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Hello fellow clusterheads. Ive recently started getting cluster headache attacks after having them controlled for 5 years of taking Vitamin D. The first 3 years after I started the D regimen I was able to taper down to only 4,ooo IU of Vit D and had control of the headaches. After that I started getting attacks in the fall(which had changed from the episodic attacks I had every spring like clockwork) that I could manage by just increasing the Vitamin D to 10,000 for a few weeks then was able to taper down again to 4,000. A year and a half ago I had an episode that I had to go to the 50,000 loading dose, then taper down and again was able to control them. This year, I am struggling to control the attacks. I had accidentally stopped taking the vitamin D in August for almost 2 weeks when traveling. I started taking it after that but then started getting attacks about a month later(September 2018) that I have not been able to control. Initially I was taking 25,000 IU of Vitamin D and 1500 Fish oil, but the attacks got worse, now Im on the complete regimen, taking 25,000 IU of Vit D, 1500 mg Fish oil, 1000 mg Magnesium, and a multi vitamin for vitamin A and K. I've been on the 25,000 IU of Vitamin D and 1500mg of fish oil for 3 months. I started the magnesium and vit A and K about 3 weeks ago since I wasn't having success managing the attacks. Im still getting the headache attacks, 5 nights a week and about 4 days a week they carry on into the day. They were initially manageable with some aleve and excedrin migraine meds on top of the rest of the Vit D regemin, but that too seems to be loosing its effectiveness in aborting the headaches. Im just wondering do I continue to up the Vit D dose or should I start to consider going back on/trying Verapamil again. Any suggestions? I've had the headaches since I was 14(now 41) and the problem Ive always had was that after 2 years medications would no longer work to control the attacks. As most with these headaches know, its hell, especially when trying to work full time and take care of a 1 year old. Has any one else had the vitamin D lose it's effectiveness?
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CBD (I know - I know, but bear with me.)
swiftlaw replied to swiftlaw's topic in Research & Scientific News
This is my post. This is an update since August when I first posted this. I said, "I have not had another attack since April. This is the first year in 10 or more years that that has happened." November now and still PF. I take the CBD in a dropper under my tongue every day - I simply leave it in my car and use about 1ml a day The strength of the CBD varies a lot so in one bottle a ML might be 250mg and in another only 50mg. Read carefully and adjust your dose till you are conformable. Front load the dosage - ie double up the first 3 days. The oil is pleasant in a natural surfactant like a seed oil and I spend approx $60.00 every month. Not only has this aborted the April 2018 cycle but it carried all the way through today. I am still skeptical a bit as the Beast has penetrated everything else over the last 30 years. I will become confident if I get through say, May of 2019. In the meanwhile again its been over 10 years since I had any relief and my cycles are like clockwork virtually to the week every year. CBD oil is working for me. My thought is that it may not break a cycle in progress ie when the talons of the Beast have already been embedded in your head, but with my experience when I was in the very first episode of an impending cycle - I have been completely PF for 8 months. I will check in again in a few months. Merry Christmas to all my Clusterheads. -
Hey Rudolf, Good questions. For starters, the following chart comes from the online survey of 313 CHers taking this regimen of which 257 (82%) experienced a favorable response in the first 30 days. The favorable response was a significant reduction in the frequency of their CH from 21 CH/week down to 3 to 4 CH/week as illustrated the normal distribution and cumulative probability curves for their 25(OH)D3 serum concentrations measured ≥30 days after start of regimen. As you can see, the mean 25(OH)D3 response is 80 ng/mL (200 nmol/L) with a min at 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/L) and max at 175 ng/mL (437 nmol/L). The blue S-shaped sigmoid cumulative probability plot illustrates the therapeutic response range as a probability. Ordinarily, I would shoot for a 25(OH)D3 serum concentration between 200 and 250 nmol/L (80 to 100 ng/mL) to ensure a higher probability of a favorable response. However, as you were unable to get a PTH lab, your serum calcium concentration is up against the normal reference range upper limit bump stop, you're not in a CH cycle and you're experiencing joint pain, I would hold off on any further loading doses and drop back to a vitamin D3 maintenance dose of 50,000 IU/week along with all the cofactors. After you've been on the vitamin D3 maintenance dose for a week to 10 days, do try to press your PCP/GP for a complete set of labs for your serum 25(OH)D3, calcium and PTH all at the same time. This is the only good way of assessing normal calcium homeostasis. Are you taking at least 400 mg/day magnesium and the vitamin K2 complex? The vitamin K2 complex menaquinones, MK4 and MK7 have the capacity to reduce calcium accumulation in soft tissues, joints and arteries while serving as a catalyst in building bone mineral density. If you're not taking the K2, I would start it as soon as you can get some. I take the LEF Super K with advanced K2 complex as it has both MK4 and MK7. If you haven't already done so, I would add Turmeric (Curcumin) at 1000 mg/day, 1000 to 2000 mg/day Omega-3 fish oil, and 3 grams/day liposomal vitamin C (1 gram every 3 hours). Curcumin and the Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatories so should help with the sore knuckle. Vitamin C is essential as the human genome lost the gene that expresses the enzyme needed to synthesize vitamin C from simple carbohydrates. Vitamin C is essential in synthesizing collagen needed by cells throughout the body including the cartilage in joints. It's also a potent antioxidant that supports hundreds of enzymatic reactions. Regarding the swollen knuckle, I've not seen this as a side effect from vitamin D3 therapy or taking the entire anti-inflammatory regimen in the 9+ years I've been tracking results reported by thousands of CHers taking this regimen. In most cases, vitamin D3 and Omega-3 fish oil would tend to reduce inflammation like this, hence the anti-inflammatory name I gave this regimen. That said, anything is possible. The Kirkland Adult 50+ Mature Multi is formulated with 220 mg of calcium here in the US. It may be different in formulations available in the UK and Europe. For reference, I'm a chronic CHer so have taken this regimen daily since I developed it in October of 2010. I've been essentially CH pain free the entire time and I keep my serum 25(OH)D3 above 100 ng/mL (250 nmol/L) all the time. My PCP is okay with this as long as my serum calcium remains within its normal reference range. I switched to the Bio-Tech D3-50 50,000 IU water soluble form of vitamin D3 in 2018 and have been taking one D3-50/week since January of 2019. The 3-year chart of my labs for 25(OH)D3, calcium and PTH illustrates both the safety of vitamin D3 at higher doses as well as normal calcium homeostasis. That is illustrated by the inverse relationship between serum calcium and PTH. As the calcium serum concentration goes up, the PTH serum concentration drops. This keeps serum calcium within its normal reference range by pulling less calcium from the gut. Take care and please keep us posted. V/R, Batch
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I am being so annoying and I am sorry. So, I am trying to figure out this D3 thing and it says I need 700 mcg of Vitamin A. I take a fish oil supplement that has 625 mcg of Vit A. Is this D3 thing an exact science or do I need to find a Vitamin A tablet that has only 75 mcg in it? I have to take the fish oil supplement for my dry eyes.
