Read the o2 link on the left of the page. You will be glad you did!

All the Best

Hey OnlyMe and Welcome back to Clusterville

  It really is frustrating how often we hear folks that suffer this beast being denied one of the most effective abortives because, "your insurance doesn't cover 02" . . . while it might cover the MUCH more expensive (but limited scripts) Imitrex.

  02 is cheap, cheap, cheap, even if you have to pay cash, especially considering how well it works for most of us.  Call all the med supply companies in your area and ask how much their CASH price is per "E" tank.  Then get back with your doc and have him write the script.

  Sometime back, there was a survey about 02 costs . . . and they can vary considerably.  I am very fortunate in that my supplier charges me $10 per tank, no deposit, no monthly fee, no limit on tanks (I keep 15) . . . that's for "E" tanks or the little "B" tanks (have one of those). 

  For home use, see if they carry the larger tanks (shown in the 02 link), or you can acquire the large welding tanks and the price drops WAY down per litre.

  I don't know if any of the insurance companies have a "medical necessity" form which has to be filled out by your doc . . . I believe medicare does.  I am on medicare and have considered going this route, but in that survey I mentioned above, someone who was able to get Medicare to pay  . . . the supplier was charging $42 per tank . . . which I consider a rape of "the system". 

  In reference to the above, I am on a list of Medicare patients that is surveyed on a regular basis (a rep comes to my home at least once every six months) with a long list of questions regarding service, availability of service, prescription benefits, etc., yes or no answers or multiple choice (none of the time, some of the time, most of the time, all of the time) . . . takes about an hour, sometimes more, and at the end there is always a space for "other comments you would like to make regarding your medicare coverage"  My answer EVERYTIME is "Why doesn't Medicare cover 02 for clusterheadaches?"   Don't know if anyone really looks at these comments, but maybe, just maybe if Medicare started covering it, then the other insurance companies might follow and the docs might become more aware of it's effectiveness. . . we can hope.

  Been doing this survey about 2 1/2 years now . . . might continue til my demise . . . don't know, but I'll keep hammering at'em.

   Be Safe,

     PFDANs


       Richard

I did read the link to the left, which helped tremendously.  I have to admit, even being a RN, I don't know how much things cost.  I pull pills and give them to my pt without a second thought of cost.  I throw on the O2 without thinking about it.  So I have no idea what the cost is for an oxygen tank, and neither does my doctors office.  I asked, surely it's not that expensive (and from what I've heard it's not), I'll just pay for it out of pocket.  They were insistent on contacting the insurance, and here we are two days later, one CH later, with no response.

I did call the office today.  Yesterday after attempting to take a nap up and being woke up, an hour later, with the demon, I took the Relpax.  My CH was gone in 30 minutes and I had a moderate amount of nausea.  Well, typically my CH last 30-60 minutes, so did it work?  I don't know.  I don't think so.  I'll take the nausea over a CH any day of the week, but ideally I want something to work in 10-15 minutes.

We'll see if they call back today.  This is a new MD for me, and I may have to switch.  Other issues also.  This MD tends to blame everything on smoking and caffeine (bad for you I know, but seriously, somethings are more in depth than just a caffeine addiction)

Since I work nights 7p-7:30a, I will cut down on my caffeine intake (eventually )but I just don't see going caffeine free.

Well, I called the doctor.  Getting another med, this time will have to fill a script because there are no samples.  The name escapes me though.  Starts with an "M" (not familiar with all these headache meds). 

Calling next week for a new MD.

Yes, it's Maxalt.  From what I read it will get rid of a ch in 15-30 minutes in those people it works for.  I'm going to give it a shot. 

And I'm still determined to get some oxygen eventually.  I'd prefer my insurance company to chip in, but if I have to pay out of pocket, then so be it.  From what I read out of pocket is cheaper than my co-pay for these other meds ($30 for 9 Maxalt).

Thanks for the warning on Imitrex.  I didn't know that and haven't had my cholesterol checked properly...ever.  (I've done the finger stick test).  I'm young-30- but being overweight, asmoker, with a family history of heart disease, that does concern me. 

Sigh...just need to get ahold of some oxygen.  If I could get myself to work during a ch I could have as much as I wanted for free, but seriously don't think I can suffer the 10 minute drive.