just wanted to say hello to all of you. a couple of weeks ago i moved into a new cycle of headaches.  i've been getting them since a was 13 and am now 31. i'm not too sure how i'm going to go about getting o2 this time as the economy has killed my work work and they have killed our ins. anyway, it's nice to find this forum.

anyone else out there have allergies? i have terrible allergies, lol. i mention this because they have totally gone away since i moved into this cluster period. has this happened to anyone else? i would gladly trade back my headaches for my allergies...

Hi Josh,welcome to our family. Sorry to hear you are in a new cycle and in trouble getting o2.

Don't have allergies mysself.

Others will slide in and help you out with advice and direction better than I can

There are lots of experienced folks on this site.All you have to do is ask away and you will find answers.

To PFD.Iddy.

It's amazing how he never loses your address isn't it?  :( Glad you found us. What else have you used in the past to treat your CH? The good news is even if you have to out of pocket the 02 it's not too terribly expensive. Hang in there.

Joe

Josh,

How are you holding up?

Josh,

How are you coming with the O2? It's the cheapest way to go and works the best for the biggest part of us here.

Have you tried Red Bull (or another energy drink - be sure it has caffeine and at least 1000mg of taurine in it) at the first sign of a hit? It sometimes will abort the hit. And melatonin (9-15mg) at night before bedtime to help get thru the REM sleep to avoid night hits. This works for some of us.

Check in and let us know how you're doing.

Hugs BD

BarbaraD wrote on Mar 21^st, 2009 at 6:50am:

Josh, How are you coming with the O2? It's the cheapest way to go and works the best for the biggest part of us here. Have you tried Red Bull (or another energy drink - be sure it has caffeine and at least 1000mg of taurine in it) at the first sign of a hit? It sometimes will abort the hit. And melatonin (9-15mg) at night before bedtime to help get thru the REM sleep to avoid night hits. This works for some of us. Check in and let us know how you're doing. Hugs BD

haha, i just pounded two rockstars.  and took a xanex. that works pretty good too.

i'm going to try and get a rx of o2 today. i don't know why i always wait to go and get it... i guess i'm always just hoping they'll go away. before i just start trowing money at them.

Marc wrote on Mar 21^st, 2009 at 1:07am:

Josh, How are you holding up?

well, (thinking...)   good as far life goes. it sucks trying to work, be a parent of a nine and a three year old, and be a husband too. the kids don't really understand why dad is acting different sometimes, and it's always hard trying to tell my co-workers why my eye looks all jacked up at work. not many really understand what's going on in my head. i usually just tell them it's like a migraine x10 + a stabbing in my eye. i work in a noisy, dusty saw mill and operate a 50kw microwave. my job is really just one big exercise in problem solving. sometimes i just want to go home but haven't had to yet. the whole problem solving thing can be difficult with level six and rising. i've never really been good at getting my employer to understand what wrong w/ me. they're always like: "can't you just get a prescription?"

Josh, welcome to the zoo!

Yes, I do have allergies, to the typical pollens, etc.  Whether in or out of "allergy" time seemed to make no difference in my CH cycles of hits.

As to oxygen,  I have a lovely large O2 tank sitting in my living room.  It is a rented tank from a local welding supply company.  It costs me $58.00 per year to rent the tank, and they will refill it for about $16.0o.

Welder's O2 is the same as medical O2.  Just don't tell the welder supply company that you intend to inhale it.  From my experience with them, they don't ask too many questions, so obtaining O2 is quite easy.

Beyond getting the welder's tank, you need to buy a non-rebreather mask with tubing, a regulator that goes to at bare minimuim 15 lpm, and if possible a bubbler to add moisture.  None of these are terribly expensive.  I think I bought the mask with bubbler and tubing, and regulator for less than $75.00. Others here on the boards can direct you to sources for purchase, and much of this is sold on e-bay.

As to drinks like Red Bull....they rock when needed.

Please ask any questions you want.  As I was told many years ago as a newbie to these boards...the only stupid question is the one you didn't ask.  Someone is always here pretty much 24/7, and we're all here to help you.


Sandy

MODIFIED TO ADD:  TO MY CLUSTER FAMILY - WHO CAN PROVIDE JOSH WITH THE LETTER TO EMPLOYER DESCRIBING CH - I CAN'T LOCATE IT.

Sandy_C wrote on Mar 21^st, 2009 at 12:41pm:

Josh, welcome to the zoo! MODIFIED TO ADD:  TO MY CLUSTER FAMILY - WHO CAN PROVIDE JOSH WITH THE LETTER TO EMPLOYER DESCRIBING CH - I CAN'T LOCATE IT.

Per Sandy's addendum, here is the "Letter to Employers"

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Alot of Episodic clusterheads have been known to be called "seasonal boomers".

I always go into cycle either late fall-winter or late winter-spring.

Colds, allergies, and a number of other triggers can set off a cycle.

It's the damndest thing with these CH's.

Hope you are back to the norm in no time. :)

Kimmie

Kimmie wrote on Mar 25^th, 2009 at 1:01pm:

Alot of Episodic clusterheads have been known to be called "seasonal boomers". I always go into cycle either late fall-winter or late winter-spring. Colds, allergies, and a number of other triggers can set off a cycle. It's the damndest thing with these CH's.

that's silly ^  i was just thinking about that today. as far i can remember back, they do usually come with the season change. i've always wondered if my brain somehow mixes up the signal of allergies and makes a CH out of it.

anyways, thank you guys for the letter up there. after reading it, my boss was like - man :-[, are you kidding, what can we do to help? i'm glad to have found it. i am terrible at explaining stuff to people (especially when i've been on 2-3 hours sleep per night since i started this cycle...)

on anther note, i got all of o2 supplies that i needed (still works like charm for me, now i just have to get a smaller more portable unit to keep w/ me). i have a 'm' tank courtesy(sp?) of a my dad's torch stuff. (went and traded it in at the local welding shop for a full one for 36 bucks). and a couple more clicks on eBay got me the rest of the stuff i needed. hahaha - for the 1st couple days, it was the welding style regulator and some stuff stolen from a fish tank that got the job done ::).  if only i had thought of that earlier...

Great to hear the 02 is helping. Now it's time to explore the other prong in an effective 2 pronged attack. A good preventative medication. Rather then always waiting to be attacked, there are meds you can take on a daily basis, while on cycle, to reduce the frequency and intensity of your attacks. I use lithium, other popular prevents are verapamil and topomax. Read up on them and discuss with your doc. Lithium blocks about 70-80% of my attacks which really reduces the oxygen useage!

Great to hear you have an understanding boss...that's awesome! [smiley=sayyes.gif]

Joe