Posted by KlusterK (172.137.117.74) on August 03, 2000 at 23:48:34:
OXYGEN-After 2 decades of recurrent clusters of intense severity, I found the answer. Here is the short version. Blood vessels supplying your brain dilate(enlarge) and constrict (get narrower) continuously in order to control brain oxygen levels by controlling blood flow to the brain. All of us clusterhead know that pure oxygen stops an attack. Few of us can accept the fact that we need a tank of oxygen to escape the most severe pain known to mankind. The answer is hyperventilation. Hyperventilation is a way to force feed oxygen into your blood causing an acute elevation in O2, triggering constriction and subsequent elimination of your attack. If oxygen works for you, hyperventilation will free you from the fear of an unwanted attack because you can eliminate an oncoming attack anywhere, anytime you can get a few minutes free to hyperventilate. If the attack is in full form, you may have to hyperventilate three to five times to near dizziness, each time followed by taking a deep breath and letting it out very slowly. If you understand what I have written here and you want me to write some more, let me know. I am cluster free after 2 decades plus, and I know I have it beat for good. I wish you all permanent relief. I would not wish these headaches on my worst enemy. Take care all.