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My theory of what causes CH's and how to (potentially) disrupt your cycle
Juss replied to DJ Cluster's topic in General Board
Education has propensities to implement biases, dogmas, and, even pragmatic methods of thought that don't add up to a damn thing. I received a better education by reading books and turning wrenches as an auto mechanic, then HVACR Mechanic. Working in refrigeration and oil heat taught me more about physics than any college class did, the same with chemistry. Oh, and I learned more about polyphase and electrical theory by applying and designing control systems, than some fancy college education. The same can be said with applied calculus in the trades vs in college. I'm sorry, a college education is an indoctrination to force compliance. It does not prepare you for the reality, most with a degree don't know their ass from their elbow. If you conjured that gumption about Cluster Headaches then you exhibit a higher level of faculty and intellectual capacity. I attended college out of necessity, after two multi-level spinal reconstructions. I hated it, and it was bromidic. I slept through my classes and had full scholarships. The trades are substantially more challenging than any college course that I took. Concerning neurological care, I find that neurologists-especially under the guise of Academic Headaches Specialist-make the headaches much worse. All they did was drug my ass to oblivion and cause a few heart attacks. I see a PMHNP for my cluster headaches, after 8 years of failed treatments: she fixed it on the first visit. Nurse Practitioners are always the best. I can prove it. On that note, the exemption is for my movement disorder neurologist/neurophysiologist and my neurosurgeon with a specialization in complex spinal reconstruction. And the integrative anesthesiologist that does stem cells and platelet-rich plasma medicine, regenerative medicine. For some bullshit reason, I have to see a physiatrist just to have my muscles shot up with what those Alien Face women get, the fuck is it called? Oh, Botox! Movement disorders make your muscles tighter than a tick's ass. And, in our state, insurance requires that for coverage of any autoimmune diseases you see a rheumatologist. Thus, I am stuck with that. I try to avoid doctors. They take a disease-based approach and are “it has been 15 minutes get your shit and get.” Doctors don't care, want that $500,000 paycheck, and have zero empathy. Most are not qualified. Nurses take a holistic approach, are lucky to make $125,000, and are not in it for the money. And, they study nutrition. Doctors are not even required to take a single course in nutrition: every nurse I have worked with has taken several courses in nutrition and orthomolecular medicine, with hundreds of hours in clinical nutrition. Honestly, I hate doctors.- 31 replies
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Hey MG, Gabapentin (Neuronitn) comes with side effects ranging from a 3 martini high to downright nasty psychotic moods depending on the dose. I tried it for two weeks then burned the bottle... It wasn't worth it. Migraineurs respond favorably to the anti-inflammatory regimen, but at higher vitamin D3 doses and higher 25(OH)D serum concentrations (15,000 to 35,000 IU/day vitamin D3 and a 25(OH)D serum concentration between 100 ng/mL and 140 ng/mL). You'll need to double the magnesium dose so split it 400 mg AM and 400 mg PM to avoid osmotic diarrhea. Taking a good vitamin B complex a day is also essential. Be sure to work with your PCP on vitamin D3 doses this high as you'll need labs for serum 25(OH)D, calcium and PTH monthly until you reach a stable vitamin D3 maintenance dose. As long as your serum calcium remains within its normal reference range and your PTH is at or near the low end of its normal reference range, there's no vitamin D3 intoxication/toxicity so your 25(OH)D serum concentration doesen't really matter. For reference, I've run my 25(OH)D serum concentration up between 188 and 200 ng/mL. My serum calcium remained within its normal reference range and my PTH was at the low end of its normal reference range so my PCP went along with doses this high. There are additional supplements required to help prevent migraine. They include 1000 mg/day Co-enzyme Q-10 (CoQ10), 1000 - 2000 mg/day Turmeric (Curcumin), Benadryl (Diphenhydramine HCL) at 25 mg every four hours throughout the day and at bedtime, or if you need to drive during the day, take 50 mg when home for the day and 50 mg at bedtime. Taking 1000 mg vitamin C every 4 hours during the day along with the Diphenhydramine is also helpful. It shouldn't come as a surprise, but oxygen therapy with hyperventilation can be effective in aborting a migraine headaches. Find my post on the "Redneck Oxygen Breathing System" as it explains hyperventilating at forced vital capacity tidal volumes for 30 seconds with room air followed by inhaling a lungful of 100% oxygen and holding it for 30 seconds. Keep repeating this sequence until the headache pain is gone. Where CH aborts with this method of oxygen therapy require an average of 7 minutes... migraine aborts average 10 to 15 minutes. Be sure to start this method of oxygen therapy by drinking a big glass of ice water with lots of ice cubes. (I've found doing this works as well as slamming a can of Red Bull and it's a lot less expensive.) Drinking a minimum of 2.5 liters of water a day is also a must. Diet is also an essential consideration for migraineurs. No sugars of any kind including soft drinks and fruit juices. No wheat products, bread, pasta, pizza or grain oils. Good fats/oils include organic butter, olive oil, avocado oil and my favorite, extra virgin coconut oil. You can eat lots of NON GMO organic green and yellow veggies, onions, mushrooms, fresh ginger and one serving of fresh fruit a day (Blueberries, blackberries and dark red grapes are an excellent choice). Eat organic free range meats, poultry and eggs. Try to eat a serving a week of wild caught fish, clams or oysters. Avoid shrimp and prawns as most are farmed so contain large quantities of antibiotics. My wife was a 20 year episodic migraineur until she started the anti-inflammatory regimen at 15,000 IU/day vitamin D3 in December of 2010. She hasn't had a single migraine since. I don't put out much info on taking the anti-inflammatory regimen with vitamin D3 to prevent migraines. I made a few posts about the results of my study doing this on Facebook... My access to Facebook was denied within 24 hours... I haven't been back since... Big Pharma sponsors at Facebook don't like info like this on vitamin D3 preventing migraines getting out after they've spent $400 to $600 million to develop and test monoclonal antibodies as migraine preventatives... but that's another story and much longer post. Take care and please keep us posted. V/R, Batch
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Need help with headaches, read about clusterbusters
CHfather replied to Melissa30's topic in General Board
Batch is the man for D. He is emphatic about his preference: >>The most significant change occurred in July of 2018 with the switch from the oil-based liquid softgel vitamin D3 formulations to the Bio-Tech D3-50 50,000 IU water soluble vitamin D3. Several of us found it faster acting with a higher bioequivalence in elevating serum 25(OH)D3 than the same dose of the oil-based liquid softgel vitamin D3 formulations. << More here: https://clusterbusters.org/forums/topic/6807-new-to-this-forum-–-cast-iron-until-hit-by-ch/?tab=comments#comment-67520 -
