Waaah!! Headaches from coffee! :(
Dragonwolf
Posts: 5,600 Member
I'll admit, this is just as much whining/ranting as it is an actual question or discussion.
In the past year or so, my coffee intake has increased from "pretty much never" to "the coffee pot doesn't just sit and collect dust all the time." Usually, it's about 12oz in a day (one large mug) and only a couple of times a week, with a generous amount of cream.
What's got me baffled, though, is that I'll get a headache from it....sometimes. I originally thought it was hormonal, but it only very loosely corresponded to any given time in my cycle. It doesn't seem to be the coffee, itself, either, because the very same package will one day not trigger anything and the next day trigger a headache. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it!
I don't like feeling like I'm going to have to drop the coffee entirely (I like having the option to sit down and enjoy a cup if I so choose), but it's such a crapshoot that it feels like I'm going to have to, because these headaches suck when they happen (they're the "ice pick in the skull" type ones).
If anyone happens to know why coffee would only sometimes (like...maybe 1 in 4-6 times) do this, I'm all ears. Either way, thanks for letting me rant.
In the past year or so, my coffee intake has increased from "pretty much never" to "the coffee pot doesn't just sit and collect dust all the time." Usually, it's about 12oz in a day (one large mug) and only a couple of times a week, with a generous amount of cream.
What's got me baffled, though, is that I'll get a headache from it....sometimes. I originally thought it was hormonal, but it only very loosely corresponded to any given time in my cycle. It doesn't seem to be the coffee, itself, either, because the very same package will one day not trigger anything and the next day trigger a headache. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it!
I don't like feeling like I'm going to have to drop the coffee entirely (I like having the option to sit down and enjoy a cup if I so choose), but it's such a crapshoot that it feels like I'm going to have to, because these headaches suck when they happen (they're the "ice pick in the skull" type ones).
If anyone happens to know why coffee would only sometimes (like...maybe 1 in 4-6 times) do this, I'm all ears. Either way, thanks for letting me rant.
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You give us so much great, scientific information, I guess we'll put up with your rant once in a while. I've never heard of anyone getting a headache FROM coffee, I've heard of it when people try and stop it- like caffeine withdrawal. Sorry, I'm no help.0
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Is it always the same coffee - i.e.the same source of coffee? Just wondering if it might be contaminated in some way (mold can be a culprit).0
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Coffee acts as a diuretic. Is it possible you aren't consuming enough liquids to counteract this effect and have a headache from dehydration?0
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Coffee acts as a diuretic. Is it possible you aren't consuming enough liquids to counteract this effect and have a headache from dehydration?
That's what I was going to suggest. I don't know, because I'm more of a caffeine withdrawal headache kind of gal. But there are times when I overdo it and get a headache from consuming way too much--I also notice it makes me extremely thirsty. I try to drink at least two cups of water between cups of coffee (obviously I'm a multiple-cup-a-day coffee drinker to even say something like that).0 -
One thing that happens with things like coffee that can have natural mold and stuff in the beans, as well as different pesticides and such accumulated - or just air quality stuff - is that it often isn't the coffee (or tea, etc.) itself. It is the cumulative effect of the coffee WITH something else you had.
Did you take a supplement the night before later than usual? Did you have a certain bacon? Did you mix twice as much cream in on headache days? Is the mold count up outside where you live? Do you need to clean your air filter/do you use the unit more one day than another? Is you water lower the day before? Is your sodium lower? Your carbs lower? Or higher?
I'd start looking at all the other factors surrounding the headache days. My guess is you'll find something consistent... And those days, you'll be able to avoid the coffee, or find a different brand or do decaf, something...0 -
I've had a few friends who have a caffeine sensitivity, they aren't able to tolerate much caffeine at all and headaches are one of the issues they contend with when they do indulge. I realise you don't have the reaction every time, but your level of intolerance may be affected by other factors, like the volume of other fluids in your body and what the coffee is combining with in your stomach. I know those ice pick in the skull headaches, they make you want to take a mallet to your head to dull the pain. Hope you can find a way to enjoy your coffee pain-free!0
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What else is happening in your world in common? Suggest a track n trace on each day's food. I have taken extra coffee today and I have a monster sinus headache. Could be I ate cheese last night (rare I eat that as I suspect it has a vague sinus headache relationship on prior ocassions). When I got home I noticed I had forgetten to take my magnessium n multimineral this morning. Another highly likely candidate. Not to mention that I am on a leadership course and that is by design stressful.
For you it could be coffee, mold or something else so thus the suggestion. Good luck with your research and pattern recognition.0 -
Coffee acts as a diuretic. Is it possible you aren't consuming enough liquids to counteract this effect and have a headache from dehydration?
My best guess is this.
12 oz coffee has 136mg caffeine. The dosage of a maximum strength OTC diuretic is 100mg. Packaging says to take 2 every 4 hours not exceeding 8. (I know because my daughter has been eating them candy). So, the inconsistency could be the result of varying effects on hydration. Your hydration varying from one day to the next, and electrolytes of course, and then random doses of diuretic...
It's possible that you're experiencing some of the "Keto flu" simply due to the diuretic effect of the coffee. Since it's not part of your daily routine like it is for so many of us, it's throwing a wrench in things.
