avoid migraines?

[PopArtGal]

Last time I went, as the end of my trip, I had migraines because of the hot and because I was tired.

Anyone here have migraines and have a few tips? I stayed hydrated and had my medecine with me, but it was still a bit hard and desapointing to have to stay in bed an entire day!

 

[kldmom2000]

Last time I went, as the end of my trip, I had migraines because of the hot and because I was tired.

Anyone here have migraines and have a few tips? I stayed hydrated and had my medecine with me, but it was still a bit hard and desapointing to have to stay in bed an entire day!

I was getting migraines continuously (one, sometimes 2 per week that lasted anywhere between 2-4 days each time so they seemed relentless!) until my MD put me on Inderal LA 80mg.... it's worked WONDERS.... I don't know yet how the humidity and heat will affect it as I just began it in the fall and we live in New England.....

Good luck to you! Hope you don't get one on your trip!!!!

 

[WDWguru]

Drink constantly - mine are almost always triggered by dehydration. Even if you don't feel thirsty, drink water. Also don't forget to eat properly. You may not feel hungry if it's hot, but you have to nourish your body. Make reservations for late afternoon when the restaurants aren't so busy - you can have a nice relaxing meal during the hottest part of the day and get a nice break from the weather and crowds.

I carry a hat or visor and when it gets really bright and hot as the sun can trigger mine as well. I also always carry Advil. If I can "catch" my migraine before it hits - you know how you can feel it coming? - a couple of Advil will keep it from coming on full bore.

 

[mickeymedic]

Advil LiquiGels are great! They will not stop a migraine entirely, but they certainly help!

 

[MommaluvsDis]

I was getting migraines as well as regular headaches all the time. My doctor put me on Inderal LA as well. It totally changed my life! The first 3 weeks or so that I started taking the medication, I was drowsy. But that passed and I have my life back! Thank God! Now, on the small chance that I do get a mirgraine (probably 2 a year verses 2 a month) on a pain scale of one to ten, they're a 2!

I'll never forget that the first trip we made to WDW with the boys, I lost 2 days of it because of a severe migraine.

What Inderal LA does is prevent the migraines in the first place.

 

[MomWith2Cinderellas]

I have migraines as well....The key for me is to stay well hydrated, wear my sunglasses(the sun can get my headaches going), and to have my injectable Imitrex...

 

[KimberlyC]

I've had migranes since I was 7 years old. I'm 31 now. I've taken Inderal every day of my life since I was 7. I have Anaprox (sp) for when they are coming on slightly and have done/do the Immitrex/Maxalt/Relpax meds when they are bad or I know they will be. I am married to my DH today because of the care and attention he gave to me (early in our relationship) when we went to Cedar Point Amusement Park and I got a migrane. (To put up with me under such circumstances and not complain, I knew he was a keeper). So while good can come from crappy situations, I try to avoid them because I know how brutal a migrane can be and how it can ruin a trip. Here's what I've learned:

1) I ALWAYS remember my meds. I was shut in a hotel room for 1 1/2 days with no lights on, no TV, no sounds at all because I couldn't move and didn't have my meds...Never Again. (Only a trip to the ER resolved this migrane). Now I remember my meds and I take them as soon as I feel one coming on. We stop what we are doing (inconvenient yes but not as inconvenient as 1 - 2 days in a dark hotel room) and I return for a nap to let the meds kick in.

2) I stay away from rides that jerk my head. I LOVE roller coasters, the bigger the better and upside down is fine, but not anything that will jerk my head from side to side and bang it.

3) Stay hydrated as you said.

4) Take the time to eat something while in air conditioning. Lack of food triggers a migrane for me. I don't like to eat a lot when its hot and humid, but I try to resist the urge to live on ice cream alone because I could trigger a migrane.

5) I force myself to get sleep. I pack and prep like a crazy person before we go on vacation, staying up late and I already only get 5-6 hours of sleep a night normally. I can run on adrenaline for a while, but when I crash I crash and it contributes to migranes. There is so much to do on vacation, but sleep relaxation are important to avoid migranes.

6) I wear sunglasses. I cannot be in the sun without them or I will get a migrane.

7) I try to remain calm and stress free. After all, I did my research and planning and there is nothing to stress over, its vacation.


