Sorry to be the bearer of this news, but unfortunately the O2 concentrator machines aren't known to work so hot for CH.

I'm just repeating what I've read here, but I believe those only give up something like 70% O2, whereas you need 100%.

There was one person I remember once though that said the concentrator worked to an extent for him/her, so I suppose if you have one lying around it might not hurt to try (?)

If it's getting good and cold there at night yet, I bet you might get better results by going outside and deep breathing (through the nose) really cold air for 10-15 minutes. Really. It has been known to work to an extent for some, including myself. Running, brisk walking or running in place while you're out there could help it along.

On the other hand you could consider snagging some tank O2 from a  welding supply place right away. Word has it that it's the exact same stuff as the medical O2.

Hi Roughneck.
To abort a CH with o2 you will need 100% o2 with at least a 15 LPM regulator and a non-rebreather mask, but the o2ptimask available from the CH.com store to your left is by far the best mask for this and you must get on it at the very first sign of an on-coming attack. The longer you wait, the longer it takes to kill a hit.
Next thing is a preventative. I take Verapamil at 480mg daily, but this is all done with my neuro's approval.
What is your doc suggesting for you to use to combat the CH's? I see you use Trex but there is other options that work very well for a lot of us here.
I hope you find what we call "your cocktail"

  Barry

Man you are getting hit hard alright. Really sorry to hear that.

For your severe case I'm guessing that BOTH an optimask AND a hi flo regulator that will get up to 25, 40, even 60 LPM could be necessary to get results. You may have to order both the mask and the regulator. I read something here about dive shops having hi flow regulators I think. or was that the mask....? Sorry, not remembering about that for sure, but starting topic(s) about that in the Medications,  Treatments,  Therapies forum oughta get some informed answers.

Yeah I hope you and the neuro can find a good preventative that'll work to quash at least 50% or so of the hits. A lot of people here do seem to get good results with Verapamil. Didn't work for me, but I may have been on too low of a dose.

Meantime while you're using imitrex, that imitrex tip on  the left (Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or ) will enable you to double your doses for the money while halving the risk (if you are using injections).

Some people here (not me) have had success with melatonin knocking out their night time hits (!!), and Kudzu root herb and Taurine have been getting some favorable reviews too.

Hang in there Roughneck, this is obviously some pure unadulterated hell of the worst kind you're going through right now, but there's still a good chance you can tame this beast IMO.

How did you make out with the o2 today?

I have a 25 LPM regulator for each of my "M" and "E" tanks but have not tried the higher flow rate yet nor the new o2ptimask as I am currently out of cycle.

I was finding that 15 LPM was working great, as long as I was awake when the hit was starting, but found the one's that hit during my sleep were taking way too long for the o2 to abort the hit. I am praying the higher flow rate and mask works for those night time hits.

25 LPM regulators are very hard to get a script for for CH's here in Canada. My neuro and I are working on things and I am teaching him about the o2, and he is listening.

I could have purchased an even higher flow reg elsewhere but I want to do this under the watch and consent of my neuro.

PF wishes,  Barry
             

Billy,

Don't get hung up on flow rate in terms of liter per minute. Just S L O W L Y open the valve to a rate that which you can keep up with while really breathing fast and hard - anything more is just wasted.

Again, the trick is to try and hyper ventilate on pure O2 with no room air. Chances are that the mask you got isn't going to cut it, so just do what you can to keep all room air out.

Be SURE that you are using the big green O2 tank and NOT the smaller acetylene tank! You will know because acetylene stinks.

Marc

Edit to add: O2 is odorless. If you detect any level of rotten egg type smell, don't use it because that means his valve setup allowed some acetylene to backflow into the O2 tank.

This is something that they check for when the O2 company fills a tank so you don't have to worry about it with a newly refilled tank.  Since that rig has been sitting around for awhile, just use your nose.

Good move, Billy. Many of us have gotten by well by rigging something up for awhile.

There are two sizes at 5' tall: T and K sizes. The T is the larger of the two at about 9"+ in diameter.

1,000 psi is just under half full. If it's a T, I get about 40 uses out of a full tank, so figure less than 20. This assumes that you use it hard and fast. If you find that a lower flow works, you can get more "hits" from it.

If it's a K size tank, I'm guessing it would be 20% less.

Here in Texas, I pay $18.50 per refill of a T tank.

Marc

You'll notice with the optimask shown in the oxygen info on the left that there is a reservoir bag attached to it.

How empty/full the bag is getting when breathing the O2 is how I know whether I should turn the O2 liter flow up or down. I'm no expert on O2 use though mind you.

You might want to tape over any holes in your mask and have it on your face for inhale/ off for exhale so you're getting 100% O2 on inhale.

If it feels like it's a struggle to inhale the O2 with the mask holes taped over, I'd say the liter flow is too low, so you'd want to turn the liter flow up slowly until you can inhale without struggle, and there's your sweet spot. 

Yes, from what I've seen, the hyperventilation that Barry mentions does seem to be a popular way to go amongst the serious O2 power users around here.

No outside air, 100% o2. Good luck.

Thats normal.  You have to keep using the oxygen for a little while after it is gone or it will come back.  Or sometimes they will just come back on their own.  Keep hittin the 02

Sheepdog

Jrcox wrote on Nov 18^th, 2009 at 11:31pm:


But, but..how's he gonna get all our handy tips?? 

Im probably not the only one that wishes i could be sleeping right now.
    I know if i fall asleep now, after the last few nights hell
I know whats going to happen at 3am and again at 6 am.

   This site has helped me a great deal!
I would drive my son to school if my CH was at a lower lvl.
I just close one eye and go for it.
My wife took care of the situation.
   
I could stay up for years with no sleep and just carry around oxygen.....

  haha