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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
        
(Message started by: mollybo on Sep 23^rd, 2007, 3:16pm)

Title: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by mollybo on Sep 23^rd, 2007, 3:16pm

I probably should have just marched in with an E tank and begged forgiveness instead of getting permission for my oxygen beforehand, but I tried to go through the channels and now my request for permission to bring in O2 is held up on HR for the past week.

In the meantime I'm making it with Red Bull and Maxalt, with heavy shadows inbetween. I'm wiped when I get home and can hit the O2. I've tried bringing O2 in and leaving it in the car, but my breaks rarely coincide with my hits.

I don't mind looking weird dragging an O2 tank into work. I don't mind making up a flyer to explain what's going on. I DO mind suffering while the mucket-mucks make up their mind. Hurmph.

Title: Re: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by alienspacebabe on Sep 23^rd, 2007, 4:20pm

It helps that I'm in an office setting, and have my own office - with a door and a lock. I didn't ask, just had the O2 supplier deliver it there.

Hope they get off their butts soon!

Lizzie

Title: Re: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by DennisM1045 on Sep 23^rd, 2007, 5:27pm

Hey Molly,

I'm sorry this is a road block for you. Have you tried pestering them? I was very fortunate and got a permission within three days. They set aside some space in an unused portion of the HR office for me to keep it. I hope it works out the same for you.

-Dennis-

Title: Re: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by Bob_Johnson on Sep 24^th, 2007, 8:23am

In your situation, when traveling, etc. I suggest you try this pill. For some of us, a single dose gives 100% relief within 20-minutes. The per dose cost is reasonable and the convenience is obvious. Your doc can give you a sample. With a couple of attacks/uses you will know whether it works for you.
=========
Headache 2001 Sep;41(8):813-6

Olanzapine as an Abortive Agent for Cluster Headache.

Rozen TD.

Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate olanzapine as a cluster headache abortive agent in an open-label trial. BACKGROUND: Cluster headache is the most painful headache syndrome known. There are very few recognized abortive therapies for cluster headache and fewer for patients who have contraindications to vasoconstrictive drugs. METHODS: Olanzapine was given as an abortive agent to five patients with cluster headache in an open-label trial. The initial olanzapine dose was 5 mg, and the dose was increased to 10 mg if there was no pain relief. The dosage was decreased to 2.5 mg if the 5-mg dose was effective but caused adverse effects. To be included in the study, each patient had to treat at least two attacks with either an effective dose or the highest tolerated dose. RESULTS: Five patients completed the investigation (four men, one woman; four with chronic cluster, one with episodic cluster). Olanzapine reduced cluster pain by at least 80% in four of five patients, and two patients became headache-free after taking the drug. Olanzapine typically alleviated pain within 20 minutes after oral dosing and treatment response was consistent across multiple treated attacks. The only adverse event was sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine appears to be a good abortive agent for cluster headache. It alleviates pain quickly and has a consistent response across multiple treated attacks. It appears to work in both episodic and chronic cluster headache.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Olanzapine has a brand name of "Zyprexa" and is a antipsychotic. Don't be put off by this primary usage. Several of the drugs used to treat CH are cross over applications, that is, drugs approved by the FDA for one purpose which are found to be effective with unrelated conditions--BJ.

Title: Re: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by Sandy_C on Sep 24^th, 2007, 5:29pm

Well, Molly, you kinda gotta look at it from the corporate bean counter side. O2 is flammable so they have to look at their liability to see if your tank blows ups and burns the building down, are they covered? They also have to look at if they deny allowing you to bring your medically prescribed medication to work...can you sue? Which will cost them the less money?

It sucks.

Good luck I hope your employers understand the value of a good employee.

Sandy

Title: Re: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by mollybo on Sep 24^th, 2007, 6:36pm

I should have bitched earlier! Today I wrote the head of HR (through whom I was arranging things) and cc:ed my boss. I stated that I was far more concerned about getting the O2 in than in getting flexible breaks. I work in a statistics-driven environment, but my stats are excellent so I'd rather take a hit there than mess with record keeping and documentation.

It looks like it was held up on the delivery of an "Oxygen in use" sign. They let me make my own and I'm good to go! I felt so much better after work today after not having to work under so many shadows all day.

Title: Re: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by Ctech on Sep 24^th, 2007, 6:40pm

I don't even bother with asking the a-holes that I work for about bringing in the 02.

I had to where a heart monitor a couple of years back and the doctor gave me a note saying that I was ok to wear the monitor at work as long as I did not climb or stretch because of the wires - to make a long story short I was told to go home and not return until the restriction was lifted >:(

I will keep my 02 in my truck in the parking lot and try to sneak out when I have to.

