Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Poll of Oxygen users
        
(Message started by: cherylc on Feb 9^th, 2005, 11:30am)

Title: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by cherylc on Feb 9^th, 2005, 11:30am

First I again have to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! I am so grateful to this site and the people that took the time to help with my questions. I have checked out this site every time I have been hit with the clusters over the last few years, but this time I am so grateful because I had the information and advice I needed from this site to get my oxygen prescription and IT WORKS!!! I had tried 02 in the ER a few times with no help, but I realized that I needed to use exactly what so many of you recommended and exactly how it was recommended. Even though the 02 supplier was very hesitant I got what I needed. I never thought that I could fight these h/a's naturally. I feel so much better not being so heavily medicated (and avoiding the rebound h/a's!) sorry...this is longer than I intended.

I have a few questions for 02 users...

1. How many liters per minute do you set your tank??

2. How long do you inhale the 02?

3. Do you stop as soon as the pain leaves your head or do you continue to inhale for a few minutes?

4. Do you have any side effects from using the o2? Dry throat, sinus pain?

5. Do you use Melatonin? what dose?

I appreciate your answers.
For anyone that hasn't tried it yet...get exactly what this site tells you and try it. It just might work!
Cheryl

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by Bob P on Feb 9^th, 2005, 12:06pm

1. 8 lpm
2. About 10 minutes.
3. Stop as soon as I feel the attack die.
4. Yes, both of those (next time I'm getting a bubbler).
5. No

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by Mr. Happy on Feb 9^th, 2005, 12:38pm

1. 15 lpm to start, then back it down to as little as possible as soon as possible.
2. As long as it takes. 10-20 minutes.
3. Continue until I realize I just fell asleep. (No straps)
4. Dry only, at hi flow rate.
5. No

None of the regulators from O2 supply would take a "bubbler." Managed to grab a few regulators on EBay that fit the ticket nicely. Problem solved.

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by Langa on Feb 9^th, 2005, 1:36pm

1. How many liters per minute do you set your tank?? No less than 12.

2. How long do you inhale the 02? No more than 15-20 minutes usually.

3. Do you stop as soon as the pain leaves your head or do you continue to inhale for a few minutes? I continue but for no more than 1-2 minutes.

4. Do you have any side effects from using the o2? Dry throat, sinus pain? Dry throat.

5. Do you use Melatonin? Yes what dose? 9mg 1/2 hr. b4 bedtime.

Glad the 02 is working for ya!

Langa :)

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by E-Double on Feb 9^th, 2005, 6:04pm

1. 10 lpm - 15 vary up and down
2. About 10 minutes.
3. Stop as soon as I feel the attack die or if not working move onto more juice.
4. No
5. yes 6-9 mg

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by Chillrmn1 on Feb 9^th, 2005, 6:13pm

1. Start at 15 L/M then back down to 10 L/M.

2. Until the attack aborts - up to 10 minutes, then get the Imitrex if O2 doesn't abort.

3. Stop as soon as relief is felt.

4. Dry throat.

5. No.

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by rextangle on Feb 9^th, 2005, 8:29pm

1. How many liters per minute do you set your tank??
15LPM

2. How long do you inhale the 02?
15-20 minutes

3. Do you stop as soon as the pain leaves your head or do you continue to inhale for a few minutes?
I stop unless I fall asleep doing it

4. Do you have any side effects from using the o2? Dry throat, sinus pain?

Nope, I use a bubbler attached to it to prevent that...

5. Do you use Melatonin? what dose?
No I don't....

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by Gator on Feb 10^th, 2005, 1:11am

1. Start at 15 then decrease as soon as I can.

2. 10 - 15 minutes, sometimes 20. Depends on the Kip. If it hasn't worked in 20 minutes it ain't gonna.

3. Keep inhaling for a few minutes afterwards.

4. Dry throat sometimes.

5. Ramped up from 1mg to 3mg - 6mg - 9mg to 12mg, increasing the dosage every 4th night. Got two extra attacks per night. No more melatonin for me.

Glad the O2 is working for ya. It's a life and money saver for me.

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by BlueMeanie on Feb 10^th, 2005, 2:00am

1. 12-15 lpm
2. 15 minutes, give up after that and get the Trex
3. continue for a few minutes when it works
4. no. use a bubbler
5. tried up to 8 mg, didn't seem to make any difference

Happy for you Cheryl, glad it works. :)

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by Redrum on Feb 10^th, 2005, 9:24am

1. 12 lpm does well for me

2. until its gone, 10-20 min.

3. continue for a couple minutes after pain leaves to be sure its gone. If not the HA will usually come back stronger then before.

4. No, use a bubbler. well actually I've been noticing my beard going grey and wondered if the O2 was bleaching it but I think I'm just getting old.

5. I've only been using melatonin since my last cluster and found 1 mg sublingual + 3 mg slow release seemed to help. My cluster ended almost immeaditly after starting but this could just be another coincidence, will no more next cluster. I now use the 1 mg sublingual when I get shadows.

