Posted by Jackie M. on December 31, 1998 at 11:42:20:
I've finally managed to wear my HMO down and get ahold of an Oxygen tank. I'm sure I'll be fighting with them again, but for the time being I'll finally have something other than narcotics to use for relief. I was lucky in that my father in law belongs to our fire company and rushed me over there the other night so that I could try the Oxygen for the cluster attack. My HMO wouldn't pay for it if I went to the ER, because it wasn't considered a life and death situation (even though I was very seriously considering swallowing down the bottle of Darvon and ending the hell). I just could not believe how in a matter of about ten minutes the pain was reduced drastically. I thought, FINALLY....something that really helps!! My husband is getting the Oxygen tank right now, and I just hope the insurance company doesn't give me any more grief. What I'd like to know from others here who may use the Oxygen therapy to relieve cluster attacks is; a) how high do you turn up the O2? The fire house medic turned it up to 15 and that really seemed to work for me. b) do you have problems with your insurance company in paying for the Oxygen? I am so optomistic for the first time in 25 years, that I may have some help in getting through these horrific cluster attacks. I sure hope the insurance company doesn't take that away from me.
Wishing you all a happy and pain free New Year!
Jackie