Still I say catching the migrane when its starting and getting to the room to take meds and rest is the number one thing that works for me. If my family wants to stay and enjoy, that's fine and I'd probably prefer it because I need quiet time, but I need to get back to the hotel room quick. If I catch it quick I can usually be ok in a few (2) hours or less. If not, it takes much longer.

Good luck and know you aren't alone.

 

[PopArtGal]

wow it's so great to be understood.

I rarely even tell my job that I get migraines because people tend to think we fake it ( I know in high school people made fun of me because they would not believe me and said I was skipping school for fun). I have my meds ( fiorinal) but I need to take a few hours to rest when I take it. Though I know I can do my best to try and avoid my migraines!

Thank you all!

 

[tinkerbell6]

It seems everyone has different triggers, but what works for me....(most are already mentioned)

--lots of water--have to stay hydrated!
--stops in air conditioned areas occasionally
--I discovered that the sun gives me headaches and sometimes migraines (like others have mentioned), so I always wear the sunglasses, but I had a big revelation just last year...it's largely the sun actually ON my head that starts the migraine, not really just the heat outside. So if it's hot, I keep my head covered as much as I can stand (I really dislike hats, had NEVER worn them my whole life...duh!). I was even able to sit out at a pool in hot Palm Springs last year with my family by keeping my head/upper body in the shade of an umbrella table.
--relaxing, not stressing...as in no jaw clenching!

Hope you have a migraine-free vacation. Nothing like spending a day in the dark while you're on holiday!

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Keep hydrated, don't walk so fast, wear sunglasses, take Excedrin Migraine. Mine aren't bad enough to need a Rx, but my brother's are. I wonder if he'll have problems during his first time at WDW...

 

[DaniDownUnder]

My DFi gets really bad migraines and I hadn't even thought about what we'd do if he got one while we are at WDW on our honeymoon!!

Thanks for your post...it has made me remind him to go to the GP for a new migraine scrip as a 'just in case' precaution. It also makes me glad that we are staying onsite... so he can go back and sleep with his meds. Tho, I don't think I could go to the parks without him...I know he'd want me to...but I hate waiting in line by myself.

I always feel for people who have 'sick migraines' that put them in bed for hours on end. I guess I'm lucky, the first signs that I'm getting a migraine are vision disturbances and travelling numbness (kinda like a moving itch, but my skin feels numb). When I get to that point, I down 2 of whatever kinda of painreliever I've got on hand, with half a can of coke (something about the painreliever and caffiene seems to work great). Gimme 20 minutes in a cool place and bingo...headace averted.

OH... a tip for those migraine suffers who have more probs if it is hot...

2 painrelievers and a bottle of ANY sports drink (I prefer Gatorade, but powerade works too). I find that during the summer months, this combo works really well for heading a headache off at the pass.

 

[dizcrazee]

Thanks to the OP for bringing up this topic and to everyone that has contributed ideas. I worry that I'll get a migraine every time I go on vacation. I don't get them that often, but they usually put me in bed for a day and a half. I will try your preventative strategies on this trip and maybe I'll be ok! I would be so sad if I got a migraine and missed out on even one minute of fun at my favorite vacation place!

 

[cocoswife]

Another vote for Excedrin migraine!!! I actually take mine with coffee(I am not a regular coffee drinker) or a Coke. It starts to work inmediately!! I also recomend that you drink plenty of water and wear sunglasses and a hat. Funny thing is , since I started taking the Excedrin/Coke combo I have been getting few migraines

 

[eeyoregirl]

wow it's so great to be understood. I rarely even tell my job that I get migraines because people tend to think we fake it . I have my meds ( fiorinal) but I need to take a few hours to rest when I take it.

Wow, can I relate. Sometimes my migraines get so bad that I feel like a prisoner in my own home--no lights, sounds, or motions of any kind. Then the guilt weighs me down, especially when my DD7 comes to my bedside and WHISPERS, "are you okay, Mama? Do you have another headache?" That kills me--I feel like I am neglecting her, but just the sound of her voice makes my head throb worse, too!

So, I make sure I get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation is a HUGE trigger for me. Drinking plenty of water is a must, and laying off the sugar in the heat helps too.

 

[tmarquez]

You mentioned that you take fiorinal for your migraines, and I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in.

