Ooops. I'm one of those people who didn't know that, and I drink gallons of the stuff!

Another reason why I am thankful for FT. Thanks!

Another Migraine sufferer. Only once had one while flying - not fun but it was a short flight. I was glad I didn't vomit. Now I carry Imitrex shots with me - works well in the thigh and only takes 7 minutes or so for me to releive my headache. I used to just suffer but now I realize it doesn't have to be that way. For those who take the pills - FYI - it is cheaper for me to get 12 shots in a month than 9 pills - something to consider with insurance. My physician had only prescribed 2 shots per Rx but after talking to the ins company I can get 12 so I only have to pay the co-pay once.

Agree that changes in pressure or weather can be a trigger.

cejkwj

Flying in general usually gives me a slight headache-I believe due to the air press, plane fuel and others cologne/perfum. Of course I do the normal w/ some OTCs before I get on board and for some reason if I sit in the back of the plane I don't get as bad of a headache. Don't ask me why...but it works for me.

If for some reason I can't nip it in the bud and it turns into a migraine and bc no other treatments have seemed to work in the past for me this is my approach:

Tylenol #3 &
3-4 Advil &
cool towel that covers the eyes-trying to make it as dark as possible &
move away from anyone w/ cologne/perfume or scented lotion (if possible) &
turn the air vent on HIGH &
a real coke not diet &
and try to get some sleep

I know the T3 and Advil at the sametime seems like alot ....but like I said nothing else helps me..

btw interesting post.

I have the same problem w/my insurance company. I have my Doctor give me two prescriptions one for Imitrex and one for Maxalt. Of course I don't take them at the same time, but when my prescription for Imitrex runs out I can use the prescription for Maxalt without triggering an international incident with the insurance company. I think its horrible that insurance controls our medical system. Sometimes you have to find a Doctor that will go to bat for you against the insurance company. I have found that Dr's that have migranes themselves are the best RoseMary

Caffeine does seem to help. My migraines is accompanied by unbelievable vomiting. I take CAFERGOT in a suppository as well as Prochlorperazine suppository. OK this is more than some of you wanted to know but it has been a lifesaver for me and probably the flyer next to me too. RoseMary

Oh, the Saturday migraine! I forgot about that. Not only are migraines triggered by release from sudden stress (I, too, found my migraines started just as the stressor was finishing), but there is the caffeine withdrawal headaches, which can turn into migraines.

In the 1080s, I noticed I religiously got migraines on Saturday, lasting through to Sunday, until my doctor quizzed me about my caffeine intake. Sure enough, in the efforrt to lose weight, I drank a lot of regular coffee (8-10 cups/day) at the office, but then only 1 or 2 cups on the weekends. That was when caffeine withdrawal was just starting to become known. I switched to mostly decaf during the week and at least THAT trigger stopped (still had other migraines, though).

I've got one of those migraines right now. Coupled with the Nor'easter going on right now, and even Imitrex isn't working. Went to bed with it last night and it's still here this morning.

I'm hoping that if I get up and move, it will subside a bit. But I know it probably won't.

Has any of you found that the mere "talking" about a headache gives you one? That used to happen to me when I was in my '20s.

Rita

I am a migraine sufferer as well and always take 1/2 gravol and then Imitrex, which helps with the nausea.

Elli

I get hasseled by these headaches and migraines quite a bit.
Everytime I fly I always bring with me tablets, but once I forgot them and I got one killer headache. The cabin crew gave me lots of orange juice. Not the cheap stuff but real hearty with the pulp and everything. To my astonishment it really worked!! So give it a go in an emergency.

A few things to add. After years of suffering from migraines, my physician referred me to a neurologist who prescribed Imitrex. However, the neurologist advised me to try something before taking the injection: the second I felt a migraine developing, I should take Tylenol and Advil together. (Up until this point, I had relied only on Tylenol to combat the pain, and my migraines frequently developed into the full-scale darken the room, don't make a sound, nobody move, I'm in agony headache.) I was amazed at how effective the combination of the two drugs was in my case, and I never had to resort to taking the Imitrex.

The second point is that like a couple of other posters, my rate of migraines started to fall off in my early fifties. I'm 55 now and can thankfully say that I have had only one migraine in the last 12 months. There are some benefits to aging.

And finally, I don't recollect seeing a reference on this thread about whether a tendancy to migraines is hereditary. I know that in my case, my mother, and many in her family, suffered from migraines. My daughter does, although with less frequency than I did when her age.

My mother and, I think, grandmother suffered from migraines, as do I.

I also think migraines are hereditary. My mother suffered from them as do I. We don't have any children, so I didn't pass them on.

Elli

My grandmother suffered from terrible migraines and died of a brain tumour in her 30s. My dad has awful migraines (though he's had a lot of luck with a physiotherapist), and I get sinus migraines.

For some reason my brother and sister lucked out and hardly ever get headaches, even.

I had a migraine over the weekend because I didn't catch a sinus problem in time, only just starting to feel awake and no longer nauseous. sigh.

The good news: if I recall correctly, in Sacks' book, he reports a strong correlation between high intelligence and suffering from migraines.

I knew there had to be a good reason I had migraines. Now that I hardly ever get them, though, does that mean I'm losing my intelligence?