Advice for handling my migraines and WDW

[MissRoseDarrensAngel]

I generally am more apt to get them under very stressful situations, and just around the time of Aunt Flo/during/just after too. I've been dealing with them for many years unfortunately.

What is the best way to handle them especially with a mother who doesn't understand my regime for handling them - 1 excerdrin migraine caplet and a drink of a small amount of diet coke or pepsi to help get the caffiene in my system faster then I feel alot better. I would hate to have to go back to the hotel room every time I get one. I often have an idea when one is coming on, and take medicine & caffienated drink. I will be drinking plenty of water to get well hydrated.

[ChocoKat]

I suffer very bad ones, so I try to keep my :cool2: handy, or at the very least my transition lenses on and a hat. When I start feeling one kicking in I promptly get two excedrin migraine caplets and a diet coke or moutain dew. If coffee is available I down one quickly.

I change touring plans to darker and quieter rides for a bit, like Hall of Presidents or American Adventure, when we are there I look funny but I keep my sunglasses on and if the sound is bothering me I carry noise cancelling headphones or earplugs. I try to find secluded shaded areas with a bench and sit there and relax for a bit. Also I keep telling myself the migraine will go away pretty soon and keep a good attitude, not sure why, but it helps.

During the hot summer months I ask DH to grab me a cold bottle of water and I wet a bandana on the restroom, I put the bandana on my forehead while relaxing on the bench and place the water bottle on the inside part of my elbow, a lot of blood passes by there and the water bottle supposedly cools it down as it moves through bringing my temp down and helping calm the migraine down.

If I act quickly before the small nagging pain that signals the start of a migraine gets any worse I can steam right through one in about 15-25 minutes.

I try not to drink any alcoholic beverages during the day and limit my intake to small cocktails or wine once I am back at the resort and unwinding by the pool. Also I lay off the chocolate as much as I can, since I was young I have been told chocolate can trigger migraines, but I am not sure how true that is, still better safe than sorry.

When I am having way too much fun I just soldier on, but I have a very high pain tolerance and I have had migraines constantly since I was young, so I have learned to ignore them when I can.

[jjpenguin]

If you are at WDW you can go to the first aid station where you can take a rest in a cool and calm place.

I have the same thing and find the earlier I take my excedrin the better it helps.

[FeeFeeWhite]

See the new massage at the GF from Germany said to cure them!

[MissRoseDarrensAngel]

Just wondering the cost for the massage at GF (i bet its expensive)....

I'll keep the other tips in mind regarding the chocolate and the alcohol as well (the booze isnt an issue, the chocolate will be hard to resist for me :rotfl:)

[ilovebassets]

I generally am more apt to get them under very stressful situations, and just around the time of Aunt Flo/during/just after too. I've been dealing with them for many years unfortunately.

What is the best way to handle them especially with a mother who doesn't understand my regime for handling them - 1 excerdrin migraine caplet and a drink of a small amount of diet coke or pepsi to help get the caffiene in my system faster then I feel alot better. I would hate to have to go back to the hotel room every time I get one. I often have an idea when one is coming on, and take medicine & caffienated drink. I will be drinking plenty of water to get well hydrated.

Caffeine is definitely helpful in the short term for a migraine, but repeated use of caffeine will eventually lead to rebound headaches. It's not a long term answer and only appropriate for the most infrequent of migraine sufferers (this does not seem to be your case). I know it's so tempting to just down a diet coke with 2 excedrin...but keep doing that, and it will come back to bite you. (I speak from both personal experience and as a physician).

Have you not tried triptans in the past? There's lots of different ones out there--Imitrex, Zoming, etc. And they come in pills, orally dissolving tablets for those with bad nausea, injections, nasal sprays....I don't go anywhere without my imitrex! If you have them pretty often, consider preventive therapy as well like topamax or a beta blocker. Talk to your primary care doc or see a neurologist. There are so many better options than excedrin and caffeine (though I know it works, at least some of the time!)

[sskem96]

I've only had a couple migraines in my life, but my 12 year old has them daily if not on medication. She now takes Neurontin 300mg daily as a preventative, and only gets a couple a month. When she does get one, she takes an Aleve for the pain and a Reglan for the nausea. She still has to rest all day when she has one, but prevention is the key so she can still do normal activities most days.

[acc82]

i agree with the physican poster. I've suffered migraine's since I started nursing school (7 years ago) and have continued with them into my adult life. they were so bad, i took preventative medicine for them (topamax). I don't go anywhere without maxalt! the triptan medications target the nerves responsible for your migraine. and, usually, mine are so bad that excedrin doesn't help anyway. i think anyone with migraines should definately see a PCP and preferably a neurologist. there's no reason for migraines to wreck anyone's life!

[disneylove69]

I've only had a couple migraines in my life, but my 12 year old has them daily if not on medication. She now takes Neurontin 300mg daily as a preventative, and only gets a couple a month. When she does get one, she takes an Aleve for the pain and a Reglan for the nausea. She still has to rest all day when she has one, but prevention is the key so she can still do normal activities most days.

