Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Posts >> Advise 
        
(Message started by: Tiannia on Jul 25^th, 2004, 5:21pm)

Title: Advise
Post by Tiannia on Jul 25^th, 2004, 5:21pm

ok guys.

I need advise onn how to deal without Insurance for the next 5 months? Welders o2 is not an option. So give me your home remedies little things that helps each of you.

PF Wishes my friends
-Tia

Title: Re: Advise
Post by Jayne on Jul 25^th, 2004, 5:24pm

put 5-6 drops of hot sauce under your tounge and hold it there for as long as you can. This has saved me a few times. It doesn't work everytime but when it does it get's rid of the headache (THANKS PACO)

Exersise, jumping jacks.

Title: Re: Advise
Post by Samantha_Smith on Jul 25^th, 2004, 5:26pm

Air conditioning. Hanging out in cool places....like the basement.

Title: Re: Advise
Post by CarrieBethRN on Jul 25^th, 2004, 5:27pm

Hi Tia,

Paul (Opus) once gave me this link of things to try:

http://www.clusterheadaches.org/resources/non_script_treat.htm

Haven't looked at it in awhile, so I don't know how helpful it will be to you, but it's definately worth taking a look at! I've run into a little "situation" with my O2 use, myself. I switched from my mom's insurance to student HMO insurance. Just found out this past Friday that they do not cover O2. I have to go to the headache center this week to see if they can get it authorized as covered for medical necessity. Oy....Then I know they'll still charge an arm and a leg for it, so maybe I should just use it without the insurance coverage! We'll see...

Anyhow...good luck, and maybe a few of those things will help. The only things I use to abort are Ice and O2.

Hugz,
Carrie

Title: Re: Advise
Post by floridian on Jul 25^th, 2004, 6:05pm

melatonin. magnesium. B-vitamins. tea. turmeric. Each of these will run you less than $10 per month.

The melatonin and magnesium have been proven for clusters in scientific studies (they help about half of the people - good if you are that half). B-vitamins have been shown to help with migraine and several people here seem to think they help. Tea and turmeric are anti-inflammatories and there is reason to think they might help, but that has not been proven or disproven.

Title: Re: Advise
Post by ClusterChuck on Jul 25^th, 2004, 6:06pm

Shop around for O₂ suppliers. I get mine from a home health company. My "M" tank cost $15.00 to refill. They do not charge me for my regulators or my masks and bubblers, when I need new ones. An "M" tank, for me, can last as little as one day, or as long as several days, but then again, most do not get hit as often as I do. I have three "M" tanks. One I keep in my van.

Let them know you are paying this out of your own pocket. Maybe they can let you have it for less than what they charge the insurance company. I know that is wrong, and they will never admit they do that, but I think some do.

Other than that, remember the application of cold and/or heat, or the water X 3 trick on the left buttons.

Try concentrating, HARD, on something while getting hit. Anything. Some do it to music. When I am pacing, I do it to the exact placement of my feet, and the number of steps I take.

I hope some of these help.

Chuck

Title: Re: Advise
Post by Tiannia on Jul 26^th, 2004, 10:50pm

THanks for the tips guys. Gonna try them, but anythign else would be a great help too.

-Tia - Who is scared to use the last of her Trex NS just in case I get a K10. [smiley=nono.gif]

Title: Re: Advise
Post by Carl_D on Jul 26^th, 2004, 11:28pm

This was suggested to me by a friend, though I haven't had a surface to try it on as of yet.

Someone suggested standing on a cold surface, like a basement floor, to see if the blood flow will rush to the feet to try and warm them up, thus distracting the bloodflow from the head. It's worth a try. I'm just waiting for it to get cold outside so I can try it on the parking lot of my apartment.

Peace,
Carl D

Title: Re: Advise
Post by psycofemale0403 on Jul 26^th, 2004, 11:46pm

I agree with Chuck, concentrate on anything. I concentrate on breathing, listening to the sound of my breath. I have an uncontrolled habit of holding my breath durring a hit. So I have to sit and concentrate REAL hard on taking short deep breaths. And honestly O2 does nothing for me except make it worse. The air going up my nose and the mask touching my face makese the pain worse!

Good luck to ya!

~ Lisa

Title: Re: Advise
Post by Charlie on Jul 27^th, 2004, 1:16am

One guy stands barefoot on a concrete floor. Says it works now and then. It draws blood to the feet. Same for strenuous exercise, cold water and whatever else you can think of. Including my technique:

Dr. Wright’s Circulatory Technique

What follows is a technique learned from a neurologist:
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

Title: Re: Advise
Post by Jeepgun on Jul 27^th, 2004, 8:29am

One thing I've found that is NOT effective, is using an inversion table. Hanging upside down during a cluster headache: NOT GOOD!! [smiley=bigcry.gif] [smiley=bomb.gif]

Title: Re: Advise
Post by Paige on Jul 27^th, 2004, 8:37am

I have actually taken a straw, put it up my nose and then put my head in the freezer. :o It is something about the frozen air (or whatever it is) that helped some.

And yes I have tried hanging upside down too, it didn't help, just made me dizzy.

Or try a super duper strong cup of coffee, as strong and as hot as you can stand it. DON'T SIP IT! You must chug it.

Title: Re: Advise
Post by BlueMeanie on Jul 27^th, 2004, 12:26pm

Tia,

It doesn't help much, but I use a hand held messager that I press against the back of my neck and temple area between using ice. It seems to keep me focused and little easier to deal with when I'm out of meds or when they just don't work.

Good luck to you. PFDAN

Title: Re: Advise
Post by Prense on Jul 27^th, 2004, 12:32pm

<snipped>

Check your PMs...

Title: Re: Advise
Post by Cerberus on Jul 27^th, 2004, 1:32pm

strong black coffee, water x3, plenty of ice or frozen veggies and a shitload of running around screaming like a raving lunatic...

If nothing else make alot of trips to the local Fire department for O2.

Be well,
Ramon

Title: Re: Advise
Post by Georgia on Jul 27^th, 2004, 2:18pm

Sounds strange, but it has worked for me (and others brave and/or crazy enough to try it)....

Put a hunk of bleu cheese under your tongue, leave it there until it dissolves. In the meantime, rub apple cider vinegar on your arms, chest, back, neck, etc. Don't ask me why or how it works...I just know that it does sometimes.

Sex. Hard and fast is preferable. (Again, not sure why - diversion of blood flow, release of hormones, increased heart rate, more oxygen intake...not a clue) Some say masturbation works as well.

Showers - as hot or cold as you can stand them, depending on which you prefer.

Tiger balm on your neck and temples helps. DO NOT TRY RUBBING IT IN YOUR EYE. THIS DOES NOT WORK AND IT ONLY HURTS MORE.

Keep a bottle of saline nasal spray in the fridge and give your self a few blasts in your nostril at the very onset.

Capsacain (sp?) cream - made from hot peppers - rubbed on your head/neck.

And of course, you could always check out clusterbusters if you haven't already.

That's all I can think of right now...

Good luck,
georgia

Title: Re: Advise
Post by Tiannia on Jul 27^th, 2004, 9:13pm

on 07/27/04 at 14:18:14, Georgia wrote:

Georgia - At least you made e laugh. Dont think I could handle the vinegar. It would make me sick of the smell... which I guess would lead to the shower. ;;D

As far as the sex goes. I think I would end up ripping of a part of my husbands anatomy that I am rather fond of...... Pretty sure he likes it where it is as well.

-Tia