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Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> How do you hyperventilate your o2? http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1313766756 Message started by Lobster on Aug 19th, 2011 at 11:12am |
Title: How do you hyperventilate your o2? Post by Lobster on Aug 19th, 2011 at 11:12am
Still having mixed success with o2. I have all the tools... just lacking the IQ points to nail it.
- How fast do you breathe? How many breaths per minute on average? - How deep do you breathe? 1/3 way? 2/3 way? All the way? - When doing this, should I concentrate on breathing fast (panting like a dog) or on fully inflating and clearing out my lungs (which would obviously slow things down)? - Nose or mouth or both? Thx! If you reply fast I will let you know how it works... one is coming on... |
Title: Re: How do you hyperventilate your o2? Post by Jeannie on Aug 19th, 2011 at 11:28am
The way I breathe sort of depends on the degree of pain I've gotten to. I try to breathe as deeply as I can as quickly as I can. As the pain escalates, I find myself breathing more shallowly but faster. As it starts to subsides, my breaths become deeper and slower again. I've never been able to concentrate enough to count the seconds in between.
I hope this one's gone fast. |
Title: Re: How do you hyperventilate your o2? Post by NotH20 on Aug 19th, 2011 at 12:54pm
Lobster, so sorry....hope by now you're feeling better. I am not able to count either and for me it depends on how quickly I can get to my tanks. If the CH is in full force, I'll breath like a dragon to get some O2 in me....
I too, like Jeannie, start the slower breaths once the full-on pain is not as bad. So tell us, how did you do this time around with it? Better? Mia |
Title: Re: How do you hyperventilate your o2? Post by Guiseppi on Aug 19th, 2011 at 3:03pm
I use a demand valve, exhale completely...cough just to empty out, then as deep a breath as I can....then hold for up to 30 seconds.....repeat.
Others do the dog pant inhale exhale as fast as they can. Seems to be another..."your mileage may vary".....kind of a thing. That hated trial and error. Hoping you get the upper hand soon. Joe |
Title: Re: How do you hyperventilate your o2? Post by Lobster on Aug 20th, 2011 at 2:59pm
@joe... gave it a shot. No luck. That was how I tried it before as well without hyperventilating. Just keeping pure o2 in my lungs will not abort. It does tone it down a bit, but I always end up reaching for the jab of trex.
@batch... that is a wealth of information and explains much. I will be giving that technique a shot on the next go-round. Thx to all for the advice. Will let you know how it turns out. |
Title: Re: How do you hyperventilate your o2? Post by Batch on Aug 20th, 2011 at 6:16pm
Lobster,
Practice make perfect... Try it now with room air while the beast is looking elsewhere... Patting your head and rubbing your tummy at the same time can prove troublesome to remember when the beast starts hammering away on your head... Take care, V/R, Batch |
Title: Re: How do you hyperventilate your o2? Post by Lobster on Aug 21st, 2011 at 8:11am
Well, I am braving business travel today thus will be without oxygen until I return home on Wednesday. In prep for that I started a heavy Prednisone taper, but am still taking a bucket of Imitrex with me.
How long does such an o2 abort take on average Batch? After a scant few minutes as the pain ramps I usually get jabby with the Imitrex. |
Title: Re: How do you hyperventilate your o2? Post by QnHeartMM on Aug 21st, 2011 at 9:16am
Good luck buddy. Sorry you have to travel during this.
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Title: Re: How do you hyperventilate your o2? Post by wimsey1 on Aug 22nd, 2011 at 7:21am
Since using Batch's technique coupled with Monster I and others report abort within munutes, usually within 3-4 depending upon the initial severity. Without an energy drink the abort can take upwards of 8-12 minutes. That's my experience anyway. When the pain is severe (KIP 7+) it takes longer and I breathe rapidly to ease the pain, interspersed with deep exhalations/inhalations as pain allows. Good luck and God bless. lance
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Title: Re: How do you hyperventilate your o2? Post by Lobster on Aug 25th, 2011 at 10:39am
Thx again all.
Back home now... survived the fearsome east coast earthquake. Will be practicing these techniques today... probably within 6 hours if my skull-clock is still right. |
Title: Re: How do you hyperventilate your o2? Post by Batch on Aug 25th, 2011 at 12:14pm
Hey Lobster,
The time to abort with this method of oxygen therapy is directly related to the pain level at start of therapy. If you're awake and catch a CH early, at a 3 to 4, the abort times will average 3 to 4 minutes. If you get whacked while sleeping and wake up to a 5 or 6 on the 10-Point headache pain scale, the abort times will average 6 to 7 minutes. If you're at a 7 to 9, the abort times can average 8 minutes up to 12 minutes. The efficacy of this method of oxygen therapy should be close to 100% up to pain level 9 where it starts to drop. If you've not started by then, expect some heavy sledding as you'll just be along for the ride... The time abort goes up exponentially as you approach pain level 10. That bit of information should make it clear to start this method of oxygen therapy at the first indication of a CH... In short, the longer you wait to start this or any other method of oxygen therapy, the longer it will take to abort. Take care, V/R, Batch |
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