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oxygen treatment for migraines and cluster headaches

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Migraine Headache
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Posted 10/16/2006 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
just wondering if anyone has had success with this treatment.

or if anyone even knows about.

please let me know   thxs    peace

Posted 10/16/2006 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I have oxygen for my migraines and have had some success with it, I know it does not work for everyone. I have only just recently been prescribed this as at the moment I am unable to have the Imitrex injections. I do not have clusterheadache but am being assessed by a headache specialist to see exactly what I have got!

take care

Ann
Posted 10/21/2006 12:29 AM (GMT 0)

My Neuro. says that Oxygen is great for clusster headaches and that he would prescrible it in a second if I had clussters. I have migrianes, and he says that 02 doesn't help too much with migraine h/a's. He says that studies show breathing in Carbon Dioxide is shown in studies to relieve migraines, but that it is just too dangerous if not monitored really closely.

Hope you find what works for you.

Posted 10/21/2006 6:38 AM (GMT 0)
The Hospital in London that I am under at the moment is now in the process of trialling Oxygen for migraine. I have not come across Carbon Dioxide being helpful, but that doesn't mean to say that it is not.

The reason Oxygen works for Clusterheadache is that it constricts the blood vessels in the head only, and not the whole body as Imitrex does. With Clusterheadache sufferers the blood vessels in the head swell up to 20 times their normal size, with Migraine the bloodvessels swell up to 2 or 3 times their normal size.

I have got this information from the Neuro I am under who is a world leader in research into Clusterheadache and Migraine.

Whatever my headache turns out to be is almost irrelevent here, I just know O2 works for me! But it must be high flow and with a non-rebreather mask, otherwise it doesn't work!

Hope you all find this helpful, please ask if you want any more information.

take care

Ann
Posted 10/25/2006 2:38 PM (GMT 0)

Dear Annuk,

cant thank you enuff for the information on clusterheadaches.

first i hear of what actually happens during an attack.so many questions so little time eh.

stopped taking veramapil a few days ago now, got weird numbness feeling in my cheek the size of a dime. ever hear of this?

thanx

 

Posted 5/18/2008 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
I have been using oxygen for headaches for about 3 years now. If they are just severe sinus or tension headaches it does not work at all. But for migraines (or possibly cluster) headaches it is amazing and will allow me to function at home. I find that when my headache is accompanied by nausea and pain medications don't touch it, then the oxygen usually works.
Posted 5/18/2008 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Humblingpains,

Sorry I have not replied before now. Please feel free to email me if you would like some more info on Cluster Headache. The numbness you are reporting in your cheek needs to be reported to your Neuro. Are you Chronic or Episodic?

Why have you stopped the verapamil, was because of side effects or did it not work for you?

take care

Ann
Posted 5/27/2008 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I was wondering how you all were able to get the oxygen prescribed for that use. I need some and would like to know what doctor I mention this to. Thanks and have a great day. tongue
Posted 1/30/2009 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
I have been using oxygen for about 2 years for my cluster headaches. I'm extremely happy that it does work for me. The pain from a cluster headache is so bad I lack words to describe it. I suffered from monthly migraines for about 20 years. They stopped when I went through menopause. Cruelly, I then started getting cluster headaches. As my cluster headaches always come on after I fall asleep, getting oxygen into my bloodstream is the fastest way to relief. I usually get relief within 10 minutes. Unfortunately, the intense pain sometimes comes back several times in the same evening, which interrupts my sleep. But at least now I'm not afraid to go to sleep during the episodes.
Posted 3/20/2010 9:17 AM (GMT 0)
I was prescribed oxygen for altitude difficulties. I discovered almost by mistake that it works incredibly well for migraines also.
I don't think it prevents them, but if I get one and I get on the oxygen quickly, I am able to function almost normally as soon as the visual aura goes away. In fact, I think it lessens the intensity and length of the aura also.
Here's my theory: When a migraine begins, there is a constriction of blood vessels on one side of the head. This causes a lessening of blood flow (oxygen) to the brain. The blood vessels on the other side then dilate to keep blood flowing to the brain. This dilation causes pain. If I catch the migraine right away and self-administer oxygen, the need for the blood vessels to dilate is reduced, and there is less pain or other effects such as nausea.
Posted 3/20/2010 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
Aura is my problem as well and I have to say the last post re: aural migraine requiring immediate oxygen (when the aura appears) is spot on. I've found that very deep breathing (as soon as aura strikes) helps lessen the severity and length of the event and following symptoms.

Nice to see I'm not alone.
Posted 3/23/2010 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
I am just new to this site. I live near Toronto, Ontario and I have suffered from cluster migraines since 1983. How do I go about getting oxygen? It may say somewhere below but if someone could tell me I would appreciate it. Many thanks
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