Hey Ammo, Excellent! As you've just finished the loading schedule, your serum 25(OH)D is still climbing. Stay at 10,000 or 15,000 IU/day vitamin D3 as your maintenance dose for at least two weeks to let your 25(OH)D stabilize then see your PCP for lab tests of your serum 25(OH)D, calcium and PTH (parathyroid hormone). As long as you're CH pain free or mostly so, your serum calcium is within range and your PTH is in the lower half to third of its normal reference range, you're good to go at the present maintenance dose... and your actual 25(OH)D doesn't really matter... even if it's over 100 ng/mL. The next step is diet... For the next month no sugar or sugary products. I'd even stay away from diet pop and artificial sweeteners. In short, if it's sweet... don't eat it. No wheat or grain products including grain oils like canola, mazola or margarine blends. Good oils include organic butter, olive oil, avocado oil, and my favorite extra virgin coconut oil. No bread, cereal, pasta or pizza. You can eat all the organic NON GMO green and yellow veggies you want. You can also have one serving of fresh fruit/day but no fruit juice unless you buzz your own in a blender as a smoothie. you can eat all the free range organic meats, poultry and eggs you want. A serving of wild caught fish, oysters, muscles or crab is really good for you. Avoid farmed fish and nearly all shrimp & prawns, they're farmed too. You never know what they've been fed and for sure, they're given antibiotics and growth hormones we don't need. Other vitamins and supplements to add are: 4 to 6 grams/day vitamin C, CoQ10, 1000 mg/day turmeric (curcumin) and a baking soda tonic first thing in the morning before breakfast. You make it with a half teaspoon of good old Arm & Hammer Baking soda in 4 ounces of cold water. I take all of the above... Take care and please keep us posted. V/R, Batch
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Assuming CMS will cover oxygen, you will not have enough tanks to abort. My recommendation is industrial oxygen. It is my impression that an industrial HVAC supply house will allow you to purchase such tanks if honest and if you explain. You are not purchasing anything that requires an EPA 608 Universal Refrigerant License. And as stated, I have offered my business accounts numerous times, which should be active. I assume that everyone wants to see my inactive licenses? I was heavily involved with the RE Michael Executives 17 years ago, look that supplier up. Their executives formed a company and I was the lead HVAC Mechanic. From there, I became an Oil Heat Mechanic, Controls Engineer, and Refrigeration Mechanic and should have an account with Penco and United Refrigeration. I knew a few of the sales executives at Penco, dated one of their daughters, one was a close friend of the family. That account should be active. Yeah, before screwing my life to hell and back was deeply connected to politics and executives. Oh well. Such is life. In my world, it is called blacklisted, even family.
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Hey Cast Iron, I made several trips to your country between 1997 and 2003, mostly to Den Haag to work at the SHAPE Technical Centre. Den Haag was great and so was Amsterdam, but I loved Scheveningen. Great little seaside restaurants with wonderful food. Getting to your problem, I suspect you are vitamin D3 deficient and that deficiency is contributing to the frequency, severity and duration of your CH. Baseline lab tests by CHers reporting in this survey, before starting this regimen are illustrated in the following normal distribution curve. The normal reference range for the 25(OH)D3 lab test is 30 to 100 ng/mL (75 to 250 nmol/L). Most CHers experience a favorable response to this regimen with a mean 25(OH)D3 serum concentration around 80 ng/mL. We've made some important changes to the anti-inflammatory regimen and treatment protocol. The most significant change occurred in July of 2018 with the switch from the oil-based liquid softgel vitamin D3 formulations to the Bio-Tech D3-50 50,000 IU water soluble vitamin D3. Several of us found it faster acting with a higher bioequivalence in elevating serum 25(OH)D3 than the same dose of the oil-based liquid softgel vitamin D3 formulations. The following photo illustrates the supplements I take and now suggest to other CHers. Most CHers in Europe have found they can order these supplements through iherb.com. I just crunched the numbers from the online survey of CHers taking this regimen as of 31 December 2019. There was a significant increase in the efficacy of this regimen during 2019. Over 90% of CHers starting this regimen in 2019 experienced a significant reduction in the frequency of their CH from 3 CH/day down to 4 CH/week in the first 30 days. Moreover, 67% of CHers starting this regimen in 2019 experienced a sustained cessation of CH symptoms in the first 30 days. Although I can't say for sure, it appears this increase in efficacy is likely due to the switch to the Bio-Tech D3-50 as nothing else has changed. I track all the other CH prophylaxis and none of them come close to this level of efficacy, let alone at a cost around 50 cents/day USD with no adverse events. I've made some changes to the treatment protocol that include new target 25(OH)D3 serum concentrations and longer vitamin D3 loading schedules to reach these new targets. These changes will appear in the updated version of this treatment protocol I hope to post on my web page at vitaminDwiki.com later this month. These changes include: New TGT 25(OH)D Concentrations - New Loading Schedules Episodic CHer 80 to 100 ng/mL. - Load at 50,000 IU/day for 12 - 14 days Chronic CHer 90 to 120 ng/mL. - Load at 50,000 IU/day for 14 - 16 days Migraineurs 100 to 140 ng/mL - Load at 50,000 IU/day for 16 - 18 days It's important to understand these suggested 25(OH)D3 serum concentration target ranges and loading schedules are a starting point for the average ECHer, CCHer and migraineur. Many CCHers (like me) will require a higher 25(OH)D3 serum concentration, a longer period of loading at 50,000 IU/day and a higher maintenance dose to experience and maintain a CH pain free response. In practice, CHers can start the accelerated vitamin D3 loading schedule and stay on it until they experience a favorable response then add an extra two days at 50,000 IU/day to build a reserve then drop back to a maintenance dose of one (1) D3-50 a week. I've also added some other supplements needed by migraineurs and some chronic CHers taking this regimen that are illustrated in the following photo of what I take daily. There are other go-to supplements that can be taken in the event the above are not resulting in a favorable response, but I think you have enough to go on should you decide to try this regimen again. Take care and please keep us posted. V/R, Batch
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, @CHfather , Thank you very much for your quick response! I sincerely appreciate your help. A few questions to follow-up, If you don’t mind.. 1. what do you mean by Verapamil being standard release, not fixed release? 2. So Omega 3 fish oil, calcium, Magnesium, vitamin K2, Vitamen A, Vitamin B 50, Zinc, and Boron all work together to counteract the negative side effects of D3? 3. Is there a health risk of taking all of these vitamins? For example, the Mayo Clinic states: The main consequence of vitamin D toxicity is a buildup of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia), which can cause nausea and vomiting, weakness, and frequent urination. Symptoms might progress to bone pain and kidney problems, such as the formation of calcium stones.” (https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/vitamin-d-toxicity/faq-20058108) Is this a risk for CH sufferers who follow this regiment? 4. For this regiment, will I need to be taking multiple tablets of some of the vitamins daily? For example, the omega 3 fish oil comes in 360mg tablets, but 1000-2400mg are reccomended each day for the regiment? Am I missing something? 5. (last one!) the study states “A single tablet of the Mature Multi provides most of the other vitamin D3 cofactors at the required doses including calcium, zinc, boron and vitamin A (retinal). Does this mean if I take this Tablet,, I won’t need be taking calcium, zinc, Boron, and vitamin A (retinal)? Again, thank you very much for your help!
