Migraines and diet
 

Does anyone else her have migraines? I have them sometimes (used to be 5 days a week, now only about twice a month) and I had one yesterday. It is still lingering - if you get them you know what I mean - but not like yesterday.
This is my problem. When I have a migraine, it makes my head feel better to eat. Not healthy stuff, but usually saltines make it better and sometimes chocolate or ice cream. I know it sounds like that is nutty, but true.
I guess my question is ... does anyone else experience this and what do you do about it? Very hard to diet on a migraine day.

I'm a migraine sufferer. I hear ya - it's tough. I guess, for me, most physical and emotional suffering is soothed by my favorite foods. That's what got me here!

When I have a migraine, I make SURE I am overloading on water. I take 800mg of Ibuprofen and chug a Mountain Dew (sugar and caffiene combo). Then I make sure I get time to exercise that day. I run a home daycare and have 4 kids of my own...I know how hard that can be. But the release of endorphines will help.

Also, I rely on acupressure. There are some pressure points that you can utilize to help. Try this website and google more - you will find help without eating crap!

http://www.soundtells.com/Acupressure/index.html

I crave red berries when I am having a migraine - they have antioxidants in them, which is interesting.

I have been taking topamax, which has the added "side effect" of appetite suppressant. Very good for migraine suppressant too!

Migraines here too.

Typically I don't crave anything. I am in so much pain I just want to pass out. I always get an aura, usually a rainbow arc in front of my right eye. After the aura I have around an hour before the pain starts. I take Relpax and I have to go to sleep in a very dark, cool room. Normally when I wake up it is gone but my scalp and hair hurt. I know your hair can't hurt but it is so sore, it's weird.

Maybe when you have a migraine eat what helps you but limit HOW much you eat and count it. I am assuming you count calories or do WW, not sure which plan you are on. I am not sure what else you can do, everyone with migraines have different symptoms and what works for one person may not work for others.

Best of luck!!!!!

I suffer from migraines too. a lot of mine is from eating processed food but I do sometimes crave carbs like pasta most of the time. Mine have gotten better and do the better I eat.

My hair hurts after too, I know what you mean by that.

I realize that there are so many causes to migraines, but if you're able to figure out what triggers them it may help.

I was getting severe ones a couple of years ago, so bad that I couldn't get out of bed on certain days. I was drinking a lot of diet drinks and it took me several months to realize that my issue was due to aspartame. When I cut the drinks out, the migraines disappeared.

Maybe analyze what you're currently eating and take turns cutting out different foods/drinks to see if it changes anything?

I wish you luck, I know how horrible those migraines can get. :hug:

Wow...when I have migraines all I want is a cold dark QUIET room and at least 6 hours of sleep. I take 1000mg of ibuprofen & try to drink a 20 oz bottle of water & then go to sleep. Otherwise I will be up crying because of the pain...which makes my head hurt worse.

Like squeak, I get the auras and then I just have to check out. (I thought I was going blind the first time I had one. I gradually had no peripheral vision out of my right eye and lots of lights. Very strange feeling!) Thankfully I don't get them that often - maybe 1 every month or two. But when they hit, wow! Food is the last thing on my mind. I'm usually a bit queasy, but I thankfully don't usually get sick.

I haven't figured out what triggers mine because they don't happen too often. Exercise would be out of the question on a day when I have one. I'd be too afraid to set it off again - I know it's a different kind of headache, but still.

I only got the auras once, and it was 2 days before the migraine actually hit - scared me, but I went to the doctor and got the wonderful "You're going to get a migraine soon - good luck with that" diagnosis. Such a nice thing to look forward to. I get migraines about once a month loosely based on where I am in my cycle. It's hard to pinpoint though because I am quite irregular.

I crave chocolate and sugar when I get one at first, but they actually make it worse. I take a couple Excedrin, drink a large Diet Coke (for the caffeine - regular Coke actually works better, but I'm stubborn, and refuse to drink it), and close myself in a dark quiet room for at least 2 hours. Usually that will push it back long enough to get me to bedtime, and when I get up, I have to eat something filling (like a small meal - generally whole wheat toast and an egg) or the headache gets bad again faster.

If I'm home alone with the kids, I lie semi-catotonic (sp?) in a chair until DH gets home from work. And yes - my hair does hurt when I get one and immediately after it's gone. Like my hair follicles are overly sensitive and I feel a little buzzed and "out of it".

Migraine sufferer here as well,

I wouldn't even think of eating when I have a migraine... I can't even choke down my favorite foods. I take Imitrex and go to bed in a dark cool room

Sorry to hear about all of the migraine sufferers out there.....some research has shown that obesity contributes to migraine frequency, so you're on the right track by losing weight! :) Also, a few mentioned food triggers, which is quite common. Sodium and chocolate are two biggies, which makes it odd that these would help a headache, but we all have things that work for us. Hope that the headaches get better for you all.

I have fallen totally off of the weight loss wagon. I was eating so healthfully, but derailed this past weekend, and have not been able to get back on track. I do well during the day, but am eating junky, unhealthy foods in the evening. And I'm afraid to weigh in!!

I am going to recommit to starting fresh again. Tomorrow, I think that I'll weigh in too, just to see where I am at. I think it will not be in a good spot, but I guess it's better to know these things.....I swear it was the cupcake batter that started it all! :)

Great work to all.....I'm so enjoying getting my motivation from you girls! Even your little mishaps and bumps in the road are motivating; it helps me realize that I'm not alone and not the only one to eat peanut butter with a spoon or call a bowl of Sunchips my lunch (today). Tomorrow I work out with a friend at 0500, so off to bed.....

R

I used to get migraines...had the first one during grad school...6 of them in 18 months...I haven't gotten one in a really long time, but what helped was sleep in a dark room. I couldn't really even take anything even just Tylenol, because I would just throw it up. If I could get ahead of it with the sleep (within the first 30 minutes), it would be OK...if not, it was horrid.

RunningToSmile~ I know what you mean about being good during the day and then eating junk at night. That is my problem, I'm good during the day and bring my food.