sabiga Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 Hi All, I just registered and I am glad to be part of this forum. I am a 13 year sufferer, episodic. This current cluster has been very long: over 5 months. I just stopped taking Verapamil because it was no longer working. I get hit every night once or twice. I am using Imitrex injections at least once every night. I want to start using oxygen again. It worked for me when I was in Italy (I am Italian) but I am having trouble finding the right oxygen supplier in New York. Are there any New Yorkers who would recommend an oxygen supplier that has been helpful for them? Thank you, Sabina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b.g. Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 Hi sabiga, welcome to the site! I'm not in New York, but the company I use for o2 is nationwide. I love Apria Healthcare (some others on here have had problems with them though as far as billing and prices if you don't have insurance). Anyways, their website is located here: http://www.apria.com/wps/portal/apria/home According to their store locator (in the upper right corner of their home page) they have 18 facilities throughout the state of New York. Just find the one closest to you and give them a call. They also deliver, so you don't have to mess with running to refill tanks on your own. I hope that helps a little. Best regards and pain free wishes, steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabiga Posted April 4, 2013 Author Share Posted April 4, 2013 Thank you so much, Steve. I found one facility that is 5 miles away from where I live! I'll call tomorrow. Sabina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHfather Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 Sabina, welcome. Do you have a prescription for oxygen from a doctor? I don't think you can get medical oxygen without it. (If you do have a prescription, usually your doctor will have a provider that he or she prefers to work with.) I guess I could be wrong about both of those statements . . . just my experience. Have you tried energy drinks such as Monster, RedBull, or 5-Hour Energy to abort your attacks? They work quite well for a lot of people, taken as soon as possible when you feel an attack coming on. If they don't abort them, they usually at least reduce the severity. Strong coffee works well for some people, too. Also, this conversation just appeared on another thread here, and since it's still quite chilly in many parts of New York right now, it might help you in the short run: >>>I've aborted attacks with those COLD night air walks and have kept the boots on in order to be able to bolt out the door immediately too, so I know it can be done on occasion. For me, it can work during a ramp up phase of a cycle, before the intensity goes through the roof. I've also successfully deployed the summertime version of this where the nose goes right up to the blasting car air conditioner vent for some deep breathing of the freezing air. <<< This, and a longer note in the post before it about cold nighttime walks, appears here: http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1363717423/38#38 There are quite a few other things that people here do that help with their CH (not for everyone, but for some or many). Melatonin taken at night helps some (maybe starting with 6-9 mg.) The "vitamin D3" regimen has been helpful for many as a longer-term preventive. You can read about it here: http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1314134804 And many people here use "busting" to treat their CH. You can read an introduction to busting here: http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1290127865 The good people here will help you, whatever questions you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bejeeber Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 Hi Sabiga, glad to see you're getting excellent info and advice in the replies here. I am using Imitrex injections at least once every night. As those who've seen my posts have come to expect I would like to point you at some info that details how to inject partial doses, which actually work as well as full doses but help con$erve supply, lessen side effect risk, etc. : http://www.clusterheadaches.com/imitrex.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabiga Posted April 5, 2013 Author Share Posted April 5, 2013 Thank you, all. I use energy drinks and COLD (walks, ice cubes in my mouth, drinking cold water, ice packs on my neck). At some point, they stop working. That's when I need the Imitex. I am glad to share though, that in the past 2 nights, just cold water and ice packs have aborted my cluster! I have not tried busting...I am curious. As far as the Imitrex is concerned, an Italian fellow sufferer has actually made a video of how to split the Imitrex doses, from 1 injection of 6 mg to 2 of 3mg each. It's on youtube. I have seen the video but have not tried yet. You are giving me a good reminder. Thank you for all your support. Sabina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabiga Posted April 5, 2013 Author Share Posted April 5, 2013 I forgot to mention that I take both Magnesium 500mg and Melatonin 6mg. My neurologist will give me a prescription next week. He knew an oxygen supplier, but he did not have the right regulator, and it also turned out that he was not carrying tanks anymore... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabiga Posted April 5, 2013 Author Share Posted April 5, 2013 Thank you, all. I use energy drinks and COLD (walks, ice cubes in my mouth, drinking cold water, ice packs on my neck). At some point, they stop working. That's when I need the Imitex. I am glad to share though, that in the past 2 nights, just cold water and ice packs have aborted my cluster! I have not tried busting...I am curious. As far as the Imitrex is concerned, an Italian fellow sufferer has actually made a video of how to split the Imitrex doses, from 1 injection of 6 mg to 2 of 3mg each. It's on youtube. I have seen the video but have not tried yet. You are giving me a good reminder. Thank you for all your support. Sabina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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