I've had migraines since I was a little kid, and actually never got treatment until well into adulthood because the first doctor I went to as a teenager basically told me I didn't have a headache. I get the kind with severe pain, vomitting, light, sound and cold temperatures (unusual I know) make it worse.
I have been prescribed fiorinal and relpax. I have found that the relapx (the higher dosage tablet) if I take it RIGHT AWAY at the first sign will actually knock it out completely within 30 minutes...without even any rest.

Now the fiorinal I have because the relpax comes 6 in a pack and the insurance will only pay for 1 pack per month so when I run out of relpax I need a backup (the OTC migraines meds don't do a thing for me). I've found that it will help...but I still have to stop and lay down in a dark quiet room for quite awhile and alot of times when the fiorinal wears off it actually comes back or I get a wierd rebound type headache (feels like a hangover). For me the fiorinal works great for tension headaches.

So my advice would be to look into some of the other types of medications for migraines (relpax, imitrex, etc.). Always keep it with you (not back at the hotel), eat and drink even when you don't feel hungry or thirsty.

Good luck to you! I'm off to refill my relpax...we leave for Disney this afternoon!

 

[MommaluvsDis]

Wow tamrquez,
The fact that your insurance company only pays for 1 month of Relpax so you need fiorinal as backup concerns me. If you need that much medication it would lead me to believe that maybe you should check into migraine prevention. I posted before about being on the Inderal LA and how my migraines have all but disappeared. Maybe this is an option for you.

Are the headaches controlling your life? Mine were and now I'm back in charge. It's a pill that I take every day and in the past year, I've had maybe 2 migraines. Believe me I had them all the time!

Just trying to help.

 

[wdwholic1206]

I always make sure to have my bottle of water, sunglasses, and a visor or hat. The sun really brings on my migrains. I am also very careful that if I feel one starting I take my meds right away!

 

[Grumpy92]

This has been a great post!
My Eye docter warned me that because I have blue eyes the sun gets a little intense for them. So I always wear a hat and sunglasses. Hydration is another key, drink lots of water. We always have a water bottle with us.
A major trigger for me is lack of sleep. We try to take breaks, just sit down and enjoy a cool drink. Try to keep to my same schedule on meals. Sometimes those midday breaks are a perfect answer to fatigue. We return to the resort get lunch and eitheir lay down in the cool room or go for a swim.
Finally, I always keep my imitrex with me and at the first sign take one.

Another great tip, if I need a quiet cool room for a little while. I have gone to the First Aid station. I explain my migraine and they are great about just letting me lay down until the meds kick in.

 

[doombuggy3]

I think this might be the best thread I've ever read! I have gotten migraines since puberty and they definitely run in my family. I've been on everything from topamex/imatrex/maxalt and am just starting an everday medicine that I hope will help me since I've gotten terrible migraines lately and prohibit me from doing ANYTHING, even something as simple as watching TV. I leave for WDW in a few weeks and since our migraines are hereditary, my Mom and I have some techniques and strategies we like or have heard about from our friends.

I also have heard that the strongest coffee you can have helps sometimes, but this is not the case for me, but apparently for some people it is?

Sometimes after exhausting days I know I better sleep a lot that night or take some sleep medicine so I do fall asleep otherwise I will be hit with a KILLER migraine the next day. Sleep is CRUCIAL for me!

Also, someone else said sunglasses make their head hurt...I always thought I was crazy but I think wearing any type of glasses that I wear (because I have prescription glasses) make my head hurt! Glad someone else says that too.

I wish you good luck, I leave in 9 days and I am doing everything possible to avoid these nasty things...I saw my dr. yesterday and we strategized and I feel as prepared as I can be!

 

[4shinystars]

I can't take Inderal because I have low blood pressure, and my Dr. said it would cause me more problems than benefits. I get 4-6 migraines a month average, and unfortunately any of the preventatives that I can take do not work, or have serious side effects. I also have RA and some other medical conditions. Imitrex 100 works for me fairly well, especially if I can lie down for 1-2 hours after taking it. Of course, that usually isn't possible, but the Imitrex brings it down to a manageable level. The old standby of aspirin, ibuprofen and caffeine, works in a pinch, at least to a point where I no longer want to die, lol.
I know the sun is a trigger for me, and we're going in August. I'm wondering if I should get RX sunglasses, or get contacts and wear good sunglasses (non-rx). I just got new glasses, but I wasn't thinking when I bought them-I can't use clip-on sunglasses with them. Any opinions?
Thanks for sharing-I hadn't realized there were so many of us dis fans and migraine sufferers.