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Migraine Headache
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Posted 9/17/2006 2:07 PM (GMT -7)
Hello.

So I have a question that I forgot to ask my doctor last week.

I have chronic pain,TMJ, chronic fatigue (some form of narcolespy), terrible neck and back pain, daily headaches that can turn into migraines, etc.....

So I was thinking....Sometimes at the ER, they give me Oxygen while running tests, IV's and such. I love the clean air and sometimes it clears up my headaches.

My question is, do you think my insurance cover a oxygen tank? I would love to use it at night while I sleep. I don 't want one of those CPAP (Spelling?) devices. Just oxygen.

I am thinking it would help me sleep better and help with the headaches and migraines.
Have anyone tried this?

Do you know how I could convince my insurance company to pay for this? As I don't think I could afford to pay for it myself.

Is it possible to buy one?

When my grandfather was dying, he had one and a company delivered the tanks and picked up the empty ones. I also have a very sick friend with Lupus and other problems that actually has a machine. I don't know how the machine works, if it needs to be refilled or what. She wears her oxygen around the house.

Any ideas or advise would be appreciated!

Thanks!!

Jessi

Posted 9/17/2006 2:40 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Jwalter,

I am in the UK so am unable to advise you of how to go about obtaining oxygen. The best suggestion I can offer is to discuss this with your insurance company and talk to your Doctor/Practice Manager.

Because of recent problems that I have had, my Doc told me on Friday he is requesting oxygen for me. I have tried it once and it did help but did not take the attack away completely, I think I needed to stay on it a bit longer! I am talking about fast flow oxygen here not the stuff they would put you on for breathing difficulties. You need a regulator that delivers up to 15 litres per minute. You also need a non-rebreather mask.

My O2 has not arrived yet, will let you know how I get on with it. Please let me know if I can help any further.

take care

Ann
Posted 9/19/2006 8:35 AM (GMT -7)
My neuro doc said that many insurance company's will cover the oxygen if it is prescribed for migraines. You have alraedy tried it for a migraine so that is a step forward. The neuro said they prefer that it is tried in-office first during a migraine. It doesn't work for me unfortunately but I'm glad it helps you and I hope you can get a prescription.
Posted 9/19/2006 9:12 AM (GMT -7)
Usually Oxygen is cheaper than the Imitrex injections so glad to hear that many insurance company's will cover that.

Cheryl, when you tried Oxygen was it a high flow up to 15 litres per minute, and did you use a non-rebreather mask (no holes in)? The O2 will not work unless you breathe in 100% pure O2 at a high flow!!! The O2 that you are put on for breathing difficulties for instance has not got a high enough flow and usually the masks have holes in, so it will not work!

Hope this helps. take care

Ann
Posted 9/19/2006 9:38 AM (GMT -7)
I don't remember Ann, I'll have to ask my doc. Thanks for the tip.
Posted 9/20/2006 6:48 PM (GMT -7)
Thanks for responding. I was thinking it was going to be impossible. I am going to talk to my doctor about it.
Posted 9/21/2006 11:24 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Jwalter,

My oxygen should arrive today, I will keep you posted as to how I get on with it! Please let us know how you get on.

take care

Ann
Posted 9/22/2006 4:52 PM (GMT -7)
Please do. I really want to try it. I am willing try almost anything at this point. I need a decent nights sleep. I did the sleep study a few years ago and there are 4 levels of sleep. I go from 1 to 4 immediately,so I dream all night and don't get any restful sleep. Then I wake up feeling like crap.
But my main reason is to try it for headaches.
Posted 9/23/2006 12:09 AM (GMT -7)
Hi Jwalter,

If you really want to try O2, go back to your Doctor and discuss it with him/her. There are two reasons I have got it without being certain it works, and they are 1. because I had what they think might have been a bad reaction to the Imitrex and 2. my persistence!!

It was mainly my persistence because although I would have had no abortive at all until their tests were complete in November, they were quite happy to leave me like that relying on codeine drugs again (not long cleared my system of those!!) - they just take the edge of the attack and do not affect it's length!!!

I have just come out of a 36 hour attack just before the O2 was delivered!!! But now I am well ready for the next one!!

All the best with this, take care

Ann
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