here in the condition you're in and been returned to a very, and often completely, normal life. There is no reason why that won't also happen to you. I would also strongly recommend that you begin right now the simple, inexpensive vitamin D3 protocol that has helped many, many people quickly and also lastingly. Take about 10,000 international units per day of vitamin D3, taken with food; 2 or 3 calcium citrate tablets per day, with or without food (ideally, these tablets should also contain magnesium and zinc); and 3,000-5,000 mg per day of Omega 3 fish oil, with food. That's it, except that many people find that a glass or two of lemonade or limeade per day with meals increases the effectiveness. Many people start getting significant relief within a day or two. The levels I listed above are the "default" levels--you might wish to adjust according to your own tolerance. To read a great deal more about the D3 regimen, you could wade through the following thread: http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1291969416/0 Best wishes for pain-free days ahead. Stay strong; it's going to get much better for you.

I live in Northwest Arkansas USA in the Ozark mountains near Fayetteville. I am 44 yrs old and have been experiencing these crazy headaches for about 4 years. They usually start during a head cold or hay fever type of event. I do not have health insurance, so I have been combating them mostly on my own. I found this site about two weeks ago and have been obsessively reading the info here. Thank you for being here. It is so wonderful to finally know what's going on. I am currently in the third week of the most consistant episode yet. And am very tired...getting headaches one hour after going to sleep every time. Thanks to some of the suggestions from here the intensity of the attacts are down and I have been able to manage most of the pain...redbull who would've have thought. I have missed a few days of work...but I now believe I may survive. I will find a way to see a headache specialist and will get the o2 as soon as I can. I went to a walk in clinic and they agree with the cluster headache diagnosis and I took a round of Predizone. I am take the D3, fish oil, calcium and magnesium regime. I am taking 10mg of melitonin before bed as well as 1mg of xanex (unperscribed) also taking B complex vitamins and vit C. drinking lots of water. The sleeping issues are really taking there toll on me however...I am very shaky and generally confused...any sugestions would be appriciated ... Sorry about spelling and grammer mistakes ... not at my best right now. I currently have feelers out for busting options. Sounds much better than most of the meds that you guys talk about. This site has already been such a help to me...THANK YOU reposted from the CH.com board

Morning. Yup, taking 3000mg fish oil/omega 3. 250mg of magniesum. And calcium citrate. Maybe I just need some time for everything to get "settled" I dont know....Still at it though. I did however pick up my guitar last night for the first time in weeks. Felt good

Yep if the beast is in town, when it rains it pours and when it pains it ROARS. > Stoopid jinx - almost every time someone dares to report a PF break, boy that just perks Mr. McBeasty's ears right up and he comes lunging back in. > :( :'( I'm trying to remember Jason whether you're taking the other components of the D3 regimen (of which I'm not really sure just how mandatory they are) - the calcium and oil and stuff?

jc, you'll get plenty of very good advice here. RC (rivea corymbosa) seeds, a source of LSA, have worked very effectively for my daughter. Since it is strongly advised that you "detox" from conventional meds for five days before starting "busting" (if you choose to bust), having a good oxygen system is critical. Let us know how yours is working for you--I presume you can get at least 15 liters per minute of O2 flow and you have a properly configured non-rebreather mask. Read this to learn more: http://www.clusterheadaches.com/O2/index.html You could order some RC seeds--which are legal to buy and possess--now, so you have them when/if you're ready to bust. If you do use them, you'll probably want to have about 200 seeds (for multiple doses). You can google to look for places that sell them--there are many. A lot of people use www.iamshaman.com I strongly recommend that you begin right now the simple, inexpensive vitamin D3 protocol that has helped many, many people quickly and also lastingly. Take about 10,000 international units per day of vitamin D3, taken with food; 2 or 3 calcium citrate tablets per day, with or without food (ideally, these tablets should also contain magnesium and zinc); and 3,000-5,000 mg per day of Omega 3 fish oil, with food. That's it, except that many people find that a glass or two of lemonade or limeade per day with meals increases the effectiveness. Many people start getting significant relief within a day or two. The levels I listed above are the "default" levels--you might wish to adjust according to your own tolerance. These are not "megadoses"--all are within standard recommended daily allowances except the D3, which is high but not inordinately so. To read a great deal more about the D3 regimen, you could wade through the following thread: http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1291969416/0 Also, note that in the "Clusterbuster files" section of this board there are many files, particularly those by tommyd, detailing ins and outs of busting principles and methodology. You're starting to get control of this thing, and it will get better for you from here.

Hey Gump, Like you, I started out with 10000iu a day. Also, Im taking 3 tablets of calcium citrate. I am taking omega fish oil. 3000mg a day. Thanks for asking  Havent tried the lemonade yet. I will start that tonight. As for my seeds ?? No, they havent showed up yet. Wish I had some to break this cycle. I would give anything for 8hrs sleep. I'm averaging about 4 hours. And even that is intermitent sleep. Not healthy. This heat & humidity here where I live, is taking its toll on me right now. It seems that I'm very sensitive to heat & humidity as I get older. I guess thats why I love winter so much. Like everybody else on this site, I just want these things to go away for good. My wife and I were talking just the other evening about my cycles. She said she was worried that with a 19 remission time period, that when they came back they would be worse and more severe. She's right. I love this site. The people here really understand what I'm going through. They offer excellent advice. Excellent reassurance. I cant thank you all enough. I did decide to order up some "medicine material". Going to be a while before I can use it. Oh well. Just keep pushing through it I guess. I do have my O2 though !! Thanks Guys.

