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WOW!...what spiny says!...feels like we been peeking at each others homework! ...the only thing I would add to try is a technique a respiratory therapist (thanks Judy-Bob) once advised that has served me well....called pursed lip breathing...you make your lips real small and forcibly "puff" out air causing back pressure...opens airways, improves oxygenation and CO2 expulsion....google it for a better explanation .... OXYGEN ROCKS!!!!

Hello. I'm in the middle of a crisis that usually lasts four weeks and happens roughly every year, with up to three very strong headaches per day. What is different about this time is that almost every night, the pain starts while I'm sleeping, which doesn't allow me to do something before it gets so intense that it can't be stopped. However, I wanted to share with you that I started using the nasal zolmitriptan medication (which in Colombia -S.A.- is called Zolnox) not only as an abortive method but also as a preventive method, before I go to sleep and right after I wake up. I've been doing this for the last four days and I've been pain free.

@kat_92 - it's the normal immediate release I'm on - 4x40mg tablets in the morning, 3x at 1pm, 3x at 6pm and 4x again just before bed so 560 dosage per day. Like I said the night hits still come, but much less painful than without and sorted quickly with oxygen. Over the years I've previously given up on verapamil because it hadn't worked, but I'd never given it the 2 weeks to bed in, and had the right dosage. Fingers crossed it continues to be manageable like this. Good luck!

Many find that looking down toward your feet helps. If you are a 'rocker', this seems to come naturally. I tend to rock and stare at the floor with unfocused eyes. Just me perhaps. When you first begin, exhale with force - add a crunch at the end. This gets repeated for several breaths. Push out the CO2 and suck in the O2 deep. Hold a few seconds and repeat. Fast, shallow breathing is usually not the fastest or best way to abort. You want that CO2 gone ASAP. How fast you go just depends on you and how your head responds. I will start out fast and hard, then let up till I hit a sweet spot - one where I notice a significant reduction in pain. I will repeat that pattern for that hit. For me, it varies as to the time to find the 'spot' that is going to work with each hit. In short order, you will know what works for you. I use the tube as I cannot stand the mask on my face. If I see that the bag is filling too fast, I turn down the flow. I may go up or down a few times in a hit. Pain worsens, dial it back up and get to work. Pain lessens, begin to relax and go with the flow. I vary the flow from 25lpm to 5lpm. My post is at a rate that matches my relaxed breathing post hit. Often, if I am tired, it will be at 5LPM or lower. CHF will likely be along to direct you to a paper on how to use your O2. I haven't time atm to find it. But, the above will get you going. To conserve, adjust the flow on your regulator to match your breathing. That is all. To make you visit as short as possible, do the forceful exhale and deep inhale. If the bag is filling too fast, turn the dial down till you catch up. The focused technique is important to me. I usually get a good abort in about 5 minutes and then 5 minutes post. For a really bad one or one where I had to wait to hit the O2. that time can be doubled. If you can, grab some caffeine on your way and chug it. It often helps speed the abort. Not sure if you use can caffeine or not, but if you can, it helps. Which conserves your O2.