New to the forum

[f_bomb]

Hello everyone.

  I've been reading other people's posts here and decided to introduce myself. 

  I am male, 5'7", 145lbs.  I am 27 years old and have been suffering from episodic CH since I was about sixteen.  Most years I get CH 1-2 times a day, lasting up to 6 hours (wierd, right?) each, for about 2-3 months.  I've usually had to quit working during this time (right around christmas), and slip into a deep depression.

  I was a light cigarette smoker (<1pack) for many years, but gave that up a year ago.  I smoked pot habitually (more than twice a day) for many years to deal with depression, but have also now given that up, hoping to get a better job, but I can't think about that while I'm in the cluster.

  When I first started getting CH, I was misdiagnosed and given many drugs that did not work.  I was quite disenchanted with doctors, and for many years I did not see any.  I just lived with it.  I saved up money knowing there would be at least a couple of months of unemployment at the end of the year, which never really panned out.

  I found that taking obscene amounts of Kudzu extract and capsiacin seemed to help.  Switching to "the bland diet" as I call it helped.  Accupuncture stopped the cluster once years ago when I had electricity run through needles in my right hand and foot.  I cannot find anyone who offers this therapy now, and other forms of accupuncture do absolutely nothing but burn through my money.

  I'm married now to a woman I've been living with for over ten years.  I'm trying to find a way to keep working to try to have a family.  I've been seeing doctors again.  Right now I'm finishing up a week of prednisone, and I'm on Verapamill, and I'm getting generic Imitrex injections at $25 a pop.  And It's not working.

  In fact I feel like it might me adding to the intensity and duration of the episodes.  Yesterday I had two severe episodes that caused me to use two of the injections, hanfulls of otc pills, intranasal capsiacin, and nothing worked.  I'm still having shadows from it this morning.

  I know we're all looking for a cure, and my case is certainly not the worst I've heard about.  I'm very happy to hear the success stories of others, and I'm studying them closely.

[Bonkers]

Hi FB,

I get not liking doctors, but if you can find a Headache Specialist - not just a neuro or a pain guy but someone who specializes in HAs - who treats other cluster patients, to both diagnose your CH and monitor a treatment plan agreeable to both you and he, someone who understands and prescribes oxygen and has at least heard of using psychedelics to treat CH, you'll be glad you did.

The ClusterBuster Files - which you can access through the Forum Jump at the bottom of the page - contains a wealth of info that you'll find both interesting and helpful. Learn as much as you can and ask here about anything you don't understand. Here's a couple of videos taken of speeches by our fearless leader to give you a good start:

Welcome to the site and I wish you luck. I'm sure others will chime in soon to provide more information/advise.

Ron

[swiftlaw]

Welcome F-Bomb ( great handle!). We are the only people in the world that understand. Good luck.

[Bejeeber]

f_bomb, that is an excellent user name under these circumstances!  8-)

First off, have you tried stretching your imitrex doses as outlined in the imitrex tip? http://www.clusterheadaches.com/imitrex.html

That's a real game changer for many CH'ers.

Then there's the REAL game changer, which is using high flow, non rebreather oxygen as your frontline abortive. http://www.clusterheadaches.com/O2/index.html

Then the REAL REAL real game changer - mushrooms and the like, I know you're already seriously looking into. 8-)

Up to 6 hours? That is f-bombing BRUTAL.  > :(

I think my longest high intensity hits have been maybe 4 hours, and that was...well that was PLENTY.