SkydivingNurse 0 #1 May 17, 2004 I was just wondering, because I get them, usually my cycle for getting them is when the weather either changes from winter to summer or the reverse. If anyone does get them, does skydiving affect them? A cluster headache, btw, is like a migraine's not so nice cousin. Think migraine, magnify the pain level by about a billion, shorten the duration to a few hours, and get them up to three times a day for a few weeks to a month. Life sucks when I get them, and now that I'm going to be jumping again soon, I was wondering if it could affect me in the air. Thanks in advance for any help. http://www.clusterheadaches.com/newvisitors.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
obelixtim 150 #2 May 17, 2004 Sounds like you won't be enjoying the jump much anyway...so yes it will affect your jump.....but if it means you are not focussed on the jump it does have other implications......and that could cause probems..... If you arn't 100% switched on....jumping might not be a good idea......whats the opinion of your Doctor about your symptoms???...My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samurai136 0 #3 May 17, 2004 Try taking a magnesium supplement in the morning. Or talk to your doctor about it. Ken"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
apley 0 #4 May 17, 2004 I don't get Clusters, but had a close friend who lived the horror for many years. My expertise is limited to my discussions with him , and a book I read on the subject. From what I remember, the "triggers" would not include skydiving, per se, but could be related to the stress of skydiving if it's there. Hearing that the weather might be a trigger surprises me, as it was never mentioned. I'm sure you already know that alcohol and cigarettes are HUGE documented triggers common with many sufferers. If not, I hope that comment helps you, cause I wouldn't wish that kind of pain on anyone... Anyway, I'm guessing that you will just have to experiment due to the fact that Medicine does not have the definitive answers that suit everyone who suffers from Clusters. I do remember the 2 things that helped my friend... OXYGEN and ERGOTOMINE. Both seemed to provide some relief, but my point is with the OXYGEN. We are breathing thinner air on the way to altitude, and that might be the basis for a bit of caution when you decide to experiment. Just know that you may want to ride the plane down if the Cluster starts during that period. There's no shame in giving it a pass when you aren't airworthy, and I'm sure your friends will be behind you if you decide to ride down... Good luck, my friend. Who knows, skydiving may actually HELP you! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
3ringheathen 0 #5 May 18, 2004 I occasionally get extraordinarily intense headaches that feel like someone has plunged an ice pick into my skull. Mine are unusual in that they tend to come on fairly abruptly, and rarely last much more than a minute or so. They sound like clusters in that they are pretty intense, tend to happen fairly frequently for a while, and then stop for months on end. I don't know what to make of them. They sometimes occur on the ride to altitude, but never on jumprun or during a jump. I suspect that the increased heart rate, blood flow, and adrenalin that accompany a jump tend to prevent or mask such symptoms. I'm also fairly certain that I could manage to function anyway if my life depended upon it, but there is no freaking way I would jump if one were in full force just prior to exit. YMMV -Josh If you have time to panic, you have time to do something more productive. -Me* *Ron has accused me of plagiarizing this quote. He attributes it to Douglas Adams. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydivingNurse 0 #6 May 18, 2004 I'm trying my best to give up the smokes , and I don't think I'd be drinking before jumping, I like having all my parts and pieces intact, and I think I'd be grounded if I had had anything to drink. Safety first, and my DZ is awesome with that. The only thing that seems to prevent them is Inderal, but that tends to kill any adrenaline production in the body. I used to take some before shooting pool in my league, ended up MVP of my team, but that sort of flat affect no enjoyment feel seems counterproductive to skydiving. Sometimes adrenaline can be a good thing. I've not had (knocking firmly on wood) any hard pulls, but a shot of the go juice seems like it would help. I think I may have to wait until this cycle is over, which sux, but I'd rather watch a vid and read the SIM than worry about something going wrong and being totally my fault. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
