migraine

[Deepy]

I have a migraine and I take naproxen. About naproxen I have read same informations, but how will be my migraine influenced, if I dive?

 

[joewr]

Deepy,

I cannot give you information on migranes, but I can welcome you to the Board. I see you know how to use us already, though!

So after the Doc answers your question, why don't hop over to the Introductions and Greets section and introduce yourself to the rest of the gang!

Joewr

 

[syruss32]

I personally would be a little concerned with diving with a migraine. And the naproxyn may cloud your judgement. You'd probably be better off to wait till the migrain is gone.

The additional pressure may also cause you some problems.

 

[BillP]

Hi deepy:

Migraines and diving were covered in some detail in a thread at:

http://www.scubaboard.com/t2166/s.html

I don't really have anything to add to that discussion.

Scubadoc's website has a discussion on migraines and diving at:

http://www.scuba-doc.com/mgrns.htm

Hope this helps,

Bill

 

[scubadoc]

Migraines?

As far as diving with migraine is concerned--there is mixed opinion as to the proper thing to do. Some think it to be an absolute contraindication to diving, others think it to not be a significant problem. The migraine following a dive might be difficult to distinguish from decompression sickness and can possibly be provoked by CO2 retention in a diver. Some divemasters and instructors will disallow diving in migrainous people.The dive master's choice not to allow you to dive is perfectly reasonable. Headache from sinus barotrauma is an entirely different situation. See our web page "Headaches associated with SCUBA Diving" at http://www.scuba-doc.com/headache.html .

Because migraine can cause fainting in some (mostly adolescents), the loss of consciousness would be particularly dangerous underwater. It can also cause severe vertigo, nausea and vomiting and can be produced rapidly by swimming.

Migraine with neurological symptoms or signs is a definite contraindication in the commercial diver.

Migraine may be precipitated by a rise in barometric pressure, among a host of other things. Medications taken for migraine, such as Naproxyn, can cause dizziness and drowsiness which, in combination with the narcotic effects of nitrogen, might also might have adverse effects on the diver.

Migraine with aura has been found to be significantly associated with patent foramen ovale, thought to be a factor in the causation of undeserved decompression accidents. This can be found at the following reference:
Neurology 1999 May 12;52(8):1622-5
Potential source of cerebral embolism in migraine with aura: a transcranial Doppler study. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...ve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10331688&dopt=Abstract

Here is a recent reference about headache in divers: There is a recent article in Headache, Vol. 41, Number 3, March 2001; pages 235-247, Headache in Divers, by William P. Cheshire and Michael C. Ott.

Migraine Link
http://www.ama-assn.org/insight/spec_con/migraine/howis.htm

References from Medline

Indo T, 1990
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=2228597&form=6&db=m&Dopt=r
Swimmer's migraine.
Headache 30(8), 485-487 (1990)

Indo T, 1989
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=2805510&form=6&db=m&Dopt=r
Swimming induced vascular headache
Rinsho Shinkeigaku 29(7), 876-879 (1989)

Kim JS, 1992
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=1285928&form=6&db=m&Dopt=r
Swimming headache followed by exertional and coital headaches.
J Korean Med Sci 7(3), 276-279 (1992)

Mizoguchi K, 1990
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=2097442&form=6&db=m&Dopt=r
Benign exertional headaches induced by swimming.

Best regards for safe diving!
Ern Campbell, MD
Diving Medicine Online
http://www.scuba-doc.com/

"There is nothing-- absolutely nothing-- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats!" --'Water Rat' to 'Mole' in 'The Wind in the Willows' --Kenneth Grahme

 

[yachtopus]

My concern about migrains is that I take imitrex. I understand that imitrex is a vascular constrictor and may cause nitrogen bubbles to accumulate fast in the blood stream. Is this true?

 

[DameDykker]

I have migraene but I never dive during an attac. However, I don't have a problem diving during one of the many headaces that usullay follows when you are a migrane suffere.

But here comes the good news: I hardly ever gets an attac anymore. I stoped eating refined sugars in any form - yes that means no softdrink, no cakes, no deserts and no sweets. And when the hungerpags kicks in I just eat sugar free crackers or something like that. And never skip a meal. If you are suffering really bad you might have to eat every second or third hour. I.e. almost living like a diabetes patient.

The theory behind this is from a book called Migraene by a biochemist. I'm not too sure if the theory hold up to scrutinizing but it works for me.

And the side effects are also good.: no ordinary headaces, much more energy, and I'm loosing weight.

 

[scubadoc]

To "Yachtopus":

Imitrex has a litany of side effects that could be dangerous to a diver. :boom:

The main one is that it can cause "coronary vasospasm" and worsen a preexisting coronary problem. Of course, if you have a coronary problem you should not be diving anyway.

I am not aware that it would cause nitrogen bubbles to form in the blood stream.

To DameDykker:

Great to hear of your remedy for your migraine! I'm sure that there are literally hundreds of people out there who would benefit from your experience. However, there could also be many more who would not obtain any benefit at all. Anecdotal data is good to hear but might not be at all accurate across the board. An example would be another 'remedy' that was sent to me recently. The individual stated that a five hour anesthesia experience had rid him of the migraine attacks that he had been experiencing for years. This is good for him - but again is anecdotal and has not been studied in a scientific fashion (random controlled test). :doctor:

Best regards:
scubadoc
Diving Medicine Online
http://www.scuba-doc.com/url]

 

[DameDykker]

To Scubadoc

This has been tested by injecting persons with and without known migreane with 100 cc of succorose solution and observing their blood sugar content every 15 minuts. The curves for maigraine sufferes and "normals" are quite different.

However, this is not a double blind test and the mechanisme behind the extreem low blood sugar trickering the migreane is somewhat shaky.

I'm not a doctor but I'm working with scientific tests. So I know that not everything is explained sufficently. But it works for me. And it is cheep and easy to test

 

[scubadoc]

Yep!

And it's much cheaper and safer than a five hour anesthetic.