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Burning cooking oil used to trigger me instantly but the strange thing is that it stopped being a trigger a couple years ago.
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Hi all, hope everyone is having a good Christmas period. I have been episodic since 2001, this site is great it has really saved me and I am thankful to the Cluster Buster community. Oxygen, busting, D3 regime and low carb diet have really helped me. Apologies in advance for asking this if it has been already been answered within the forum. I have not been in a cycle since March but have been getting shadows the last few weeks but with no attack so far. I have upped my D3 intake from 10,000 to 20,000 combining this with fish oil, K2, magnesium and a multi vitamin taking these once a day with food at night. Should I keep doing this if I am experiencing the shadows or should I take 10,000 of D3 with the fish oil, magnesium and multi vitamin twice daily? Or any other suggestions welcome Thanks
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Hey MRUPE, Welcome to Clusterbusters. You've come to the right place. We know what you've been going through and the good news is it just doesn't need to be that way. You've already discovered the wonderful benefits of oxygen therapy. I only wish more CHers would pressure their neurologists to obtain it. As you appear to be taking a discerning approach in selecting a CH preventative treatment protocol, you may find the following of interest. I'm heavily biased to suggest the anti-inflammatory regimen with vitamin D3 and the cofactors as a safe and effective method of controlling/preventing your CH. I'm also biased to suggest psilocybin as another safe and effective method of controlling your CH. I've seen it work many times when all else failed. As the guy who developed the anti-inflammatory regimen and started taking it in October of 2010, I consider this method of CH intervention a very safe bet. I've been essentially CH pain free ever since. I started providing information outreach on the benefits of this vitamin D3 regimen in December of 2010 and I've been running an online survey of CHers taking this regimen since December of 2011. As of 30 December 2018, 290 CHers had completed and submitted their responses to this survey. The results are impressive to say the least. In terms of raw efficacy, the 30-day response rate for the entire cohort finds over 80% of CHers starting this regimen experiencing a significant reduction in the frequency of their CH from a mean of 3 CH/day down to a mean of 3 CH/week. Moreover, 52% of CHers starting this regimen experience a complete cessation of CH symptoms in the first 30 days after starting this regimen. It's significant to note that over the 10 years I've been providing information outreach on the benefits of this regimen in preventing CH, that there have been no reports of adverse events requiring medical attention and no cases of hypercalcemia, a.k.a., vitamin D3 intoxication/toxicity. I've analyzed the results of every RCT and study involving CH and migraines. None of them including verapamil, have reported or concluded a level of efficacy that comes even close to matching the safety and efficacy of vitamin D3 in preventing CH. The basic anti-inflammatory regimen supplements illustrated in the following photo haven't changed much since December of 2011 with the exception of vitamin D3. I began suggesting the Bio-Tech D3-50 50,000 IU water soluble form of vitamin D3 in July of 2018. I began suggesting the Bio-Tech D3-50 after finding it was faster acting with a higher bioequivalence in elevating serum 25(OH)D3 than the same dose of the oil-based liquid softgel vitamin D3 formulations. It's also less expensive. Now for the exciting news regarding the raw efficacy of this regimen in preventing CH. I took a download of the survey database a week ago on 30 December and have been crunching the numbers ever since. Surveys submitted during 2019 indicate a 30-Day favorable response rate of over 90% and complete cessation of CH symptoms at greater than 65%. I'm not going to give the actual raw efficacy figures as I hope to publish these results at some point later this year and I don't want my manuscript rejected for self-plagiarism. I've already had two of my manuscripts on this study rejected for this reason. I know the medical evidence purists will say this was not a randomized, blinded and placebo controlled RCT, so lacks strength as medical evidence. No argument. However, as a CHer since 1994 and chronic since 2005, I'm not going to pole vault over mouse turds... To CHers, there's no difference between a CH prevented by an intervention or placebo effect. In short, I'll take the placebo effect any day to avoid the terrible pain of our disorder. Moreover, as for the infamous p value reported in RCTs, that over 300 CHers from over 30 countries have enjoyed the same efficacy of this regimen over the last 9 years of this study, this level of efficacy is hardly a coincidence. We've also made some adjustments to the treatment protocol. I say "We" as none of this would have been possible without the participation of thousands of CHers here at Clusterbusters and CH.com over the last 10 years. In a very real sense, this is your regimen and treatment protocol. Direct feedback from CHers taking this regimen is so valuable. For example, this feedback indicates the efficacy of this regimen increases with time and higher serum concentrations of 25(OH)D3 due to higher daily maintenance doses of vitamin D3. These protocol adjustments have been simple, yet effective. When I first started posting about the efficacy of this regimen in December of 2010, it was one size fits all with 10,000 IU/day vitamin D3 plus the cofactors. The first adjustment involved starting this regimen with a 2-Week or 4-Week accelerated vitamin D3 loading schedule to elevate serum 25(OH)D3 more rapidly and achieve a favorable response more rapidly. Over the next two years that loading schedule evolved to a 12-Day loading schedule taking 50,000 IU/day vitamin D3 for 12 days. It was just as effective and took less time to reach a therapeutic effect. I attribute the increase in the raw efficacy of this regimen and CH preventative treatment protocol to the switch to the Bio-Tech D3-50 and the 12-Day accelerated vitamin D3 loading schedule. My analysis of survey data through the end of 2018 indicated the mean 25(OH)D3 serum concentration for Episodic CHers experiencing a favorable response to the anti-inflammatory regimen was 80 ng/mL while the mean 25(OH)D3 serum concentration for Chronic CHers experiencing a favorable response to the anti-inflammatory regimen was 90 ng/mL. Clearly, one size does not fit all... Accordingly, I've made the following changes to the vitamin D3 dosing strategy regarding the target 25(OH)D3 serum concentration ranges and accelerated vitamin D3 loading dose duration ranges. Episodic CHer Target: 80 to 100 ng/mL - Load at 50,000 IU/day for 12 - 14 days Chronic CHer Target: 90 to 120 ng/mL - Load at 50,000 IU/day for 14 - 16 days Migraineur Target: 100 to 140 ng/mL - Load at 50,000 IU/day for 16 - 18 days It's important to understand these suggested 25(OH)D3 serum concentration target ranges and loading schedules are starting points for the average CHer. Many of us (like me) will require a higher 25(OH)D3 serum concentration, a longer period of loading at 50,000 IU/day and a higher maintenance dose to experience and maintain a CH pain free response. At the completion of these loading schedules reduce the vitamin D3 intake to an initial