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by EvertBoer on Feb 11^th, 2005, 5:34pm

1. 7 to 8 LPM (8 is max for my regulator)
2. 10 - 20 Minutes. Usually about 13 minutes. After 20, I use 1/2 trex shot.
3. After the headache subsides, I keep breathing for 2 to 3 minutes while turning down the LPM.
4. No.
5. Tried it. Didn't make much difference.

While I breathe the oxygen, I use slow deep breaths, emptying the whole bag, If I haven't filled my lungs completely, I keep sucking it with empty bag. I exhale slowly so that the bag is all full again before I need to inhale. I make sure I get no regular air by blocking the side hole that doesn't have a valve. Works for me. For me it is very important that I get on the oxygen at the first twinge. After many years, I'm able to wake up before the pain starts.

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by Mr. Happy on Feb 11^th, 2005, 7:46pm

on 02/11/05 at 17:34:46, EvertBoer wrote:

After many years, I'm able to wake up before the pain starts.

That's a trick I'd like to learn. Sort of like fishing for Tog......set the hook just Before they bite.

Good Zen approach with the 8 lpm regulator. The first one I used was the same. It worked fine and dandy........until I got the 15 lpm module and learned to waste O2 with the best of them. Hoorah.
I picked up a fine specimen of a regulator on EBay for $20......well....... $35 including shipping. Check this puppy out:

http://mushys.com/pix/regulator.jpg

Back to 1 thru 5,
RJ

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by Damon on Feb 12^th, 2005, 1:49am

In answer to your questions

1. 15 lpm
2. 10-40 min then off to VERY hot shower if not working
3. Most of the time the pain has not completly left by then
4. no
5. no

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by toolong on Feb 12^th, 2005, 4:14pm

Tried 02 for the first time back in March after reading about it on this website.Doc was not too sure about it but then again no kickbacks from the Imitrex people.Worked like a charm,a dream come true.Can't use triptans since I experienced a heart attack in June.Use it at first sign of the Deamon.Use it almost every night at bedtime with my meletonin (12 mg.)Usage rate that works for me is 15 ltrs for 15 min.I have close to a 90%rate of sucess with it and no hangover.Good luck and many PF days for you ;;DDavid

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by vietvet2tours on Feb 12^th, 2005, 6:55pm

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAhxegen works first time everytime it's pepto for the brain.

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by Kevin_M on Feb 12^th, 2005, 7:37pm

1. 12 Lpm minute seems ok, 15 is there if I want it. Depends on how its going.

2. Varies and I haven't timed it anytime but I'm pretty sure about 15 minutes is tops. If I need it longer, or it returns later again and it feels faster and stronger coming on, like Blue, I reach for the trex.

3. I cracked up at Hap's response because I swear it puts me to sleep too. Yes, no strap. But otherwise, until I feel it leaving and feel it has been defeated, not much longer for me.

4. It'll get dry, I haven't gotten any help from the supplier about a bubbler, but a humidifer on the furnace through the dry winter nights helps some.

5. not usually, only when some insomnia bugs me falling asleep sometimes in cycle. 6mg was fine, 9mg and I am slower wanting to wake up in the morning.

Kevin M

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by Alien Space Babe on Feb 12^th, 2005, 7:42pm

15 lpm used until 5 minutes after the pain is gone. only side effect is sore throat.

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by Sean_C on Feb 12^th, 2005, 7:55pm

1. 15 lpm
2. Start to finish
3. Stop as soon as I feel the attack die.
4. Sometimes
5. No

Sean.....................

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by cherylc on Feb 13^th, 2005, 12:45am

[smiley=bow.gif]
Again I find myself saying thank you to everyone that answered this poll. It has helped to give me a little more confidence in dealing with these clusters, hopefully others will read and get some relief too.

Cheryl

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by toolong on Feb 13^th, 2005, 9:31am

Alien Space Babe,try using a humidifier with your 02.It will stop the sore throat and dry nose.Easy to use and very inexpensive to buy. ;;DDavid

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by Dave_W on Feb 15^th, 2005, 1:42pm

I have a few questions for 02 users...

1. How many liters per minute do you set your tank??

8 or 9. If no effect in 10 minutes, up to 12 or 15

2. How long do you inhale the 02?

10 minutes usually does the trick for pain, then I breathe it for another few (15 total usually)

3. Do you stop as soon as the pain leaves your head or do you continue to inhale for a few minutes?

Continue a bit.

4. Do you have any side effects from using the o2? Dry throat, sinus pain?

Last year, I got a set of burnt nasal passages (used too frequently without humidification). Remember, oxygen is an oxidizer (burns). Otherwise, no real complaints.

5. Do you use Melatonin? what dose?

Nope

Title: Re: Poll of Oxygen users
Post by Cooked Brain on Feb 25^th, 2005, 10:33pm

Hi Cheryl!

1. 8lpm.
2 and 3. 10 to 20 mins to kill the headache, and then another 5 mins just to make sure. If found that when I plug off too soon the headache comes back within minutes. IF the pain doesn't stop after 20 minutes I take a break and try again.
4. dryiness and (sometimes) dizzyness.
5. no.

Good to read you are feeling better :) Pass on the word, as I am sure you will do ;;D

Pfd & take care