I was taking this prescription and it did wonders. Unfortunatley Kaiser started to carry it only in capsule and it was a pain to try to due half. After a year I stopped taking it and seldom have migranes any more. I find ice in the back of the neck or sitting in a cool bathroom/ ride does wonder as well as a Coke.

[JLVermillion]

Caffeine is definitely helpful in the short term for a migraine, but repeated use of caffeine will eventually lead to rebound headaches. It's not a long term answer and only appropriate for the most infrequent of migraine sufferers (this does not seem to be your case). I know it's so tempting to just down a diet coke with 2 excedrin...but keep doing that, and it will come back to bite you. (I speak from both personal experience and as a physician).

Have you not tried triptans in the past? There's lots of different ones out there--Imitrex, Zoming, etc. And they come in pills, orally dissolving tablets for those with bad nausea, injections, nasal sprays....I don't go anywhere without my imitrex! If you have them pretty often, consider preventive therapy as well like topamax or a beta blocker. Talk to your primary care doc or see a neurologist. There are so many better options than excedrin and caffeine (though I know it works, at least some of the time!)
I suffer from complicated migraines , we are in WDW every few months and have found that the night we arrive getting a good nights sleep helps. I am always running so stress does not usually cause mine , relaxing does (go figure) . The post above is correct in stating excedrin and pepsi are only a temp fix and will end up biting you in the bum, I personal use Staydol and helps tremendously (i am allergic to Imitrex).I also would go to my Dr. and get something that will do the trick, chasing the preverbal dragons tail (or mouses) with excedrin and diet pepsi is just no fun.
the other thing I have found is if you are planning on drinking stay away from white wines,they tend to really bring one on for me.I drink the big reds like Cabs,if you are in Epcot World Showcase there is a great red in France called St.Emillion.Hope you have a wonderful trip with out any unwanted visitors.

Friendliest Regards, Jenn:wizard::cheer2:

[JLVermillion]

I forgot to mention get a good pair of polarized sunglasses, they are truly a life saver. Jenn V:cool1:

[Husurdady]

I generally am more apt to get them under very stressful situations, and just around the time of Aunt Flo/during/just after too. I've been dealing with them for many years unfortunately.

What is the best way to handle them especially with a mother who doesn't understand my regime for handling them - 1 excerdrin migraine caplet and a drink of a small amount of diet coke or pepsi to help get the caffiene in my system faster then I feel alot better. I would hate to have to go back to the hotel room every time I get one. I often have an idea when one is coming on, and take medicine & caffienated drink. I will be drinking plenty of water to get well hydrated.

:worship: Sorry about your migraines, use to have them 5-out-of-7-days aweek, don't have an "aunt Flo", [no pun intented], but I want you to go to your doctor, and ask him would it be ok for to go on the R/X drug VARAPAMIL. It's alife-saver for me. I have been taking it [ VARAPAMIL ER TABs 240mg ] for 17 years now, maybe had 1 or 2 migraines in that time span. It has worked for me. It's a combo High blood pressure / migraine pain killer. GOOD LUCK :thumbsup2 And as for WDW have lots of fun, we will be down Sat. Sept. 19th for a week. ROLL OVER MICKEY THE HOOSIER DADDY IS COMING. :cool1:

[LUCiD]

How about asking your doctor for any medication that could help, that's what I usually do.

[Mouseaholic!!!]

You folks who tough it out have my admiration.

When I get a migrane - it's bad...but luckily shortlived. All I can do is race for the hotel, diet coke, something for the pain and I actually pack my head in ice.

I take extra gallon zip-lock bags.....takes 3. I have about 6 hours which are terrible, then I'm just shaky. The next day, I'm not at 100%....but at least I'm mobile again.

I was unlucky once and it started of a cross-country flight. I had volunteered to take a bump as it was beginning. They actually put me up into first class on my original flight and the flight attendant was wonderful (she got migranes too). That was the worst - not having a dark quiet place to disappear.

Again, I don't see how you manage but I'm proud you do!

For me --- dark cave as fast as possible....ice, quiet, cool, ceiling fan.

[spider0215]

I can get them from sleeping on pillows that don't support my neck so I always have my Excedrin with me. I've also tried the following and it works, sounds crazy but it works. I got the idea from the movie Mask with Cher. It's visualization. Get somewhere dark and quiet if you can and just close your eyes imagining the most sarine relaxed place you can. It can take up to 30 minutes but it will work if you catch the migraine at the beginning.

[pixie08]

I suffer from terrible migraines but do not want to go on the rx meds they have out right now (never been offered varpamil only the usual immitrex which from a lot of people I know has terrible side effects).

First, I was tested for vitmain def. turns out I am low on vitamin D and that does not help. I have also been taking a magnesium supplement which has helped so much. I have had less flare ups. As for vacation the secon I feel one coming on I down an excedrin migraine and some caffeine. It's vacation and I want to enjoy. I just make sure to have excedrin migraine on me at all times (no other drug works for me).

