Can you just call a home healthcare company and buy a high pressure oxygen regulator from them or do they get all into your business etc.  I want to get one fast for my husband (of course we have script for oxygen but insurance company is requesting info from doc) so don't know when tank will be delivered...hopefully in a day or so.  I assume it will be an E tank or similar...Should I wait to buy the regulator until I know for sure the tank size??  I just want to do the seeds and have oxygen for the hits so he can detox...what a CRUEL game to play but if it works, it's well worth it.  Seeds and Optimask are on their way...just need a regulator!!

Thanks for all the help!
Desiree

Hi Desiree,

Do you have an Oxygen supplier picked out? 

If so, you should be able to find out from them what tank type (or types) they will be providing and what regulator flow rate(s) they have on hand while you wait for the insurance company to get their act together.  That will tell you what, if anything you'll need to provide. 

I have a farm of e-tanks (7) and a larger m-tank.  The regulators for each tank type are different.

Though with Insurance and a proper perscription (12lpm via NRB as required for treatment of accute cluster headache) you shouldn't have to provide anything.  A script for 12lpm you autmatically get you a 15lpm regulator. They don't make 12s

If you don't have a supplier lined up yet, call the insurance company to find out what suppliers they will work with in your area.  They you'll know who to call.

On the Dr front, I'd imagine this should be something that your Dr can take care of TOMORROW!!!  Don't let this sit.  Though it really sounds like you are all over things.

Lastly, thank you for taking such good care of my cluster-brother   You supporters are the rock we cling to in the storm.

-Dennis-

Two I've purchased regulators from,

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Jrcox wrote on Dec 1^st, 2009 at 9:01am:


Getting a Doc to up the specified flow rate is the right thing to do.

An E tank will run about and hour and half at 7 lpm. or 45 minutes at 15 lpm. How would they know that you aren't just using it a bit longer each time and using it more often?

If all else fails, paying for O2 out of pocket isn't terribly expensive if you negotiate with the supplier. If they won't work with you, find another supplier.

My insurance company only covers O2 after a huge deductible and I didn't have a job, so even the $14.50 per E tank was tough for me. That's why I went with welding O2 quite awhile ago. Now, it costs me just under 50 cents to abort a CH.

I have discovered that I actually use less total O2 at very high flow rates because it kills the attack so darn fast. Seems counter intuitive, but it really is true for me.

Remember that some folks have perfect success at 7-12 lpm.

But, if O2 therapy doesn't work at low flow rates, people shouldn't give up before trying it at hyper-ventilation rates - which generally requires 25-45 lpm for just a very few minutes.

I can say in all seriousness that it changed my life. No more high level pain as long as I have a tank handy.

Marc