Marc

Nicely said. Marc

I cannot speak for others, but no recreational drug use or head injuries for me - but I was 14+ years chronic. I was a late starter, but now I'm PF with only a familiar "warning" now and then. (Actually my wife sees it before I realize it, because of the way I move my head/neck) Marc

Long, long ago and far far away.......I put this together for the old CH.com site - but the info is still valid. http://morrobayphotos.com/ch/4step/ Marc

I do not recall now because it has been so long since I paid my membership dues to OUCH. Was OUCH registered as http://ouch-us.org ? I don't recall the "US" part. (Yes, I know the UK group came along later) Just curious. Marc

Rizatriptan (Maxalt) has been prescribed to abort CH's for at least 15 years that I know of - perhaps longer. It's another Triptan similar to Imitrex, Zomig, Relpax, Frova, Amerge, etc. Some of the various forms of this class of drug work quite well for some CH'ers but not others. My personal experience with it was good, covering a 14 year span. Only if I took it at the very, very first hint of an attack along with caffeine - then hit the O2 tank. Once an attack had progressed - it was too late. Marc

If you are saying that I misinterpreted a dry witty response, I will have to respectfully disagree with your opinion. I do know a little about O2 for CH's and I've found that most people don't - so sometimes you have to explain it. Marc

Yea thanks captain obvious, gee why didnt I think of that? I have two collapsed hip joints and can barely walk... ill just stand by my tank for an hour at a time. thanks for your help! Not sure why my post angered you, but people like you are a good example of why I don't bother posting here. Marc

I agree with your statement 100%. However........the waste comes when one stops to cough....down some water to combat the dry throat or any other such pause and the bag fills to capacity and then vents. For myself I don't cut it back under those circumstances because I will be back to it shortly. Maybe I'm the odd one but during use I tend to worry about getting enough flow and not as much about overflow. So that's why I say slightly....it's not much but it's enough to notice when your anal like I am. ;D I do try to stress that a demand valve is the high end option. A welding reg or a 40lpm med unit will abort just as well and at a lower equipment cost. I have tanks set up in my home office, my bedroom and my truck....only one is a demand valve. I sure won't run past the other two to get to it...that should tell ya something. I stand corrected, Sir. I can suck in almost 3 liters in a breath, so I use a larger bag that floats around 1/2 full while in use, so it doesn't overflow when I need a swig of ice water. If I'm backing away for longer, I just close the main valve - leaving the regulator where it always sits. Marc

Not to challenge my respected colleague and friend: I must disagree with the standard position that "it just uses slightly more O2."Â That has been repeated so often that everyone accepts it. I have been making this simple statement for over 9 years and have never had anyone show me where I was wrong: If a user like me simply adjusts the regulator so that the bag never overflows, the O2Â consumption is identical to a demand valve. Yes, a demand valve eliminates the need to think about it. But, after more than 14 years of being chronic, when sucking O2 - there isn't much else on your mind - you DO focus on breathing O2. High flow O2 at 35-45 LPM saved my life, using a welding O2 and a standard CGA-540 welding regulator........ Marc

With 14 years of being chronic behind me, the suicide part I can understand. Not the murder part, sorry - that's just plain evil. Marc

Important points to remember..... Marc

You are correct, Sir. Loss of fine motor control should always be taken seriously when it's not a typical symptom. Vickle, be sure to speak with your Neurologist about losing control of your thumbs!

And........ if you have any hypertensive tendencies, it can drive your BP right up to a danger point.

Heading to the ER is generally the last thing you want to do for a CH. But, if you feel that you will end up there: - Get a copy of your diagnosis and treatment plan from your MD. - Take it to the ER BEFORE you need to go, and have them create a file for you. - Have them note the presentation symptoms that you will exhibit upon arrival in order to cut their diagnosis time! - THIS is a great time to be suer that they understand that your CH's are not simply drug seeking behavior. I repeat, ER visits for CH's are almost counter productive compared to what you can for yourself in the same amount of time. Marc

For a low budget, reliable solution, the welding O2 regulator is hard to beat. Yes, it fits on all welding tanks and all large medical O2 tanks with a standard CGA-540 fitting. You can also get an adapter to use your welding regulator on a little medical "E" tank with the CGA-870 "yolk" fitting. A welding regulator can easily outrun the maximum breathing rate of several people at the same time. I found that I need 45-60 lpm for the first 30-90 seconds in order to get the shortest possible abort time. Once I understood how to breath that fast and deep, I cut my abort times in half and never had a real headbanger again. THAT is worth gold to me. Some folks claim that a demand valve uses less oxygen than a conventional regulator. This is not true. If you adjust the regulator output so that you have the O2 you need when you breath in, and the bag doesn't over inflate when you exhale, there is no waste. You can't save anything if it isn't being wasted. I'm not against demand valves. They are indeed convenient - just expensive for some of us. Just my 2 cents in our world where pennies are worthless. Marc

I would add that standardized DSS port output is 50 psi. Marc

That's why I tried to write that piece clearly - it was confusing to me the first time also. I did those years ago - probably time to update....... Edit to add: FWIW, standard medical O2 tubing with the thick ends on it, will stretch and stay tight in the regular threaded fitting - without a barb. I just soaked mine in hot water to soften it up, and "threaded" it onto the fitting. It takes some work, but it will go on there - and stays put unless you really yank on it. Marc

Interesting info.........