maintenance dose of 10,000 IU/day with the oil-based liquid softgel vitamin D3 formulations or if you're taking the suggested Bio-Tech D3-50, you'll need to take one (1) of these 50,000 IU water soluble vitamin D3 capsules a week. Doing the math, that works out to an average dose of 7,140 IU/day. Given the higher bioequivalence of the D3-50, this should be sufficient for most CHers. Changing the dose is a simple matter of adding or subtracting a day or more between doses. The following chart illustrates the last three years worth of my labs for serum 25(OH)D3, calcium and PTH. As you'll see, as a chronic CHer, I've maintained my 25(OH)D3 well above 120 ng/mL. It's been as high as 188 ng/mL to remain CH pain free during a major allergic reaction to mold spores. I've averaged 150 ± 4 ng/mL for the first 7 months of 2019. If you haven't gotten the message from my labs, don't be afraid to take your serum 25(OH)D3 concentration as high as needed to experience a lasting CH pain free response. My PCP has no problems with my 25(OH)D3 serum concentration this high as long as my serum calcium remains within its normal reference range (in the green), and it has as you can see in my charts above. You'll also note that my serum PTH mirrors serum calcium. This inverse relationship between serum 25(OH)D3 and PTH concentrations indicates normal calcium homeostasis. In short, when serum calcium goes up to a high normal, serum PTH drops to a low normal. This is a classic indication of calcium homeostasis in action that helps prevent hypercalcemia, a.k.a., vitamin D3 intoxication/toxicity. Before I go any further, it's essential for CHers to see their PCP/GP or neurologist, whoever has the best visibility of their overall medical history and prescribed medications if any, to discuss this regimen before starting it and to ask for a set of labs for serum 25(OH)D3, calcium and PTH. It's not uncommon for some physicians to avoid recommending this regimen or even suggest CHers not start it and that's perfectly natural. They're concerned about malpractice suits. If you feel strongly enough about starting this regimen, have your doctor note any concerns in your medical records, but try to make your doctor part of your team while starting and continuing this regimen. You'll need another set of labs for your serum 25(OH)D3, calcium and PTH, 30 days after starting this loading schedule. Ask your PCP/GP or neurologist to have your lab orders for 25(OH)D3, calcium and PTH sent to the nearest Quest Diagnostics collection center. The rationale for doing this is simple. Quest Diagnostics uses the 25(OH)D Liquid Chromatography Dual Mass Spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) assay that's good to a maximum 25(OH)D (combined D2 and D3) serum concentration measurement of 512 ng/mL. The DiaSorin 25(OH)D assay used in most medical clinics can only measure 25(OH)D up to a maximum serum concentration of 117.4 ng/mL. As you may need a higher 25(OH)D3 serum concentration than 117.4 ng/mL, the LC-MS/MS assay for 25(OH)D3 is the only way to go. Try to get copies of your labs sent to you so you can track your progress. If you register at MyQuest, it's free, at the following link, https://myquest.questdiagnostics.com/web/home you'll have access to all your lab results as soon as your doctor has acknowleged their receipt. I'll be posting the above changes to the existing protocol posted on my webpage at vitaminDwiki.com later this month at the following link, ttp://is.gd/clustervitd. You can download the existing treatment protocol by clicking on the following link. http://www.vitamindwiki.com/tiki-download_wiki_attachment.php?attId=7708 . It's interesting to note that since I posted this treatment protocol on 21 Jan, 2017, nearly three years ago, readers of my web page at vitaminDwiki have downloaded 43,387 copies of this treatment protocol... Doing the math, that's an average over 45 downloads a day. I've no idea how many CHers or migraineurs are following this treatment protocol. That said, if the rule of "one out of ten" applies, > 4000 headache sufferers are following this regimen. In closing this epistle to vitamin D3, the other great news is it appears there's going to be a gold standard RCT conducted on this regimen as a CH prophylaxis later this year. When the result of that RCT are published, I'm confident you'll have ample medical evidence to take to your PCP/GP or neurologist. Take care and please keep us posted should you decide to start this regimen. V/R, Batch
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Hey Billyx, Thank you for the reply. The 14-day loading schedule should have elevated your 25(OH)D3 up by 170 nmol/L bringing your total 25(OH)D3 serum concentration up around 300 nmol/L (121 ng/mL). That's good and it should be more than sufficient to bring about a therapeutic response with a significant reduction in CH frequency or better yet, a complete cessation of CH. Accordingly, as you're still getting hit with CH, it's more than likely you're also experiencing an immune system response to allergens. These can be subclinical with no obvious or outward observable symptoms. Allergic reactions kick off a lot of histamine and histamine to a CHer is like Kryptonite to Superman, bad news. None of the prevents work during an allergic reaction and that includes vitamin D3. The best course of action I take when an allergic reaction is present, is to start what I call the "Full Monty" clutch of supplements with antihistamine properties on top of the basic anti-inflammatory regimen supplements. I take 3 grams/day each of Turmeric (Curcumin), Resveratrol, Quercetin and Omega-3 fish oil. I also take 8 grams/day vitamin C in divided doses. I buy the powdered bulk vitamin C in 1 Kg bags ( 3 cents/gram USD) and mix two level teaspoons (8 grams) in 8 oz of water and take sips throughout the day until it's all gone by bedtime. I also take 10 mg/day melatonin at bedtime. I stay on this concoction for at least a week after cessation of CH then taper the doses. It never hurts to keep taking at least 4 grams/day vitamin C all the time. Our bodies need vitamin C to synthesize collagen. We need collagen to help prevent brittle bones, maintain healthy cartilage and elastic skin. Besides being an antihistamine, vitamin C is also an excellent antioxidant, antiviral and antibacterial agent. Watch the following video of Linus Pauling giving a presentation on the use of vitamin C to prevent illness and disease. Pauling was 92 when he filmed this video. He had many critics of his suggested use of vitamin C in large quantities to prevent illnesses. Most of these critics came from the Big Pharmas. When he died at 93, he still had two more individual Nobel Prizes than any of his critics and he had outlived most of them. His first individual Nobel Prize was for Chemistry involving quantum mechanics, electron orbits and molecular shapes. (My degree was in Chemistry so quantum mechanics was a central theme throughout my studies.) Pauling's second individual Nobel Prize was for Peace. He stopped above ground nuclear warhead testing. He took 18 grams/day vitamin C. He also took 10,000 IU/day vitamin D3. Take care and please keep us posted. V/R, Batch
