Migraines in the parks

[cottontail]

Hi: My daughter, son and I get migraines. Daughter's are the worst. Since I have hit the menopause era mine are alot less.

But I know that bending to tie shoes, or any bending can bring them on for some people. Also exhausts from buses, cars etc can do it. She can get sick if she is driving behind a stinky exhaust pipe that is coming into her car. Some of those shampoos that are very flowery will do her in as well.

I have read that when you do not have a migraine that even as little as half a can of coke can trigger a migraine. But not pepsi. Something in the coke. But also if you have a headache starting drinking something with caffein as well as taking meds can help.

My daughter can be near no perfume, even in stores like sears she has to stay away from perfume counters. She cannot pump gas for her car, she will get sick, or any type of spray air fresheners etc.

My husband and I always stayed onsite when the children were younger as we knew one of us three would end up having to take a bus back to the hotel and lay down or me and one of the kids when they were young. Twice in all our trips maids had to work around migraine people laying in the beds, lol.

One other thing that we do each day in the parks is take bonamine before we start our rides to help wade off migraines due to motion. I know dehydration can cause migraines as well, there are so many triggers. Cheddar cheese and msg, are big triggers,

We have to let hubby test the new rides to see if he thinks we can tolerate them, lol.

It is nice to know we are not alone. I am going out tomorrow to see if they sell excedrine migraine, the ones that melt here in canada for her.

Deb.

 

[MommytoMJM]

Raises hand as member of the DisMigraine Club......

I have had mine since I was 10 years old, mine are set off by a lot of things. I am currently trying to find a Dr to get my meds adjusted....sigh....

Just joiining in!

 

[the kabuki]

Glad to know I'm not the only one worried about this!!!! I have to remember my excedrine, & will remember to keep a coke with me at all times! (what else is new) Can't believe I never thought of using them together. I always take them with water. Anyway, what type of perscriptions do you take for your migraines? My dr. perscribed Imatrex, but I can't take it. It made me crazy!!! My limbs got heavy, I was walking slow, and my speach was soooo slurred, everyone thought I was Drunk at work!! Since then, I just stick with excedrine!!

I've done the Imitrex, and the Maxalt. Right now I'm on AMERGE and that is working wonders for me. I take one of these along with one Tylenol #4, the one with codeine, and I can usually avoid a full blown attack.

At WDW, I end up taking a tablet every day. There's just so many sights, and sounds, plus being tired, that it seems a perfect enviroment for them

 

[rcraw45425]

Just a quick question about the T#4, I have a strange reaction to codeine, it absolutely wires me. I was given T#4 for th emigraines years ago, back before they had all the new meds, had tried Cafergot (telling my age) and it made me sick. The #4's gave me the famous codeine itch, I remember sctatching my arms and legs like I had ants crawling all over me. The only way I could take them was to take 1/2, wait about 30 minutes for the edge to go off the migrane, then take the other 1/2

 

[cottontail]

Hi Kabuki:

You say you take an imitrex everyday at wdw as a preventative measure, just wondering, cause my daughter should have done that last year. She missed three whole days out of 9 of our holiday cause of migraines.But her neurologist actually is againist daily use of maxalt/imitrex type of med.

My daughter was doing that for headache until her neurologist said you should only use maxalt/imitrex once or twice a week or she will trigger rebound headaches and she did. But on the otherhand she tried just drinking tea when she arrived home from work with a fullblown attack and the attack lasted almost a week. Thus she has to take something or these horrible headaches just hold on and go on and on.

I went out today to a drugstore but could not find the excedrine migraine (the one that melts).

Deb.

 

[the kabuki]

Hi Kabuki:

You say you take an imitrex everyday at wdw as a preventative measure, just wondering, cause my daughter should have done that last year. She missed three whole days out of 9 of our holiday cause of migraines.But her neurologist actually is againist daily use of maxalt/imitrex type of med.

My daughter was doing that for headache until her neurologist said you should only use maxalt/imitrex once or twice a week or she will trigger rebound headaches and she did. But on the otherhand she tried just drinking tea when she arrived home from work with a fullblown attack and the attack lasted almost a week. Thus she has to take something or these horrible headaches just hold on and go on and on.

I went out today to a drugstore but could not find the excedrine migraine (the one that melts).

Deb.

I don't necessarily take a tablet every day as a matter of prevention. It just seems when we're at WDW it works out that I have the beginnings of a migraine every day there. There's just so much to see and do, plus the walking, watching the kids' constantly, the rides that bang you up, the weather change, lack of sleep.

