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An example of where a smoker trying to light a cigarette whilst breathing oxygen (for non-CH reasons) suffered burns which resulted in their death.

Just remember that oxygen can help make almost anything burn, so be careful!

To true!  Oxygen itself does not burn, but it feeds the flame on anything else.  Used to work for an health care equipment company, and one of our biggest sellers was oxygen.  We were very careful to educate our patients, and then to re-educate at regular intervals all who smoked.  We required them to post no smoking signs not only within their homes by the O2, but on the doors where anyone entering would have to see it.  We didn't lose any of our patients, but one of our competitors did.  (No fault of theirs)  It was not a pretty sight.

Jerry

When I talked to the O2 guy he mentioned one thing that I had not thought of.  That after you are done inhaling your oxygen your clothes are still saturated with it for a while.  People have been burnt by lighting up--even after the O2 is done and put away....

Ricardo wrote on Mar 26^th, 2013 at 12:30pm:

When I talked to the O2 guy he mentioned one thing that I had not thought of.  That after you are done inhaling your oxygen your clothes are still saturated with it for a while.  People have been burnt by lighting up--even after the O2 is done and put away....

Good point Ricardo, it's been mentioned a time or two but well worth repeating, take a walk in the fresh air after a good 02 abort to get the saturation outta your clothes.....you're a primed roman candle until the 02 diffuses out! :o

Joe

I once saw a demonstration of a slice of bread being soaked in oxygen and then ignited. Lets just say that it burnt very, very intensely in a fraction of a second.

I was just about to post about this. My spouse is a smoker, but I'm not anymore (I use an e-cig), we really love to light incense.

...is oxygen completely out of the question for me? I only have sumavel shots for treatment. I generally can't handle steroids because I have a congenital heart defect.

What might I be able to do to have oxygen safely or is this an impossibility with my current habits?

Smoke outside.

Just don't smoke at all.  When I did (8 years ago), it triggered my clusters.  Those who do smoke through an actual attack, I don't believe has clusters.  I can't do anything through an attack, but suck on O2.

I've never met a person who could do anything but writhe in pain during a "real" hit. BUT, when I smoked - that was the first thing I would do when the pain dropped low enough to allow it. I have NO doubt that smoking DID help the residual pain.

For the smokers: I tried every method known without success until I gave cold turkey a REAL chance. Yeah, I know that "your situation is different" --but I smoked for 40 years at 1.5 to 2 packs a day, then stopped overnight. That was about five years ago. Not even a twinge now when folks smoke around me. And no, I don't detest the smoke either.

I absolutely hate the whole "reformed sinner" attitude of so many ex-smokers. But, I will offer my support to anyone who has the balls to go for it. It IS WORTH IT.

Marc

Well said, Marc.

For those of you who do smoke and use O2 , as Ricardo said, be careful of O2 saturation of your clothing and the furniture following O2 use.  Please either air out the area and your clothing before lighting up.  Also, smoking outside would be best.  i realize getting pneumonia along with your lung cancer and emphasema isn't fun in the winter, so please be careful.  There are worse things than CH.  CH while burned is very painful.

Jerry

Exposure to cold weather is not responsible for pneumonia, nor is it responsible for causing colds or flu. The only malady caused by (over)exposure to cold is hypothermia. The rest is wives tales.

Chad wrote on Apr 6^th, 2013 at 7:12pm:

Those who do smoke through an actual attack, I don't believe has clusters....

We're all different, Chad. I smoked through 30 years worth of hits, drank beer as well, and it's a pretty fair bet I'm CH pos.

Fact remains, smoking and O2 requires common sense and extra precautions as auto-incendiarism is one helluva side effect.

Marc wrote on Apr 6^th, 2013 at 9:24pm:

when I smoked - that was the first thing I would do when the pain dropped low enough to allow it. I have NO doubt that smoking DID help the residual pain.

Marc, I did this same exact thing when I smoked.  I said this on here years ago.  When a cluster would subside, I too would immediately would have that cig as i'd call it a "victory smoke".  I know it's super hard to quit and I still crave it at times even 8 years later.  I'm just saying my severity of CH I think has been reduce due to quitting. 

AussieBrian, I have the same problem with still drinking beers on weekends between hits.  If I could eliminate that during my cycles, maybe i'd have less hits.   With the O2 nearby and now Batch's regimen, the hits never get to that
Kip level above 2.