Guiseppi wrote on Jul 30^th, 2010 at 10:51am:



Honestly, i will print this out and show him.  I know he means me NO harm, and he does NOT want to see me suffer, however I think that there is an elevated concern to do the right thing and take every precaution because I am family..... Thank You Joe.....

POPO8 wrote on Jul 30^th, 2010 at 11:58pm:


I gotta agree.  Do the tests.  Have the MRI.  But in the meantime, I should hope that you could get treatment for the pain as best you can!  Even better if that treatment were non-toxic, non-addicting, comparatively inexpensive... oh wait!  It is!!!  o2o2o2o2!

sorry, I just really dislike hearing you suffer when something so simple could help...   

Lettucehead wrote on Jul 31^st, 2010 at 1:32am:



I dislike it also man....lol.   Well hopefully when the blood work comes back I will meet with my uncle and I will take MORE stuff to show him and more knowledge to share, and MAYBE.... just MAYBE i can convince him...


On a brighter note.... I made it the last two nights sleeping straight thru without a Headache.... however tonight I was drinking at a wedding reception.... lets see how this goes.... i will be sleeping on the couch, so I dont disrupt her when IT attacks.... Im bracing for it....

Just wanted to keep everyone updated..... NOTHING yet.  lol


Fortunatley Ive slept three nites without the beast.

Three nights sleep ahhhh  That is fantastic news.  Glad to hear it 

Saw my uncle/doc today, when i stopped by to take my cousin out driving (just got his permit....)  and got the short version re my bloodwork.... everything looks good, cholesterol is a lil high (runs in my fam, no suprise)..... tick tock.... tick tock..... tick tock..... waiting for MRI apt now......

1haunted1   ,-( wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2010 at 12:29pm:



Well thank you... I do try to be as stand up as I possibly can.  Im the guy that would rather have people hate me for being who I am than love me for being fake.....

I logged on today with the intentions of reviewing my post to look over my time line, so its ironic that you suggest I review my thread... because that is what I will do soon as I finish typing this.

Your right it is frustrationg, and I think it has realy helped my patience with the situation because I have been on a short streak of NO attacks, which makes it realy easy to lapse into the IM BETTER mentality. I push to remember the fear I hold of the next attact to keep me motivated.

I spent 1 hr on the phone today with the Dr Office and Med insurance because of complications that were making it dificult to set up the MRI that I know will not tell me anything......

Either way newest update, Im on 5 or 6 days of No headaches.  I will meet with Uncle/Dr next week for a follow up (my work schedule sucks) and  my MRI is still THREE WEEKS IN THE FUTURe.... ugh......

1haunted1   ,-( wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2010 at 1:26pm:



Well I do not have any children, and maybe someday I will.  I will def do my best to break the cycle of ignorance to this condition......  Thank You


BTW, same day update....   I figured with the fact that I made it the last 5 days clean from headaches, I would enjoy my only day off this week with two drinks......  BACKFIRE!!!!!  4 hour attack!!!!!   PREDNISONE...nothing.    REDBULL....nothing  ICE....nothing.   HEAT PADS....nothing!!!!!  I just dealt with it for nearly 4 hours till it was totally gone.......

Kate in Oz wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2010 at 9:37pm:



However with 5 days off without headaches, wouldnt you believe you were off cycle?

POPO8 wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2010 at 9:27pm:
At this point you need to take matters into your own hands.  Go for the welders oxygen.  That cluster could have been beaten with O2 if used correctly.  You can take the other stuff and just throw it out the window when you're into a dandy attack.  The energy drinks help after O2 for me for whatever shadows are lingering and I use ice while sucking on the tank if it's that severe.  If your uncle can't see that his own family member is in pain, I feel very little for him and it's time to move on...but that choice is yours.  Is he afraid to prescribe O2?  Has he ever prescribed it before?  Does he have any neurology background? 

You can get your own mask here at the CH.com store, a regulator online or Ebay and a tank at your local welding supplier.  Have any buddies who weld?  If you can get your own O2 w/o a script, you'd be saving yourself a ton of pain and you can prove to your uncle that it indeed works.  Did you present to him the "oxygen info" from this site, make him watch any Youtube videos of fellow clusterheads using O2 to abort.  If he can't figure it out by then, maybe he is one of those ego doctors who are ignorant to their patients.  Sorry to rant, but I hate to see you suffer in pain.  Like others said, keep the alcohol aside till you're in remission.

Peace,
Chad

POPO8 wrote on Aug 4^th, 2010 at 7:41pm:


There are more precise answers, but welding with oxygen needs to be pure, so it is.   Importantly though, it works. 

Several "E" size tanks might be car-carrying convenient, about 29" tall with a 4" diameter.  I haven't worked with the regulator connection, but a some have here.  You can get a mask by Sep., too.

It matters not if you're out of cycle by then, looking into attaining oxygen now will prepare you for a better experience during an episode, which can frequent unpredictably at an always inconvenient time.

and because...

POPO8 wrote on Jul 27^th, 2010 at 9:21pm:


could still be resistance getting it prescribed.



Quote:


It ain't that far away.   

Thank You guys... its funny you quoted the WELDING comment, because I stare at the tank everytime Im in the shop like its some powerful source right in front of me.... lol


Well a bit of good new, i swung by the docs/uncs today after I got done work at 7am.....  I think he is realizing that this is serious, because my first comment to him was,

"we need to talk, you know I dont like going to doctors or hospitals for....."  he interupted me and said "unless your dying..."  It actually made me feel just the slightest bit of releif and weakness almost, that I felt I may have made some headway...

I took a packet of almost 30 pages of information that I had printed out... he seemed genuinly interested in reading it and understanding it.... I told him I NEED THE 02... I will continue with the program and battery of tests, but I need to try the 02.... his next comment to me was.... let me send you to a neurologist.....

he handed me two names on pieces of paper... local neurologists here in READING that are good friends with him... he said, call their office today and find out if they take your insurance... if they do, I will get you in there within a day or two....

I know its not the o2, and its not the answer, but damn it if I dont feel just a whole lot of pressure removed because I feel someone listening.. (not that all of you are not listening to me here.... and I appreciate it, TY!!!!)... but my doc is listening......

I will keep you all posted.... im exhausted now and I need to go to bed... been up for 23 hours......  My g/f is going to make the calls for me today (I didnt want anyone to think I was procrastinating)


Oh and btw b4 I left the office, he took my BP... It was high... like 150/100  but Im thinking the stress the exhaustion and all the damn prednisone i have been taking may have something to do with it.... he gave me some BP meds to help out (not sure if that helps at all)  but Im down for anything......

Updates comming soon.  thanks for following...

POPO8 wrote on Aug 5^th, 2010 at 10:42pm:


My first neurologist referral by my doc got me diagnosed, but he wasn't too familiar working with clusters, they're not uniformly knowledgeable or experienced with clusters.  Not all visits are the most helpful.  Maybe inquire if they have treated cluster patients or if they can possibly recommend who is known to draw and work with this type of patient.