Posted by harley on January 02, 1999 at 10:26:59:
In Reply to: Fighting for Oxygen posted by Jackie M. on December 31, 1998 at 11:42:20:
I also use an hmo. My plan pays 80% of prescription costs.Before I began using 02, I only used the imitrex injections. I was using at least one a day, and the ins. co. complained to my dr.. They tried to get him to order other tests to disprove the diagnosis of cluster headache, and the need for imitrex. He told them that his diagnosis was right , more tests were unecessary, and imitrex was an approved treatment. Shortly after, with information found on this site, I decided to try 02. The dr. wrote a prescription, I took it to a supply co.I was surprised at how well the 02 worked, and how easy the 02 co. made things work. Once I handed them the prescription, they handeled everything. They would deliver the E tanks, or I could walk in with an empty and exchange it. After getting caught with an empty tank once or twice, I decided to always keep two on hand. I use 12 liter flow, and as the pain subsides i'll decrease the flow a little at a time. I'll end up at around 6 when the pain is totally gone, I'll keep it on for 5 mins after the pain stops to make sure it doesn't come right back. The 02 decreased the amount of imitrex i used, and the ins. co. has never complained about it, could be because the 02 was a fraction of the cost of imitrex? Be careful, I can't recall the specifics right now, but there are previous posts warning of the overuse of 02. I thought it was impossible to OD on 02, but its not!