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I was researching the whole LSA to LSH thing a while back and never really found any definitive answers. There are intelligent people that swear this conversion should not happen, there are intelligent people saying that it should. (One thing I have never heard people claim is that Psilocybin is getting changed into LSH, pretty sure that is impossible) One thing that I found quoted a number of times is that Owsley claimed that LSH is indistinguishable from LSD but after researching a bit I found that the LSH that Oswley was talking about was a different LSH than we are talking about here. Also, I have never heard (and am really skeptical) that the LSA is binding to acetaldehyde and changing to LSH in your body. If it did, there would be no qualitative difference in any sort of peppermint conversion (assuming that actually works)---instead you would always just be getting an LSH trip. In the mycoptopia link that was posted one guy writes what I think is happening. "When the seed is picked, it starts to decompose to yield the sedating LSA, which further decomposes to yield BUNK. However once the seeds are decomposed enough, but prior to becoming bunk, their magic can be "revived" by the combination of an aldehyde (acetaldehyde, commonly; found in rum, sherry or fresh peppermint leaf) forming an adduct with the decomposed chemicals, thus re-forming the potent, stimulating LSH... or (whispers in the wind tell of a stable aldehyde in cinnamon essential oil) an even more potent adduct when mixed into the good, old, sacred-seed CWE." The Cinnamon thing that people are talking about goes like this-instead of using acetaldehyde you use a type of aldehyde (there are a number of them) that is in cinnamon (cinnamaldehyde) that makes a somewhat different conversion with somewhat different results. (all theory) Here's some more info on that: https://mycotopia.net/topic/70425-lsa-cinnamaldehyde-cinnamon-essential-oil/ The thing I would stress is that no one really knows what is being changed into what (if anything is being changed) and we won't know until we get good lab tests done on seeds before and after attempting this conversion. What I can say for sure is that my experiences seem to indicate that SOMETHING is happening. I have had seeds that knocked me down and sedated me more than almost anything else I have taken in my life and I have had seeds that reminded me of a light dose of LSD. These experiences are so different that I know something is going on. Only once have I had seeds that acted like LSD where I attempted no conversion but I washed it down with an alcoholic beverage which I later found out is high in acetdelhyde. Native peoples have always claimed these seeds are visionary substances and to me LSA's sedating stupor does not fit that idea very well. I suspect what that earlier quote claimed is true--that fresh seeds have a visionary, hallucinatory substance in them, that this substance degrades with time and that it can be brought back by combining it with certain substances. -Ricardo
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I grow my own. In fact, I'm suppose to be researching different ways to grow them today, and start a new batch. Guess I best get to that. I bought a capsule making kit and a 1000's capsules from Amazon. You can get them in 3 different capsule sizes, and I thin I picked the medium sized one. I also have a set of electronic scales that goes to the 100th of a gram (0.00), so I can get a pretty accurate measurement of their weight. I like mine around 0.20 grams, but my housemate prefers them between 0.15 and 0.17 grams. It is surprisingly easy to do. Grow the mushrooms (the hard part). I then place them in a large wire sieve lined with paper towels and place over a heater on a low heat. A day or so later, and they are cracker dry. And they need to be CRACKER dry. Then, grind them up in a mortar and pestle. Load up the capsule machine with empty capsules, pour in, tap down, pour in, tap down until you're happy then close up the capsules. Takes a few tries to get the hang of getting the quantity right, but is easy. I used to put the mushrooms in peppermint tea, but could not stand the taste. The worst bit, I used to love peppermint tea, but now I associate the smell with mushrooms, and want to vomit when I smell it. Capsules are SO much easier. One capsule a day for micro-dosing, 6-10 capsules for a full bust. MG
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I have plenty of experience with SSDI and CH, as well as Migraine. 1) you will need comorbidity listed by SSDI 2) As of January 2022, it now takes 9 months to be assigned a disability evaluator. Yes, 9 months. Between appeals, and all the crap that you are up against if you are approved-a realistic time frame is five to six years. Before being a welfare collector, I had successful careers as an HVAC/R and Oil Heat Mechanic, Gas Fitter, Plumbing, and Electric. Before that, I gave up a dead-end career as a Lexus, and Mercedes Benz Factory Mechanic. I also had a career as a defense contractor. Once the two spinal reconstructions/fusions occurred, it was off to college to waste away 8 years for an MBA/MS and to make far less money. Then, by junior year the shitshow began, and so did disability. I spent 8 years misdiagnosed, and my new anesthesiologist is certain of a movement disorder, most likely progressive MS. If correct, all the fancy headache clinics screwed up royally. You can attempt, ATTEMPT, to expedite the process by congressional inquiry, and an attorney that knows what they are doing (Sharon Christie (RN and Attorney), and even then, you better hope for a ton of financial support. I'm sorry, twenty years ago was only easy for the quadriplegic dying of a terminal illness, not to be morbid. A close friend fought the VA for 6 years and SSDI for 6 or 7 years in the 90s, if not for him, I have to believe him, none of us would get it. He was the first to take on both administrations. I am one nut shy of $10 fruit cake, my spine is shot, and I had several, multiple, valid comorbidities to list in 2014. I went through the process of application, doctor review/visit, denial, appeal, and favorable decision in 6 months. I feel bad for saying that, but yes, I received my disability in 6 months, but I'm so fucked up that it only made sense. I did not see a judge, never went for an evaluation, any of those things. I can't help you there. I hate to tell you this if you try by headache, you will have a mountain to climb and will need to go before a judge. And it will take several years. I know for a fact that you do not need epileptic comorbidity or any other listing; however, if under 50, Disability is financially broke, you need as many other listings as possible. They do not want more on the rolls. My advice, congressional inquiry, a hotshot lawyer, to hell with most of your back pay, and patience. Oh, get used to abject poverty. The most that you will receive is $2,000 per month. After your advantage plan, and Medicare, it becomes $1,800. That is a 1 bedroom flat in my area. And you can't freelance. Oh, no lawyer takes on your case until you are denied. Most are denied because they don't understand how to provide paperwork/records. Get every record, a medical dictionary, and learn what to send, what not to send. I believe that I read 10,000 pages, but sent 3,500 pages (the stuff that did not incriminate me). I had every doctor write a detailed/succinct report as to why I could not work, and fill out an SSDI report of disability determination (ahead of time). If you think that they do this, you are a fool, and that is why you get canned. Their doctors can only assess what they have.
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I dont take the fish oil, Just D3 and Vik K part. I do use benadryl 50 mg at night. I imagine Batch gets pounded with questions and comments. The summary of his protocol is available as a pinned post. The fish oil can cause some reflux so taking it with some food may help.
