Migraine sufferers on cruises?

[HNicoleL]

I was wondering if their were fellow migraine sufferers here and how they do on cruises.

[casper4095]

I am a fellow migraine sufferer and after two cruises I am happy to say, so far, I have not had any problems on the ship.

[sept10dsm]

Never a problem on the ship. Hope you have a nice cruise!!

[FloridaLaura]

I suffer from migraines, I used to need Imitrex, but it is getting better I guess, because usually Excedrin Migraine nips it in the bud, If I take it as soon as I feel one coming on. I packed it just in case. I figured with all the extra excitement, late nights, wacky eating I would surely get a migraine, but not a one thankfully. If you are light sensitive when you get a migraine as I am, you can would book an interior room, becasue they are pitch black if needed. I have never had one on any cruise so far. Knock on wood.

 

I usually only get one or two a month.

[HNicoleL]

That's very good to hear. I'm going to bring Imitrex just in case, but I really don't want to have to be confined to my room with the lights off for a half hour.

[DonnaK]

I bring my all my prescriptions (Imitrex, Fioricet, etc) in the event of an attack, and I avoid alcohol and cigarette smoke which are migraine triggers for me. I make sure I always wear sunglasses outdoors in the daytime so that I don't become photophobic. Sometimes I'll pre-medicate with Excedrin Migraine in the mornings, and make sure that the amount of caffeine I consume is consistant with the amount I am used to at home. (Decaf coffee, but lots of iced tea.)

[sept10dsm]

My first migraine was the worst and I really didn't know what is was. I was older to start getting them. I lasted about a week!! One thing I did since then is take feverfew each day as a natural preventive. I have had a few migrines since but most have only lasted a day or two. Just a thought to help avoid them or at least the severe ones.

[gxchan]

I've had migraines my whole life, been on two cruises and didn't have a problem. But I always take my prescription meds with me when I travel (land or sea) just in case.

[crusinmama06]

Drugs! And lots of them! ;)

 

No actually, if I am smart about it then I am fine. If I'm not, then I might as well stay in bed all day. :rolleyes:

 

One time I was dumb. Once when boarding a plane to go to Phillie to catch a connection to Miami, I figured we could eat on the plane. It didn't happen. They didn't have food on the plane. I ended up getting soooo sick that after landing I ran off the plane and threw up. :eek: And then spent the rest of the day (in the hotel) with a migraine that wouldn't go away even with Vicodin.

 

So now I MAKE SURE I have snacks for myself and I keep my caffeine levels the same as I do at home. I have my meds with me (Excedrin Migraine with Maxalt and Vicodin if it gets really bad)

 

Oh and I NEED to stay hydrated when we have a beach day. The day we were at Labadee, I came back on Freedom with a MAJOR migraine. We had reservations for Portofino that night and I could barely make it through dinner. I left before dessert.

 

I was getting migraines daily. Now I am down to weekly as long as I keep on top of things.

 

So keep hydrated (especially on beach days). Keep your caffeine levels the same (if you drink coffee in the am, then make SURE you have a cup on the ship at the same time). And stay on top of the migraine by taking a med to stop it before it gets to the point of no return. And you know what I am talking about.

[42trvl]

I have been getting migraines for what seems like forever. When traveling, I try to stick as close to a regular schedule as possible with sleeping, eating and drinking - I need to have some coffee, tea or soda at regular intervals (about 4 cups a day). I make sure I have whatever medications I would use at home with me. Typically, I get them less frequently when on a cruise (I'm sure it has to do with the less stressful environment), but they do happen and I just treat them the same way I do at home. I also find that laying down after taking the Imitrex helps it work better/faster, so I just try to give myself some extra time so that I can eventually get back to doing things. Can't say I've never lost some fun/touring time to my headaches, but it's been manageable and better than not going at all!