-Chris

Title: Re: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by DennisM1045 on Sep 24^th, 2007, 6:44pm

That's awesome Molly! I'm glad you got the situation resolved. It certainly makes working around the hits easier.

Chris, sometimes you have to work around the a$$holes. I'm glad you found a plan that works for ya.

-Dennis-

Title: Re: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by mollybo on Sep 24^th, 2007, 6:45pm

I tried that, but I'm in Oklahoma and the cars get HOT. My tank is rated for 125 degrees only. My building is pretty big, so I was wasting 5 minutes getting to and from my car, leavin 5 for the O2.

My boss tried the mask today, just for the hell of it.

Title: Re: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by Ctech on Sep 24^th, 2007, 7:12pm

Yeah, I live in GA and we just had a record breaking heat wave a couple of weeks back, but I asked the 02 delivery guy and he said that it would be ok to leave in my truck.

And besides I have gap insurance ;)

I'm glad your company worked it out for you - get ready to explain CH to the whole world though and lots of these looks ::) [smiley=huh.gif] ::)

-Chris

Title: Re: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by mollybo on Sep 28^th, 2007, 8:19pm

Well, they are allowing the oxygen on an informal basis right now (which I am grateful for) but I have to get FMLA coverage for the time I spend on O2 other than official breaks. I work in a statistics-driven environment and I suspect they don't want my statistics to suffer in any way, as lots depends on them, including rankings and raises. If I were them I wouldn't allow anything that could interefere with statistics that I could come back and complain about later.

I'm a bit unhappy that the O2 time will come out of my PTO time - that is, my sick and vacation time - but there's nothing to be done. I think they are being as accomodating as they can possibly be in the corporate environment I work in.

(I work in a corporate financial call center; it has some of the limitations as your standard call center but isn't nearly as soul-sucking.)

Title: Re: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by E-Double on Sep 28^th, 2007, 9:34pm

if you have the proper set up you should be able to abort in the same amount of time it takes someone to use the restroom.

I personally feel that having to use fmla is crap in this case.

how many attacks are you having within a work day?

there are some of us who go through periods of having several per day and if we have good abortive techniques it does not interfer with our jobs.

best of luck

Title: Re: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by assaultme on Sep 29^th, 2007, 12:59am

I have a bottle at my bench at work. I would think The Americans With Disabilities act would have something in there regarding your right to have equal access or something. 02 itself is not flammable. It's an oxidizer and can cause flames to become a big out of control fire. But there has to be a fire first and it has to be near to do anything.

We have 02 tanks all over the shop where we weld, cut steel and grind. All sources of ignition, but it's still safe.

Glad you are getting the relief you deserve !!!
Cheers, Dave

Title: Re: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by mollybo on Sep 29^th, 2007, 1:10pm

If I slam a Red Bull in the morning my mornings are pretty good, but I get hit maybe 1-3 times in the afternoon. My worst times are late afternoon and evening.

I can abort the headache in about five minutes with O2. I had asked about having a flexible break system but you really can't do that in this environment because of phone coverage projections. (Five minutes off is OK - about the same as a long call - but only once. Twice or more and it starts affecting your stats. Stats are EVERYTHING, and I'm ranked number 2 right now, so I don't mind so much having a way to protect my numbers.)

It's really not too bad, just annoying. I figure I can stretch one PTO day to cover all or most of a year; I can give up one day, especially if it turns out I'm just episodic.

Title: Re: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by chewy on Sep 29^th, 2007, 9:54pm

A Reasonable Accommodation is supposed to be just that........reasonable. The process is supposed to be interactive.

Sounds like both parties have met that criteria.

Title: Re: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by GaWd on Oct 4^th, 2007, 8:20pm

Thankfully, the summer has passed and the weather will permit me leaving my tank in my car.

Molly, as I mentioned before, I run a technical support team, so I can understand how it is to try to keep up with your schedule and not be off the phone for too long.

Sam

Title: Re: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by doogiebklyn on Oct 10^th, 2007, 11:40am

Any chance of telecommuting, for you folks that work in an office, if you know how long the cycle usually lasts?

I'm lucky that I work from a home office in sales/marketing.

Best,

Douglas

Title: Re: How many have trouble bringing O2 to work?
Post by mollybo on Oct 10^th, 2007, 10:40pm

And ... my cycle appears to have ended, even before the FMLA approval went through. I'm keeping the O2 for another week at home (it's been 1.5 since my last hit) and then turning it in.

Oh well. I'll be set up if I get another cycle within the next year, at least.

My company does offer some limited telecommuting, actually. I only live 1.5 miles away so have never considered it, but if I go chronic or something it's really worth thinking about.