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Gill CH.com Newbie Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 3	Flying Apr 9^th, 2009 at 4:15pm As a wife of a newly diagnosed (as in last week) sufferer of cluster headaches, I was wondering if anybody knew of any problems with flying? As we have a holiday booked for 4 weeks time. Thanks Gill
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BMoneeTheMoneeMan CH.com Alumnus Offline In remembrance of KingCazman. RIP Posts: 2674 Portland, OR	Re: Flying Reply #1 - Apr 9^th, 2009 at 4:40pm Greetings, and Welcome. Unfortunately, I do get hit without fail when I fly. Not sure if it's the actual flying, or if it's Murphy's Law. Murphy's Law states: If, for any reason, you do not have access to your Oxygen, you will need Oxygen badly.
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Racer1_NC CH.com Moderator CH.com Alumnus Offline "Well, let's go see." Posts: 4417 Lewisville, NC Gender:	Re: Flying Reply #2 - Apr 9^th, 2009 at 6:26pm Personally flying has never bothered my head.......pissed me of a time or two but my head was ok. Others here have reported they get hit while flying or shortly after landing. I guess it's an individual thing. B
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Guiseppi CH.com Moderator CH.com Alumnus Offline San Diego to Florida 05-16-2011 Posts: 12063 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA USA Gender:	Re: Flying Reply #3 - Apr 9^th, 2009 at 8:32pm I carry my imitrex injectables when I fly. The TSA people have examined them several times. I always bring the box with the actual prescription on them. They have never had any problems with my carrying them. As to flights triggering an attack, fortunately that hasn't been an issue for me, but is for many on the board. Joe
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midwestbeth CH.com Sponsor Offline Posts: 1123 Edwardsville, IL Gender:	Re: Flying Reply #4 - Apr 9^th, 2009 at 8:37pm You might wan't to ask the Dr about Frova. It is a long acting triptan and should give some pf time while in the air. Bonus if the Dr has free samples because it is expensive. Beth
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Lefty

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Re: Flying
Reply #5 - Apr 9^th, 2009 at 8:55pm

I had to fly to London a few weeks ago right in the middle of my cycle

it was only for one day and not that important so to be honest I bottled it at the last moment. I didn't fancy taking a hit 35,000 feet up in the air
(Don't like flying at the best of times).

Do you have imitrex injections? If so I would go with Guiseppi's idea and you should have no problems even if you do take a hit. It's 50/50 and you don't want to miss your holiday....

Lefty...!

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chrisw CH.com Old Timer Offline Posts: 315 x0\|turnersville\|NJ,USA Gender:	Re: Flying Reply #6 - Apr 9^th, 2009 at 10:07pm I never had a problem with flying(other than my usual fear and terror). I even went to the doctor and got valium to calm my nerves and it didnt bother my CH. Hopefully your trip will be great, fun, and pain free.
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ClusterChuck

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Re: Flying
Reply #7 - Apr 9^th, 2009 at 10:41pm

I have flown MANY times, and as a chronic, I am always in cycle. A few of the times, I have gotten hit, while flying, but I think it was just a normally scheduled visit from the beast.

Most of my flights have been hit free.

I agree with Joe (I can't believe I am saying that ... Just don't tell HIM!), make sure you bring his abortive with him, whether it is Imitrex injectable or nasal spray, or zomig, or frova.

Just keep remembering our mantra: Live your life as normal. DON'T stop from doing something, or going somewhere, just because you have clusters! Enjoy life! Live life to the fullest! Don't dwell on the hits, dwell on the pain free times between hits.

Have fun on your trip!

Chuck

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Guiseppi CH.com Moderator CH.com Alumnus Offline San Diego to Florida 05-16-2011 Posts: 12063 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA USA Gender:	Re: Flying Reply #8 - Apr 9^th, 2009 at 11:00pm I agree with Joe (I can't believe I am saying that ... Just don't tell HIM!), he he he
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Gaz Jones

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Re: Flying
Reply #9 - Apr 10^th, 2009 at 4:42am

I am right in the middle of a cluster at the moment and had to fly to Brussells for a couple of days, the only days I have'nt had headaches for the last month was the two days I flew. It may have been a coincidence but I must have flown in a cluster before (i travel lot for work) and don't remember ever having a headache on the plane itself.

