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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Oxygen Therapy?
        
(Message started by: TBO2 on Jul 20^th, 2004, 3:24am)

Title: Oxygen Therapy?
Post by TBO2 on Jul 20^th, 2004, 3:24am

I'm an old school migraineur whose headaches turned from migraine to chronic cluster approximately 9 years ago.
While I am aware of the different effectivenesses (efficacies?) of various drugs for the two different disorders, I have tried almost all (both as needed and prophylactally.) The ONLY effective medication for me has been Imitrex injections.
One treatment I have not tried = oxygen. I have read that inhalation of pure oxygen at a rate near 15mL/min has been remarkably effective for many clusterheads if taken early in an attack.

Has anyone tried this, and if so, what were YOUR results? All replies would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Ted

Title: Re: Oxygen Therapy?
Post by Filbert on Jul 20^th, 2004, 4:50am

Hi Ted
I'm fairly certain that the most common figure quoted for the success rate of oxygen therapy is about 80% of sufferers. My personal view is that some of 20% of failures could be due to incorrect flow rates or using the wrong mask. Though saying that sadly some people have followed everything correctly and have obtained no relief. Still worth a go IMHO!

All the best Filbert

Title: Re: Oxygen Therapy?
Post by Rock_Lobster on Jul 20^th, 2004, 8:15am

o2 is the ticket for most.

I am one of the 20% it did not work on. Tried the correct mask with 15lpm, and ended up taking it straight from the o2 hose.

It did hold the line on the CH... the current CH did not fully develop until I stopped the O2. Thus it was great if I was using a slow-acting abortive (ie Imitrex Tablets)... though I do not use slow-acting abortives anymore! :\

Next episode I will certainly give o2 another shot.

Lob

Title: Re: Oxygen Therapy?
Post by Axel on Jul 20^th, 2004, 9:03am

Well for me it really works !! In fact it works just as fast as imiject,whichin my case gives me a stiff neck ,when in full cycle and use it too often... so the o2 was a revelation, I will never part from my tank ever agaig. I'ts my new best friend....I had been getting CH 15yrs ,and started all of this 2mth ago.. so far so good! I really think it's worth the try... ...Axel.

Title: Re: Oxygen Therapy?
Post by 1MajorPain on Jul 20^th, 2004, 12:11pm

Read up on O2 on the left of the page. (oxygen info)
<--------------- it's worked great for many.

Major

Title: Re: Oxygen Therapy?
Post by Superpain on Jul 20^th, 2004, 5:30pm

on 07/20/04 at 04:50:02, Filbert wrote:

I agree... Except I don't even use a mask. The key is getting enough of it fast enough. And that is ALOT to be effective, at least for me.

It's gaseous gold.

Title: Re: Oxygen Therapy?
Post by FZfan on Jul 20^th, 2004, 8:11pm

Yep, if you haven't tried it you gotta get it! I'm a big fan of the gas. I suffered with these things for nine years before I tried the o2. First two cycles I used it on it was barely effective because I was prescribed a low flow regulator and a regular mask. When I came to this site last cycle and got educated on the proper application of o2 I immediately went to the local med shop and procured the proper regulator and mask.

I can't describe properly in words the feeling of that first attack melting away when I tried it with the right equipment the first time. It's.. it's... I don't know, almost orgasmic.

I did get some attacks that o2 didn't touch, but I've successfully aborted an average of 8 out of 10 attacks with it, which is an acceptable success rate for me.

Next cycle I intend to try Superpains method to see if I can make it work even better.

Get some o2 now!!

Title: Re: Oxygen Therapy?
Post by johnd7 on Jul 22^nd, 2004, 7:15pm

[quote author=FZfan link=board=chspecific;num=1090307908;start=0#6 date=07/20/04 at 20:11:27]. When I came to this site last cycle and got educated on the proper application of o2 I immediately went to the local med shop and procured the proper regulator and mask.
quote]

I have always had I would say probably 90% success rate with regular mask at 7lpm for 15 minutes. But as we all know it only takes one HA to make you go crazy so this time I asked my Doc for a rebreather prescribed when he prescribed the 02. The company forgot to deliver so I have been making due with the regular mask and it has worked accept a couple times. I was just told by the O2 company that those can only be used with high flow tanks like 12-15 lpm which I guess has to be a big H tank with a higher regulator. Can I just buy a different regulator and mask at a supply store and put that on the smaller tanks?

