The plump oranges that dangled precariously from laden boughs told one story The sky told another. It was going to rain, hard.At sea level in Puerto de Santa Maria, this meant a sudden surfeit of surface water to mingle with the mud and diesel fuel already plastered across the road surface The BMW coped with predictable surefootedness. I would be interested to know if you get migraines in any other situations, or if you have a family history of migraine. You might want to discuss with your doctor the possibility of taking two doses of a drug called acetazolamide (known as Diamox) – one tablet the day before you fly and a second on the day of the flight. The best-known triggers are bright lights, certain foods (such as red wine and caffeinated drinks), stress and hormonal factors.
But changes in oxygen and barometric pressure can act as triggers for a small number of people. Migraine headaches can be triggered off by a number of things. I would suggest that you ask to talk to a counsellor or nurse in the oncology department who has experience of palliative care – treatments that are used to provide symptom control and comfort, rather than cure. Paracetamol lessens the headache, but does not usually get rid of it completely, and I am usually OK the following morning.
I am 55 (female), I always drink lots of water and this has only happened during the past 10 years. Any suggestions how to stop these headaches?
Dr Fred Kavalier answers your health question:
This could be an unusual form of migraine, triggered off by changes in the pressure of oxygen that you experience in the aeroplane cabin. When I travel by air, I always develop a severe headache during or immediately after the flight. I suggest you get a copy of the booklet Dying with Cancer, published by CancerBacup ( .uk), whichhas a helpline – 0808 800 1234 – staffed by specialist cancer nurses.Please mail your questions for Dr Fred to health independent.co.uk. Because the cancer is in the lungs, this might mean you will develop breathing problems or shortness of breath.
