Posted by Jackie M. on December 31, 1998 at 22:57:22:
In Reply to: Re: Fighting for Oxygen posted by Marc on December 31, 1998 at 12:08:22:
Thanks Marc, for sharing your 02 experience with me. As to your question about my health insurance, it is Personal Choice (of B.C. & B.S.)
I did have to wrangle with them to get the 02 covered and paid for, but the end result is I have it. Personal Choice is a Health Maintanence company that tends to work better for the healthy than the sick. I had major surgery six months ago that really opened my eyes to what HMO's are all about, and the bottom line is *profit*, not your health. Are you currently paying for the 02 yourself?
Thanks for the tips about how to breathe. I found that after about five minutes I realized that I was breathing too hard (mostly just because of the pain) and that when I slowed it down, the oxygen seemed to start reversing the pain. I'm concerned that my doctor doesn't know much about the 02 therapy (or clusters for that matter). I'm the one who had to keep after him for the oxygen because of what I'd read here. I told him that the fire house used 15 per min., and my sister (who is a nurse) said that the ER uses 10 per min on cluster patients. My doctor has prescribed 6 per min. But I can always turn it up on my own if 6 doesn't work. Also, he prescribed a nasal canula (sp?) when I'd prefer the mask. My sister is getting a mask for me.
I just can't help but feel like I've been reborn, with the hope that this 02 will help me to manage the clusters so that I can live a more normal life. I am so grateful. The only reason that I ended up trying the 02 the other night, is because I seriously felt that I would try ending the pain permanently. That feeling of desperation led me to hope. If the 02 works only on half of the attacks, I will be happy.
Thanks again for your help, Marc. After 25 years, this place has been my salvation.
Wishing you a cluster-free New year.
Jackie