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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> New to Meds!?!
        
(Message started by: ClusterCowboy on Nov 12th, 2004, 1:01am)
Title: New to Meds!?!
Post by ClusterCowboy on Nov 12th, 2004, 1:01am
[smiley=huh.gif]
I was only diagnosed 2 years ago with CH...Just 2 days ago experienced O2...Man, what a relief!

How do I get hooked-up with a personal O2 unit?  I assume my family doc?

I have also read about auto injectors of Imitrex...please explain...

Thanx,
Jeff
Title: Re: New to Meds!?!
Post by PerryGR on Nov 12th, 2004, 5:10am
Hello ClusterCowboy,

Welcome to the board- sorry you have to be here though.

O2 is great! I'm glad it's working for you. As far as i know (from what i've read on this board) O2 can be prescribed even by a GP- things are quite different around here so i can't be sure. I'm sure though a US sufferer will be around shortly to clear this up.

As far as Imitrex is concerned, it's a drug that contains a triptan (sumatriptan) used to abort individual attacks (like O2). It is important that along with a reliable abortive you need to find a suitable for you preventative (if your case calls for one). It's something you'll have to decide with your doctor.

Here are a few links that might help clear up matters with meds:
http://www.headachedrugs.com/archives/preventivemeds.html

http://www.mhni.com/faqs_cluster.html#treatment

http://www.upstate.edu/neurology/haas/hpclrx.htm

http://www.future-drugs.com/admin/articlefile/ERN020304.pdf

Good luck on finding relief.

PFDAN to all,
Perry.
Title: Re: New to Meds!?!
Post by E-Double on Nov 12th, 2004, 7:14am
Young Perry is very wise and extremeley articulate!!!

Hey Jeff...Good advice given above.

Oxygen can be perscribed by your doctor for home and travel (portable tanks for car,office, etc. if you choose)   depending on how decent your insurance is. Sometimes we get the run around and have to build our own set ups. It is important that you get the proper mask to use and a good high flow http://www.headachesupportgroups.com/oxygen/oxygen.htm

Imitrex Stat-dose are the auto injectors....These are syrunges of the med that get loaded into a "pen" that will "shoot" it into ya by hitting a button. Split second.

The only problem we find is that like with many things insurance usually provides small amounts of this medication and we tend to have many headaches.
also the autoinjector will automatically provide 6mg of the med when all you might need is 3 to get relief or less. also common....So if you can get vials instead it is easier or we'll teach you the "trex tip" to extend the meds and break it down into smaller doses.....

Wishing you the best!!!

Stay strong, be prepared the best you can by arming yourself with information and proper treatment plan for you. We're all different so what works for me may not for you. Be positive...it will pass.

E.
Title: Re: New to Meds!?!
Post by ClusterCowboy on Nov 12th, 2004, 10:05pm

on 11/12/04 at 07:14:17, E-Double wrote:
Young Perry is very wise and extremeley articulate!!!

Hey Jeff...Good advice given above.

Oxygen can be perscribed by your doctor for home and travel (portable tanks for car,office, etc. if you choose)   depending on how decent your insurance is. Sometimes we get the run around and have to build our own set ups. It is important that you get the proper mask to use and a good high flow http://www.headachesupportgroups.com/oxygen/oxygen.htm

Imitrex Stat-dose are the auto injectors....These are syrunges of the med that get loaded into a "pen" that will "shoot" it into ya by hitting a button. Split second.

The only problem we find is that like with many things insurance usually provides small amounts of this medication and we tend to have many headaches.
also the autoinjector will automatically provide 6mg of the med when all you might need is 3 to get relief or less. also common....So if you can get vials instead it is easier or we'll teach you the "trex tip" to extend the meds and break it down into smaller doses.....

Wishing you the best!!!

Stay strong, be prepared the best you can by arming yourself with information and proper treatment plan for you. We're all different so what works for me may not for you. Be positive...it will pass.

E.

Thanks for the advice...Imitrex works well for me in the ER, but...the pills aren't worth a S#!%.  The 6mg. injection takes effect quickly, the 50mg. pill dose took 1 1/2 hours to take effect last night during an attack.  That Sucks!  I have an appointment 11/15/04 with the family doc...I'm going to check into the auto-injctor and O2 then...insurance is pretty good, hopefully they'll see the need I feel that I have!
Jeff
Title: Re: New to Meds!?!
Post by Mr. Happy on Nov 14th, 2004, 12:33am

on 11/12/04 at 22:05:02, ClusterCowboy wrote:
insurance is pretty good, hopefully they'll see the need I feel that I have!

"They" won't feel anything. "They'll" just look at the bottom line. That Trex is neat stuff. So is O2. Get all you can, whenever you can. Things can go awry at any moment.

Ya just never know,
RJ
Title: Re: New to Meds!?!
Post by Ruth on Nov 14th, 2004, 9:27am
The insurance I have has been great, I have used the imitrex and O2 this past cycle.
I use the imitex tip on the left of the screen. Both work well for me, but I didn't find a prevent that worked well for me.
Welcome aboard and good luck to you.
Ruth


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