[Pappy64]

Isn't it funny how you don't have migraines on the cruise? What does that say about stress and migraines? I take Maxalt for mine. I just make sure that I have a full prescription before leaving. I also try to avoid the casino and anywhere there might be lots of smoke, drink lots of water and exercise. But again.......never had one on a cruise.

[brn2crz]

Well.Without getting too graphic for our male guests..

 

I have migraine type headaches twice a month.(you ladies can figure those 2 times out) ....mine only started about 2 years ago..(again you ladies can figure out why)....mine only occur around 330 in the AM...nd are pretty severe,but I treat them with increasing circulation to the whole body,and hot/cold baths....

I have not had one on a cruise,but last Oct the night before we boarded Mariner I had the worst one I have ever had...I bet the folks next door (at the Radisson)thought someone was being killed :D So that was not the way I wanted to start mine trip out...

In January we board Voyager on the 27th....That is right in line with when I should have one...But...I only live 20 min from the port this time,so that should be ok...

I am just gonna watch what I eat as tomatoes are a big trigger for me,and keep my magnesium/calcium in check...and hope for the best...If not...I have a deck 10 aft...So at least I can scream with out bothering too many folks!!:eek:

[wolfganghowell]

I too have never had one on a cruise (knocking wood right now). Had them for over 24 years now but blessedly maybe only 1-2 a year now. I agree with what everyone has said - have your meds with you just in case. Mine have no discernable triggers so I count myself fortunate that the "evil" things I do on a cruise have never contributed (lack of sleep, no regular routine, change my caffeine usage, drink and I confess to those smoky things in the casino - don't yell at me, I'm weird, I ONLY do it while gambling) I believe they have Excedrin Migraine in the shipboard shop but not even the prescription stuff can stop mine - but they can keep me from writhing in a fetal position on the floor. Best wishes to all of us that migraines go away forever!

[marci22]

Ask your doctors about Maxalt- it's the only thing that is guaranteed to work for me and works in 20 minutes to 1 hour, reliably.

[wolfganghowell]

Yep - maxalt and Imitrex are the big guns. Be sure and check them out.

[island284]

Surely you know that MSG is a major cause of migraines and many eating establishments use it. When eating somewhere new, I always ask if what I am ordering has MSG.

 

My TA always lets RCL know about my "allergy" and it is in the paperwork that the ship receives.

 

On boarding day I ALWAYS bring a "Chef Card" to leave with the dining people informing them I cannot eat anything prepared with MSG (Accent). I also inform my waiter. So far so good. Sometimes the waiter will let me know that I don't want to order such and such. I take his word for it and avoid that food.

 

shansher

[brn2crz]

Surely you know that MSG is a major cause of migraines and many eating establishments use it. When eating somewhere new, I always ask if what I am ordering has MSG.

 

My TA always lets RCL know about my "allergy" and it is in the paperwork that the ship receives.

 

On boarding day I ALWAYS bring a "Chef Card" to leave with the dining people informing them I cannot eat anything prepared with MSG (Accent). I also inform my waiter. So far so good. Sometimes the waiter will let me know that I don't want to order such and such. I take his word for it and avoid that food.

 

shansher

 

oh yeah,duh...another huge trigger for me :(

[ssaa]

We're getting ready for our first cruise, but whenever we travel, we carry Imitrex, Advil and anti-acid tablets ( I get very queasy when I have a migraine). Since light and sound sensitivity can be excruciating during a migraine, I also take ear plugs and the eye-patch thingy (the type they used to give on flights, so you can cover your eyes and block out all the ambient light).

 

Have a super cruise!

[sherry7]

I usually get 3-5 migraines a month, but I've never had a full-blown one on a cruise. I take Topamax (daily preventative), and Relpax if I get a migraine. I also get Botox shots and nerve blocks every 6 weeks. Before all of these treatments, I used to get migraines practically everyday.

 

I always take my migraine medications with me EVERYWHERE...they're constantly in my purse. I've been lucky so far on cruises...I think it's because I'm so relaxed. :)

[Sue L]

Well.Without getting too graphic for our male guests..

