Friday I had decided to stop taking the melatonin at night because it was making me feel drowsy and kind of in a fog during the day.  I also started to have hits at all different times of the day.  The worst was when it hit me at the evening rush hour and I had just picked up my son from daycare.  Took all I had to keep my "game face" on so I didn't scare him.   I also was not needing the Imitrex, which was nice because I didn't like how it made me feel (slight nausea at times and re-bound headaches) and I wasn't too crazy about taking another med on top of my heart meds.  An 8 oz. glass of strong iced coffee and some warm compresses and I was aborting the headaches in 15 mins.  I was lucky and was just getting two hits a night and nothing during the day which I decided was ok, since I can deal with the hits better in the privacy of my own home.

Then Saturday morning hit and I started to come down with a cold.  The usual chest congestion and sore throat, but luckily not the full blown flu. Was getting my usual hits but coffee/compress combo was doing the trick.  Sunday morning I got hit at 4:30 am and it took me about 45 mins to abort.  then last night I  got hit at 9:45 and it wasn't stopping.  Finally at 11:00 I took the Imitrex and about 15 mins later the headaches was gone.  But I think I was so wound up from the cold and long hit that my pulse was higher then what it should be (not at a danger level but enough to worry me) and I couldn't relax enough to sleep until about 1 am. 

Stayed home from work today and have a 3:30 appointment with my G.P. to get a script for O2.  I wasn't going to go the O2 route since I was usually able to abort in 15 mins., but these longer hits and the cold is just wearing me out physically and mentally.  Printed out the "oxygen info" to show him if he gives me a hard time, which I doubt he will.  Now I just need to find out where to get the tank and supplies around here.  Was hoping to get set up today, but with a late afternoon appointment that won't happen.  Hopefully tonight will be beter.

Definately get the O2 Marc!!  I've used it before this cycle that I'm in but just finally got a non rebreather mask 2 weeks ago and it is so much more effective for me.  Filled all 4 of my E tanks last thursday and emptied the last one about an four ago ( have had over 30 hits since noon thurs).  The cool thing is that by having the O2 right by the bed I was able to knock out all but 2 hits before they got above K6 and although the other 2 got to K10, I was still able to get thru them (10 to 15 mins max)without using a Imitrex injection. 

Hang in there Marc!  Hope you get some relief soon.

Denny

I'm glad you are trying O2.  It really is the way to go if it works for you.  Fortunately it does for at least 70% of us.

I'm sure you already have but read through all the Oxygen Info on the left.  It will save you a lot of trial and error.

Let us know how it goes for you.  I just pray it's as effective for you as it is for me.

-Dennis-

Quote:

Hopefully tonight will be beter.

When everything else sucks, there's still hope.

DennisM1045 wrote on Oct 12^th, 2009 at 9:39am:

I'm glad you are trying O2.  It really is the way to go if it works for you.  Fortunately it does for at least 70% of us. I'm sure you already have but read through all the Oxygen Info on the left.  It will save you a lot of trial and error. Let us know how it goes for you.  I just pray it's as effective for you as it is for me. -Dennis-

The most often quoted study came up with roughly 70% for a mix of male/female sufferers in the study. The number for men is well above 80%.

When adding high flow for the people who need the additional flow rate, I suspect that the number would be even higher.

Marc

Hey Marc123,

FWIW, when I had a late afternoon doc appointment to get an O2 prescription, I called the local Apria (med supplies) branch here and told them I'd be popping by with my prescription right after the appointment, and they agreed to get me the O2  same day/right at the end of day.

That was nice of Apria. Otherwise they haven't been all that great here about when they're willing to deliver M tanks, and there are other things that haven't impressed me so much about them, but these may just be issues with the way the local branch is run.

Hmmmm, maybe too bad you got a cold and not the flu, since the flu has been reported here recently to knock out a full CH cycle (!)  :o :o

I just called Apria this morning for 2 more M-tanks. They reminded me that they're normally in my area on Fridays, and asked if I had enough to get through until then. I told them I thought so (between the M-tank I have left and the multiple E's and D's I normally use in the car and at the office). The nice lady said that if it looked like it was going to be a problem that I should call back and they'd get me the M-tanks sooner.

I thought that was pretty nice - and a really good customer service move on their part.

Hopefully your APRIA will be like Brew's and mine. Same day service the first go round, they can't be accomadating enough when I need refills. Wishing you luck....02 really rocks!!!!

Joe

That is indeed good customer service, something I don't enough of these days.

Just got back from my doctor and I was ready to strangle him.  He wouldn't write me the O2 script.  He said that I need to have the "suspected" cluster headaches confirmed by a nueologist.  I said well if that's the case why didn't your associate here send me to a neurologist after the hospital diagnosed it and the associate felt that it was correct.  He really didn't have a good answer for that.

Since the Imitrex wasn't agreeing with me, he prescibed Ascomp w/ Codeine ( common name is Fiorinal w/ Codeine).  Anyone have any luck with that?

On the bright side, he confirmed that I don't have the flu, just a nasty virus.   :-/

Umm, the flu IS a nasty virus.

Marc123 wrote on Oct 12^th, 2009 at 4:45pm:

Since the Imitrex wasn't agreeing with me, he prescibed Ascomp w/ Codeine ( common name is Fiorinal w/ Codeine).  Anyone have any luck with that?

Mark that is so frustrating... My hubby took fiorinal in his early days. It's a pain-killer, and the side effects were such that he couldn't really work/drive. Maybe he'll jump in here and tell you more, but I recall being very concerned about him during those days.

I hope you can PUSH for a visit with a neuro.

Marc123 wrote on Oct 12^th, 2009 at 4:45pm:

Just got back from my doctor and I was ready to strangle him.  He wouldn't write me the O2 script.  He said that I need to have the "suspected" cluster headaches confirmed by a nueologist.  I said well if that's the case why didn't your associate here send me to a neurologist after the hospital diagnosed it and the associate felt that it was correct.  He really didn't have a good answer for that. Since the Imitrex wasn't agreeing with me, he prescibed Ascomp w/ Codeine ( common name is Fiorinal w/ Codeine).  Anyone have any luck with that? On the bright side, he confirmed that I don't have the flu, just a nasty virus.   :-/

So, let me get this straight....he gave you a script for your Imitrex injections without a neuro diagnosis and now codeine but won't give you O2????? What, is O2 too dangerous??? Please Doctors, give me a break!
>:(
Sorry you're having so much trouble from an idiot that can't understand you need help now. I had the same needs a few days ago. Saw my Doc. at 10:30am and had O2 in my hands by 1pm. I too was lucky enough to have an Apria location close by. Doc. called them with my scrip, told them it was an emergency and bingo, all set!

It's wonderful when a plan comes together. Here's hoping your plan comes together soon!