My family went on a trip last week....it seems like such an innocuous statement, doesn't it? So why does a three day trip instill great fear in me? Migraine. I'm sure many of you out there know that traveling with migraine is always an adventure! My dad was preaching a conference at a church, and until we got there we didn't know anything about the church or the house we were staying in. Anxiety level rising. Then there was kenneling the dog, and being away from her for three days....she's such a sweetie, comes in and cuddles so gently when I have a migraine. Anxiety still rising. Then there was the four hour drive in a car with an AC that's not so thrilling (is quite old), when I know heat is a major trigger for me. Anxiety level through the roof!
So I survived the drive...and the house they put us up in was gorgeous!! In the country, nice and quiet. But we get to the church and its all really bright fluorescent lights, and we end up sitting behind this older guy who's too hard-of-hearing to realize that his hearing aid is whistling at a painful volume and pitch! Here comes the migraine!!
After the first evening at the church, we go to the grocery store for dinner that night and breakfast the next day (migraine tummy and old pizza, not a good combo!). And with migraine brain, I get stuck in the middle of a bright isle in the store, with my dad standing there asking if I want this or that to eat...not a hard question, but migraine brain is not nice to me....cue minor melt down that goes something like: "I don't know. I just don't know. Why is it so hot in here? I don't know what I want. Do they always have to keep it so hot?!?"
All in all, I did pretty good for me! Managed to function during the day all three days. And only give in to migraine pain (which in early stages, anxiety and pain together usually means balling jags for me) in the evening when I was alone in the house with my parents. I always feel guilty about functioning in public and crashing when home alone with my parents...but they keep telling me that its a good thing...manage as much as I can when I can, then let them do what they can for me. My parents have been really great!
Well, we made it home, and the puppy made it home ok. So I'm a lot less anxious. The first evening at home I got a major migraine, but careful management of meds while we were on the road allowed good medication and sleep that night, so everything worked out well.
Will I be less anxious next time we travel? I don't know. But each trip teaches valuable coping skills....and when not to "cope": yes, I do bring my own blankets and two pillows when I travel, along with a migraine kit and a couple of ice packs. I'm ok with "over-packing" because anything that helps me function at all is worth it!
Now on to this week's obligations.....
I think you did pretty good. Hooray for you! :-)
I flew to Ohio last month for a funeral and OMGosh I got one that Sunday morning. Had it at the airport, flying and on the way home. It was horrible.. On top of that my meds just knocked the edge off but when I got home I crashed.
I hate traveling just for that reason only........... migraines..........
You may want to consider a small dose of Xanax before going into a new or stressful situation like what you described. I have a prescription for it from my neuro and it has prevented the stress from acting with other triggers, such as the lights or heat, from causing migs. Just a thought.
Well, I'm already on anti-anxiety medicine.. very similar to xanax but called "tranxene". I've been on it for 20 + years. Sometimes stress will just over ride my anxiety. (I suffer from anxiety disorder/attacks)
My uncle had passed away and I was there for a family gathering not to mention it was that time of the month so the hormones were all out of balance & that played a factor as well.
I took my phenegran for (stomach sickness) and my bupap (for migraine pain). It knocked the edge off. Barometric pressure was an issue along with the compressed oxygen in the cabin of the plane... trigger after trigger on that day....
Airports usually do it for me....I did speak to my neuro about anti-anxiety meds, but he didn't seem to think they'd help. I'd probably be more insistent about it, except we're probably moving, and I'm going to end up at a new neuro re-evaluating everything within a few months anyway....
Glad to hear overall your trip went well. Do try to remember that when we take our Migraine abortive medication at the first sign of a Migraine attack, it works much better then "waiting to see" if it is a real bad one - like some do.
So maybe an idea would be if you are triggered by lights, have the abortive medication available at the first sign an attack is headed (no pun there, really!) your way.
Have a good week
Nancy
I completely agree with you about taking the abortive early: that's good advice. However, due to medicine allergies, I only have one abortive I can take and I have to be very careful how often I take it (ie-not more than 5 pills/day, no two days in a row, not more than 10 pills total in a week). And our first night there was when the lights were really getting me, and I had uber-important stuff the next day and needed the meds for then. Medicine allergies can really complicate an already complicated migraine situation!