Headaches/motion sickness.....

[alibeau]

Just thinking back to our last trip and also the flight....

I am quite a headachey person at the best of times but on our last hol I suffered most days with a mild headache, some days were worse than others. I took quite a few sudafed which helped. As soon as we arrived home they disappeared. A pal suggested that it might be down to the A/C in the villa? She suggested a bowl of steaming water next to the bed at night might help

On the flights I have started to get quite headachey too and had a real corker on the way home last time and had to sit with a cold flannel on my head also I get a bit headachey/dizzy after some of the rides.... there again we did go on the cat in the hat ride three times in a row

Is there anything I can take that might help? particularly on the flight? and/or before any big rides? I can live with the mild headaches whilst there as they did tend to lift as the day went on.... would not want to take anything that would make me drowsy though

Anyone else suffer

Ali

 

[Pegasus928]

Until quite recently I was a frequent flyer and suffered with exactly what you describe.
The flight was always worse and I would think of it more of a 'thick head' rather than a headache. I put it down mostly to sinuses and it did tend to calm down a bit once in Florida but having looked into it a bit more, purely because I could't stop flying due to my job, I came to the conclusion it was more dehydration than anything else.
Since then I always made sure I drank plenty of water before, during and after the flight and it definitely made a big difference. I think the reason it never really affected me once I had landed was because I tend to drink a lot of fluids when out and about in that sort of temperature anyway.
Hope this helps

 

[2Tiggies]

This

Since then I always made sure I drank plenty of water before, during and after the flight and it definitely made a big difference.

The most common mistake people make is to think they only need to drink extra water during the flight. Dehydration is a process, as is rehydration and a bottle of water is not an instant fix. You should be drinking extra water from around 24 hours before your flight and continue to do so afterwards.

Other, possibly obvious things to keep in mind are to avoid or limit tea, coffee and alcohol consumption during this period. If you are a healthy eater and enjoy high fibre foods, be aware that these soak up fluids and can aggravate dehydration.

 

[alibeau]

Wow, really interesting replies - thanks

Had not considered dehydration. I drink a lot of water at work as we have flitered water 'on tap'!! Once at home it is just so easy to get busy and 'forget' to drink!! I will make a real effort on that front and see if it helps. Don't drink a great deal of alcohol but do have a glass or two on the plane which again will not be helping......

Also I do eat pretty healthily so perhaps that's not helping either in this instance.....

Super advice - thanks

Ali

 

[torsie24]

Before I even opened the thread I thought "dehydration"

Especially in the heat and when you're busy it's easy not to drink as much as you should.

Drink plenty in the parks, and make sure you start and end the day with a lot of water.

 

[2Tiggies]

Had not considered dehydration. I drink a lot of water at work as we have flitered water 'on tap'!! Once at home it is just so easy to get busy and 'forget' to drink!! I will make a real effort on that front and see if it helps. Don't drink a great deal of alcohol but do have a glass or two on the plane which again will not be helping......

Also I do eat pretty healthily so perhaps that's not helping either in this instance.....

Super advice - thanks

Ali

Ali, there is nothing wrong with having a glass of wine on the flight. Just drink some water with it, or at least more than you usually would. If you ever have a headache, the first thing you would normally check is whether you have had enough to drink. It is one of the first signs that you are low on fluids.

Re. the healthy eating, I hope I wasn't confusing in my comment. It is not healthy eating at all that will cause a problem. I meant specifically high fibre grains/products, more so when they have not been processed or refined. You need some carbs, especially if you feel unwell or suffer with motion sickness, but you may do better in this case with some more refined starch. It is also a good idea to eat this before the flight.

 

[alibeau]

Ali, there is nothing wrong with having a glass of wine on the flight. Just drink some water with it, or at least more than you usually would. If you ever have a headache, the first thing you would normally check is whether you have had enough to drink. It is one of the first signs that you are low on fluids.

Re. the healthy eating, I hope I wasn't confusing in my comment. It is not healthy eating at all that will cause a problem. I meant specifically high fibre grains/products, more so when they have not been processed or refined. You need some carbs, especially if you feel unwell or suffer with motion sickness, but you may do better in this case with some more refined starch. It is also a good idea to eat this before the flight.

Yep, gotcha re the fluid levels, also understand re the healthy eating, I do eat a lot of oatbran and wholemeal bread etc.....

I will definately top up my water levels before, during and after the flight but also need to make a conscious effort to do so the rest of the time.....

Glad to hear a glass of bubbly is not out of the question on board as I have ordered a bottle for DH as it is his birthday while we are away but will definately try be more aware of how much water I have had. Worst part is I constantly make sure that the girls have plenty of drinks, they guzzle water like there is no tomorrow, I just need to do the same

Thanks everyone

Ali

 

[2Tiggies]

You sound like a pro on the subject already Ali Go with the wholemeal bread on departure day, but skip the oatbran that morning. That is a major sponge for fluids.