[DCCaravan]

My mom used to have trouble w/ migraines and it ended up being due to too much coffee.

I know that a lot of people get migraines for a lot of different reasons, so it doesn't apply to everyone, but it's worth trying to wean yourself off of caffeine for a month or so to see if that has anything to do with it.

At the park though, I think staying hydrated and making sure to take breaks in the shade make a big difference.

[jac199]

I LOVE Relpax, but my insurance only allows 6 pills a month so I have taken all of the triptans (my doctor will give me samples to hold me until I can refill my prescription.) One pill usually does the trick and they work quickly. Imitrex was the only one that didn't work for me, but all of the others worked pretty much the same. I have an appointment with a neurologist next week to see about preventive therapy.

Seriously consider asking your physician about the triptans because they knock the headache out like nobody's business.

I hope your trip is migraine free! :goodvibes

[dennise]

I second Relpax. I have had migraines since I was a child.

[Mlopez]

I also get migranes, I take 2 Excedrin migrane before going to parks.

[let'sgo]

I used to get migraines that would knock me out for a day or two. My sister suggested reading the book, "Eat Right For Your Type" about foods to eat and avoid according to your blood type. That was the dumbest thing I ever heard of, and when she loaned me a copy of the book, I decided to read it so I could really tell her off as to how gullible she was to believe something so ridiculous as this.

I followed the suggestions for a day (and it wasn't real easy either) and the next day I was feeling better so I followed for another. By the third day I was really feeling good and OH MY GOODNESS, the migraines were gone and didn't come back. I couldn't believe it. It seems as there are certain foods that act as triggers, and if I start eating those foods again, I get the migraines again.

I used to get migraines all the time, now I very seldom get them. I am soooo thankful that I read that book. Maybe you could get a copy from the library and see if you are helped by it.

[stitcher3000]

Ok this is probably going to sound like an old wives tale but hey ho! Difficult to do in a park I know but if you lie face down on a sofa or bed with your fingertips in a bucket of ice cold water that should get rid of it. This was told to me by a nurse and it worked for her, fortunately I haven't had a migraine lately to try it out. There is nothing more debilatating than a migraine.

[dizmom2mwjk]

I started getting migraines as an adult...they hit hard and fast, 5 days a week, all day long until I would throw up 3 or 4 times, I couldn't function (I had 4 young kids)...I tried all the drugs like Immitrex and none of them worked...then Dr. put me on Topamax daily to prevent them instead of trying to cure them, and I have about 2 per year that are mild and go away if I lay in a quiet dark place and take a short nap...I highly suggest trying it...also, if you hold your wrists under running cold water in a sink, that can help a headache and vomiting...

[nurse.darcy]

While you can probably get through a trip to WDW on excedrin and caffeine beverages, the best advice came from the Doc. This is long term advice. My 16 year old has suffered from migraines since he was about 4. He was placed on medication by a neurologist, and though throughout the years the medication has changed, his headaches have been limited to once or twice a quarter where they used to be once or twice a week.

As he as grown he has needed less and less preventative medicine. He is now on maxalt at the lowest prescribed dose. I don't think he has had a migraine in a couple years. We may see if he doesn't even need the meds anymore. But that will be up to his neurologist.

Good luck to you. Get the preventative medication your body needs and quit the caffeine. It will cause rebounds for sure.

[mnoble_uk]

This is another shout for Triptrans.

Here in the UK they are available from a pharmacy counter - branded as Imigran (though they are expensive so I get them on prescription). For me, about an hour after I take them then even the most severe headache just goes away. There's no fuzzy feeling or any other effect, its as if the headache has just gone. I have had migranes on and off since I was a child and these are just the greatest.

[honeydiane1953]

Buying a cooling bandana for my neck works wonders. I am a nurse and have been taking INDERAL LA for years to prevent them. These are prescribed for heart palpatations but doctors learned they help dilate blood vessels in head and "cure" onset of the headaches. They DO work. I always wear sunglasses and have rx for fioricet just in case. Hope some of these work. Cooling bandana's r the easiest to obtain and DO WORK. DIANE

[MiJo]

My DW has suffered with migraines for many years. Recently, she began drinking a bottle or two of Metroelectro Micronutrient Water every day and it really seems to be helping. She tried SmartWater for a while but that didn't help like the Metroelectro. We get it at the grocery store for about $1.59/20 oz bottle, sometimes less. It may be worth a try.

[MickeyNicki]

I am completely useless when I get a migraine...DH knows the drill, get me my perscription and a coke and leave me in a very dark, very cold, very quiet room until it goes away.

If it is a bad one forget it, I am done and we dont go anywhere, I get very dizzy and nauseated and tired and the noise and smells can make me lose my mind.

If it is a baby one I just rest for a bit and I will be good to go but the issue of food is NONE...I cannot eat when recovering from a migraine.

The one good thing about WDW resorts is the dark rooms and the quietness during the day (since everyone is in the parks) helps the migraine move along fast