Hi there,

I've been searching around the board for a few tweaks to my current oxygen regimen, but my cycle decided to start going a bit crazy today (8 CH so far, mostly 4-5s and aborted with oxygen but the last one a 9 that nothing, not even Zomig helped), and it's making it hard to look at a screen for too long.  So I know this is answered somewhere, but I'd be so grateful if someone could redirect me, or weigh in. 

As background, I've had CHs on and off for about 17 years, and thanks to this board discovered oxygen therapy when I got hit with a cycle during my pregnancy with my oldest daughter (about 10 yrs ago).  I range in remission from 1-3 years, with this last one being 3.5 years.  But alas, they've returned.    I typically use oxygen as much as possible to abort, then Zomig or Imitrex if it isn't working.  I don't like Imitrex though - makes me feel like my chest is collapsing inward - very scary!  So this time around I've stuck with Zomig.  I usually go on Verapamil, but I hate the way it makes me feel so tired and low, so I've avoided starting it.  I've also tried Lithium many, many years ago - it worked but the risks worried me.  The last cycle I used Prednisone, which did help for a bit then they came back, but finished soon after.  Again, I'd like to avoid the side effects.  I'm going to try the D2 and Omega3 regimen and see how that works...

But my question is really about the oxygen, which isn't working that well... or at least not as well as I think or remember it working in the past.

I've basically been on and off oxygen all day today, almost hourly, finally taking some Zomig (disintegrating 5.0) with my last CH which didn't actually help until about 45 minutes later, and the oxygen didn't touch it (this was the 9).  Now it's just a dull shadow (about a 2, for the past hour or so).

I think a big part of my problem is that I was supplied with a oxygen concentrator vs. tanks for this round.  This particular concentrator goes to 10 lpm.  I realized as the CHs got worse in the cycle that I needed more lpm, so earlier this week they changed it to 2 concentrators, daisy chained together (one 10 lpm and one 8 lpm), and they also gave me a re-breather mask (they originally gave me a cannula).  But even together, I think that it's not 100% oxygen is the problem.  I'm getting relief, but it's slow and doesn't seem to fully leave it, so it's back within 1-1.5 hours.

So, my questions are... until I can convince the med supplier to switch to tanks & a 15lpm regulator, any suggestions on getting the most out of the system I do have?

Also, I keep seeing folks mention different breathing techniques they use as they breathe their oxygen... is there a thread with more details on that?  Or feel free to reply here with any pointers. 

Thanks so much - sorry for writing a book!
Lori

Hi Lori, and Gary nailed it. O2 concentrators have been tried before, and very few (actually only 1 person I remember) reported anywhere near good results. O2 is best used at high flows (minimum, bare minimum of 15lpm; better at 25+lpm) and a non-rebreather mask is critical. The deal is, you want to completely oxygenate your lungs and all those little lung things (alveoli and other capillaries) by purging the extra room air gases with O2. So...when you start, deep breathe rapidly, and exhale completely even to the point of coughing or wheezing, and sustain this for a couple of minutes. Then, breathe only O2 and maybe even remove your mask for exhalation so as not to contaminate your lungs with room air, rapidly and deeply. Once you begin to feel somewhat lightheaded cuz of hyperventilation (it's what you want) the pain should begin to subside, you can cut the flow a bit, and go with slow and deep chest breaths. Hard to remember all that stuff when it hurts so bad, but really, all you're trying to do is switch your lungs over from room air to pure O2. We also have found chugging a Red Bull, Monster or 5Hr Energy drink (any drink with a combo of taurine 1000mgs and caffeine 85mgs) helps abort times a lot. Get the real stuff, high flow regulators and non-rebreather mask. You'll be glad you did. God bless. lance

My wife (Kathy) is a lampworker (she makes glass beads at a torch  ). She got a medical oxygen generator.  The filters inside the generator (or whatever they are) that collect the O2 will clog over time and become much less efficient producing much less O2 than when new.  To replace them is pricey.  They sell commercial oxygen generators that produce a better rate of O2 but they cost an arm and a leg and a half and they still will over time produce less O2 requiring replacement of costly filters.  Best to stick with the bottled O2. Batch is the local "go to" man for the info on that. You may need to get an O2 tank lease set up with a local welding gas supplier if you're having trouble with the medical supply company -that's what I'm currently doing is getting my own set up so I don't have to rely on having to get a prescription - during this past cycle, I eventually got the basics of what I needed but my Doc wasn't all that knowledgable of O2, didn't prescribe a high enough flow rate, and the medical O2 was expensive since my insurance refused to cover it  .  There's great information on this site...here's hoping you get some quick relief!

wimsey1 wrote on Feb 25^th, 2011 at 7:56am:


Hi Lance, IMO, this needs pinning next to Chuck's 'OXYGEN terms explained'...
And IS a crash course, simply explained, in what to do when you actually get your O2 home!

Respect

Gary