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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> I'm baaaaaack
        
(Message started by: aceserve on Aug 9^th, 2007, 2:38pm)

Title: I'm baaaaaack
Post by aceserve on Aug 9^th, 2007, 2:38pm

Well, I haven't entirely been a stranger, because I did visit this great site once in a while when I was PF, which lasted from January 2005 until July 26 (two weeks ago, when I was hit by a CH after feeling shadows one in a while in the previous week or so).

But now I'm back, writing from my office after getting hit by two CHs last night, the second one bringing excrutiating pain. After four nights of little sleep, I am plumb tired. Fortunately, there is Imitrex. I'm injecting in small amounts so as not to go broke fighting this thing.

Next step is to try the oxygen route. It's a bummer that (according to this Web site) I need to get a doctors prescription just for oxygen. I now live in Puerto Rico, where just seeing a doctor is an all-day affair.

Andrew (aka "Ace")

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by Brewcrew on Aug 9^th, 2007, 2:59pm

Welcome back.

Hope this cycles goes quickly for you. And PF.

Once it's done, stick around. There are many others who will be able to use your help, and you'll get a chance to pay it forward. ;)

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by Superirish2005 on Aug 9^th, 2007, 3:20pm

be careful dude, I came back as well this month after 11 months pain free and the regulars jump all over you if you are not one of them. Many people here are just NOT NICE!

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by vietvet2tours on Aug 9^th, 2007, 3:24pm

on 08/09/07 at 15:20:26, Superirish2005 wrote:

be careful dude, I came back as well this month after 11 months pain free and the regulars jump all over you if you are not one of them. Many people here are just NOT NICE!

This puke(superirish) is a troll and has been run off before. Get oxygen Andrew.Welders o2 should be easy to come by.

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by Charlotte on Aug 9^th, 2007, 3:25pm

perhaps Andrew did not offend as many people when he was here before.

I thought you said you were going to be good this time, SuperIrish.

Welcome back Andrew.

Charlotte

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by Superirish2005 on Aug 9^th, 2007, 4:26pm

now I am called a puke?

charlotte, what have I done wrong and yet the name calling begins....pure classlass act

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by aceserve on Aug 9^th, 2007, 7:40pm

Hi All. Yes, I did visit this site when I was pain-free. I am not just a foul-weather friend ;)

I also visit when the weather is fair and PF. And I'm happy any time to give advice to anyone in need. I remember the sheer torture of being hit by CHs starting in 1979 and the doctor offering no help. I don't think the medical community really knew about cluster headaches then. The doctor said I was under stress (and I was not), but I guess that's what they always say when they can't figure out what the problem is. The end result was no medicine for my CHs until the late 1980s, so I had to really SUFFER during my episodes. I don't want anyone to go through that.

I will pursue the suggestion for welder's 02. Thanks very much Vietvet.

Best,
Andrew

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by nani on Aug 9^th, 2007, 8:22pm

Hi Andrew. I was wondering about you a few weeks ago. Still on the deluxe tour of Latin America? ;)
Sorry you're back in cycle, but glad to see you again.
(I use welder's O2, works great)
hugs, nani

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by E-Double on Aug 9^th, 2007, 8:27pm

Whattup Andrew!

Definitely get yourself Oxygen!
It'll be a saviour.

Enjoy the beautiful island.

E

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by LeLimey on Aug 10^th, 2007, 5:27am

Hi Andrew,

Its "nice" to see you again - just wish it wasn't 'cos you're getting hit :-/

How's life treating you other than that? How's the family?

I'm with everyone else in that I can't recommend Oxygen enough especially if used with a mask from here www.clustermasx.com - you won't believe the difference it makes!

Take care of yourself
Helen

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by Superirish2005 on Aug 10^th, 2007, 8:13am

andrew good luck getting any support from people here. They will laugh at you like they are doing me right now.

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by Brewcrew on Aug 10^th, 2007, 8:25am

See? This buttmunch also has no shame. Shamelessly hijacking threads like this.

Look how mean they are. Me-me-me-me-me-me.....

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by barry_sword on Aug 10^th, 2007, 8:29am

Hi Andrew. Sorry your back in cycle. I also cannot say enough about o2, it really works!!

Barry

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by aceserve on Aug 10^th, 2007, 9:45am

I called a couple of welding supply stores and they questioned me about what the oxygen would be used for. When I fessed up to one shop that it would be for medical reasons, he said the welding o2 is not good for that because it is not purified, unlike o2 used for medical purposes. Has anyone come across a problem like this?

A question: Not long before this episode of CH began I got a constant ringing in my ear (it sounds like high-pitched insects in the background). When a CH sets in, it gets more pronounced. Has that happened to other folks?

Andrew

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by aceserve on Aug 10^th, 2007, 9:47am

Hello Nani,

Hugs right back at you. Thanks, and glad to be in touch again.

Best,
Andrew

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by aceserve on Aug 10^th, 2007, 9:49am

Hello Helen,

That's great you remember me. I remember you too..how could I forget a great handle like LeLimey?

Other than the scary CHs, I cannot complain. Wife and two sons doing marvelously, gracias a Dios.