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8 hits? OMG !! I think YES, you should order more in a hurry, Mrsgrneyedldy. You have to take something. I suspect you don't have the strength to go through the board and gather info in other threads, so I'll try to feed you here a little (with my bias included ;-) ). I would consider you a chronic since it's been almost a year. Chronics from what I read here have a harder time busting than episodics like me. I think it's not surprising your first bust wasn't successful yet. I'm certain though it can help you, and get you PF days. You just have to keep at it, 3, 4, times... and... ...some people might not agree with what I will say here, but from the conditions you describe, I would suggest doubling the dose of RC seeds. I know you only have 50 now, but you can order and get them quick, Did you see the deal at TrancePlants? I just ordered 1000 myself just in case. http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1328479066/8 you have to send a PM, a personal message to Adam from TrancePlants so he put you on the clusterbusters list who get 25% off. They can ship very fast. He posted on that thread... to make things simpler for you, here is a link to his profile, click on the send a personal message button: http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?action=viewprofile;username=2124212D2421400 USA; Small packet USA air : 4-10 business days Expedited parcel USA: 4-8 business days with tracking number Xpresspost USA: 2-3 business days with tracking number Priority courier: 1-2 business day with tracking number Order here: http://www.tranceplants.net/product-info.php?pid141.html Do the floater test with your seeds: don't use the ones that float in a glass of water. how did you extract the LSA? I did it with orange juice at first. The PH has to be around 4 from what I heard and either (water with some) lemon juice or orange juice will do that. I extracted twice a couple of hours in the dark fridge (light and heat affect LSA), and once for 24 hours, which didn't seem to make a difference. It appears to me newbie that it used to be the norm to extract with alcohol, mostly white wine, untill people started to rely more on water, water with lemon juice or orange juice. For my 4th bust, I used vodka and peppermint tea to extract. To make a long story short, alcohol and peppermint tea (cold) apparently turns the LSA into LSH and... and I suspect this is more effective. It really felt stronger to me than my previous 3 busts, but my cycle was dying, but it's my guess it works better. Tingeling even theorized that alcohol (just that one shot) would help driving the LSA into the blood by dilatating the blood vessels. And about the amount of seeds, well the Clusterbusters recommendations was to start at 10-20 and go up from that at every bust, but I had made up my mind myself to start much higher. My last bust was with 90 seeds (the one with vodka), 90 good seeds, not floaters, soaked for 90 minutes with 1 oz of vodka and 2-3 ounces of cold strong peppermint tea, and one ounce of Orange juice. I didn't drink the seeds, how do we call that, the sludge? I had done so the other times. It was much stronger effect and almost no nausea. So maybe some other posters will temperate my suggestion, but I think you need relief fast and that you should bust with your 50 seeds Monday and then when you get your rush shipped seeds on Friday, I would take 80-90 seeds with the above extracting recipe. (from what I read, to get a psychedelic trip from RC seeds, you'd need 150-250 seeds, but with extracting in peppermint tea and /or alcohol, it could be less. I didn't exactly have a buzz with 90 seeds turned into LSH, so that's why I'm assuming this is a safe dose to take... let others react to my suggestions maybe) 4 days between each busts, sounds fair, I think you need big relief fast. Also, I don't know what other aborting method you have, I relied on Ice for the past 12 years, it's my life savior: I freeze down my neck and temple with ice cubes in a plastic bag. Also (I don't know what you have read on the board what you tried already): Coffee, strong coffee, three in a row, drank fast, or Energy drinks, like a small Red Bull can choked down in one shot. It really helps. Of course the caffeine will keep you awake. But I discovered I could sleep afternoons a few hours (like 3 to 5 hours), but never at night. Apparently the taurine in energy drinks help. I'm not sure and I thought my coffees were doing good and I dislike the taste of energy drinks, but you should try. Strong coffee, very strong!! or Energy drinks And Ice, and... I think I read that the D3 vitamin helps O2 working better, no? someone plz on this, not sure... (I don't use o2) I hope my post helps you, your situation sounds horrible and I'd like to help... PM me if you have more questions  Â
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So my son's Jan/Feb cluster period is here now
didgens replied to didgens's topic in Research & Scientific News
what I have learned Monoterpene Ketone Umbellulone Monoterpene - something found in tree bark. it doesn't change from season to season (per one study I found). its found in pines and other trees. found in tree resin. Monoterpene Ketone - can be added to food in the form of Menthone - peppermint oil ( added to chewing gum, gelatin, baked goods). other monoterpene ketones are Thujone which produces a camphor-like smell. excessive consumption of Thujone leads to confulsions with brain and liver damage. found in the plant Tansy ( I wanna say what I was smelling was a camphor smell) fenchone ( a tree oil) - also camphor like smell. bitter tasting can be found in fennel oil. and of course the Umbellulone - or ketone from the laural or "headache" tree what if it has nothing to so with sunlight but everything to do with trees ?? we all know what trees do in spring and fall ,, maybe they give off something each season to bring this on ? or when these ketones are used in food or other applications .. more research and does anyone on here live in the desert ,, you know where there aren't any trees at all ?? -
how do i contact xxx? yes correct im also taking the fish oil, magnesium, k1 k2 with the d3 and a multivitamin and calcium and the b vitamins. i did read somewhere that high vitamin d is not a problem if the calcium is normal but i could be wrong thanks for the reply mate, apreciate it
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I understand and have crap days, but I refuse anything new and without substantial backing. And on that note, I refuse all abortive medications. I'm trying to avoid taking any medication unless it is to prevent me from going mental. My parents are in their 70s and have impeccable health because they refuse medications unless essential, and then only on the shortest duration as possible. That is the philosophy I am taking, and the results are impressive. I use nutraceutical approaches (not herbal medicine and snake oil) to treat my issues as much as possible, to each its own. Good luck in finding relief. Sometimes it is a process and sometimes it is a vicious circle.
