I have to Fly on Friday morning at 6am. I'm in my cycle and the first one hits usually around 8am or within 15 min of when I first wake up.  Does anyone know what I can do to avoid an attack or manage them before, during and after the plane trip. My flight is a 3 hour flight.

What kind of meds do you have?

When I absolutely positively HAVE TO have pain free time, I go on 50MG a day of prednisone. It guarantees me pain free time.  I can't go on it long term, but for a short term fix, it guarantees me pain free time.

If you have imitrex injectable, the airlines will let you carry it on the plane. Freaks your seat mate out a bit but it'll stop the beast.

Guiseppi

I'm running out of imitrex injections and i'm trying to save them for the plane but i just hit a 2 hour 7-8 and had to end it. that's all the stuff i have. i heard something about some kind of over the counter mix of sinus meds and something? i'm not sure.

i dont have a dr where i am and dont think i'll be able to get to one before the flight..

I don't know if it is with you but the pill form of Imitrex/Imigran can now be bought OTC here. Quite a few people I know use pill triptans prophylactically to get a few hours sleep (Frova can be very good for this if used occasionally)

Failing this, water, water and more water and caffeine/taurine is all I can think of


W

amended to add: Sorry! Just checked and although UK and Germany went OTC in 2006, you don't until 2009 in the USA. Wonder why that is?

Here's a free-from outpouring of ideas - in lieu of an imitrex injection...

Don't panic. Get up earlier and take your hit if you need to early and be done. Get enough sleep. Don't drink before your flight. Avoid any triggers. Breathe. Contact the airline about arranging for 02 to be on the plane in case of emergency.

Try to stay awake on your flight. Buy a "red bull" in the concourse to bring on the plane with you. Ask for ice from the flight attendant at the first sign of a hit.

This is going to sound weird to you, but I got hit on a 5 hour flight once and I high-tailed it to the bathroom just to not be in the public eye.  There is an air-vent like the ones over everyones seat in the bathrooms.  I sucked at that air-vent and 10 mins. later I was o.k.  

Def contact the airline about O2 on the plane.  Also, get oyur fave abortive (sounds like trex inj) and save it for the plane.

Def find an energy drink with taurine AT THE AIRPORT.  First sign of a hit...... ice it and chug it.

Some people find relief through message or that relaxation method (anyone got a link??).  If a bag of frozen peas does the trick, ask the flight attendant for come ice (as crushed as posible).

For me, i use Zyprexa as a last resort abortive but you wont be able to get it without a doctor who has seen that it can work.

Keep reading and replying to this thread.  I have flown while in cycle and my hits did not get WORSE because of the flight.  Just know what you can use and beat down the beast.

someone offline mentioned a sinus medicine and something else.. like benadryl mixed w tylenol or something.. anyone heard anything about this combo?

mathieulives wrote on Dec 11^th, 2008 at 1:52am:

someone offline mentioned a sinus medicine and something else.. like benadryl mixed w tylenol or something.. anyone heard anything about this combo?

I could be wrong, but you may be thinking about Sinutab--it's a combination of chlorphenaramine maleate, pseudoephedrin, and tylenol.  Don't know if it's still around.  There was a single reference to it in a medical journal some years ago--that it might be of use in aborting a CH attack.  Can't put my hand on it right now.

My doctor at the time was all over that.  He had me take it during a couple of cycles in the mid-seventies.  Unfortunately, (for me at least) it did little or nothing.

I wouldn't depend on it--better to listen to some of the other suggestions made earlier, IMO.

Best,

George

I used to log over 100 flight legs per year and getting hit on an airplane with the seatbelt sign on, is a nightmare. I'm a pacer and it kills me to be strapped in place. I always carried a little card to hand to a flight attendant and/or passengers next to me:

******************************************************

I suffer from a rare defect in my brain called “Cluster Headaches” that can cause very intense, extreme pain for 30-60 minutes. During an episode I will have a swollen bloodshot eye, my nose will run heavily and I will not want to speak or answer questions.

