Posted by Doc Greg on November 04, 1998 at 23:41:30:
I have been asked to elaborate on my earlier comment about the safety of oxygen.
I admit, I was hesitent to say anything...but I think occasional words of caution are wise.
Oxygen at high levels is toxic to anything. It is a free radical...something that anti-oxidents work against. It can cause scarring of the lungs at high doses for extended periods of time. If high flow oxygen is used only for an hour or two, there shouldn't be any/much damage. I'm not sure that any documented damage has been shown for just 2 hours of exposure. If a person were to stay on high flow oxygen for 24 hours, there is documentable evidence of lung damage. So my concern, and warning, is to not sleep with high flow oxygen. Use it during an attack, but when the headache is gone, take it off. Low flow oxygen (say 2 liters) should be alright to sleep with if you find this beneficial.
I do want to stress, though, that the side effects of any kind of medication is less than the side effects of a gun. Plain and simple. If it works, and it keeps you from tearing your life apart...then to hell with the side effects. I have been warned not to take Imitrex more than twice a day...but when that third cluster comes...I inject. We all know what this pain can do to our lives...and the last thing I am going to do is worry about a little scarring. I too use oxygen, knowing what I know, and I am NOT repeat NOT advising any of you to stop using it. Just don't sleep with it on.
I would also like to say just a quick word about the water theory everyone is talking about. I haven't a clue why this is working for some of you...but I am thrilled that it is. Just this...the kidney is incapable of excreting pure water. Salts including sodium, potassium, phosphate, and chloride all go out with the urine. If you drink A LOT of water, your body can run short on some of these salts. If you are doing the water treatment for an extended period of time, I would suggest telling your doctor that you are doing this so he can check your levels. If you do this, then the water treatment should be very safe.
Has anyone tried Gatoraid for the water treatment? If it is simply a state of dehydration that induces the headaches, Gatoraid would be much safer (includes most of the salts that are excreted). I would be very interested to know.
I hope some of this helps, and I don't want to scare anyone. Just want to keep them around. I am a chronic cluster sufferer...last attack over 1.5 years, with many times getting 3 a day...so I need all of you to stick around.
Email me anytime. I don't always get back within 1 day, but rarely takes me 2.
Many pain free days
Greg
ICQ #22173511