Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


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

        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> Tests for oxygen?
        
(Message started by: barbee on Jul 2^nd, 2002, 8:04pm)

Title: Tests for oxygen?
Post by barbee on Jul 2^nd, 2002, 8:04pm

My neuro finally prescribed oxygen. Great, right? Now my medical group says oxygen is not authorized for cluster headaches. And if I were to have it, I would first have to have some sort of a screening test, plus some other kind of a test whose name I didn't catch.

All of you on oxygen...did you go thought tests after your neuro prescribed it? Nothing is easy for clusterheads!

Title: Re: Tests for oxygen?
Post by eyes_afire on Jul 2^nd, 2002, 8:32pm

Hi Barbee. I was lucky, my insurance didn't request tests. It seems that some insurance companies want to test blood oxygen levels to make sure if you really need oxygen. Of course if your blood oxygen levels are okay, they conclude that you don't need oxygen. You may have to get your neurologist to write a letter of medical necessity (these 'letters of necessity' make me wonder what good written prescriptions are ??? ??? ???). You may also benefit by showing your insurance company some info documenting oxygen as an effective treatment for clusterheadaches (I kinda remember someone posting scientific studies about oxygen on this board, you'll have to check the archives). You may also have to explain (read: threaten) to your insurance company that if you don't get oxygen, you'll have to resort to using more imitrex and it will cost them more (if they cover imitrex ::)), or that you will have to go to the emergency room for oxygen treatments, since after all, it was prescribed by a neurologist. Sheesh, what?, do these insurance companies think that oxygen is cosmetic ??? ? Somehow I get this ominous feeling that I may be fighting this battle myself in the not too distant future (especially considering my insurance company's position on imitrex). Makes me want to do something illegal. Please pass me the shrooms :D ;)

Title: Re: Tests for oxygen?
Post by Ueli on Jul 2^nd, 2002, 9:35pm

Barbee, I'm glad you found a knowledgable neuro.

All what eyes_afire said, plus rub it in to your insurance people that already in 1938 Bayard T. Horton published a paper about the usefulness of oxygen for CH.

From: http://www.ahsnet.org/journal/archive/may98prog-bak.htm
(use your browsers search feature to find Capobianco in the page)

HlSTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF NORMOBARIC OXYGEN IN THE SYMPTOMATIC TREATMENT OF CLUSTER HEADACHE

DJ Capobianco Jacksonville, FL

Objective.-Review the historical development of normobaric oxygen in the acute treatment of cluster headache. Background.- The use of normobaric oxygen in the treatment of headache can be traced back to Drs. Boothby, Alvarez, and Horton of the Mayo Clinic. Method.-Review of published papers. Results.-In 1938, under the direction of Walter M. Boothby, MD, oxygen therapy was employed in the symptomatic treatment of headache. Alvarez reported the beneficial response of 100% oxygen, delivered at a flow rate of between 6 to 8 liters per minute, as abortive treatment for headache.1 Unfortunately, it is difficult to know if this included patients with cluster headache. Bayard T. Horton was the first to note that inhaling 100% oxygen alleviated a cluster attack, if taken during the initial headache phase.2 Friedman and Mikropoulos3 and later, Graham4, also noted this beneficial response of oxygen inhalation for cluster headache. In 1978, an optometrist, Jerold F. Janks, published his own personal account of oxygen's beneficial role in the treatment of cluster headache.5 Kudrow elaborated further on Horton's finding. He noted that 75% of outpatients treated with 100% oxygen administered via face mask at 7 liters per minute, experienced complete or near complete relief within 15 minutes.6 Anthony found that oxygen inhalation was beneficial in all 12 patients studied.7 Fogan, in the only double-blind control study, demonstrated that oxygen inhalation provided complete or substantial relief in at least 80% of patients' cluster attacks.8 Conclusion.-Bayard T. Horton deserves credit for discovering the beneficial role of oxygen inhalation in the symptomatic treatment of cluster headache. The elegant work of Drs. Kudrow, Anthony, and Fogan further corroborated Horton's initial findings.

