Click this link to read a post I like on the clusterheadaches.com message board...

Oct 2^nd, 2024 at 4:33pm

	Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register
	Search box updated Dec 3, 2011... Search ch.com with Google!

New CH.com Forum › Cluster Headache Help and Support › Getting to Know Ya › First time with O2 tonite

(Moderators: Mrs Deej, DJ)

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

Pages: 1

First time with O2 tonite (Read 1419 times)

Righteye

CH.com Newbie

Offline

I Love CH.com!

Posts: 4
Vacaville, CA
Gender: male

First time with O2 tonite
May 30^th, 2010 at 1:57am

I'm a long time CH sufferer and today's my first day with the Oxygen. I'm in a cluster right now. The 'dark side' has been visiting me about 3 times a day for a couple of weeks now, it's been brutal. The imitrex is making me sick and I've used up my insurance for this month so now it's really expensive. My Dr. put me on Verapamil starting today and the Oxygen arrived last night. I don't know how my Doc got that approved. I need a better mask according to this website, so I'll try to get that tomorrow. Worst part is the 3am wake up. All alone at 3am in utter misery, in pain and throwing up. Each nite's an adventure right now. I get kind of mad at it, and it doesn't scare me anymore. Until I found this website yesterday, I've been pretty alone in all this. Hopefully the O2 will work tonite. Good luck to all and to all a good nite.

IP Logged

Click Here to visit the CH.com Facebook page!

bejeeber

CH.com Hall of Famer

Offline

Posts: 1359
Gnashville
Gender: male

Re: First time with O2 tonite
Reply #1 - May 30^th, 2010 at 2:12am

Ouch, sorry to hear about that, that does sound brutal.

I've seen some O2 enthusiasts on here talk about just putting the tube in the mouth and inhaling. That pretty much sounds like a non rebreather to me.

You've probably also noticed that a hi LPM flow can be critical for some of us too.

Assuming you have a standard issue regulator that maybe goes to 15 LPM if you're really lucky, I guess you'll want to crank 'er all the way up if you haven't tried that already and if it hasn't been working for you so far.

What form of imitrex are you taking? There's a bit of a consensus here that the pill form is a joke for CH, but the injectible tends to be very effective.

This link is a must read/must do if you have (or get) injectible imitrex since it will make it much less expensive, you'll have more doses at your disposal, and it will be less likely to cause side effects:

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to

CH according to Bejeeber:

Strictly relying on doctors for CH treatment is often a prescription that will keep you in a whole lot of PAIN. Doctors are WAY behind in many respects, and they are usually completely unaware of the benefits of high flow 100% O2.

There are lots of effective treatments documented at this site. Take matters into your own hands, learn as much as you can here and at clusterbusters.com, put it into practice, then tell this CH beast Jeebs said hello right before you bash him so hard with a swift uppercut knockout punch that his stupid horns go flinging right off.

IP Logged

neuropath CH.com Veteran Offline Same Hit, Different Day Posts: 218	Re: First time with O2 tonite Reply #2 - May 30^th, 2010 at 9:46am You may want read up on Melatonin for nighttime hits. 9-12 mg have been helpful for quite a few here.
Back to top	IP Logged

QnHeartMM

CH.com Sponsor

Offline

I AM a Phoenix!

Posts: 1783
San Diego, CA
Gender: female

Re: First time with O2 tonite
Reply #3 - May 30^th, 2010 at 10:31am

The thing about non-rebreather mask is you want a mask that won't let in outside air. So if your mask has the holes in it, tape them closed and then breathe pure oxygen. You need to get on it quickly at the onset of CH. THat means you carry the tank with you in the car, to work, etc.

Many also find relief with the "shadows" of CH by drinking a redbull. My husband does this rather quickly, I take it to him when I see him break out the tank.

The verapamil should ramp up to work as a preventative, but will likely take a couple weeks. You might want to mention your dosage of this, and read up on what others here have stated they take. My husband takes lithium. Others take both.

Glad you found us, stick around and let us know how your treatment goes.

Christy

« Last Edit: May 31^st, 2010 at 8:12pm by QnHeartMM »

Treat people with kind words.

IP Logged

djphrenzy CH.com Junior Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 93	Re: First time with O2 tonite Reply #4 - May 30^th, 2010 at 5:58pm I have interesting results with melatonin. 1mg at bedtime is effectively muffling the beast at present for me. When I stepped up to 3mg it was LESS effective.
Back to top	IP Logged

George

CH.com Moderator
CH.com Alumnus

Offline

Black-Billed Magpie

Posts: 8126
Boise, Idaho USA
Gender: male

Re: First time with O2 tonite
Reply #5 - May 31^st, 2010 at 12:52pm

djphrenzy wrote on May 30^th, 2010 at 5:58pm:

I have interesting results with melatonin. 1mg at bedtime is effectively muffling the beast at present for me. When I stepped up to 3mg it was LESS effective.

Exactly. THAT'S why it's important to start with low dosages and work your way up if necessary. Overdoing it may be less effective.

That being said, the normal effective dose for me while in cycle is 9 mg. Last time, however, I had to work my way up to 15 before it had any effect whatsoever.

Just guessing here, but I suspect that there's some variation in low melatonin levels during different cycles--even in individuals.

Best,

George

"Whoever loveth me, loveth my hound." (Thomas More, author of "Utopia", and Chancellor of England. 1477-1535)

IP Logged

thingfishp

CH.com Junior

Offline

Wilco Loves Ya Baby

Posts: 28
Gender: male

Re: First time with O2 tonite
Reply #6 - Jun 11^th, 2010 at 3:34pm

I am on oxygen for the first time and it has been a God-send. Definitely check out the link for the oxygen info. I was doing it all wrong until getting the tips here. A non-rebreather mask and cranking the flow up high (mine is rated to 15 lpm, but cranked all the way up it seems to go a bit past that). 10-15 minutes has really been the tonic, but I keep on it for another 5 minues or so after the lightning stops.

Still waiting for the verapamil to do it's thing after 2 weeks. Started at 240 mgs a day; up to 480 now along with prednisone (blood pressure still up despite the dose; must be the pretty constant attacks and phantoms). Trying melatonin on the recommendation of some here. Took 5 mgs day before yesterday, 10 last night. My pattern has changed a lot in the past day. Four attacks last night, staring an hour earlier than usual, and spaced a couple hours apart. Started the day with an attack at 5:30, a first for me. We'll see how it goes tonight. Good luck and stay with the O2.

« Last Edit: Jun 11^th, 2010 at 3:36pm by thingfishp »

New Haven, CT

IP Logged

Skull Buster CH.com Junior Offline WARNING: Easily amused Posts: 59 birmingham AL Gender:	Re: First time with O2 tonite Reply #7 - Jun 13^th, 2010 at 3:58pm o2 is the stuff!!!!!!!! I should have had it 7 years ago
Back to top	IP Logged

Pages: 1

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

« Home

‹ Board

Top of this page

©1998-2013 Web Vision Enterprises LLC All rights reserved. All information on this site is protected by international
copyright laws. You may not re-distribute any information from this site without written permission from
Web Vision Enterprises LLC and the webmaster of this site. Violators will be prosecuted.
You may view our privacy policy and financial disclosure statement here

DISCLAIMER: All information contained on this web site is for informational purposes only. It is in no way intended to be used as a replacement for professional medical treatment. clusterheadaches.com makes no claims as to the scientific/clinical validity of the information on this site OR to that of the information linked to from this site. All information taken from the internet should be discussed with a medical professional!