I have been a sufferer of cluster headaches for about 15 yrs now.  I am 32 yrs old and female, not the typical prototype for these but nevertheless have them.  I have tried all types of medications... narcotics, imitrex inj, zomig inh, anything I could get my hands on basically with nothing really touching these headaches.  My bouts usually last around 6 wks with a good 2 yr remission period.  When my cycle starts, I am a guaranteed "throwing up-pacing around-begging for the ER" kind of headache every night, with 1 or 2 spread out during the day.  I cant work out, I cant have even a glass of wine when they start.  I have been to numerous Dr's and neurologists and even "headache" specialists.  No one has ever set me up with oxygen or even gave me the option of using it.  Until this year.  I am so excited because I am telling you, this cut my headaches down by at least half.  I was set up with an O2 concentrator which I have seen on the O2 page they say it doesn't work for us but it did for me.  An o2 concentrator is a machine that takes regular room air and condenses it and puts it out as 96-97% pure oxygen.  I slept with a nasal cannula at 2 liters/min.  The time I always got my worst headaches were about 11 pm.  Going to bed with this O2 took those away.  In addition to the nasal prongs, I was also given a vent mask, to use if I were to get a HA during the day and couldn't abort it.  Used with 10-15 Liters/min, this worked also.  Took away what could've easily been a 3 hr attack in about 20-30 min.  I cannot tell you how estatic I am about my newly found treatment and that it actually works, and its non-narcotic.  I sleep through the night and am able to work and get through my cycle fairly OK.  I wanted everyone to know about this and to tell, not ask your Dr. to set you up with oxygen therapy for your next cycle of headaches.  It really works!

chels wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2009 at 1:22pm:


That old "typical prototype" that still is still bought into by some MDs has actually been revealed as quite the load of bologna for some time now.

Now about your results: How cool is that that you've gotten this relief???!!! CONGRATS!! 

If the effectiveness of your current O2 method does wane at all, happily you've found where to go for info on non-rebreather masks, hi-flow regulators etc.