Typically I'll be fine for a a week or even 2 or 3, then I'll have a week where I wake up everyday with one. You do need to watch with the rebound headaches, that is true. Especially with the Tylenol #4's. If I have to deal with it longer than 4 days, I'll go to the doc who gives me an injection of steriods which usually clears it up after a few hours of rest. I'll only typically need to do that every couple months. The meds usually work pretty good

One piece of advice, which I know is sometimes impossible to follow, is to take the meds, than lay down for at least an hour. I've learned if I try to keep going, it doesn't get better. If I at least lay down for an hour, I usually feel much better afterwards.

I've been dealing with these since I've been 10yrs, I'm 34 now. I see my daughter getting them too now. It took me some time to find the right doctor . Previous docs would balk at giving me pain meds or not strong enough dose. If you're not getting results from your current doc, it may be time to move on

 

[erinz]

I can't remember how long I have suffered from migraines.....I think about 11 years. Hey.....my daughter is 11. Hmmmmmm

Anyway, I'm allergic to the new migraine medications so my doctor prescribes (very relunctantly!) Vocodin, which always helps. Although if I take more than one at a time I throw up

But once the headache got so bad that my Dr Ok'd me to go to the ER and they gave me a shot which took it right away.

So that could be an option if things get really bad for any of you at WDW. You could call your Doc and get OK to go to the ER.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

Let me join the club! My first memory of a migraine was when I was about 8. The worst one I ever had was on my honeymoon cruise ( perfect timing huh!).
Luckily mine have subsided since the birth of my DD which leads me to believe that they were in part hormonal. I also find that a bad sinus head ache can take me into migrane-ville.
Nothing seems to help me except laying down (if I can stand it) in a cool dark place but I eventuallly end up tossing my cookies ( sorry) and then it goes away.

I have noticed that when I get hungry I need to eat or I can get a migrane.
Luckily I've never got a full blown one at an amusement park.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

Well it's been one of THOSE weeks. I'm on the cusp of my cycle and of course I get the BIG monthly migraine. It sucks rocks. I woke up feeling dazed and confused, but refused to take an imitrex. I took some sinus tablets... that took the edge off, so I was able to go back to sleep with a hot pack on the back of my neck. It was Murder. When I woke up a little later, I felt better, and was able to function the rest of the day.

Yesterday, the migraine came back. Lucky for me we were slow at work, and well I got to go home early. AMEN. I took a nap when I got home, and about an hour before we were supposed to go out to the comedy club, I took an imitrex. Half an hour into it, the TUG OF WAR began. It always feels like my cheeks and nose are being pulled forward, while the back of my head is being pulled backwards,and of course the feeling of my chest constricting. It was absolute pain, until 25 minutes later, I was feeling fine.

A bit of caffine and food in my system and I was much better. I Truly hate migraines. Like many others here, I've had the old stand by, Vicoden works but only in the highest dosage, My Doctor is wary of giving me things that will cause addiction... I'll see her tomorrow, and get a refill of Stadol. Does anyone else use it?

Sorry for the vent, Hope everyone has a pain free day.

 

[erinz]

I took an imitrex. Half an hour into it, the TUG OF WAR began. It always feels like my cheeks and nose are being pulled forward, while the back of my head is being pulled backwards,and of course the feeling of my chest constricting. It was absolute pain, until 25 minutes later, I was feeling fine.


Have you told your doctor about those side affects? I used to get a feeling of chest constricting and when I told my doctor she told me to NEVER take the medication again. I think for some people it can harm the heart.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

I took an imitrex. Half an hour into it, the TUG OF WAR began. It always feels like my cheeks and nose are being pulled forward, while the back of my head is being pulled backwards,and of course the feeling of my chest constricting. It was absolute pain, until 25 minutes later, I was feeling fine.


Have you told your doctor about those side affects? I used to get a feeling of chest constricting and when I told my doctor she told me to NEVER take the medication again. I think for some people it can harm the heart.

Thanks for the concern. Yes I have mentioned it, and she said not to worry. The first time I ever had Imitrex, it was in shot form, and the doc in the ER said. "It might feel like you're having a heart attack. Don't worry, you're not, it's just an odd side effect. You're fine." and he went on his way.

