Hi
I have been flying every week for a day trip to Dublin & every time Iāve come back Iāve been very dizzy & sick. Does anyone else notice a connection between flying and Vestibular migraine?
I donāt fly - no reason to but thereās definitely a connection. Dr S, one of top UK VM āexpertsā said it is a VM trigger. Some people are OK with it, others not. You have to remember VM is a āvariant balance disorder and motion sensitivity is common trigger. With a hypersensitive balance system, the brain seeks information whereever it can to keep you balanced. Feet are a useful source of information and flying takes you off terra firma. Changing horizons can confuse the info from the eyes too. Itās not really surprising if one really stops to think about it although no doubt most inconvenient. There are various OTC preparations people use to ease symptoms. Iām sure @turnitaroundās much more familiar with them than I am and will advise, Helen
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Thank you. Iām hoping I can get a doctors note to stop the weekly flying as itās really affecting me
Hey Helen
I directly asked dr s about flying and be told me it would have no effect on my vm but it would be the jet lag and travelling that would set me off . Where did you read he said flying aggrivated it? Iāve been pretty unwell since my flight but Iām putting it down to my period and lack of sleep 
Thanks Amy. I feel sick almost instantly after the flight 
I read somewhere too it can affect you think it was vestibular dot org website.
Oh no hope you feel better soon.
Good luck with getting a ādoctorās letterā. I cannot imagine they will issue one on my say-so, thereās no reason why they should, Iām no medic but VEDA do produce an information leaflet which may assist you.
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YThanks yes thatās the leaflet I read about flying. Well Iām going to the docs as thereās some reason Iām feeling sick & dizzy all the time see what they say! Itās only started since Iāve been flying every week.
Lots of migraineurs/MAVers suffer from travel sickness. Motion/Car sickness is so common as to be almost diagnostic of MAV. Itās indicative of balance issues. Itās just one of the hypersensitivities, like sensitivity to medication that goes with the condition. The preventatives should eventually control this once your threshold tolerance is higher.
Thanks Zoe I didnāt feel Iāll straight after it took a few days so it makes me think it wasnāt the flight more lack of sleep food water ect
Iāve a feeling I read it in one of your posts from way back. But Iāve read it elsewhere too. Itās Motion Sickness as much as anything then with balance issues just the vibration of the plane would get me. Iāve had problems sitting in a car being refuelled or on a tubular kitchen chair.
Can imagine youād be rough after the journey. Everything you attributed it to + the release from stress (remember the āweek-endā migraine, gone by Monday time to go back to work) +, the one that always gets me, ādelayed reactionā. Catches up with you in the end, days later. Still you did well feeling brave enough to do it, well done, and enjoy. Helen
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Itās wierd Iām terrible in cars but train and planes fine , but the car just awful I think a lot of it is the eyes and the movement . Hopefully once my meds fully control it this will no longer be an issue
And thanks Helen itās been a rough few days and Iām sure there are many reasons Iām feeling off , Iām just hoping it eases soon 
I still feel brave for getting on the plane even if I feel crappy ! Hoping the long rest did me good .
A
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Something to keep in mind about flying in airplanes: itās very dehydrating. I once read that the only humidity in the air inside a passenger airplane is from the moisture exhaled into the cabin from the other passengers. So even though you may not feel thirsty, itās probably a good idea to stay as hydrated as possible during the flight.
I always bring an empty water bottle that I can fill before I board the plane, and then I drink it during the flight (in addition to any drinks that they serve). Sometimes if thereās turbulence they wonāt serve drinks so if I have my own water with me at least I know Iāll be able to drink that.
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Maybe thatās why I felt so rough after lol although I did try to drink more
For my 45 minute flight I had a litre of water & then 1.5 litres during the day & another litre on the flight back. So I think I was hydrated enough. As I thought that was a problem. Iām still rough from yesterdayās flight & also got a cold & bunged up sinus too.
I always leave a day on the front and back end to get adjusted when I fly. If I have to be at work on a Monday Iāll fly out Sunday morning. Sleep patterns are also a big trigger for me so red eyes or early morning flights donāt fly for me (pun intended)
My routine is Iāll pick a flight that leaves the day before Iām supposed to arrive, take a couple advil before the flight, relax as much as possible (I donāt work on the plane), eat a little less than usual (and no crappy airport food) then I do nothing once I arrive
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I always take a decongestant 30 mins before landing, to limit pressure on the ears. Agree with Helen, might be a motion sickness thing too, possibly?
Some people have success with āEarPlanesā ear plugs, though YMMV.
Thanks everyone. Went to the doctors & sheās told me sheāll write me a note as doesnāt recommend regular air travel. Iāll use those tips for when I do fly though (flying for pleasure only I think!)
flying itself seems OK for me - but the accumulation of stress, travel to and from the airports, the airports themselves etc, can all add up - and it could be the whole thing that sets you offā¦?
Very likely as I donāt sleep much so Iām tired when I get there. I notice stress sets it off 