I may hold my head and rock, so it can be very disturbing to see an attack. It’s not contagious and I’m really not crazy or dangerous – it’s just the incredible pain causing me to look like it. Some ice wrapped in paper towels will be greatly appreciated

Rest assured that I will be OK soon – I just need to ride it out.  

Please feel free to explain this to others that may be concerned. The only after effect will be embarrassment, but I will be happy to explain more when it’s over.

*******************************************************

I'm always amazed at how supportive and helpful flight crews were over those years. I even ran into a flight attendant who had previously worked as an ER nurse and had seen an attack. She asked me if my Doctor had prescribed Triptans and I was about to get irritated at the question - when she slyly slipped me a Zomig NS that she carried for her migraines.

Marc

Marc wrote on Dec 11^th, 2008 at 10:52am:

I used to log over 100 flight legs per year and getting hit on an airplane with the seatbelt sign on, is a nightmare. I'm a pacer and it kills me to be strapped in place. I always carried a little card to hand to a flight attendant and/or passengers next to me: ****************************************************** I suffer from a rare defect in my brain called “Cluster Headaches” that can cause very intense, extreme pain for 30-60 minutes. During an episode I will have a swollen bloodshot eye, my nose will run heavily and I will not want to speak or answer questions. I may hold my head and rock, so it can be very disturbing to see an attack. It’s not contagious and I’m really not crazy or dangerous – it’s just the incredible pain causing me to look like it. Some ice wrapped in paper towels will be greatly appreciated Rest assured that I will be OK soon – I just need to ride it out.   Please feel free to explain this to others that may be concerned. The only after effect will be embarrassment, but I will be happy to explain more when it’s over. ******************************************************* I'm always amazed at how supportive and helpful flight crews were over those years. I even ran into a flight attendant who had previously worked as an ER nurse and had seen an attack. She asked me if my Doctor had prescribed Triptans and I was about to get irritated at the question - when she slyly slipped me a Zomig NS that she carried for her migraines. Marc

Thanks Marc that's not a bad idea. Thanks everyone these are all good suggestions! Please keep-em coming.. I fly out in 20 hours.

Obviously it would be best to save an Imitrex for the trip, but if you simply can't do it I would suggest the Redbull idea, but get at least 2 large cans.

Thanks to all! Well the insurance company can kiss my ass. Good thing I have insurance, no wait, it does nothing for me - well except take $300 a month out of my check. So I have to ring up a $1000 bill before insurance helps - good thing imitrex costs so much. That's about 2 days of shots. good times. Then I only pay a percentage.

Thanks for letting me vent. I will save an injection for the flight, I will buy a big red bull at the airport, i will bring my note, and run my ass into the bathroom to suck on the vent if I can. I'm concerned about the limited space, I'm not a huge dancer, but I can't be bound by anything unless I do it on my own. - Anything other suggestions and I'll totally listen.

I have this new thing i'm doing where I roll up a sheet, sit on one end, and wrap it up on my back over my head and grab the other end, and I pull down as hard as I can and rock back and forth.. I dont' know how I came up with it but its what comes natural when the beast hits.

You all are the best. No one understands like you do and I'm glad I have you all as family. I hope one day I can be help to someone too.

Here's to the future of pain free days!

PS - US health care sux. >:(

I'd like to hear how the flight went. You're probably still in the air now, but I was wondering........

The flight went great! I was ready with my note - to warn the flight attendants, 2 red bulls (one for take off and landing) I had 2 imitrex injections. The flight already had O2 - even though it's never worked for me.

At take off I started to shadow, tried to chew cinnamon gum (for some reason) and it started, so I hit a cold red bull and it worked or at least kept me shadowing. I drank about 2 diet cokes on the flight and then hit another red bull when I was shadowing on the discent- and I was all good. IOther details:  had head phones on the whole time and i was trying to listen to something soft. At times I had to turn it off. I couldn't really read anything when I tried. So I had to just sit and chill. I couldn't sleep. It was a 3 hour flight on AA. I only had eggs that morning - I've cut out dairy.

I 4 more flights in the next week. So I'm gonna just do the same things and monitor closely.

I can't thank you all enough! Let's hope it continues to work!