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I find this interesting, appreciate the insight, and this has popped up on my radar before. Regarding the oxidative stress that it purports to reduce, my approach would be to target the offenders first: sugar, simple carbs, low concentrations of EPA/DHA/Omega 3, Vitamin D, and of course the key trace minerals and micronutrients. Without a hair analysis, which I can't afford, I am pissing in the wind. It creates expensive urine when you take a bunch of supplements to treat nutrient deficiencies that may not exist. And I create the paradox because I hate all the nutrient-dense vegetables. Go figure. Regarding the MSM, I am still interested in short-term prophylaxis. It appears to be a reasonably priced option to reduce inflammation. As with nutrients, it would be futile if you don't repair the leaky gut, as well as eradicate sugar and eliminate processed foods and bad carbs. I found it interesting that MSM can reduce parasites (benefit), and improve intestinal health (benefit). Regarding it being a free radical scavenger and its role in nitric oxide, my knee-jerk reaction was proper Vitamin C saturation. And not Vitamin C from ascorbic acid, rose hips, and so forth. Some supplements provide the true form of Vitamin C and your last name needs to be Rothschild to afford it. All the evidence looks great; however, there is only a paucity of data, small sample sizes, and most research stopped by 2003. There are scattered studies, but zero clinical trials since 2003. What is more, I did what I can recall from meta-analysis and none of the studies or clinical trials did a lab draw on homocysteine levels. If it works then why eliminate a simple lab test? That is its purported benefit and after combing through over 50 publications, not one had a homocysteine level, and the paucity of data was concerning. To be fair, there isn't money in curing someone. The fact that research stopped tells me the opposite of what an untrained eye would surmise. Most likely, it works damn well and they (you know who) attempted a brilliant cover-up. There is one way to find out, do a baseline homocysteine draw and follow up every three months while taking a starter dose of 1 gram. If the results aren't promising, double down. Most studies included Glucosamine and Chondroitin, which I don't even know a naturopath pushing nutraceuticals to their brother would recommend. That gives the age of the publication. They proved that Glucosamine and Chondroitin are all placebo. I would suggest a trial run of 1gram of MSM, with Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega (2800mg of EPA/DHA Omega 3 Nemechek protocol approved), Garden of Life Raw Code Vitamin D3 (5,000 IU), Garden of Life Chewable Digestive Enzymes, Garden of Life Raw Organic Perfect Food Green SuperFood, Garden of Life Perfect Food Super Green Formula Berry (5 servings of fruits and vegetables), Garden of Life My Kind (Women if a Woman and age range), or Garden of Life My Kind Men's Multi (Age and Man if a Man), the multi is $60 but is all plant-based the only on the market, it is two months thus $30 a month (a steal), Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw C, Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics Mood+ Acidophilus (buy the refrigerated), Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Whole Food Magnesium raspberry or orange powder (this is pure 350mg of plant based you will absorb all and not poop it all out), Life Extensions Only Trace Minerals. Cost per month $116.20 + my grocery bill of under $200= $300 to $315 for a sane and balanced nutrient dense diet. It is working. And I eat all organic. Note on Fe (Iron): incontrovertibly women have this issue and I have no clue on what supplement to recommend. I use a regional egg brand called Eggland’s Best which is loaded with all natural Vitamin E, Over 500mg of Omega 3, and about 65% of my RDA in iron. I also consume 4 large of said brands eggs each day, with a serving or two of cheese. I do avoid margarine and trans fats. Butter I will use occasionally. My total cholesterol is 170, screw the 90s myth that eggs and butter are terrible. Eggs are a perfect food and organic butter is fine. That nasty shit they call Country Crock will kill you fast. For lunch, it is a can of low-sodium organic beans, which is loaded with fiber. I am far less concerned about taste than protein count. Some beans exceed 30 grams (you can’t process that much in one setting). I strive for under 15 grams of protein. I eat a few servings of veggies, and nothing fancy. I don’t count calories or carbs. That isn’t necessary if you avoid sugar, starch, simple carbs, and bad fats. If my tummy growls, nothing scientific I eat something that isn’t simple carb loaded. Even I realize that you need carbs. Don’t ask, but even I strive for the RDA with complex carbs. KISS (keep it simple stupid). I eat one organic yard bird (chicken breast) with Olive Oil and fresh herbs every night, nothing fancy. If I do feel tired and instead of calorie counting I add cheese, and find whole foods to add. And with each meal I consume a 7 gram all natural fiber that I forgot to add in. I struggle but manage to consume about 2 servings of veggies with dinner, frozen, to hell with chopping and to hell with carb counting, are you nuts? If hungry in between I eat pistachios. But only one serving. My lab draws are the best that they have been in decades, but I am still a train wreck waiting to happen. The damage that I did to my body may be beyond repair. Jen Sais Pas. Time will do. I do know that my migraine days are down to once, at most twice per month, and I was intractable. Concerning Cluster Headaches, I was intractable and I think it has been two months since my last bad bout. And usually it is one and done. Im euthymic after a 7 year, and several should have been fatal run with mental health and borderline addiction. I have a long way in that department but I don’t recall being this stable since childhood, pre-puberty. There is still a shitload of CBT work to learn how to be around people, make these things called friends, and things like that. My C reactive is down substantially, most inflammatory markers are drastically reduced, and I am now at the point that I need to see a functional NP and have a hair analysis to figure out the exhaustion. If I could figure that out, I could return to university and get on with my life. Ultimately come off disability. You have to take quality supplements, I mean whole plant based and few exist. Also, you must eliminate everything that you would buy in the supermarket. If you pay attention, all the healthy stuff is way in the back or in the most inconvenient places. And with COVID, I don’t have issues with groceries because everyone purchases chips, pop, bread, ie, grains, cereals, starches, sugars, etc. If it is empty at Harris Teeter, Wegmans, Target Greatlands, you should not be eating it. I would suggest that you skip the theatrical performances and shop at Trader Joe’s compared to its sister company it is much cheaper and the quality of people is much better. Respectfully, shopping at Aldi is even worse than dealing with people at Wal Mart. Much of the novelty treatments don’t seem necessary if you address the underlying cause.
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The last few weeks have been interesting for me and I just wanted to tell everyone what has been going on. I have been on Batches D3 for a long time now and I think I found my sweet spot towards the end of last month. I take everything on the list and had just upped the vitamin D 20,000 a day. I was down to 1 or 2 low level attacks a day. I had a doctors appointment on the 26th of July to go over my hip replacement and was told to stop taking the fish oil and vitamin K. 4 days later the clusters stopped.. Totally, no shadows, no pressure no nothing just pain free days. On August 5th I went in for the hip replacement crapping my pants that I was going to be hit non stop all day. To my surprise I did not have any clusters at all. I was told after surgery that I needed to stop the rest of the D3 vitamins because of blood clotting issues. I am allowed to take my Verapamil and they added a baby aspirin twice a day. On the 7th I had my first twinge of a cluster comin on so I grabbed my O2 and downed a 5hr energy drink, 10 minutes later it was gone. I was thinking maybe it was all in my mind and I would be fine.. Well every day since I have had 3 Clusters a day, low level pain and the longest one was only 30 minutes but they are coming back and getting stronger with every hit. The hip is doing fine other then the big bruise that feels like I was kicked in the thigh by a horse and I am limping around nicely. I was also told to stop smoking a week before the replacement and continue for 6 weeks after surgery. I was smoking 6 or 7 cigarillos a day and yesterday started back on that but only 1 a day so far. My question is this.. At what point do you think I can get back on the full vitamin D? I think this is what had me pain free for the few days around surgery, Do I take everything except the fish oil and K or do I take it all? Are the few clusters I am now getting due to the interrupted sleep and less stress of the surgery? I know nobody have a solid answer and no two people are the same but maybe someone has had a issue like this before. Any help, criticism or recommendations are welcome.
