Has anyone ever flown during a cycle? I really want to go to Hawaii for a month in Jan...BUT considering that I never know when my next cycle is going to start, I'm scared to go.

I'm scared that I'll get them, and have to fly home....and my head will explode on the plane LOL....

Can I fly? Or does no one know like usual with this stupid disease!!! LOL

Haven't flown during a cycle, but have taken road trips... Bad idea at least for me.

Changes in elevation/air pressure do have an affect on CH at least for me it does.

I have flown during my cycle and I learned from somewhere on these boards that there are several strategies you can use.

I took energy drinks with caffeine and 1000mg of taurine for take offs and landings.  

I brought my imitrix injections and prepared to shoot as needed!

Some have brought portable O2.

My neuro told me to increase my dose of verapamil.

I also increased the melatonin at night for nighttime hits and to help with time adjustments.

I found that all I needed was the energy drinks.

I flew from Boston to LA; NOT direct flights.  No hits. ;)

The answer is yes/no.  I personally have had no trouble flying, but others have.  

My advice is don't let CH run your life!  Prepare yourself with abortives that you can use aboard the flight if needed, i.e. energy drinks, trex if you use it, and check on the possibility of using O2 on the flight.  If you can use the O2 you can get a small tank that will fit under the seat (D tank).  Check with the airline before hand to be sure there is no issue with medical oxygen.  

I know there are several here who travel on business.  Maybe one of them will advise you more completely than I can.

Jerry

Edit to add:  I usually ask the flight attendent to keep me well supplied with coffee, and explain the reason for it.  Only had trouble with one airline, so I just don't fly them anymore.

Airlines do not allow pressurized tanks of any gas whatsoever. They are bombs waiting to go off.

I would suggest taking Amerge or a similar long-acting triptan just before departing, or have a trex jab available in your carry-on.

If you have a national durable medical goods provider (like Apria or Linde), they can arrange to have O2 delivered to wherever you're staying while you're away.

Thanks Bill.

I had never tried taking O2 aboard, and was not sure abut it.  Thought I remembered someone else getting permission due to a medical condition.

Jerry

I think they might allow the battery-powered O2 generators for folks with COPD (not sure), but the relatively low output of those units would hardly help a clusterhead.

While having to fly in high cycle, I took Frova about an hour before take off.  No ch while the plane was in the air.  

I have gotten hit on my last two trips  in June & July - 3/4 of the flights (there and back.)  I even took triptans trying to prevent...
But for a trip to hawaii for a Month?  I would call up my doc, get whatever preventative works for you set up in case the cycle started, bring abortives, (or have the doc arrange to be on standby in case you see a doc while you are out there.)  I wouldn't NOT go to Hawaii for a month!!!  I'd have a GReaT trip!!!   ;)  
You are talking several months out here - that is time for some great planning, even if your cycle did start while there.   ::)  let it stop you from going to hawaii for a month.  whew.  them islands are sooooo beautiful, I'd rather be in pain in Hawaii then here Any day anyway!!  And seeing they are in the US, my O2 supplier would prolly even have it  ready for me when I got there!!

Woo-hoo!!  makes me want to be on the island of Kauai now.  ;D

Val

That's the other long-acting triptan I was trying to think of - Frova. I've never taken it, but I've heard it lasts the longest of all of them.

GO GO GO!!! Don't let the CH rule your life. Take the advice given -- take your prevents and aborts - make arrangements for an O2 supplier there and go have a great time....

And yes, I'm chronic and have flown all over the world with the damn things. And yes I've gotten hit on planes, trains and automobiles and lived to tell the tale. It is NOT the end of the world - YOU WILL SURVIVE! I spent a month in Australia during a high cycle and did just fine (in between hits). Had a great time.

I carry a couple of cans of Red Bull on planes (you have to explain to the nice security people that its for medicinal purposes, but after you explain what will happen if they take it away from you they tend to understand) and my cafergot (aborts) and hope I don't get hit there, but if I do I'm ready.

Since you're going to be there for a month, find out who can supply you with O2 and take your regulator and mask and your O2 should be at the hotel when you get there. No problem. Then go have a dip in the ocean and forget the CH unless it decides to visit...

And bring me back a hula shirt...  :)

Hugs BD :-*

I flew from London to Abu Dabi in cycle, got hit on the plane, just about managed not to dance, nearly took my mates hand of i was squeezing it so hard. Just took the Imitrex and a hell of a lot of red bull!

I flew from Philadelphia to Texas during cycle, which required two connecting flights on the smaller more cramped planes where the pressure and speed is felt more so than on the huge planes.

I'll agree with the Red Bulls or whatever energy shots work for you. For me regular strong black coffee did it. Coffee while waiting for the plane and I took over-the-counter Dramamine before take off and flew cluster-free.

XOMR

We just got back from flying to Denver and then up into the Rocky Mountains.  Tim, my husband, is towards the end of a 2 month cycle, and he didn't have any hits on the plane ride.  He had a few each night, but nothing out of the oridinary.  He didn't have any trouble being up at the top of mountains (over 12,000 feet above sea level).  Just got hits at night which is typical for him.

I had my first ever attack on a flight from London to NY when i was 18. Not fun

However i recently flew London to Melbourne via Adu Dhabi and back mid cycle and did not get hit at all, and thats 24 hours each way.

I had my imigran injections, but pounding the energy drinks and breathing excercises got me through. A crying baby infront of me almost had me on the way back but i made it....

And somehow it seems to have brought an abrupt end to my cycle since i have suffered 0 hits since returning 4 weeks ago.

I agree with others.... Dont let CH tell you what to do in life. Wait till its not looking then bitch slap it with a holiday somewhere...........

PFD AND PFHoliday

OllyJay

Brew wrote on Aug 13^th, 2009 at 12:29pm:

Airlines do not allow pressurized tanks of any gas whatsoever. They are bombs waiting to go off. .

HEY MAN

YOU CANT SAY THE WORD "BOMB" ON A PLANE! :D