 

[NotUrsula]

I had them for twenty years before I finally connected with a good neurologist. Seven years later I'm down to only one or two migraines a year. The magic fix for me was Calan (verapamil), which is a calcium-channel blocker most commonly prescribed for angina patients. I took it regularly for 3 yrs, along with the usual emergency meds that I had to carry in case of an attack. After 3 yrs I was able to taper off it with no return of the recurrent migraines. Now I don't even bother to carry meds anymore, unless I'm going to be doing a lot of night driving or going somewhere where I'm likely to be trapped in a smoky atmosphere.

I can't tell you how much nicer life is without the constant shadow of migraine.

 

[disgal1]

I know this sounds weird, but when I get them at home, I get in the bathtub with water very warm, and shallow. a large cup of coffee, a coke with my 1 advil liquicaps 1 or 2 excedrin, I also put a very cold wash cloth on my eyes. I sit in the tub for about 45 min. and keep adding hot water. If I am feeling nauseated, I just sit by the tub and soak my feet.

If I am travelling, I do all but the tub till I can get to the hotel.

an old doctor I used to work with told me that really warm water on the feet helps relieve pain elsewhere.

Now, this only works for me at the beginning of a headache, doesn't help much later, It goes away while in the tub, or soaking my feet, but then comes back after.

Staying well hydrated is key to prevention, doesn't always work, but is helpful ,

 

[DisneyMim]

Great thread. Just wanted to chime in again and add that since I started menopause, this past year, my migraines have gotten a lot better. I still get them once in a while, but they don't seem to last as long. Thought this might give some hope to some people. My husband has started getting them within the past few years and we haven't figured out what triggers his yet. The doctor had him on meds, but like me, they didn't help.

Best wishes and good health to everyone going to Disney or anywhere and hope all your vacations are migraine free!!

 

[the kabuki]

I had them for twenty years before I finally connected with a good neurologist. Seven years later I'm down to only one or two migraines a year. The magic fix for me was Calan (verapamil), which is a calcium-channel blocker most commonly prescribed for angina patients. I took it regularly for 3 yrs, along with the usual emergency meds that I had to carry in case of an attack. After 3 yrs I was able to taper off it with no return of the recurrent migraines. Now I don't even bother to carry meds anymore, unless I'm going to be doing a lot of night driving or going somewhere where I'm likely to be trapped in a smoky atmosphere.

I can't tell you how much nicer life is without the constant shadow of migraine.

Thanks for that info on the CALAN. My next doc appt. we were going to be discussing putting me on the anti-seizure meds(can't think of the name right now). They were originally for people with seizures, but they've found they help with migraines too. I'll have to bring up about the Calan. Did you have any side effects from it? I was told with the anti seizure there could be some big side effects, which is why I haven't started trying them yet.

 

[cottontail]

Hi: Last night my daughter just added elavil 10 mg to her beta blocker atenolol 50 mg twice a day for migraine prevention. But if this does not work we will have to consider calan too.

Deb.

 

[erinz]

Thanks for the concern. Yes I have mentioned it, and she said not to worry. The first time I ever had Imitrex, it was in shot form, and the doc in the ER said. "It might feel like you're having a heart attack. Don't worry, you're not, it's just an odd side effect. You're fine." and he went on his way.

Wow! I've always thought my doctor was too paranoid!

Maybe I should try it again!

 

[qtwns]

Can you/have you/should you use Excedrine Migraine as a preventive measure? We leave next Fri. ( ) and I battled migraines all last weekend. I also have a very stressful week ahead, and that usually triggers a migraine for me. I don't want to be sidelined at all at WDW, but I don't want to do anything stupid either. Advice anyone?? Thanks.

 

[the kabuki]

Personally, I don't like the Excedrin, but I'm waaayyy past any over the counter working for my migraines.

FYI-Excedrin migraine has caffeine in it. You'd want to watch your intake of drink/food that has caffeine also. Too much can also trigger migraines.

 

[cottontail]

I think for your upcoming trip if motion type rides trigger your migraines I would take something like bonamine before you go to the parks. My daughter and I do this before our park days.

I would also make sure you wear a hat and sunglasses for the sun, keep some small snacks in your bellybag like arrowroot cookies, water (getting hungry/dehydrating is also a trigger).
I would have the medicine with you but only take it if you feel a migraine coming on, but do not wait to take the medicine. If your migraine gets going without any meds it will just keep going. This is what the neurologist told us, it will only escalate and nothing will get rid of it. Maybe get into
some sort of airconditioned area for a bit of a break if you feel ill as well. Have fun.

Deb.