Questions on O2

[ChrisSelf]

Got my mask in today and regulator set up on welding oxygen.

I understand I'm going to have to do some fiddling to get the right flow rate. Just did my first treatment of O2 (started vitamin d regimen today too).

Treatment went well but here's what I got:

The mask seems to make it more difficult to exhale fully than I would have thought. The breathes out are going the correct direction. Am I doing it incorrectly in leaving the mask on?

also, does the flow need to be so high that it keeps the bag full or should I turn it down from there?

I don't think I stayed on long enough as I already feel the headache bouncing back.

Side note: I've had a blistering rebound headache from sumatriptan 100 mg all day.

[spiny]

Hi Chris,

 

I am only familiar with the CH mask. I use the breathing tube, not the mask. There is no resistance when exhaling, nor should there be. Regular masks from other suppliers are different due to the holes if I remember correctly. As in tape one hole and close the other with your finger. Remove finger to exhale. The CH mask works without this extra step as I re-call.

 

The CH bag should empty or almost empty when you inhale and fill while you hold and then exhale. If it is staying inflated, your flow is too high. Turn it down until it just fills while you exhale. If you are having to wait for it to fill to inhale, turn the flow up a bit. Exhale with force for starters and hyperventilate for the first few minutes until the pain drops. Continue with rapid breathing (ie slow down a bit) until the pain is gone. Then set your flow to provide enough for normal breathing. Breath normally for the next 5 or so minutes - post hit keep doing it time. I find this to be the boring part now and cruise the PC for that five minutes or so. The post hit part is very important. Without it, your hit will likely return in a few minutes. I have read where people say it did not work because they got hit again an hour or two later. Point is that it will not stop your normally scheduled next hit most of the time. It gives you PF time until your next normal hit time which beats the heck out of very little  PF time. Pre-O2 I got 4, 2.25 hour long hits per night. That meant 15 minutes PF between hits. After I started O2 I killed the hit in 15 minutes or so, then back to bed about 15 minutes later to get 2 hours PF. Beat the hell out of what I had going on before.

 

You will get the hang of it right quick!   How much the suma was a problem I do not know. Fortunately I have avoided the triptans.

 

ATB!!!

[CHfather]

This video demonstrates a good breathing strategy for the mask, starting at about 8:00.  After showing it with the mask, he also demonstrates with just the mouthpiece.  I would only observe, particularly regarding the mouthpiece, that it's okay to remove the mouthpiece when you breathe out, as long as you don't breathe in any room air.  Same is true for the mask, in my opinion. 

 

Here's another one, using just the mouthpiece.  The breathing instruction begins at about 5:30. 

 

A well-known CH doctor recommends looking toward your feet as you use the O2.  Some people find that that seems to help.  Like spiny says, stay on the O2 for another 5 minutes or so after you've aborted the attack.

[spiny]

As a 'sit on the floor rocker' I can attest to the look at the floor bit. When caught out and not able to do it that way, the hits take longer to abort.

 

Thanks again for putting up the videos CHF.