Hi folks.

Yet another newbie I'm afraid.....these b*stard things started hitting me when I was 26 and serving in the British Army. I was diagnosed pretty quickly by a navy neurologist, but have been unable to find any decent prophylaxis in the 10 years since I was diagnosed.
Aborting the f*ckers is relatively simple with the old sumatriptan needle in the thigh but as you are limited to 2 a day, I find I have to suffer through at least one attack a day.
My question is this: When I first started getting these things, the army doctors put me straight onto Oxygen....but it had little effect. Is it supposed to help in 100% of cases or are some poor suckers destined to walk the streets at 4am in the howling wind trying to numb their brain? As I live in the far northern highlands of Scotland, finding a force 9 gale to walk into is no problem but I'd rather find some decent preventatives.

Anyway....sorry to be on here, and sorry you're all here too, but I'm glad to have the company.

Cheers guys.

PS. Apologies if this question has come up before - I don't want to bore you all but as staring at computer screens too long sometimes triggers my old friend, I didn't want to sit here trawling through all the archives....I'm sure you understand.

Welcome Bravehead!

Oxygen is not 100% effective and doesn't work always.
It works for ~70% of us.
A lot depends on using the right flow rate (at least 15lpm) and the right mask (a non-rebreather is a must).

Try it again with the right equipment.

Regarding Imigran / Imitrex injections: check the Imitrex tip on the left.

Oliver

Not 100% effective even for those that it works for.

It knocks back about 80-90% of my hits, leaving the Imitrex for those ones that it doesn't. Still a lot better than a stick in the leg every time.

Scott

Thanks for the quick replies.

Gizmo: I can't see ANYTHING on the left..maybe because I'm currently at work and the IT dept have blocked certain things or maybe because I'm stupid as hell. I'll have a look when I get home. Are you German or just living there? I was based there for 2 years in the ninties (near Hanover)

Seasonalboomer: Yeah, I know what you mean...It sounds strange to say but I dread stabbing myself almost as much as I dread that first tell-tale pain running up my temple.

Here's the direct link START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

I'm German.

Oliver

vielen Dank für Ihre Hilfe Oliver!

Hi Bravehead and welcome. Never be afraid to ask questions, that is how we learn about dealing with CH's.

o2 as said works for most of the folks here, me included. But it must be done correctly. Here goes:

100% o2 (no outside air what-so-ever) with at least a 15 LPM regulator and a non-rebreather mask and most important is to get on the o2 at the very first sign of an on-coming hit. If you wait for it to start to ramp up on you, the o2 is not very effective. This is from my own experience.

Others down energy drinks which contain 1000mg Taurine and caffeine such as Red Bull, but there are others that work well.

Here is a pic of my non-rebreather mask and the second pic shows the opening on the side of the mask, this must be blocked off to stop the outside air from being breathed in. I use my thumb to block mine.
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Feel free to ask questions, or just to talk, you are with your new family now and I just want to say welcome once again.

  Barry :)

So far it has been 100% dead nuts for me. But it took some trial and error at 1st, and after lots of advise from those in this forum it is my ace in the hole now. No more kip 9s or 10s anymore for me. Knock wood. Wait , give me some wood, where's the wood.!! Someone please give me some god damn WOOD!!!!!  Coach Bill

Thanks again guys.....I'm never one for 'sharing my feelings' but just knowing you're all here has made life a whole lot more bearable.
I'm sure there are times when we all want to jump off a cliff...but some of the things on here have actually made me laugh about CH for the first time ever.

On the subject of Red Bull, I haven't tried that yet.  I don't know about the USA or Canada, but in UK pubs and clubs, Red Bull is often combined with a pitcher full of Vodka and ice cubes and a strangely alert drunken state is the result.....wait a minute....perhaps the red bull will counter balance the alcohol and I can drink again!  woo-hoo!

Bravehead wrote on Jan 16^th, 2009 at 3:11pm:

are some poor suckers destined to walk the streets at 4am in the howling wind trying to numb their brain?

And what is wrong with howling at the winds?  Works for me!  ... Oh wait .. I do that for OTHER reasons ... nevermind ...

LOL

Seriously, oxygen is a godsend for many of us, but it must be done properly.  If you were go to the medical section of this board, and at the top of the area are two threads about oxygen.  Read those, and then see if that helps you at all.  

Chuck