Any Migraineurs out there? How do you deal with migraine during a trip?

[k5thbeatle]

Long time migraineur here and just wondering how many of you suffer with migraine and how you deal with it especially when an attack comes on a WDW vacation?

 

[Dis_Ohana5]

Long timer here as well. I try to avoid going in dead summer because humidity increases the frequency of my attacks but I live in CFL so I'm already screwed on that front. These days if I notice an attack coming I try to head it off ASAP with a caffeine, Benadryl, Tylenol combo that I keep in my Disney bag. I also find that Voltaren gel on the back of my neck and shoulders helps a lot if my headache has progressed to the point where my neck and shoulders are hurting. If I get to full blown nausea and it feels like my head is going to explode I'll try another migraine combo and find a cool quiet place to sit for a while until I can function well enough to continue or leave. I've been on almost every migraine med and in years past Maxalt worked the best for acute attacks but after 20 years I can no longer tolerate most of them and to be honest the Tylenol combo often works almost as well. I find being proactive by staying hydrated and paying attention to early signs is my best defense in or out of the parks. I also always go with someone capable of driving me home if needed.

 

[Rogue1677x]

I've dealt with migraines for 30+ years now and have dealt with pain on the 9 out of 10 scale while traveling. It's torture.

For me, hydration is important as well as keeping up with my preventative medications that I take (they reduce but don't stop the migraine frequency). If a migraine is starting, I have resue medication that I can take (naratriptan works best with ibuprofen, but lately they've got me using nurtec, which works better since I can't take ibuprofen after having gastric bypass a few years ago).

Also, I used to get Botox but stopped when I began using emgality as a preventative, but I find if I rub a little biofreeze gel on the spots where the botox injections were, that helped a lot. I have a prescription for nausea medicine at all times to ward off that.

I can function at a pretty high pain level...not going on rides, but sitting down somewhere cool. But once my face starts going numb, my eyesight starts fading then I need to get to a hotel room or somewhere to lay down.

 

[barkley]

heat/humidity also is a trigger for me so we only go to Florida in the late fall or winter but even then I take migraine ice patches which I can wear on the nape of my neck and under my clothing to keep my body temp lower. the portable water misters are helpful as well. I always make sure I have a (more than I need) supply of my migraine scripts b/c we learned once on an out of state vacation that despite having a scrip w/refills (non migraine med so not 'controlled' med issue) at a nationwide pharmacy we could not get a refill. we also always arrange to have a supply of airplane size diet cokes in the mini fridge b/c a quick boost of caffeine has been helpful for me.

 

[kanne323]

Between the heat, the lack of sleep, and the sensory overload, Disney is prime for migraines. I have them way less frequently now after going through acupuncture treatments, but I also try to avoid what triggers I can (so no alcohol, careful with processed meats and some cheeses, etc.) and stay hydrated and take my daily magnesium. When it hits, I can sometimes relieve it with cold caffeine and an OTC pain reliever, but for the bad ones, honestly, it's back to the room, lights out and hope I can sleep. Oh, if I feel like one is coming, I do try to use some acupressure (squeezing the area between pointer finger and thumb.)

 

[Tuffcookie]

I started having migraines around the age of 30. I am now 71. They finally went away around age 60. Before they went away, I used over-the counter Excedrine Migraine tablets, Rx for dissolve able Maxalt tablets, and injectable Imitrex. The Maxalt was wonderful! Once I took it, I would lay down for 1/2-1 hr. and it was take the migraine away. If that didn’t work, I could gove myself an injection of Imitrex.

 

[yeahdisney]

I use esgic. Take onset of headache, if it will be one of those. Repeat if needed. Add in a Motrin, if needed. Go find caffeine. Travel with a migraine hat. Just got one that will stay in my luggage.

Sometimes I do just die. Have to go back to the room. Darkness and sleep it off. I have once lied down on a Disney bus floor- wasn’t pretty. I don’t think anyone else was on the bus.

Sudden big Weather changes can bring them on. And certain food- so I know to avoid them.

Today we are being warned bad weather coming. So I am drinking extra water. We shall see.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I have had them all my life, about 22 a month since childhood and Botox brought it down to around 11. Vacation time is rough it starts from boarding the plane to disembarking home, mostly because I can control nothing, not the temp, not the smells, not the sound, not the lights, not the food or drinks nothing I have always had honest conversations with my Drs before I travel and asking for enough breakthrough for an unpredictable week at WDW is totally reasonable, so just ask. I have on hand my breakthrough Fioricet with compazine for nausea which work with the BOTOX but back when I was younger pre BOTOX I made it a point to get trigger point injections if I could before I left, well those or a toradol shot from GP and then the Ketrolc tablets as first line of defense, which are same as toradol I think. An unmedicated migraine version of me is slithering around on the floor like a snake, it's no way to live.

You can get ice anywhere so have a ziplock i a bag for that & maybe try to pregame hydrate the week before your trip with a Gatorade a day.

 

[tazdev3225]

I suffered with them more often when I was in my 30's to about mid 50's. However, my husband and kids have suffered with them since they were children. When my kids were little, we only went to Disney World in August, between kids being in school and husband being for low man on the vacation timeline at work. My husband always got at least one migraine and he was known to get really ill with them. This may sound strange but we all found that a cup of coffee, at least 16 oz., 2 Excedrin or Extra strength Tylenol and a Vanilla milkshake worked to get rid of them. The caffeine in the coffee and Excedrin plus a property in the vanilla bean in the ice cream helped open up blood vessels. Then we make sure we stayed hydrated to keep the blood vessels open. Thankfully I only get tension headaches now and NEVER get one in DIsney as I travel solo at my husband's insistence.

 

[Dis_Ohana5]

Im typing this with one eye open right now. I've been battling a migraine all day so I'll be putting my milkshake order in to my husband on his way home from work.