 

I have migraine type headaches twice a month.(you ladies can figure those 2 times out) ....mine only started about 2 years ago..(again you ladies can figure out why)....mine only occur around 330 in the AM...nd are pretty severe,but I treat them with increasing circulation to the whole body,and hot/cold baths....

I have not had one on a cruise,but last Oct the night before we boarded Mariner I had the worst one I have ever had...I bet the folks next door (at the Radisson)thought someone was being killed :D So that was not the way I wanted to start mine trip out...

In January we board Voyager on the 27th....That is right in line with when I should have one...But...I only live 20 min from the port this time,so that should be ok...

I am just gonna watch what I eat as tomatoes are a big trigger for me,and keep my magnesium/calcium in check...and hope for the best...If not...I have a deck 10 aft...So at least I can scream with out bothering too many folks!!:eek:

 

 

Check with your doctor for Relpax, best stuff ever created. Within 30-60 minutes it is gone. No side effects for me which is great sine Imitrex gave me shakes and heart palpitations.

[LoveCruisin4Fun]

Thank goodness I have not had one while vacationing on a cruise. I frequently get them, but usualy quickly relieve them with Amidrine.

[powelweb]

Like brn2crz, I get migraines 2 or more times a month- I've had this for the last 7 years.

 

I usually end up with at least 1 migraine on a cruise, probably due to the travel changes/ flying, etc.

 

I take amitriptyline as a daily preventative, imitrex when I feel the tingles coming on, and Floricet in case all else fails.

 

It was only several years ago when my doc started me on the imitrex, and since my health plan would only give me 9 pills at a time, I was too cautious about taking them as soon as I felt it. Much better now.

 

I recall having a migraine the morning we were leaving for a 9 night cruise- I couldn't get out of bed to pack, so DH packed for me- 1 pair of shorts for the whole trip.

 

I also remember getting a bad migraine on disembarkation day, and we were flying out of Miami back to Boston- oh that sucked., but DH scored points that day by making friends with the stewardesses so that we could have 2 empty seats next to us, so I could stretch up and sleep it off.

 

For me, the imitrex works fine as long as I take it immediately.

 

So take your meds with you, and be prepared to enjoy your cruise, one way or another.

 

Wendy

[dachshunddoglover]

It's nice how we who suffer can help each other out. I don't get them very often (learned how to avoid my triggers) but when I do, they are really bad. I've tried several of the drugs listed here but always had side effects, then my doc suggested a drug called ZOMIG. Fantastic!!!!!!! No side effects for me at all and really knocks the headache out. If any of you are not happy with your medication, ask your doctor to give it a try. I keep it with me always. Thankfully never had one on a ship. (knocking on wood now ;) )

 

Happy Sailing to All with no headaches!! E-Beth

[sherry7]

Check with your doctor for Relpax, best stuff ever created. Within 30-60 minutes it is gone. No side effects for me which is great sine Imitrex gave me shakes and heart palpitations.

 

 

Imitrex did the same thing to me too...I thought I was having a heart attack, and DH rushed me to the emergency room! :eek: I've tried just about every prescription migraine drug out there, and Relpax works the best for me too.

[bearandbee]

Surely you know that MSG is a major cause of migraines and many eating establishments use it. When eating somewhere new, I always ask if what I am ordering has MSG.

 

My TA always lets RCL know about my "allergy" and it is in the paperwork that the ship receives.

 

On boarding day I ALWAYS bring a "Chef Card" to leave with the dining people informing them I cannot eat anything prepared with MSG (Accent). I also inform my waiter. So far so good. Sometimes the waiter will let me know that I don't want to order such and such. I take his word for it and avoid that food.

 

shansher

 

I also suffer from migraines and sometimes MSG triggers them for me too, so could you please tell me what is a "Chef Card"?