1. Alvarez WC, Mason AY. Results obtained in the treatment of headache with the inhalation of pure oxygen. Mayo Clin Proc. 1940;15:616-618. 2. Horton BT. Histaminic cephalgia. Lancet. 1952;72:92-98. 3. Friedman AP, Mikropoulos HE. Cluster headaches. Neurology. 1958;8:653-663. 4. Graham JR. Cluster headache. In: Appenzeller O, ed. Pathogenesis and Treatment of Headaches. New York: Spectrum Publications; 1976:93-108. 5. Janks JF. Oxygen for cluster headaches. JAMA. 1978;239:191. 6. Kudrow L. Response of cluster headache attacks to oxygen inhalation. Headache. 1981;21:1-4. 7. Anthony M. Treatment of attacks of cluster headache with oxygen inhalation. Clin Exp Neurol. 1981;18:195. 8. Fogan L. Treatment of cluster headache. A double-blind comparison of oxygen vs air inhalation. Arch Neurol. 1985;42:362-363.

And eyes_afire, some people believe that oxygen can smooth wrinkles and some hobby athletes use it to speed up recovery. :)

PFNADs,
Ueli

Title: Re: Tests for oxygen?
Post by eyes_afire on Jul 2^nd, 2002, 9:45pm

"some people believe that oxygen can smooth wrinkles" ??? ::)
Oh no, oh no, oh no... say it ain't so!
I'm losing faith in humanity.
If oxygen oxidizes, wouldn't that speed up the aging process?

BTW, I wasn't even serious about the cosmetic part :o... just jokin. Imagine how crushed I was to find out that some people believe oxygen can smooth wrinkles. :o

Title: Re: Tests for oxygen?
Post by Bob P on Jul 3^rd, 2002, 8:52am

Visit the OUCH Resource Library, Medications, Oxygen. There you will find nummerous articles showing O2 to be effective for CH.

Title: Re: Tests for oxygen?
Post by clavers on Jul 3^rd, 2002, 9:49am

Rather than deal with the stupid insurance company, I just buy my own o2. It costs $11.50 a tank and lasts anywhere from one to two weeks. Thats a pretty good deal.

Title: Re: Tests for oxygen?
Post by mustang on Jul 3^rd, 2002, 5:15pm

Never had any tests to get o2 I know I couldn't live without it.

Title: Re: Tests for oxygen?
Post by shami66 on Jul 4^th, 2002, 12:10am

Our insurance company said NO to the oxygen. Our doctor told the insurance company that her instructions to us were to go to the emergency room with each cluster so that oxygen could be administered. Oxygen started arriving at our house in less than 24 hours. Much cheaper for them - then the emergency room charges.

Title: Re: Tests for oxygen?
Post by kristi on Jul 4^th, 2002, 10:04am

Way to go Shami66!!

That's they way to teach them mean ole insurance companies who's boss! ;D

Title: Re: Tests for oxygen?
Post by forgetfulnot on Jul 5^th, 2002, 12:09am

I used to deal with all that HMO crap about O2 as well; I went on E-Bay and purchased, at auction, a new name brand O2 generator for around $500.00. It only puts out 5 LPM max and I use the standard O2 delivery system, not a rebreather mask or anything special.

All I can say is what a relief, no tanks, no meeting the O2 supplier between 8-5 and it works for me. Most folks on this board would recommend a much higher delivery rate of 10-12 LPM but I found that this is effective, much cheaper in the long run, considering co-pay and removed a great deal of stress and hassle from my life. Flip the switch, you’ve got 90-95% pure O2 within 2-3 minuets.

P.S. Used machines go for a lot less.

Lee

Title: Re: Tests for oxygen?
Post by Ted on Jul 5^th, 2002, 12:24am

I had the same problem a couple of years ago with my insurance company and getting O2 rejected. Here's a link to my post from the old board that tells how I got them to pay for it (and what I had to send them for them to). Hope it helps you.
http://www.clusterheadaches.com/wwwboard/messages/81233.html

Title: Re: Tests for oxygen?
Post by barbee on Jul 5^th, 2002, 1:02am

Thanks, Ted, for your reply. The link you supplied won't compute for me. Is there some other way I can find it?

Title: Re: Tests for oxygen?
Post by dannyboy on Jul 5^th, 2002, 6:09am

Anyone in South Africa facing this problem should get hold of me asap.

Danny

Title: Re: Tests for oxygen?
Post by Bob P on Jul 5^th, 2002, 7:29am

Ted's post is in the OUCH Research Library/Medications/Oxygen along with all of articles he had attached to it.

Title: Re: Tests for oxygen?
Post by Ted on Jul 5^th, 2002, 9:30am

Hey, cool. I'm a researcher and author for the OUCH library now. That'll make it easier than searching out the initial post from the old board.