I hope you're well.

Best,
Andrew

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by nani on Aug 10^th, 2007, 9:56am

on 08/10/07 at 09:45:28, aceserve wrote:

he said the welding o2 is not good for that because it is not purified, unlike o2 used for medical purposes. Has anyone come across a problem like this?

From what I understand, in order to weld, you have to have pure O2. I had my husband get it, and say it was for welding. They never asked him anything else.
I had to buy a 540 regulator from Ebay, and I also bought a clustermasx.
Hopefully Jonny, or somebody who knows more than I do will come along and offer more info.

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by aceserve on Aug 10^th, 2007, 10:07am

Charlotte, Brewcrew, SuperIrish, E-Double, Barry,

Thanks for your good wishes!

Brewcrew: I'm in with the name. I love brews, especially microbrews but can't touch the stuff till this episode is over.

Barry: I see from your blog you're a mountain biker. I do some of that in Bend, OR, where we have a place. It's a mountain-biking paradise and well worth a visit.

Best,
Andrew

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by Jonny on Aug 10^th, 2007, 1:48pm

on 08/10/07 at 09:45:28, aceserve wrote:

When I fessed up to one shop that it would be for medical reasons, he said the welding o2 is not good for that because it is not purified, unlike o2 used for medical purposes.

The guy is just trying to cover his ass, he could get in deep water renting welding 02 for that reason.

I own a welding company, welding tanks and medical tanks are filled from the same main tank at the gas house.

All I use is welding 02 (because I get it for free ;;D )

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by aceserve on Aug 10^th, 2007, 2:13pm

Jonny,

Excellent. Thanks! It's good to get word from someone who knows the score completely.

Best,
Andrew

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by Brewcrew on Aug 10^th, 2007, 2:39pm

on 08/10/07 at 10:07:58, aceserve wrote:

Brewcrew: I'm in with the name. I love brews, especially microbrews but can't touch the stuff till this episode is over.

FWIW - The moniker is a nickname for my hometown baseball team. Even though I used to make my own beer (and not from kits - used to mash the grain by hand), I don't touch the stuff anymore. Don't get me wrong, I'm no prude. I just can't take the chance anymore - too much chance for misery to follow.

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by buhrly on Aug 10^th, 2007, 6:30pm

where i get my oxygen filled is welding and medical next to each other. walk in on one side 29 dollar exchange, the other 22 dollar exchange. they go to the same back room to get the exchange tank. guess which side i go to :)

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by aceserve on Aug 11^th, 2007, 1:07am

If pain alone were fatal, I'd be dead now. I just had a CH that was one of the worst I have ever endured. :P

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by nani on Aug 11^th, 2007, 1:11am

:( [smiley=hug.gif]

Andrew, have you read up on kudzu, or Red Bull, or taurine? All three of these have just come to our attention in the last 2 years. They work for many if us. Hang in there.

hugs, nani

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by vietvet2tours on Aug 11^th, 2007, 2:44am

on 08/11/07 at 01:07:38, aceserve wrote:

If pain alone were fatal, I'd be dead now. I just had a CH that was one of the worst I have ever endured. :P

You hang in there sunshine cuz you're special.

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Aug 11^th, 2007, 2:54am

I would definately give the O2 a shot. Make sure you use it in the way shown in the Oxygen info tab on the left. Using it as described gives you the best possibility that it will work.

Also, I aint no genius, 9although way smarter than Jonny0, but I also heard that welding O2 needs to be pure just like medical O2. If a contaminant or particulate gets into the weld, it will make the weld imperfect, which could lead to failure.

B$

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by UN solved on Aug 11^th, 2007, 3:43am

Hey Andrew. Sorry the beast is returning to haunt you. Sounds like you had a nice, extended break from the pain though. Hopefully, you'll get back to that soon !

Goodluck

UNsolved 8)

PS. Make sure you get the high flow regulator (you'll need to get 10-15 lpm) and the proper mask (non-rebreather or a clustermask). Someone here has links for further info on these. Ask if you need them (the links)

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by GrandPotentate on Aug 12^th, 2007, 11:26pm

I went PF for five years, and visited rarely. But it was enough to remember where these folks were, and they helped me when the beast came back. Sorry to hear you are in the same boat. I've resolved to keep more active, even between cycles.

Oxygen was a pretty new thing years back,but has worked well for me. I haven't seen any other miracles that have turned up since (other than Ali's outrageous emails).

Find a good understanding doctor if you can.

Title: Re: I'm baaaaaack
Post by aceserve on Aug 13^th, 2007, 10:10am

Hello Nani,

I went out and bought some Red Bull after reading your suggestion. I think it has been helping. Thanks for the suggestion.

Also, to intervene with my nightly 1 a.m. CHs, I have been taking 6 mg of melatonin before going to bed.

I think they are also helping. They screw up the hypothalamus' schedule. I wake with a shadow instead of a real headache starting to press in, take 2mg more of melatonin and wash it down with a Red Bull. Once, the headache didn't emerge at all, but last night I had to augment the treatment with a shot of Imitrex.

The welding supply shops were closed over the weekend but will try to get away from work to find some today.