I'm in the middle of an episode having been pain free for about a year. I'm just finishing up an overseas posting and will be on a longhaul flight (around 13 hours) coming home next week, and was looking for any management tips you all had for flying. Obviously oxygen is out of the question, and unfortunately meds are too given that I'm living in China at the moment, where any prescription practicly impossible given the time frame.

Which, of course, leaves me backed up against the wall with very few options, but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Nightmare!!!
I once flew back from singapore - 13 hour flight - and had 4 hits. I had not been diagnosed then so had no meds at all.

It might be worth asking the airline if they have medical 02 on board. Don't know if you would get the correct flow rate though. I don't know much about these things, but maybe your own regulator would fit. Might be worth taking it in your hand luggage.

Often an energy drink (red bull) at the very first sign of an attack will knock it back, but I don't know if you can take that on board either with all the regulations and rules they have these days.

Other than that, you will just have to do what I did - suffer through it. I hope some one will come along here and make a better suggestion. Good luck.

When I have to fly like that (I do Korea and back on occasion), I take 100 mg of prednisone a few hours before the flight.  Works every time for me.  It was recommended by my neuro long ago. 

Prednisone helps some people, but he mentioned not having access to meds, so not sure if that would work for him. Caffeine may be your only real option here. Sometimes life with clusters sucks- hope the beast spares you for that flight.

Having flown multiple times with active CH, I rely on having imitrex injections but with red bull or similar for long haul flights and a standby of getting coffee / coke or similar onboard.

With your situation I'd ensure I had energy drinks (make sure you buy them after security or they will be taken off you) and another option is to use pain killers. Whilst this isn't a great option, it is better than nothing. But be very careful about where you fly with narcotic pain killers as some countries do not allow their import with significant penalties.

Other option could be to fly from China to somewhere you can pick up medication on a short flight (Hong Kong, Singapore, etc?) and then do the longer haul flight home.

I'd second the attempt at getting a small amount of prednisone, guarantees 100% pain free for me. Otherwise grab a few red bulls once you're through security, good luck.

Joe

I always travel every week with a sumitriptan pill at hand. I hate them, they make the cycle worse IMO but a full blown CH in a public airport vs the pill and I choose the pill.