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sandie99 CH.com Hall of Famer Offline Wish it, dream it, do it - inspite the pain! Posts: 11975 Finland Gender:	Re: Flying Reply #10 - Apr 10^th, 2009 at 2:36pm Gill, welcome. I'm sorry to hear that your spouse suffers from ch. I haven't got hit during a flight so far, but I have got hit before the flight and afterwards, but it's good to figure out a good and foolproof "just- in-case" plan. All the best, Sanna
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GrandPotentate

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Re: Flying
Reply #11 - Apr 10^th, 2009 at 4:46pm

I had a trip to Finland in the middle of a cycle a few years ago. The trips were long enough that Hits were bound to happen. This was before I had any good abortives, so I just held on and let it rip. It would have been good to get up and walk around, but being in a crowded plane was most disagreeable. Fortunately, your husband will have a more understanding person next to him, than the poor strangers who needed to sit next to me.

I don't think the flying made the cycle any better or worse, but the 8 hour time shift and forced non-smoking screwed me up for a day or two after each trip. Gosh, I wish I had found O2 back then!

Best of luck, hope this works out well for you two. Send us a note when you get there and gloat about what a good time you are having, despite the efforts of the beast.

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Jon

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Gill

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Re: Flying
Reply #12 - Apr 13^th, 2009 at 5:03pm

Thankyou all for your replies, We are still trying to get used to all this, but are determined not to let this hell rule our life.
It would seem that our doctors are not 100% sure it is cluster headaches now, and we are awaiting a neurologist appointment. MS has been mentioned but so has a few things, so we are trying not to jump to conclusions. It sounds like Cluster headaches to us, but we are not the experts. He had one really bad attack where I had to call an ambulance because he collapsed, since then he has had a bad (but manageable) headache always centered around his right eye. CT scan and lumber punctures were clear. Never got a MRI scan. He was put on amitriptoline (hope thats spelt right) and is now on Solpadol and Topamax.
I have never seen my husband so delicate.
Any advice/opinions gratefully recieved.
Thankyou
Gill
x

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Guiseppi CH.com Moderator CH.com Alumnus Offline San Diego to Florida 05-16-2011 Posts: 12063 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA USA Gender:	Re: Flying Reply #13 - Apr 13^th, 2009 at 5:45pm I can't think of anything you haven't done. You're an awesome supporter, you guys are proceeding cautiously with the diagnosis, not jumping to conclusions. All I can offer is my thanks to you as a supporter and our continued prayers you'll get this thing figured out. Joe
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Linda_Howell

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Re: Flying
Reply #14 - Apr 13^th, 2009 at 7:17pm

Gill,

Besides what everyone else has said about being p[repared and taking whatever abortive you have on board, I only have this to say.

I was coming back on a very long flight form the Carribean. I had already used up every single thing I had previously.

I get hit about 45 mins. into the flight right after hitting altitude and had no where to go. Because I also use 02 to abort, I went to the bathroom(yes, those tiny little things) and lo and behold there was this vent in there. The air coming out of there was cold and it was coming out fast. I sat in front of that vent breathing deeply for about 20 to 30 mins. til the headache passed.

No, it was NOT the most dignified way I ever had a headache in public but it worked and I was out of the way of on-lookers. Splashing cold water on my face helped also. I swore I would never ever fly again unless I had all of my meds with me.

Linda

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maro56

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Re: Flying
Reply #15 - Apr 14^th, 2009 at 10:31am

Hi,
last year I toke 9 flights in 8 days in Brazil without a hit neither during nor after. As I have chronical CH, I was taking that period verapamil and topiramaat. Last week, I flew to Prague and again without negative effect but I am still taking profylaxe (verapamil and lithium).
Nevertheless I have always my imitrex injections (sumatriptan) with me!
best regards
marc

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