Every so often people post on the forums here about a headache that sounds quite like a CH that only happens when they are flying. Often people suggest that it's a problem around blocked ears which are not equalizing pressure with the suggestions of chewing a mint or similar given.

It turns out that there is now a recognized issue where some people get CH like effects - START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE


Perfect place to be posting this post, sat in the lounge awaiting a flight home for the weekend and pleased that this isn't a problem that I encounter too.

It happened to me once flying over Newark, New Jersey.......not their fault, I don't think......Anyway, our old Allegheny Airlines Martin was banking sharply. I always attributed it to sudden changes in pressure or some such. It lasted about only one minute but I had never felt anything like it. It was about 7 years before my CH appeared.

Charlie

In 1981 I took my younger brother to San Diego and we did about everything we could do in three days - the Zoo, Marine base, saw a real submarine come in, boozin' at Bogeys, (girls), visited some too far out freak friends, up to La Holla, and down to Tijuana. 

He had a terribly painful one-sided head pain on the way out with TWA after connecting in St. Louis.  I could see he was in real relentless pain and when we landed, he was reddened and worried it wouldn't go away.  The return trip was blast though, biz class and free drinks, just preparing, but he had no pain at all and none since.  He flies a lot now and doesn't get any type of regular headaches.  It seems just that one time. 

It was his first plane ride and I remember some pain my first ride that hurt, but nothing like he had.  I'm going to e-mail him the article, he still remembers that all-and-everything time.   :)

Come to think of it, that was my first plane trip too.

Charlie

i too have experienced this (appr a dozen times) one of the times the stewardess noticed me and came over to explain that my head is getting decompressed (sp) this was about 25 years ago and she mentioned to take a sudafed 1-hour prior to take off...the majority of the ones i have gotten are during the landing,and also leave once we touch ground...they are very painful.....Lenny

I travel frequently on business.

When in cycle an airplane ride is a sure trigger.   It is such a certain thing for me that I inject with Imitrex before boarding the plane.

It is entirely different from the ear pressure effect.   

no problems flying to report here.  I love flying.

I call them 'landing headaches' and have had dozens and dozens over the years - just always put them down to suddenly increasing pressure. They're frighteningly close to an ordinary CH and commonly hit K7-8 on the Richter scale.

Never had one while skydiving where the pressure grows even more quickly but I doubt it's because you-know-who is scared of heights.

Quickest cure I've found is quickly drinking cold, fizzy liquids.