Success with different breathing techniques

[kat_92]

Wishing everyone a nice weekend so far. I had my first attempt at using the oxygen tank. The delivery guy provided me with their own regulator while I wait for mine in the mail. The one they provided only goes up to 8. As assumed the bag was not filling back quickly enough. I purchased the one from wtfarley that is 0-25. What has everyone found to be the best breathing technique that works for them? Thank you! 

Kat 

[CHfather]

Be sure the open holes in the front of your mask are covered when you inhale.  With your thumb or with tape.  Be sure you have a firm fit to your face. Use your hand to hold it on, not the strap. You don't want any room air getting mixed with the pure O2.

I'm going to venture that the first strategy you should try is inhale the O2 as deep as you can, hold it in for a couple of seconds, and exhale forcefully, almost to the extent that you are doing a crunch with your abdomen to get it all out.  The purpose is to clear regular air out as much as possible and get as much pure O2 as possible into contact with you lungs.  Also, remember that most people get quicker results when they get some caffeine down fast at the beginning of using the O2.  You can start with strong coffee, or you can go straight to something like 5-Hour Energy, which has more caffeine and has other stuff in it that might help.  As far as the breathing strategy you ultimately select, you can go either harder at the beginning (more forceful hyperventilation) or you can try starting out less dramatically.  Once you can tell that the O2 is taking effect, you might dial it all down a bit.  Remember to stay on the O2 for 5-10 minutes after your attack is aborted. Doing that seems to help hold off future attacks. 

[kat_92]

@CHfather thanks so much for the info! @Brain on fire yes definitely some experimenting is in order. I’ll try the above technique next time I use the tank. 

[Trent]

I have been successful at 6 L/min and 8 L/min by breathing out everything "crunch method" and then big inhale, hold O2 till 6 sec before bag is filled, then big exhale … repeat.    For me a big inhale 3L bag, holding it for 10sec, exhale all takes 6-8 sec and then repeat ends up being 8-9L/min.     

[kat_92]

@Trent what is your usual abort time with this method? I know every attack is different but I am just curious. Also are you on any other preventatives that may affect your attack strength and duration? Like the vitamin d3 regimen, MM or having energy drinks prior to O2? 

Kat

[kat_92]

@Brain on fire I will be ordering that in the next few days. I find the non rebreather mask I was provided with super awkward to hold on my face 

[mit12]

I start out at 15ml/s and huff fast and hard for a few minutes than turn down to 8ml/s and take a deep breath and hold it until the bag fills and breath out and take another deep breath until I get relief. 

[CHfather]

15 hours ago, kat_92 said:

I find the non rebreather mask I was provided with super awkward to hold on my face

If your face is small, you might require a pediatric size mask.  Or it's possible that it's the other way around, and you received pediatric masks instead of adult ones.  The ClusterO2 Kit that you will be ordering can be used as a breathing tube with no mask.  Preferences about mask/tube vary. 

[Trent]

Kat,  

My abort times at 8L/min are usually 10-15min, if I catch the CH during the first five minutes.   I'm somewhat "lucky"  if there is such a thing with these CH's, in that I can tell a few minutes before I get an attack.   I do usually drink a 5-hour energy shot at first sign of impending attack, I also follow the D3 regime while during a cycle but often fall off wagon in between cycles.   If I got woken up last night at 1am, no energy drink (nighttime) already at kip 6-7, I put it on 12 l/min and solved in 10 min, turned down to 8 l/min for another 5-6 min to ensure abort.   I do bust w/mm every 5 days and have had some success with that.  A few aborted cycles over the years, and if not aborted, I find that it reduces quantity and severity of attacks.

[kat_92]

@Trent are you chronic or episodic? I’m still learning how to use the o2 this is my first real cycle 

[Trent]

Episodic, usually a cycle in Fall, although I got an extra one last year in Spring.   Typically 4-6 weeks.   I started getting them when I was 27, not diagnosed until I was 36.   I did buy the cluster mask from Clusterheadaches.com and found it to work well.   I prefer the mouth piece to the mask.    I'm currently running a "welding O2" setup as I haven't been successful in getting Medical O2 setup, even though I got my nero to write a prescription.