Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


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

        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Yet another O2 question.
        
(Message started by: jenrob2006 on Jul 20^th, 2006, 5:07pm)

Title: Yet another O2 question.
Post by jenrob2006 on Jul 20^th, 2006, 5:07pm

Sorry guys, but I got another one. Do you own your O2 equipment or do you rent it? My doctor doesnt think I need a regulator that goes above 8. I almost suffocate myself everynight trying to breathe the plastic off the bag. Right now I am renting for 50.00 a month and that includes two tanks and two refills. The tank doesnt last very long because it is very small. Any suggestions?

Title: Re: Yet another O2 question.
Post by Racer1_NC on Jul 20^th, 2006, 5:21pm

I rent a 15 lpm regulator........and I purchased a 25 lpm on ebay for around 35-40 bucks. Best investment I've made.

B

Title: Re: Yet another O2 question.
Post by thomas on Jul 20^th, 2006, 5:25pm

See if the medical supply company has larger tanks and higher flow regulators. Tell your doctor that you NEED a regulator that goes at least to 15 lpm. See if the medical supply company has "M-60" or "H" tanks.

Title: Re: Yet another O2 question.
Post by trisha on Jul 20^th, 2006, 6:39pm

I have an M tank i rent. the supply guys i rent it from had a rent to own on the regulator so i own it now. stupid insurance won't cover. says it's only for people who need o2 [smiley=huh.gif] and cluster headache is not approved for it. whatever. i pay 60 for the fill but they deliver it to me which is nice and take empty away. had a friend who was emt who gave me the bag etc. regulator goes to 15 but 8 does the trick usually in 10 minutes. if not it aint going too. i usually get 2-3 a night when i'm cycling.

Title: Re: Yet another O2 question.
Post by kevinpix on Jul 20^th, 2006, 6:48pm

i have been in pain for 4 yrs. i had surgery last year, the dr. killed all of the nerves on my left side. no pain, only fantom itches and a tingling sensation on my tongue. been meds free, too. i was on 17 pills daily. the pills were killing my liver in order to control the pain. i have my life, sanity, and best of all, my life is back to how it used to be, thank God!! wr ite back, I'll help.

Title: Re: Yet another O2 question.
Post by trisha on Jul 20^th, 2006, 6:58pm

What kind of surgery? 17 pills a day? what were you taking? i see a lot of posts w/people taking more than 9 imitrex in a month. WOW. 02 really works well for me most of the time. not always but most of the time. i also have migraines and tension headaches. have since i was 12 (well the migraines). clusters came on about 4 years ago. 9 imitrex will last me 3 months at least but i won't take them for a ch cause i hate the side effects. if i'm away from home fioricet w/codeine works good as good as it can and tanking diet coke as fast as i can helps too for some reason.

so does crying. i don't know y. does it help anyone else? it seems to lessen the pain but only if i'm all out bawling and sometimes it hurts so bad i can't even cry. strange.

Title: Re: Yet another O2 question.
Post by seasonalboomer on Jul 21^st, 2006, 8:15am

Jen,

Damn docs! I hate when they do that. Did you give him the O2 info that you can link to on the site?

Mine also prescribed only up to 8lpm but I was lucky that my local medical O2 supplier had dealt with CH before and agreed to give me an up to 15 lpm regulator. See if the the O2 guys will do it for you -- tell them why you need it and they might just slide you the better one for the job. I do rent mine but they are available on the internet in various places to buy your own.

I use Advance Home Care in Charlotte.

Good luck.

Scott

Title: Re: Yet another O2 question.
Post by jenrob2006 on Jul 21^st, 2006, 10:09am

Thanks Scott,

I use Medical Mart here in Rock Hill and not only do they give me a hard time about refilling the O2 in the first place, they told me they do not carry anything higher than the 8 but if I turn it up real high, it will go to 10. Which is a crock because when I turn it up to the highest, it only goes to 7. I was going to ask you if you had a good doctor in Charlotte, but I guess yours is just as stubborn. I dont think mine likes the fact that I know more than him about CH. So everything I tell him, he tries to convince me is wrong. They tried to convince me yet again that this a male issue that affects men who are forty, smoking and drinking. >:( >:( >:(

Title: Re: Yet another O2 question.
Post by seasonalboomer on Jul 21^st, 2006, 10:22am

I was originally diagnosed a long time ago by Demas Neurology -- which is now something else. I got my prescriptions from my GP who was not all that keen about giving me O2 or injectable imitrex. I finally had get into a mental "rassling" match with him to which he finally relented and gave me what I had come to demand of him. (I have no patience with situations like that).

I agree with you regarding Medical Mart's lame claim about the regulator. You might try to get your presecription changed over to someone else. Call a couple of them and ask them if they have any patients that are CH'ers. It's okay to ask. The driver/delivery guy actually told me they had a number of folks that had CH that they supply, and that he didn't realize that's what I was and that I indeed would need a better/bigger regulator and got one.

Scott

Title: Re: Yet another O2 question.
Post by TxBasslady on Jul 22^nd, 2006, 4:29pm

You can buy 'em on Ebay.

Jean

Title: Re: Yet another O2 question.
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Jul 22^nd, 2006, 9:19pm

Hi Jenrob

Below is a link to a piece I wrote when I was first looking for o2, it’s written for essentially Australia but the part #s for BOC I suspect would be the same.
I own my regulators, rent the bottles and pay for the gas at refill.
Over here you can rent the gear but I found the price was comparable to owning your own gear in the long run and you have it at hand ready for the next time around and don’t have to go hunting all over again.

http://www.mushys.com/kiwi/

Hope this helps a bit
Kind Regards
Barry