hi not sure this is the right place to post but im dealing
ch and can not afford the o2 and most of the prevention meds
im either allergic to or cannot take cannot take triptins either
although my doctor is willing to let me try Migrinel  dhe nasal spray im frustrated and feel lost and afraid and looking for ideas and support
thanks for listening ppattya

Wow  you are in a terrible perdicament.  Have you considered the cluster buster methods.  They have been proven to work for many.  Use ice or heat which ever you find comforting around your neck and face.  I use the gelled tea towels that you can get cheap at walgreens.  They can be frozen or microwaved.  Works at your preference.  Try melatonin at bedtime.  Drinking a cold can of an energy drink has been able to abort some ch.  Some of the preventative meds are very cheap like methadone and lithium under $10/month.  I am sure that there are other meds you could try and pay cash for rather cheaply.  I would look at the medical info link at the left of the screen and see the list of meds and see how much they actually cost and go from there.  Maybe a cheap med will work for you.  Oxygen isn't that expensive either.  Good luck.  

I'm assuming you've been diagnosed with CH, since your doctor appears to be treating it as such.  Sorry to hear that you're allergic to triptans--it certainly complicates any approach to treating them that you might take.

From the sounds of things, your doctor seems to be concentrating on abortive medications.

For a good breakdown on abortive, preventive, and transitional therapies for CH, please read the following:  

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

You might wish to print out a copy and bring it to your doctor.  There are alternatives to triptans that you may find effective.

As far as oxygen goes, it is possible to set up a system using welder's 02 for minimal expense.  I'm hoping one of our members with more knowledge about it than I have will be weighing in shortly.  Oxygen, properly administered, is highly effective for a substantial majority of us.

Keep us informed, eh?  We'll try to help in any way we can.

All the best,

George

In the link George gave you, look for a med, Zyprexa (olanzapine). It aborts attacks very effectively and, on a per dose basis, you may find it acceptable.

As a preventive, some folks find Melatonin, 9-11mg/day useful. Since it's an OTC product, you don't need a Rx and it quite inexpensive.

Explore the OUCH site (left). You may find some other alternatives to meds which you could try.

Several of the drug companies offer programs to help folks get meds at reduced cost. Once you and your doc agree on something, your druggist should be able to to advise on this approach.

thank you all for your replays  i can't take zyprexa, lithum, or depokote all for verius reasons mainly that i have been on them in the past and have had bad side effects such as liver problems and development of type 2 diabietes    but i am hooking up with o2 and need to know more about it... do i need a take or is a concentrator enough  exactuly what flow do i need and what kind of mask is most effitive   o2 coming on monday nov 17th with a home o2 service paid mostly by medicaid   so could use more info if anyone knows it  hope all is doing well

that is some great news.  I am glad the O2 is coming.

You want to use a non-rebreather mask with a reservoir bag.  The nose canules dont work well at all.

You want pure O2 to flow at a minimum of 15 litres per minute.  Get on the O2 as soon as you feel a CH coming on.  Slow deep breaths work best for me.

Also might want to try some caffeine.  I drink Pepsi and coffee.  Others drink RedBull or other energy drinks.  Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, which helps CH.  

Don't be afraid, you aren't lost anymore!!
Welcome.
B$

You've been given some great reading, I have nothing to add! as far as your oxygen questions, go to the medications section, and click on "oxygen terms explained" Chuck has put the premier info on oxygen useage, with all the terms and parts explained, complete with full color pictures. I have not seen a more comprehensive or easily understood explanation anywhere. (But don't tell Chuck I said that his ego is already huge ;D)

Guiseppi

Hi hon, I dont know how this will fly with most on here but this is how I use my O2... first, it's an "all out of pocket" expence for me so I treat it like gold. I get 2 sizes of tanks, E and D (D's are shorter and easier to haul around) and I bought a sweet little regulator on E-bay for $5! It only has a max flow rate of 8 liters per minute, but that has always been enough for me after more than 20 years of use. Now the way I use it... I cut the end of a nasal cannula off, put the hose in my mouth and crank to 8, letting the O2 fill my lungs like a balloon, while at the same time breathing deeply and steadily through my nose. It usually takes only 2-3 minutes to abort, but only if you catch them in the early stages, and after 30 years of suffering, I can smell a cluster comming a mile away. Also, I turn my regulator on and off with each inhale so as not to waste a single precious ounce. Again, this might be frowned on by some or even most on here, I dont know. But damn the torpedos! This is just my way, find what works best for you, and God bless and goodluck!

king of pain wrote on Nov 15^th, 2008 at 2:31am:

this might be frowned on by some or even most on here,

I beg to differ with you, bro ... I think I speak for most of the "OXYGEN PUSHERS" when I say that I am SO happy that it works for you!  We are not all the same.  If you have found a method that works for YOU, at such a low flow rate, I am ecstatic for you!  There are others that have reported getting results from the lower flow rate, hell, even I have aborted a few with low flow rates.

Us "pushers" are just trying to get sufferers to use oxygen, at what works best for you.  As with most of the preventative and abortive medications out there for us, each individual reacts differently to different doses.  I don't think any of us would put you, or anyone else down, because you are able to abort at a low flow rate.

I am just happy that oxygen DOES give you the relief that we all deserve.  I could not be happier!

Chuck

Guiseppi wrote on Nov 14^th, 2008 at 6:35pm:

But don't tell Chuck I said that

Awwww .. Guiseppi LOVES me ... Or is it that he LUSTS me?

Hmmm ..

Hell, either way, I am ready!!!

Chuck

well good news and bad news.... good news my husband found the supports site and is willing to help me find weilders o2  and the bad news is that my insuance medicaid will not pay for o2 even with a script for the treatment of ch not even a little so... i'm f@$###ed.   Just a question:   are you sure your head wont exployed or the beast wont kill you?  And what is sleep anyway?  Well, life really is not all that bad!! I'm really glad my husband Coleman Found the supporters site.  Where's that shovel? I'll start digging!!  Does anyone else have cold sweats and shaking with the pain.  I think i'm hitting an 8 right now!!!! Can't think!!!!! God, I need o2!! My e-mail is pattyroth13@yahool.com  my phone is read only except for email and can't get to liabary very often if anyone can help me find out how to piece together o2 please email me      got ta go  brain is mush :o