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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Oxygen, what's the deal?
        
(Message started by: findjoshua on Jan 21^st, 2007, 1:00pm)

Title: Oxygen, what's the deal?
Post by findjoshua on Jan 21^st, 2007, 1:00pm

Hi. So... I'm a baby, basically. And when I feel one of the CHs coming on, I run to the trex nasal spray. I also have oxygen at home. What is the typical best practice for treating when a person has o2 and an additional abortive? Is it o2 first and then the other if it doesn't work? Or is it o2 and then only something else if the pain keeps coming after a certain time limit?

Also, I have two masks at home. I boght one from clustermasx, but that one has no head strap, no holes at all, and I have to move it away from my face to breathe out b/c of the seal. The other has a strap, has some nose vents, but the seal is weaker, it is also a non-rebreather though.

Any advice on the proper, or standard, or whatever, use of o2 and trex would be appreciated.
:) Thanks.

This is my longest cycle yet, I'm afraid I'm going from episodic to chronic, it's been about two months so far since they started. :(

Joshua

Title: Re: Oxygen, what's the deal?
Post by nani on Jan 21^st, 2007, 1:03pm

Hi Joshua. It takes a year without a 30 day break to be chronic, so don't worry about that for now.
I don't use any triptans, so I hit the O2 right away. Use the clustermasx, it's more effective. Are you using a high flow (10-15 lpm)? Just be sure to keep it on tightly when inhaling and don't take it all the way off to exhale. You could do that while you're waiting for the trex to kick in, or by itself.
pain free wishes, nani

Title: Re: Oxygen, what's the deal?
Post by mcf69 on Jan 21^st, 2007, 1:48pm

Hi Joshua,
I always go with the O2 first, 15 lpm with the non rebreather, haven't tried the clustermask. If that doesn't work in a reasonable amount of time or the CH is really climbing the kip scale I'll go to the trex. Like Nani said, you have a long waysto go to being chronic, so don't worry about that right away. Best of luck and here's to hoping for PFDAN's

Title: Re: Oxygen, what's the deal?
Post by gonz2112 on Jan 21^st, 2007, 2:30pm

Hey Joshua,

As my first choice I usually drink a half a can of Monster, take 1000mg of Taurine and go to the O2. If no luck after 20 mins. I will either wait 10 mins. and try the O2 again or just got to the Imitrex injection.

Often the O2 will keep the HA from getting too bad and buy me some time for the caffeine/taurine to work and also allows me to bear waiting to try the O2 a 2nd time. If it is too bad to wait or I started the O2 too late then I will just go for the trex. Also if I am awoken with a kip7 or higher than I will go straight to the trex. I refuse to suffer if I don't have too.

I try not to use trex unless I have to because it can cause rebound headaches and costs a lot of $$ (even with insurance).

I love the Clustermasx and I can exhale w/o taking it off of my face although I prefer too. It gives you the best chance of inhaling 100% O2 than any other mask I have tried. It is recommended that you do not use a strap because if you fall asleep w/the mask on it can be dangerous.

Good luck!!

Mark

Title: Re: Oxygen, what's the deal?
Post by seasonalboomer on Jan 21^st, 2007, 4:34pm

O2 first - whenever you have access. If it hasn't helped in 15 minutes
and it's a bad one then Trex.

NEVER use straps. You can fall asleep and hours of continuous 100% O2 isn't good for you -- as well as being a pretty good waste of O2 and money. Clustermasx RULES!

Scott

Title: Re: Oxygen, what's the deal?
Post by findjoshua on Jan 21^st, 2007, 4:58pm

Thanks all. I guess the thing to do is try o2 for 15 to 20 and see what happens. I don't have it by the bed, so there's no real danger of falling asleep with it. Thanks everyone !

Title: Re: Oxygen, what's the deal?
Post by Opus on Jan 21^st, 2007, 8:33pm

on 01/21/07 at 13:00:09, findjoshua wrote:

H
Also, I have two masks at home. I boght one from clustermasx, but that one has no head strap, no holes at all, and I have to move it away from my face to breathe out b/c of the seal.

Unless your cluster masx is defective you can exhale with the mask tight. It has valves that do this very well. A regular no-rebreather mask with vents normally have to have the vents taped off and exhale while lifting the mask to make it work correctly.
I hope this helps.

Paul

Title: Re: Oxygen, what's the deal?
Post by findjoshua on Jan 21^st, 2007, 8:44pm

Mine has no holes, it looks kinda like this:

http://westmedinc.com/images/masks.gif

Maybe I'll look in to another.

Title: Re: Oxygen, what's the deal?
Post by BB on Jan 21^st, 2007, 10:28pm

When you breath pure 100% oxygen it causes a chemical reactions in your body and in your brain which can give you some reduction in alertness, transiently for several seconds to a few minutes. I have heard of people and seen my husband falling asleep with the oxygen sitting on a chair or at a desk so its best not to use the strap at all, its safer that way.

Your mask looks like its a proper non rebreather but if the seal is weak then you can get contamination of room air. If you use high flow rate of around 14-15 L/min it helps.

My husband has used both masks and he found the clustermasx to be much better and easier to use.

Painfree wishes to you.

Annette