Chronic intractable migraines and WDW

[jjarman]

Can these two go together? Here is the story. DB has chronic migraines which means his headaches never go away. He has a migraine almost every day. He is on all kinds of medications, diet restrictions, therapy (psych and physical). Has been to the best headache doctors in the world. Even has a occipital nerve stimulator in his head to help short circuit the nerves. It all helps some but not completely.

DB, his wife (my best friend) and their 2 boys who are now 3 and 5 and I are planning a trip for the week after Thanksgiving in 2009. The boys will be old enough to enjoy it more and it gives us time to save money. DSIL says I have to come to help her "do" disney. Of course she didn't have to twist my arm too hard. My son, 16 now, may go and my mother may go to.

We are probably getting 2 rooms at Pop Century (1) because I love the resort and (2) it is cheap. DSIL wants adjoining rooms but I haven't told her I am not doing that. I think the quieter the better and rooms beside each other or near each other.

We will be taking breaks in the afternoon and DSIL and I have decided that we will go with the flow as to how DB is feeling. My feeling is that he is better in the mornings so we will all go to the parks in the morning and take a break after lunch. Then if DB is not feeling great that afternoon, DSIL and me and the boys will go back to the parks for the evening. DB will be fine staying by himself. He will even be fine to make his way back alone to the resort.

We know about the foods and checking that out before he eats anything so there is not a major flareup.

Anything we are missing? Anyone else with severe or chronic migraines been to WDW?

 

[PirateFairy8]

I can check with my ex. He's had them for 7 years. We're still on friendly terms, as we're at the same church and I work with his mom. Send me a pm.

 

[Talking Hands]

You want adjoining or nearby rooms. Connecting rooms are those that have a door between them so you can go directly between rooms. Adjoining is next to each other.

 

[SueM in MN]

If he's bothered by bright lights, there is a past thread here where someone asked about strobe lights (there are no actual strobe lights in attractions, but some have something sort of similar).

My mom had migranes - not as bad as the OP mentioned, luckily. One of the things that bothers her is glare - things like light reflecting off of water.

 

[emerymt]

If sound bothers him, do consider taking a cheap pair of foam earplugs. Disney can be very loud, and some migraine sufferers really notice it. In fact, non-migraine sufferers really notice it.

If he has specific migraine triggers, it might be helpful to list them here, and the good people of the DISboards could let you know where he might run into them.

 

[jjarman]

If sound bothers him, do consider taking a cheap pair of foam earplugs. Disney can be very loud, and some migraine sufferers really notice it. In fact, non-migraine sufferers really notice it.

If he has specific migraine triggers, it might be helpful to list them here, and the good people of the DISboards could let you know where he might run into them.

Sounds do bother him and he does wear ear plugs pretty much all the time.

I don't know what all are his triggers. Sound certainly. Bright lights probably. Foods but they have that under control. Thankfully DWD is good about helping that way. We will be going in November so the heat won't be so bad. One big trigger is weather. When there is a change in the weather it makes it worse. Not much we can do on that. All of us are getting park hoppers but I told his wife we ought to get him the nonexpiring kind so in case he can't go to a park one day there won't be a waste.

 

[SueM in MN]

I thought of something else that I know helps my mom....
when she first starts feeling a headache starting, she needs to take medication for it and lie down somewhere dark and quiet. If she can do that soon enough, the headache will just be a headache and not a full blown migrane.
If that would be helpful for your friend, he can go to First Aid. There is one in every park and they are all dimly lit and quiet.
Another thing that I know makes migranes more likely for some people is dehydration.

 

[jjarman]

I thought of something else that I know helps my mom....
when she first starts feeling a headache starting, she needs to take medication for it and lie down somewhere dark and quiet. If she can do that soon enough, the headache will just be a headache and not a full blown migrane.
If that would be helpful for your friend, he can go to First Aid. There is one in every park and they are all dimly lit and quiet.
Another thing that I know makes migranes more likely for some people is dehydration.

Thanks. I forgot about the first aid stations. I have tucked that away in my trip planning notes.