Title: Re: Oxygen Therapy?
Post by FZfan on Jul 23^rd, 2004, 1:53pm

I bought a regulator that goes up to 15 for $100 at a med supply shop. the regulator I bought fits on a standard "E" tank.

I also bought a non-rebreather mask for 5 bucks.

I had spotty success at 8 lpm. When I got the right regulator and bumped up to 15 everything changed for the better. Through experimentation I found that a flow rate of 10 lpm worked for me as well as 15.

But I also found that if I am really stressed and breathing hard before I get to the o2, I need to up the pressure to 15, if I am calm and collected when I get to the o2, 10 lpm is sufficient.

The key to finding the right lpm is the bag on the rebreather mask. Have someone watch you when using it to determine if you are inhaling (deflating) the bag faster than it refills (or do this in front of a mirror). With the proper lpm setting, your strongest inhales should not deflate the bag.

One other tip I got from a respiration therapist is - when you first turn on the tank to begin treatment, hold your thumb or fingers over the inlet valve inside the mask. This will cause the bag to inflate completely before you start your treatment.

Title: Re: Oxygen Therapy?
Post by Biker on Jul 23^rd, 2004, 7:31pm

I am taking my oxygen straight out of the hose. I am using a common welding regulator and a shop air nozzle. I am not sure how many ???per minute I inhale, (sometimes alot, sometimes a little) but it does bring me out of the headaches. When I am in moderate to severe pain, I will let the pressure from the tank inflate my lungs, then lower the pressure as the headache begins to go away. If I catch the headache when it first begins, the oxygen works best. I can abort the headache before it gets bad. If the headache is already painfull, it takes longer to abort. I estimate 5-30 minutes of deep breathing. My only complaint (other than the headache) is the oxygen will dry out my air passages. Currently, I am using alot of oxygen from the local welding supply. Cost about $10.00 for a refil that will last a couple of weeks with 2-4episodes every day.

Title: Re: Oxygen Therapy?
Post by Superpain on Jul 23^rd, 2004, 7:48pm

on 07/23/04 at 19:31:29, Biker wrote:

By using a 1/2" acrylic tube it offers less resistance, so I can take big hits by barely turning the regulator, like 1/2 - 1 turn for a full hit, then twist it back off. Thus no wastage of the gas. That size tube also fits nicely onto the port of a water bong eliminating the dry throat. ;)
Just an idea... Works for me.

Title: Re: Oxygen Therapy?
Post by Biker on Jul 23^rd, 2004, 10:45pm

Thats a great idea. I have been wondering how I could add moisture to the gas. That set up would come in handy during the middle of the night. Would not have to get out of bed for a drink of water. I would have to place my valve between the tank and the bong, then that would cause me to have to reach around. Now, If I can figure out a way to have a pressurized bong, so I can inhale on demand with a press on the valve..........

Title: Re: Oxygen Therapy?
Post by Superpain on Jul 24^th, 2004, 5:40am

on 07/23/04 at 22:45:45, Biker wrote:

That's an ingenious idea!
If you could find, or make a tunable valve with a trigger that would release in a controlled manner, rather than one burst, so that your able to take huge hits comfortably and repeat!? Without wasting any gas!?

I'll buy one!!!

Title: Re: Oxygen Therapy?
Post by matthe on Jul 27^th, 2004, 5:15pm

Get the Oxygen. I have had approximately 15 cycles over the last 20 years. I only tried the oxygen the last cycle and it worked very well, especially the ones that come at night. The other obvious benefit is you don't feel like s*** all the time from being drugged up.

Matt