Hi
What is best/idle O2 LPM ?

Also after O2 and headache aborted I feel very week like I have no energy left, why is that ? is it normal ? is there a solution ?

The general belief here is a minimum of 15lpm in a non-rebreather mask while many swear by using it up to 25lpm.

There's buttons to the left of your screen and one of them is for 'Oxygen Info' and this  gives heaps of advice on how to get the best results.

Good luck and let us know how you're getting on with it.

I suffered needlessly for years because I thought that oxygen didn't work for me. Eventually I understood what Potter said in his post, above.

My breathing rate was outrunning my regulator at 25 LPM. I fell prey to advice of "x" number of LPM and thought that I was getting enough - but it wasn't enough for a fast abort. When I got a large 3 liter bag and adjusted my regulator wide open, the bag was not getting even half refilled between breaths.

For some people, the number is 8 LPM, for others it is closer to 40+ lpm. This is why people push demand valves - they can provide enough for any human, without getting wrapped up in the numbers.

Once I learned how to get, and how to breathe very high flow rates - my whole world changed. I cringe thinking of all of the needless agony of being chronic for so many years.

Just don't take another person's advice what flow rate is right for you.

The answer is "As much as you can breathe."

Go to the CH.com store. The Opti-mask there is better than anything other than the demand valve.

And read the Oxygen info on the left. 

Good idea to link that thread! I'm one of the people who needs a much higher than 25 lpm.

THAT is what caused me to suffer needlessly for too many years. People here kept telling me that up to 25 LPM would do it. It didn't, so I gave up on O2 until Linda told me to try it again at a higher flow. OMG - what a difference!

BUT by the same token, I have personally held a Clustermask mask on sufferers face at 25 lpm, and watched the tears flow as the pain mystically drained away.  Anyone who suffers from CH's, will instantly understand the wonderment of the "pain drain."

Some folks need more than  others. That's why I interject my comments when someone suggests the "correct" amount of flow. Your 8 LPM might equal my 40 LPM.

Potter is correct.

Marc

BarbaraD wrote on Aug 1^st, 2015 at 7:28am:


Just to be sure that new folks understand:

Demand valves are great, because you simply breathe in and they supply O2 at whatever rate that your lungs are "demanding."  It doesn't need a reservoir bag, because it responds instantly to your "demand."  If you can afford one, heck yes - get it!

A standard regulator puts out a steady flow of O2 into the reservoir bag - which deflates when you breathe in, and inflates as you exhale. As long as the regulator can keep up with your "demand" (breathing rate) they provide the same basic function of supplying O2 to you to breathe.

I need something around 45 LPM to hyperventilate, and that rocks my world by aborting CH's in 2-3 minutes.

25 LPM is certainly helpful, BUT the delay in aborting the hit, allows the Beast ramp it up to a much higher pain level - because the bag goes flat and I can't fill my lungs - forcing me to breathe slower/more shallowly. I use a welding regulator that cost me $35. and will go to hundreds of lpm if I needed it.

I really only need the super high flow for the first 1-2 minutes - then I can back it down to a slow rate of 15-20 lpm to finish the process for another minute or so.

AGAIN: Some folks are very successful at 6-8 lpm.

I only want to explain that SOME OF US NEED A MUCH HIGHER flow rate in order to stop the "hit" from becoming a big one.

For ME, 40-50 lpm makes CH's a 3 minute interruption in my day, as opposed to the previous years of writhing on the floor for 30-40 minutes, 3-5 times every day. (Chronic)

Bottom line: If you think that O2 doesn't work for you, learn to suck 40-50 lpm before you bail out and suffer needlessly - like I did for so many years.

Now, my world is truly wonderful when, after 14+ years of devastating agony, I learned to kill virtually every attack before it got bad.

What is that worth??!!!

Marc

Thanks for explaining that.. I just know it works -not how.. (I'm really technically challenged). 

Quote:

I can....but as you say.....that's in a intense situation. Early catches......it's all good.

Quote:

Wish I could do more.....life has me beaten down for time so badly at the moment it's hard to even stick my head up and look around right now. Funny how fast things can change on you......never see it coming.