Hi everyone,
    Sorry I was MIA for a bit, but when these headaches are in full swing and frequency I avoid almost any interaction.  I'm sure many of you know what I mean.
    I took your advice on the oxygen and basically forced my way into getting it from the doc, had an m60 tank delivered but was a bit disappointed when I learned that breathing 15lpm from an m60 tank means it will last abot 45 mns total..  maybe more if your frugal.
   Don't get me wrong, it DID work. 8minutes of o2 lessened the severity of the headache greatly, as well as its duration, although in most instances I took a Maxalt MLT as well.  I've no doubt that if you breathe for longer periods of time you can abort the headache without meds. I unfortunately had to be frugal with the 02 because the insurance company says it's still pending whether they will cover it or not..   I don't really want to pay hundreds of dollars.
    Luckily, the cluster period is coming to an end.  The attacks get less and less in severity, and less frequent, and then they disappear.  Hopefully, by the time they return I will have had all this sorted out and have my treatment ready to go!
   Thank you to everyone here for their advice and information.  This was my first year of success in fighting back against this beast with 02 and maxalt mlt.  My first year of successfully fighting back.. period.

-CHSteve-

Great news you got some relief from the oxygen. Did you and your doc ever dicuss any prevent meds? I will suffer 2 and occassionally 3 attacks a day with no prevent on board. 1200 mg a day of lithium will block up to 70% of those, with exceptions for the really high cycles! It's nice becasue it reduces your dependency on the abortives, oxygen, imitrex maxalt etc. Verapamil is the typical first round prevent with Topomax having a loyal following too.

Keep pounding away with the insurance company on and off cycle. Oxygen too effective a tool to not have. Glad to hear the cycle is winding down, take care.

Joe

Good point Don. For me, a delay of just a few minutes in starting the 02 can dramatically increase the abort time.

Joe