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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Oxygen
        
(Message started by: Limey on Jul 11^th, 2005, 4:39am)

Title: Oxygen
Post by Limey on Jul 11^th, 2005, 4:39am

I notice a lot of Americans have oxygen. 3 questions.
Does this stop a CH at its max?
Can you take it (oxygen) home with you and how?
How did you get it from the doctors?

Title: Re: Oxygen
Post by Filbert on Jul 11^th, 2005, 6:43am

Hi Limey and welcome from me!

To try and answer your questions. Oxygen does work well for many people especially if it is taken in the right way. You might want to check out the oxygen onfo on the left of your screen. For UK oxygen info you may want to check out
[url=http://www.clusterheadaches.org.uk]

There is a helpline phone number if you want to speak to someone. Good luck with it! Fil.

Title: Re: Oxygen
Post by Limey on Jul 11^th, 2005, 7:01am

Thanks Filbert. I notice you're in the UK like me.
Just visited Doctor with info about oxygen off this site. She said that oxygen hasn't been trialled and tested in Britain and she palmed me off with Tramadol again and basicly said 'Live with the side effects'.
Oh well. A painful afternoon in store!

Title: Re: Oxygen
Post by AussieBrian on Jul 11^th, 2005, 7:09am

G'day Limey and welcome aboard.

It's not just our American friends worship the O2 and it seems one of the few things we all agree on.

Importantly, though, what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for the next, and just because you find a miracle cure for this cycle is no guarantee it's not just a waste of money next time round.

Ah, life should be an adventure.

There's lots of info around the board on how to get it and the best way to use it. Good reading and well worth the effort.

Keep us posted on how you go,

Brian Down Under.

Title: Re: Oxygen
Post by Topical on Jul 11^th, 2005, 7:31am

I'd hook up with OUCH-UK and let them refer you to a doctor. There is no reason why you should have to be in pain or "live with the side effects".

Here is a page on O2 on their site for reference.
http://www.clusterheadaches.org.uk/home/index.cfm?address=../treatments/txt_drug_oxygen_regs.cfm&added=Jan2001&code=CD

Title: Re: Oxygen
Post by vig on Jul 11^th, 2005, 7:34am

I believe that's what's called a lazy doctor...
She hasn't been doing her homework.
find a new one

Title: Re: Oxygen
Post by Topical on Jul 11^th, 2005, 7:34am

The results from an informal survey of O2 users can be found here:
http://www.clusterheadaches.org/cgi-bin/survey/o2_survey.cgi?survey_name=o2

The clinical trials would seem to bear out the numbers shown.

Title: Re: Oxygen
Post by Filbert on Jul 11^th, 2005, 7:41am

Hi again Limey and welcome to the British GP oxygen war. Many people have had to fight long and hard to get oxygen from their GP but you need to keep trying. There is an oxygen trial going on right now at the Institute of Neurology in Queens Square in London and indeed if you have been diagnosed officially as having CH then you could probably join the trial and so kill two birds with one stone There are details on the trial on the ouch uk site.
As your GP thinks she's very clever you could gently point out to her that the only licensed med for CH in the BNF [the doctors bible] is Imigran injections which do work very well for most people in stopping an individual CH attack. Very expensive for the doctor to prescribe though so she may do her best to wriggle out of it. However it is unethical to withhold medication on the grounds of cost. Good luck with it all!! Keep us updated.
Fil.

Title: Re: Oxygen
Post by Topical on Jul 11^th, 2005, 7:50am

This is the best resource I can find.

Question:
Is there any evidence for oxygen therapy in the treatment of cluster headaches?
http://www.attract.wales.nhs.uk/question_answers.cfm?question_id=910

About ATTRACT
ATTRACT was created in 1997 in response to a large needs assessment exercise carried out with members of the primary care team in Gwent, South Wales. Clinicians were keen to practice 'evidence-based medicine' but found that they didn't have the time and/or expertise in which to keep 'up to date'. What the clinicians wanted was rapid access to the literature via a mechanism that meant that they had minimum resource implication for them.

In order to meet these needs ATTRACT was created. Since 1997 the basic principle has been the same - clinicians contact us, we rapidly search the evidence, appraise and summarise onto a side of A4 and then fax it back to the clinician - within 6 hours if necessary.

******

In 2003 ATTRACT became part of the Welsh National Public Health Service.