An important distinction must be made between causation and correlation. Just because the beast ramped up while you were using oxygen doesn't mean it was the oxygen that caused it.

And who ever told you to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth during oxygen therapy? That's bull. Many around here use the mouthpiece for their oxygen "mask," breathing only through their mouth, both in and out.

Well, it is of course possible that other factors came into work. I slept only around 4 hours last night, was really tired throughout the entire day and then slept around 1,5 hours during the day to make up for it. That might have well messed up the hypothalamus more.

But the fact remains that I've used oxygen now at 10 liter flow rates through the CH-mask and 15 liter flow-rates through another less expensive non-rebreather mask at least 40 times. It has never aborted a hit, like I've heard it could. At the most it has sometimes worked as a sort of concentration point to take the mind off the CH.

I might still give it another chance, I guess...but considering the amount of pain I was in today it doesn't seem like a very attractive prospect.

All the best and PFDAN to all of you, though. It's great not to be alone with this.

- Rosa

try it again. I highly doubt it made it worse. slam down a redbull and then follow with the 02. It fails to abort now and then. Perhaps you didn't get the 02 going quickly enough. Just speculating. Hoping it does better next time
all the best
thebb

Hi Rosa,

If the bag is never filling then you are breathing too fast and probably aren't getting enough into your lungs for you body to make use of. 

When the beast is taking off sometimes I use this technique to get things started.  Then I move onto breathing more rapidly.  Try inhaling from a filled bag.  Hold your breath and let the bag fill a bit more.  Then top off your lungs.  Exhale slowly and repeat a couple of times.

The other thing you want to do is to remain as calm as possible.  I know that is easier said than done buy try.  Any excess physical activity or anxiety only increases the amount of O2 your body is using and reduces the amount of O2 making it to your head.

Please give us any more observations you can think of so we can get you dialed in 

-Dennis-

I don't believe 02 made it worse. It just didn't prevent the hit from comming. It only works about half the time but it still saves alot on Trex usage. You should always try the 02 first and if it doesn't work then go the your abortive. I agree with Kimmie though; it doesn't keep the beast away as long as Trex so you've got to hit the 02 more often. It's always worth trying first. I do not use fast breathing techniques. It works better by taking long slow deep breathes, then slow exhales and continuing the process sometime for 25 minutes or so. Its hard to stop because of the pain but you've gotta just stick to it and concentrate while breathing.

Good luck to you,
Bob

Rosa - please don't give up on oxygen! Give it another shot. Try sitting up in a comfortable but straight-backed chair. Clear your mind as best you can (I know it's tough). Take the long, deep breaths through your mouth. I don't know if you've ever studied yoga or a wind instrument, but if you know anything about diaphragmatic breathing it will help to use this technique - both physically and to keep you centered and relaxed. Here's a link that might help:

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

Keep at it with a high flow even if your head is screaming at you. It may take awhile but it's worth it if it works - and if it doesn't you really haven't lost anything. And let us know. Everyone's rooting for you.

David

O2 doesn't work for me either-and I have used it correctly-even upping intake to 25lp.   I keep it around though, and still try it because you never know when something that once worked, then was ineffective, might work again.

Also, the tank and cart ad a certain element of style to my home decor.   

Live between the hits.  Wishing you
PFDAN
kathy

Welcome to the minority club Rosa.

Oxygen at any levels or method does not help me either.
Oxygen also increases the intensity of the hits for me as well by a factor of 10 at the highest levels of use.

That said its still worth trying again at a later date as so many find exceptional relief with it. But for me after all these years no success with it.

Rosa,
that sounds promising to me!

wishing you PF time,
Sanna

Rosa, I second Dennis' advice. It took me awhile to get the hang of it too. In fact at first it seemed as if it were intensifying the pain for a few minutes before it really kicked in and took it away. Again, for me, the experience was a bit like popping an Imitrex: nothing at all for what seems like an eternity and then suddenly.... whoosh.... the pain is gone.

I hope you get that feeling, and fast!

David

Sorry to hear the pain you are going throuh and like may other I know what it is like. I have had my CH for a year now as per my posting earler this week. I also have had hell for a long time and a year with no rest bite is hard. My doctor has been trying differnt medicacan and I do find the oxygen works but we have been trying Carbamazepine (tegretol) and I am finding good success with this, it does not take away the shaddow headackes but I have found a good reduction in the number of attacks. I am on 600mg a day it does have a side effect of tirdness but any reduction of attacks is of course like christmass and my birthday all rolled into one! Hope this may help