Cluster Headaches And Oxygen?


Question:
I've heard of oxygen helping get rid of these headaches, but can breathing oxygen also trigger one?
I fainted in the doctors office when they were taking my blood and they gave me an oxygen mask for a few minutes. Almost immediately when they took off the mask, I got the worst headache I've ever had in my life. It was like someone was stabbing me with a knife in my eye and temple on the right side of my head. It was so excruciating and unbearable, I thought something was seriously wrong, like a brain hemorrhage. It was really frightening. Then it went away after about 20 minutes or so.
Could it have been linked to the oxygen?

Answers:
I don't believe the headache was triggered from the oxygen, but probably related to the syncopal episode that caused you to pass out. Possibly you had increased bloodflow to the brain after coming to, which can be related to increased migraines. I had one patient with headaches that were absolutely unresponsive to everything from drugs (no results) to chiropractic (relief sometimes). Finally we placed her on oxygen to use at home prn after a headache in the office resolved with oxygen therapy. It helped immensly, until her insurance carrier denied payment for it because it was "not medically necessary", subsequently she stopped and the headaches returned.
Probably stress and nothing to do with the oxygen!


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