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Topic: oxygen therapy (Read 147 times) |
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mbnovick
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oxygen therapy
« on: May 18th, 2005, 10:47pm » |
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I am new to this CH thing......I am a 65 year old male--too old to have a first cluster headache so I"m told. I thank everyone for sharing methods of help on the message board--that is how I learned of the oxygen therapy (not from my neurologist!) It works...I get the nocturnal headaches 9-10PM many nights and its been going on for over 3 months.....Any thoughts???When does this end?
My question is to anyone on oxygen therapy for CH--has anyone been reimbursed by an insurance company ?? Medicare will not pay--and it is quite expensive. Did anyone try to collect from insurance?
I would appreciate any answers....Thanks Marv
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Sean_C
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Insurance picks up my tab Merv. You should get more responses from others, stay tuned, help is near 
Sean.....................................
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Mr. Happy
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Re: oxygen therapy
« Reply #2 on: May 19th, 2005, 12:25am » |
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Wow, Marv. Lighting the Candle for the first time at 65. That's woeful news indeed. You're going to blow the hell out of the bell curve.
I have to pay for my own O2, like you. It can easily run over a couple hundred bucks a month during peak season. The only way to cut down the cost is to get BIG tanks for the house (H or M), carry a few E tanks when out, or use welders oxygen if you can work it out with a local commercial gas supply company. The welders thing isn't exactly FDA approved, but we gotta do what we gotta do. There's sources for masks, bubblers and regulators if you need to get your own, too. Ask away with any questions.
Oh heck, what a great time for O2 review.
Here's a chart of some of the tank sizes available:
This is a bubbler:
These are duel guage regulators. The one on top is a CGA 540, the bottom one is CGA 870:
This is a non rebreather mask:
This is Bethany (on the right, you old letch.). She a sufferer from Mass-achoo-sits. Notice the hint of Xena teat exposure, and jeans with the built in wet spot. Membership does have it's perks.
I love O2 rants. Don't you?
RJ
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| « Last Edit: May 19th, 2005, 12:25am by Mr. Happy » |
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ClusterChuck
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Re: oxygen therapy
« Reply #3 on: May 19th, 2005, 2:01am » |
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Marv, I am SO sorry you have to be here, but seeing you got the beast, I am glad you found us! Welcome to the looney bin! (At least the rest of them are ... I am the only sane one here)
I have Blue Cross & Blue Shield for insurance. When I applied to them to see if they would cover my oxygen, they had me go in for an oxygen blood sattion test. I tested out at 97%, which is too high for them to cover the oxygen. I went for a long time paying for it myself.
I was then talking to a nurse who told me to stop paying for it, and have my supplier submit the bill to the insurance company. Once they send me a rejection, on paper, I can then go and fight it. Guess what!!?? After refusing to pay for it over the phone, once I had my supplier send them the bill, they paid it (with a co-pay, unfortunately, but at least they are paying most of it!)!!!
You might try the same trick.
Glad you have an abortive that works, now have you investigated preventatives? Verapamil seems to work for most, but not all clusterheads.
As far as how long your cycle will last, none of us can answer that. I think the "normal" cycle is from one to four months. Many have cycles that can go on to 9, 10, or 11 months. And then there are those that start, and stay, as a chronic (Jonny and others).
Good luck and keep us informed as to how you are doing.
Chuck
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The mad viking
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Re: oxygen therapy
« Reply #4 on: May 19th, 2005, 2:16am » |
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on May 19th, 2005, 2:01am, ClusterChuck wrote: Welcome to the looney bin! (At least the rest of them are ... I am the only sane one here)
Chuck |
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Believe thats up for a discussion. 
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Charlie
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Re: oxygen therapy
« Reply #5 on: May 19th, 2005, 3:26am » |
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Welcome aboard but I'm sorry you have to deal with this horror. 65 is unusual but not unknown for first attacks.
Will it end? I'm 58 years old, they began in 1969 and ended in 1991. I'm not complaining. 45 is a bit "young" for what I call the age factor. Sometimes they end as we slide into our 50s and 60s, sometimes.
I suggest you stick around for more ideas for dealing with oxygen and the costs. You'll find more good ideas.
Here is something I hope works for you. It did for me:
Dr. Wright’s Circulatory Technique
I am not sure what mechanism is triggered by this but whatever it is, at least indirectly helps kill the pain. I do know that this technique has nothing to do with meditation, relaxation, or psychic ability. It is entirely physical and takes some work. It involves concentrating on trying to redirect a little circulation to the arms, hands, or legs. It can described as a conscious circulatory flexing. Increased circulation will result in a reddening and warming of the hands. Try to think of it as filling your hands with redirected blood. The important and difficult part is that it has to be done without interruption through the pain. Do not give up in frustration. It may not work on the first try. Every now and then it will work almost immediately. I lived for those moments. Try experimenting between attacks. You will find that it gets easier with practice.
I was given less than five minutes instruction in the use of method. The doctor, while placing his arm on his desk, showed me that he could slightly increase his arm and hand circulation. After several attempts, I was able to repeat this procedure and use it successfully. I have had about a 75% success rate shortening these attacks. My 20 minute attacks were often reduced to 10 minutes or less. Once proven that I had a chance to effectively deal with this horror, I always gave it a try as I had nothing to lose but pain.
Perhaps it will help if you think of it as trying to fill the arm as if it is were an empty vessel. I used to try to imagine I was pushing blood away from my head into my arm. Use your imagination. There is one man who wrote that his standing barefoot on a concrete floor shortened his attacks. This may be similar as it draws some circulation away from the head. Cold water, exercise, or anything affecting circulation, seems to be worth a try. My suggestion is to not let up immediately when the pain goes. Waiting a minute is probably a good idea. So long as you do not slack off, this has a chance of working.
This technique is very useful while waiting for medication to take effect or when none is available. It costs nothing, is non-invasive, and can be used just about anywhere. It is not a miracle but it helped me deal with this horror. It can be a bit exhausting but the success rate was good enough for me and a cluster headache sufferer will do just about anything to end the pain. It gives us a fighting chance.
I hope this technique is helpful and I wish you the best of luck
Charlie
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Barry_T_Coles
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Re: oxygen therapy
« Reply #6 on: May 20th, 2005, 1:07am » |
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Marv
Sorry to hear that you are getting hit.
I'm not much younger than you at 56, I got hit for the first time when I was 50 and that lasted for about 3 months and left me just as quick as it came, I got hit again just before christmas 2004 and that lasted for about three months but I am still getting shadows now but at least thats better than the killer headaches.
There certainly doesn't seem to be anything that you could call a usual length of time, I guess it's just the way our bodies deal with it differently.
I am currently trying some natural anti inflamatory and am having some reasonable success, I will have to post the ingerdients as the name probably won't mean much.
You are certainly in good company here, I have learnt so much from these wonderfull people and they keep a smile on my dial.
Best of luck
Kind regards
Barry
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