Oh and with all that champers and water, you may want to get queuing for the toilets early

 

[alibeau]

Oh and with all that champers and water, you may want to get queuing for the toilets early

Did I forget to mention my weak bladder??? Only kidding

 

[disneyholic family]

i sometimes get sinus headaches...
the only thing that has any hope of helping me is Otrivin spray.
i don't know if it's sold in the UK (it's made in switzerland)..
i know that it's not sold in the US, so i always take it with me...

i use it prophylactically on the plane (that is, i spray my nose just before take off - and if the flight is longer than 10 hours, i spray again before landing)....

when i'm in orlando, i only use the spray if i begin to get a headache....it gets rid of it right away.....

since overuse causes a rebound effect, i only use it if i start to feel a headache coming on...

 

[Pegasus928]

i sometimes get sinus headaches...
the only thing that has any hope of helping me is Otrivin spray.
i don't know if it's sold in the UK (it's made in switzerland)..

That ia good advice and is something I used to use - especially in the middle east because all the dust and sand was terrible for the sinus'. I had totally forgotten about that to be honest.
Dehydration thing is a big thing for headaches and it was only recently when reading an article about them that I realised how many headaches are actually caused by it. I can't remember the exact figure but I am sure it is in region of 80% - with the other 20% being split between 2 olds and bored husbands on planes

 

[2Tiggies]

Did I forget to mention my weak bladder??? Only kidding

The DIS is such a wonderful place - but we can't solve ALL your problems

 

[disneyholic family]

i forgot to mention that nausea and dizziness can also be symptoms of sinus headaches...
if i let one get out of control (attempt to take advil rather than use otrivin), i will end up in bed with a blinding headache, dizziness, and nausea..

as i mentioned, otrivin is the only thing that will take care of my sinus headache (accompanied by dizziness/nausea)..

by the way, for anyone will hay fever - florida is going to be more of a challenge due to all the palm trees....surprisingly, palm trees are really bad for people with hay fever....i would never have guessed....

 

[alibeau]

Brilliant info from everyone - thanks

I'm really quite hopeful re the flight now but what about the rides? This could be down to dehydration also but if not does anyone take any type of remedy before a day at the parks?

Ali

 

[paulh]

Brilliant info from everyone - thanks

I'm really quite hopeful re the flight now but what about the rides? This could be down to dehydration also but if not does anyone take any type of remedy before a day at the parks?

Ali

i have had vertigo in the past (suffered really bad with it when i got it), due to working in a dusty environment.
Even now its past i still have problems on spinning rides, one of the things with spinning rides is they get worse the older you get due to the build up of dirt in ones ears.
Me i stay clear of the teacups and spinners rest no problem
Paul

 

[2Tiggies]

Brilliant info from everyone - thanks

I'm really quite hopeful re the flight now but what about the rides? This could be down to dehydration also but if not does anyone take any type of remedy before a day at the parks?

Ali

No, the rides are motion related. Some people remain unaffected at all, others can ride very little while many of us just have a certain type of motion we can't handle. I love my white knuckle rides and don't have problems with them. But I have been put off the teacups by a CM when DD wanted to stay on for another round. I know that I can't go in repetitive circles so the centripetal/centrifugal force rides are no good for me. Are you normally affected on rides? If so, what kind of rides?

Most of Disney attractions are very mild and often the hype is all in the setting, rather than the actual movement of the vehicles.

 

[2Tiggies]

Even now its past i still have problems on spinning rides

Me i stay clear of the teacups and spinners rest no probleml

Same as me. This is very common.

they get worse the older you get due to the build up of dirt in ones ears.

You could get yourself a raccoon

 

[paulh]

You could get yourself a raccoon

Naw just have the wife nagging me to get a cotton bud
Paul

 

[2Tiggies]

Naw just have the wife nagging me to get a cotton bud
Paul

 

[alibeau]

No, the rides are motion related. Some people remain unaffected at all, others can ride very little while many of us just have a certain type of motion we can't handle. I love my white knuckle rides and don't have problems with them. But I have been put off the teacups by a CM when DD wanted to stay on for another round. I know that I can't go in repetitive circles so the centripetal/centrifugal force rides are no good for me. Are you normally affected on rides? If so, what kind of rides?

Most of Disney attractions are very mild and often the hype is all in the setting, rather than the actual movement of the vehicles.

Yep similar here, I can do fast or straight up and down but not round and round or upside down

I had a problem with my ears a few years back, they felt like they were blocked all the time. Not wax. I had grommets fitted but they did not help. Think my problem with the rides has got worse as i have got older but always had a problem with round and round even when I was really young. Reading
these posts back, I don't sound like a picture of health do I?


Ali