helplesswife wrote on Nov 5^th, 2012 at 4:14pm:

    
Do the tanks again, he may go out of cycle before maxing insurance, and with right mask and flow, could kick butt.


Quote:


Uncompletely aborted, they can be.  Don't use the mask strap with tanks.  Work with a preventative a little more when you can, they are time consuming to get right.

Don't sleep on the cluster side.   

Do the cycles just keep going till the end of life?

Helplesswife, you've received many educated answers from experienced wise senior citizen CH'ers.  Hopefully you recognize that CH's do not discriminate upon age and mistreat each of us differently.  However, we fight this together!

I personally am 44 and the only reason I continue to not throw in the towel is my 12 yr old son that I am a single parent to.  Being that he is 12, I have at least 6 yrs of responsibility to my son who needs me until he graduates high school and becomes a legal adult.  After he turns 18 though, i've given thought many times and concluded that I will not be a senior citizen tortured by the beast.  Hopefully because the beast leaves, but am unfortunately prepared otherwise.

Brew wrote on Nov 4^th, 2012 at 7:53pm:



What Brew outlined above is EXACTLY what must be followed for effective o2 therapy.  If you choose to try o2 ANY other way, it is a waste of effort and invitation for unnecessary horror!

Your husband is VERY fortunate to have you as his supporter and wife!  Let us know how we can be of further assistance to you both.  Good luck!

-Gregg in Las Vegas

Thank you for your kind words helplesswife,
However this thread is about your husband, not me.  I am just fine and more educated than most neurologists on this subject, so really have no concerns.  You and your husband however are in extreme dire need as he is not receiving effective treatment for the worst known pain a human can endure.

I urge you to follow the EXACT outline of what Brew had written above regarding effective oxygen therapy or you may be without a husband, partially or completely, because you truly do not know what the pain is like and as you stated "your mind works differently in moments of extreme weakness/pain." Not trying to belittle you, nor scare you as much as I am trying to educate you of what your husband is using now is a prescription for horrific pain opposed to Brew's outline is a prescription for the least expensive, most effective, fast abortive method available for CH's, with no ill side effects.

As mentioned above, o2 therapy is NOT around the clock.  Your husband has Cluster Headaches (CH's) not breathing problems with lack of o2, right?  At least that's what I understand from your postings.  Based on that, get rid of the mask that has a suicide strap on it, as noted above this mask will suffocate him when the o2 runs empty.  O2 therapy is to be used as needed, not around the clock, not when sleeping!  Please do your husband one of the biggest favors you can and click on the yellow tab-left side of screen-CH.com store...and order an O2ptimask! Unless you are investing quite a few bucks into a custom demand valve, this is the best mask on the market, for only $27.50 and can be shipped within 2 days.  It is a NRB (non-rebreather mask) with a 3 liter reservoir bag for hyperventilation, withOUT the suicide strap and it works wonderfully for everybody who has used it!

Get a high flow regulator of at least 15 lpm to breathe consistently fast, preferably 25 lpm to hyperventilate.  If you can not get a high flow regulator from a medical source, get a welder regulator from a welder supply store which will provide fast enough flow rates. 

And for Gods sake...get a large 02 tank, absolutely NOT a concentrator.  If tanks are not available medically, get it from a welder supply store. 

You do not have to be a helpless wife, you can be a helpful wife!  You've chosen to be here for advice, this is the best o2 advice you can be provided.  Please go help your husband stay alive and with as minimal inconvenience to him as possible by following proven effective o2 outline.

Once you are successful achieving proper o2 therapy for your husband, please change your screen name on this board to...helpful wife

We are here to help you be supportive of your husband and unlike anybody else, we truly understand his pain!

Gregg in Las Vegas


PS...Considering this neurovascular disease of your husband MAY be afflicting him for the rest of his life....this is only the beginning.  Welcome to Clusterville