Just venting a frustration.
I am starting a new cluster period, just like every spring; and this morning I tried the Zomig that my doctor was SURE would help.

Jack.squat.

She own't listen to me and give me oxygen.

Find a new one.

LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.

2.  Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.

3. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE; On-line screen to find a physician.

4. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE Look for "Physician Finder" search box. They will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.

5. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
        Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.
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And print out the PDF file, below. Use it as a tool to discussi treatment options with any doc you see.

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KHeller wrote on Apr 14^th, 2013 at 12:27pm:

She own't listen to me and give me oxygen.

Did she say why she wouldn't give you oxygen?

I'd be looking for a new doctor if one refuses to listen to me.

Thank you so much for the provider listing on this page, I found one really close to me and will give him a call tomorrow (since it's Sunday.)
I have only seen my GP so far and, honestly, I think she's just stumped as to what to do for me.  I mentioned oxygen to her at my last appointment and she just said that was controversial as to whether or not it helps.  I don't care if it's controversial, at least let me try it!
Hopefully the doctor listed on the OUCH website in my area will be more helpful.

There's nothing controversial about it. She just doesn't want to do any homework.

Off topic, but BREW - love the Ayn Rand quote.  I'm a big fan.

Oxygen, at 25 lpm or greater, through a non-rebreather mask - or simple hyperventilation with a demand valve system - is the safest treatment we have available.

When you get a minute, please check the following thread. The vitamin D3 regimen has brought complete relief to right around 80% of the people who try it, present company included.

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

Oxygen has also been shown to work in numerous trials with the results published in peer reviewed publications.

Nothing controversial about it at all, other than what the flow rate should be with older research tending to have lower flow rates than the later ones.

Hi KHeller, sorry to hear that the zomig doesn't work for you, i thought it worked for everybody. It works for me, i take it (2.5mg fastmelt tablet) at the beginning of an attack and the attack melts away. However I have joined this site about 6 weeks ago and came across Batch's vit D3 regimen, it seems to work for so many people that i gave it a go, I am now on day 23 of the regimen and have now been pain free for the last 8 or 9 days. My spring cycle usually lasts until the end of may or even sometimes until mid-june, the regimen seems to have stopped the cycle. Maybe you could try it too.
All the best.  :)

KH, I know your post is about 9 months old but if you're on or they hit again in Spring and you're reviewing try Rock Mountain Neurology.  I live in the Denver area as well and have been a patient there (for about 8 years) when my previous Neurologist retired.  They get it and will get you what you need.

Though hope they don't return! 

My doc won't give me oxygen either.

Get another one!

K wrote,
I mentioned oxygen to her at my last appointment and she just said that was controversial as to whether or not it helps.  I don't care if it's controversial, at least let me try it!

Hi K,
Oxygen and the vitamin D3 regime is the go here. PM Bob
Johnson for a Headache Specialist in your area.

Hoppy.

Multiple scientific papers have been published in peer reviewed medical journals which is the gold standard for medical research. Google Scholar will find many of these articles - START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Just looking at the first three:


Quote:

Response of cluster headache attacks to oxygen inhalation L Kudrow - Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 1981 - Wiley Online Library SYNOPSIS Fifty-two randomly selected patients diagnosed as having either active episodic or chronic cluster headaches were evaluated for symptomatic response to oxygen inhalation. At the onset of attacks, 100% oxygen was administered through a facial mask ... Cited by 262 Related articles All 4 versions Cite Save Treatment of cluster headache: a double-blind comparison of oxygen v air inhalation L Fogan - Archives of Neurology, 1985 - Am Med Assoc Lance Fogan, MD, MPH\ s= b\ Nineteen men, aged 20 to 50 years, were treated in a double- blind crossover study comparing oxygen v air inhalation at 6 L/min via nonrebreathing face masks for 15 minutes or less, for up to six headaches. Patients scored their own degree of ... Cited by 232 Related articles All 7 versions Cite Save Human in vivo evidence for trigeminovascular activation in cluster headache Neuropeptide changes and effects of acute attacks therapies PJ Goadsby, L Edvinsson - Brain, 1994 - Oxford Univ Press ... suggests that CGRP release is related to the mechanism of the headaches and not ... both elevated in the cranial venous blood of patients with an acute spontaneous cluster headache. The termination of the attack with either sumatriptan or oxygen brings about normalization of ... Cited by 430 Related articles All 5 versions Cite Save

I've bolded the number of citations for each paper, which is where another scientific paper references the original paper. A high number is an indication of how influential the original paper is. Anyone doing research would give their right arm to get as many citations as these (I was very pleased to get one paper into double figures).

Also note the dates too, with one going back 33 years.

This is not a controversial area by any means.

Quote:

Migraine Meds don't do JACK

Your a little off base stating this in general terms. In fact many drugs intended for migraine treatment are used successfully to treat clusters.

Its the dosage that changes, not the med.

Zomig won't help you to kill an attack. If melted under the tongue and washed down with a double espresso and a red bull the best kill time I managed was 20 mins. No point in other words.

Migraine meds help when you use them correctly. Imitrex for killing an attack near immediately. I sometimes use Zomig if I need a 5-6 hour guaranteed PF window. For air travel, if I am desperate for sleep or have a meeting I need to stay PF in. Needs to be taken at least 30 mins before green zone time.

Get yourself a few imitrex for your handbag and some O2 tanks for home and office. Further and most importantly, read about the prevent medications available.

Zomig NS 5mg is my abort of last resort...99% effective for breakthroughs...if O2, energy drinks, perhaps verapamil and Vit D don't work.....

Best

Jon

Hi Neuropath,
Yes Zomig can take 20 to 30 minutes to kill an attack, but it is better than having to go through the whole attack which can last a couple of hours or more. I used to take and took it for years before i started on the D3 regimen. I always have some on me but I have not needed it since the almighty D3.
All the best
Thierry   :)