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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Question
        
(Message started by: puppylove41 on Feb 15^th, 2008, 8:28pm)

Title: Question
Post by puppylove41 on Feb 15^th, 2008, 8:28pm

My husband would like to know how often do some of you use the oxygen. He just got it yesterday. He has used it 4 times today. Doctor said when they hit bad use it, well he gets hit lots. He is slowly taking off the meds the other doctors gave him because not helping anyway. I think we found a doctor that knows what he is talking about. :)

Title: Re: Question
Post by Kevin_M on Feb 15^th, 2008, 8:46pm

I use a preventative but when things don't go right, three times a night is pretty consistent, as well as a breakthrough or two in the daytime. Preventive med adjustments change that favorably for me. Would be worse I know without any prevent but everyone is different in how they are affected.

Title: Re: Question
Post by AussieBrian on Feb 15^th, 2008, 9:07pm

on 02/15/08 at 20:28:48, puppylove41 wrote:

Doctor said when they hit bad use it,

Pretty much all CHeads will tell you that the time to get on it is the very beginning of a hit. Don't postpone for so much as a minute.

Once the brute gets a foot in the door it becomes more and more difficult to shake.

Title: Re: Question
Post by DennisM1045 on Feb 16^th, 2008, 6:41am

I happy to hear you found a Doctor that seems to know what he's doing.

I agree with Brian, get on the O2 at the first sign of an attack. Once the beast is fully entrenched O2 might not shake him off.

You can't over use this stuff they way we use it. Pure O2 won't hurt you so long as your lungs are in good shape. Obviously your Doctor feels they are ok otherwise it would not have been perscribed ;)

So tell your hubby to huff away and kill the beast.

I'm sorry if I've missed another post but what flow rate is he using? What kind of mask? Have you guys read through the supplemental guide to O2 on the OUCH-US site? It's a must read and will help you get the most from your efforts. You can find it here:

http://www.ouch-us.org/medications/oxygen/o2links.htm

Good luck and congrats on getting the rig. I hope it works as well for you as it does for me.

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Question
Post by Batch on Feb 16^th, 2008, 9:18am

I use oxygen therapy on every CH attack for as long as it takes to achieve an abort. During a high cycle period, that could be 6 to 8 attacks in a 24 hour period. I also use a flow rate above 15 LPM. 24 LPM is my minimum and it aborts the pain of an attack in significantly less time than a flow rate of 15 LPM.

AussieBrian is spot on target with his comments. Oxygen therapy is far more effective if started as soon as possible after the first symptom indicating an attack is about to start. Every minute you wait after that point before starting oxygen therapy lets the pain of a CH attack build to a higher level. Nearly all the folks that use oxygen therapy on a regular basis to abort their CH attacks will tell you the higher the Kip pain level when you start the therapy, the longer it will take the oxygen to abort the pain.

If you watch your husband, you've probably been able to spot a pending attack before him. Be a proactive supporter. When you see an attack coming, tell him to get on the oxygen. He'll probably question you at first, but after a while, he'll follow your suggestion without any hesitation proving Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner were right.

Take care,

V/R, Batch

Title: Re: Question
Post by brewcrew on Feb 16^th, 2008, 10:18am

on 02/16/08 at 09:18:10, Batch wrote:

...he'll follow your suggestion without any hesitation proving Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner were right.

But watch that buildup of drool inside his mask.

Title: Re: Question
Post by Guiseppi on Feb 16^th, 2008, 11:31am

Batch and that funny talking guy from down under ;)are spot on. Use it every time the beast comes calling, the sooner the better. He should keep trying to find a decent preventative. I take lithium while I'm on cycle. At 1200 mg a day it cuts down 80-90% of my attacks and really reduces my need for oxygen.

Thanks for being a supporter, my wife has stuck by me thru 28 years of these things and has really helped to keep me sane! Supporters rock!!

Guiseppi