I have finally received a prescription for 02 but have been told that Medicare will not cover 02 for Cluster headaches. Is this true? The medical supply provider is now checking my secondary "Tricare for Life" (Military retired).

If these fail, is there any hope with VA ? I am not service connected disabled though these headaches started about 18 months after I retired.
27 years ago.

I would appreciate any info !!!!!!!

oldred82
raymondd938@gmail.com

Red,

   If it was Medicare that told you that they would not cover 02, well, I guess that's that.  However, if it was a friend pof a friend or someone like that...I would certainly research medicare services, call them, and do whatever you can to get that answer.

    I personally know of one woman (Air Force)  who gets 02 paid for from the V.A. 

Thanks Linda,

Good news. Tricare For Life covers the 02. The bad news is that the prescription allows a regulator with a max of 6 LPM.They are coming to set me up this PM.

I'd appreciate any comments ?????????

Can I buy a better regulator thru this forum ? how ?

oldred82

A 6 lpm regulator won't cut it at all.

   Send me your address in a PM here and I will send you one that goes to 25 lpm.

Either that or you can go to Harbor Freight and purchase a welding regulator that will give you whatever you can handle.  It costs about $30.

Jerry

Callico wrote on Apr 10^th, 2012 at 10:12pm:

Either that or you can go to Harbor Freight and purchase a welding regulator that will give you whatever you can handle.  It costs about $30. Jerry

I just bought one at Harbor Freight - it was $35, and it couples up with a demand valve quite nicely.

Linda,

1st, I don't think I can email you because My computer no longer has Outlook express. I'm using Firefox until Windows 8 comes out to buy a new computer. I'm glad that you have confirmed that I can get a better regulator when I decide to do so. You guys are great.

Anyway, I have an appt. with my Neuro on 3 May. I'm going to hold off 'till then.

2 nights ago, I tried the 02 on 2 thru the humidifier and got a bad headache. I had to go out and work it off. The Topomax did work that night, though. I'm only taking 25mg, once, before bed, so you can see I'm early in the game compared to a lot of our other friends !!!!!!!!!!

Last night, I didn't have a headache 'till 5 Am. I set the 02 on 4 w/o the humidity and it aborted in 5 minutes.

I am optimistically hopeful that I am working myself out of this cycle that I have been in since late Feb.

The reason for my hope started yesterday afternoon and evening when I dozed off, neither of which was followed by an attack. In the past, those have been triggers for me.

oldred82

"O2 on 2," "O2 on 4."

What does that mean? 2 liters per minute and 4 liters per minute? If that's the case, no wonder you gave yourself a headache. You gotta crank it up to 15 liters per minute AT A MINIMUM.

Are you using oxygen cylinders or an oxygen concentrator?

I, too don't understand what you mean.

Like they said you CAN get a regulator at a Harbor Freight very inexpensively.   You don't need to e-mail me though. You can send me a private message right here.  Just click on PM below.

I have a regulator that fits e-tanks and goes to 25 lpm.   It's up to you.

oldred, check out this link that is from the "oxygen info" link to the left of your screen.  If yours is a concentrator, it is not the correct equiptment you need to abort your headaches as quickly as possible.

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

Thanks for all the responses. The regulator that was delivered to me is listed as (Regulator 02 Stationary 0-8 LPM ). The price shown is $70.20. I'm under the impression that "Tricare for Life" is going to pay for everything.  The mask is listed as (Mask medium concentrate Adult). It does not have a bag so I doubt that it's the one you guys recommend.''
It covers my nose and mouth but has holes at the cheeks !!!!!!!!

When the equipment was delivered the guy said the prescription required that the regulator be set on 2. it will go up to 8. The 1st time I used it, I left it on 2 with the humidifier connected. The next two times, I have set it on 4 and disconnected the humidity. In each case it aborted  my headache in 15 minutes.

I see the Neuro on 3 May and will discuss what you guys are saying. It could be that I'm still on the learning curve ????????????

I have to assume that he's aware of what works. The only other possibility is that the medical supply co. is pulling my chain ????????????

oldred82

Hi oldred

You have been given a rebreather mask, not a non-rebreather mask, which is what works so much better for aborting CHs. I strongly suggest that you get a non-rebreather mask as you'll find that this makes a huge difference in how quickly you can abort CHs.

For the "2" setting, this will be 2lpm (Litres Per Minute), which is a fairly normal setting for people with breathing problems, but far too low to effectively abort CHs.

Whilst it is possible for some people to abort using such a low flow rate, you will be able to do so significantly quicker at a higher flow rate, which will mean less pain for you. This will need a different regulator, such as the one that Linda is mentioning.

To help you learn more, please read the oxygen info - START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE. There is a lot to read, but it contains some great info that really does work.


Quote:

I have to assume that he's aware of what works. The only other possibility is that the medical supply co. is pulling my chain ????????????

Based on the info you've given us about being told to use 2lpm, I can only assume that either the doctor and / or the medical supply company are clueless about how oxygen can be used for people with CH.