Hi Jason, I'm trying to kill a horrendous cycle right now too. I started the "D3 regimen" on June 10th and it seems to help alot for me. I take 6200 IU of vitamin D3 (recommended dose is 10000IU but I've had better luck with less), about 2700mg of Omega3 fish oil, 3 calcium citrate pills with magnesium and zinc and also a little D3, and 2 big glasses of lemon aid ( morning and night) every day. I bought all this stuff at Target for like 25 bucks, maybe less. I recommend you start it too, ASAP. Â Now, I'm 10 weeks into this cycle, and never had one last this long in my 21 years of CH, so maybe mine's about over any way, but I feel like the vitamins helped over night. Also, Friday night, I "busted" with RC seeds (30 of em) for the first time. Not too sure if it's had any effect as I seemed to have had more HA's since busting. But I'm gonna bust again Tuesday with about 60 rc seeds. Â Â Everyone on here will tell you to detox for 5 days from about all prescription meds, and once you do, you'll be better off. Plus, as Jeff pointed out most meds interfere with the busting agents. Â I hope you can use this info to help get yourself pain free. Best of luck to you, Gump p.s. I always try to get on the O2 at the first hint of an attack, the longer I wait, the longer it takes to cage the beast. And, I stay on it for at least 5 minutes after the last feeling of pain or the HA returns.

Jeebs, there are also vegetarian versions of Omega-3, with the same ingredients (I think) as in the fish oil (DHA and EPA, I think).

What CHfather said about the imitrex tablets vs. the injections (or inhaler) and how your doctor appears to be some kind of lousy bonehead when it comes to CH (OK maybe he didn't word it exactly that way HA! ) and, well just everything CHfather said. Personally, I would go for the D3 regimen right now, as it's very low risk. Actually, personally I don't devour the fish oil since I'm vegetarian, but flax oil has a whole lot of the Omega 3 action goin' on. 8-)

Geisha, this might also speak to some shortcomings in your doctor's understanding of CH, since it's my understanding that imitrex pills do not act quickly enough to really help with CH (in contrast to injections). Have you read about the vitamin D3 regimen that has helped a lot of people (though not everyone)? It's something you can do while busting (though maybe you just want to get oxygen, detox from the meds that probably aren't helping you anyway, and then bust). The D3 regimen is 10,000 international units per day of vitamin D3, taken with food; 2 or 3 calcium citrate tablets per day, with or without food. Ideally, these tablets should also contain magnesium and zinc. 3,000-5,000 mg per day of Omega 3 fish oil, with food. That's it, except that many people find that a glass or two of lemonade per day with meals increases the effectiveness. There's a long and winding thread on this topic at ch.com, but what I have told you are the basics. http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1291969416/0 At the least, you might want to try the preventive D3 regimen after you've ended this cycle--it's half of what I listed above. It is working very well for many people.

Chfather, that's a Roger on the omega 3 fish oil and the lemon aid. Started it all at the same time. Thanks for the dosage info, 50 seeds it will be. Question If I dose with 50 seeds at say 9 pm at night, is there any reason i wouldn't be able to work my 12 hour shift starting at 8 am the next morning?

Gump, are you also doing the Omega-3 fish oil (3K-5K mg/day with meals)? I think if you're gonna do this D3 regimen, you probably want to do it all. And a lot of people swear by the addition of a glass of lemonade/limeade with breakfast and dinner. I'm not one to prescribe, and I don't think anyone really knows what RC dosages are optimal, but I think you might want to take more than 25 after your first dose, even as much as 50. As I've mentioned here, my daughter was quite happy where she ended up, which was 60. In any event, if you decide to take more on your second dose, you'll have time to order additional seeds for your third. We're rooting for you!

I feel for you. I know how hard it is to deal with this when you're not getting the relief you need. It seems like you're on the right track, with the D regimen, the oxygen and trying to get off the narcotics. But if anyone knows how much it sucks to be going through all the motions and not get relief it's me, I really sympathize....If I didn't have my shrooms I would probably be a basket case (some people may feel I got there years ago  ) My advice...Forget about the wild shrooms, unless you're taking a trip somewhere warmer. The three species that shroomery mentions for your area are not very potent and hard to identify (although one seems really cool and grows in my area, the Gymnopolis Spectablis or "laughing Jim"--it somehow has kavalatone like chemicals in it besides the psilocybin-------I've been on the hunt for a while  ) So what can you do? Right away, I would take the steps to start growing them. In the meantime get some seeds. I'll send you a PM with my usual sources. Try the seeds soaked in water, if that doesn't help enough, try soaking them in cold Peppermint tea. That will turn the LSA into LSH, and unless it's placebo, it seems to help me more than the LSA. The biggest thing to remember, is that most of us were in really bad places when we joined this site. Even if you don't find your silver bullet for the beast, it seems like just being here and getting support has helped a lot of us. -Ricardo BTW--have you had your testosterone levels tested? It's a simple blood test that's helped some of us.