Emzie wrote on Sep 5th, 2013 at 6:59pm:I don't have any oxygen. No idea how to get it, probably prescription, I'll ask my doctor when she calls me.
I think it is by prescription in Canada, the same as in the US. It is considered by insurances as home health or durable medical equipment that is delivered to where you live, rather than picking it up at a pharmacy... so the doctor calls or FAXes the prescription to the oxygen provider.
Now a few potential roadblocks...
My present neurologist was clueless about how to write the prescription, so I told him it should say "Oxygen, 12-15 liters per minute used with a non-rebreather mask, as required, for cluster headaches".
This is open ended as it doesn't specify a quantity or number of refills; but my experience is the provider will deliver what is needed for as long as it is needed.
Once you have a prescription, then you have to deal with the sometimes clueless oxygen provider to be sure they deliver what is needed:
Enough oxygen to get you through one attack per day (or how many) for a week, at 15 liters per minute, for 15 minutes per attack. That amounts to 3 "E" tanks for a week if one attack per day. Or more if you need more or they don't want to deliver as often, but Apria is good about delivering what is needed.
You need to check that any oxygen regulators provided actually go up to 15 liters per minute. I have forgotten to check, and ended up calling the provider the next day when I found the regulator only goes up to 4 liters per minute that won't even work with a non-rebreather mask.
If the provider furnishes a mask, it needs to be a non-rebreather type as described in the "Oxygen Info" section of this website, or you will need to buy one. Nasal canullas (looks like two small tubes that go up your nose) don't work at all. A re-breather mask that doesn't have a bag or reservoir for oxygen is also not effective, expecially if it has vent holes on the sides; but is better than nothing (the "Oxygen Info" section of this website also describes how to work around these).
Dealing with the potential pitfalls I described may seem daunting, but when worked out getting oxygen is well worth the effort.
You mentioned getting hit at work too is a problem. I am not sure how to recommmend dealing with that. Me, I am an electronics engineer... I design computers and other electronic equipment. I have attempted to educate my boss and a few co-workers about cluster headaches, and they seem to be OK with it as long as I put in my 8 hours (except I had one boss who called 911 when he found me screaming in pain in an empty office). What do you do for work, so we may have suggestions how to deal with work?