I think the daily drinkers are maintaining a certain balance of water/sodium that is different from one day to the next for you since coffee isn't an every day thing.0 -
Interesting. But yes, I'd be curious to see if the headaches went away if (a) your hydration and electrolytes were good and consistent and (b) you had it every day. But interesting theories here for other factors/triggers as well. Hope you're able to get it figured out and don't have to give it up!0
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I agree with status of hydration when drinking.0
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Hydration and electrolytes were something I thought of, but the headache starts by the time I finish and happened even when I was drinking considerably more water. I even had some broth afterward, and it didn't touch it.
The mold thing, at least in the coffee itself is also not likely, it happens with different coffees from different sources (completely different roasters), and it's not even consistent among a given batch.
I would think if environmental mold was a thing, I'd get it at my mom's, which is an old house with a lot of allergens in general. And I doubt mold outside is a factor, it's been about 10 degrees out lately.
No bacon, no changes in supplements. Cream and other sources of caffeine don't cause this. =/0 -
@Dragonwolf Weird question, but how is your D3 level? I've recently run across some research that indicates that my D3 level having dropped again could have been the trigger for my onset migraines. Additionally, nearly all the stuff I'm finding in general research reference a caffeine threshold (in a 24 hour period) and D3 levels... I can't believe I forgot this earlier.0
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Magnesium and Riboflavin are also indicated as helping prevent them.
Doesn't coffee/caffeine trigger magnesium absorption issues - or trigger dumping? Didn't I read that somewhere?0 -
My vitamin D level (vitamin D 25 hydroxy test) is 26.4ng/mL which is low (lower bound is 30), but somewhat on par for me in January. I'm working on getting it up, but you know how slow going that is.
Pretty sure I've got sufficient Riboflavin (found that one out the hard way with a B-complex supplement one time).
Magnesium is a possibility, though seems odd for "dumping," since the headache occurs before or even in total absence of need to use the restroom. Doesn't mean it still can't be the issue, but you'd think the body would still do something if it had access to it.
I'm foregoing coffee for an undetermined amount of time, and I think I'll start taking the magnesium citrate that I have and see if I notice any difference. I did end up with some cramping in my leg this week, too (Tuesday, I think), so it seems the most likely culprit, at least in this case (cramps aren't common for me, though, so while it might be it this time, they weren't involved in past times I've gotten coffee headaches).0 -
@Dragonwolf I am joining your experiment. I was drinking a bpc early in day, for last month. No coffee for 3 months prior to that. This week, I had half a cup coffee extra per day at 11am. May be other factors too. I am Not a well bunny. Getting worse thru week: sunus Headache, loose stools then today add cramps in feet and inability to get warm. After hours under quilt I wake up sweating hot. Off to make broth. Good luck!0
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Be careful @SamandaIndia, it sounds to me like you're running fever, and sickness isn't uncommon after traveling. Take care of yourself! I hope you feel better quick!
@Dragonwolf, in my personal experience it seems if anything strange can possibly happen, it will happen to me. This woe has helped me to be able to identify culprits of problems at times. I sure hope you can identify the culprit for this, and eliminate it! Headaches just suck! Wish I had more advice to offer!
Hugs hun! 0 -
Thanks @Karlottap. It hadn't occurred to me that I may have caught a bug n associated fever. A lot going around too. Just thought I had mis managed electrolytes, caffiene, magnesium or that the restaurants we went to were not entirely disclosing what was in their food. Thanks. Now to work on getting rehydrated and feeling better.0
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How is your BP when it happens? I could tell when mine was high because any amount of caffeine (even eating some chocolate) would give me an awful headach for some reason.0
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How is your BP when it happens? I could tell when mine was high because any amount of caffeine (even eating some chocolate) would give me an awful headach for some reason.
Not sure, don't have the tools to check. Though my BP tends to run on the low end of "perfect" -- like, even at the doctors and in pain (degenerative disc disease = near-constant pain), I'm typically around 118/68. I think the highest I've seen it remotely lately was like 125/78 or something (no known reason, nurse didn't bat an eye).
Usually, the problem is that the automated devices can't register my blood pressure.
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Oh hey, Aunt Flo decided to show up for the first time since November! It seems the hormonal aspect still holds at least some water. I am learning some things, though, which point to a combination of hormones and lack of magnesium.
According to one study I found, magnesium is lowest in the follicular phase and is supposed to go back up in the other two phases, peaking in the Luteal phase before falling again (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2700668/). The menstrual phase is a mid point in the drop, which might account for a number of things, especially in those who are already deficient.
According to this article (http://www.vitaminsall.com/magnesium-deficiency-symptoms/), there are a number of symptoms of magnesium deficiency, including (but not limited to): tension headaches, premenstrual depression (something I've been struggling with for the past several months now), anxiety, low energy levels, restlessness, attacks of panic, plus the usual muscle tension issues.
Apparently, despite the ease with which it absorbs through the skin, the epsom salt baths I take at least a couple of times a month are not sufficient (though it does explain why I felt so much better the other day after taking one). Definitely going to supplement magnesium for the next couple of months and see how I feel.0 -
Wow! I already supplement but my symptoms, aside from fever, are a 1:1 match to low Mg.
@Dragonwolf Magnesium citrate is much more easily absorbed than oxide so suggest choosing a variety other than oxide. GOOD luck n thxs for articles. Off to up my Mg dose a bit.0 -
Thanks for suggestions folks. I am off to the dr today. Still have flu symptoms but better than yesterday. I bravely asked local chicken shop if they stocked broth. After a fun n silly conversation we agreed I probably meant boullion and they had it. 2 doors up the butcher had 3 different varieties. Being ill I was hoping to not have to work too hard to get it. Even got stock cubes. Now I am set. Home made chicken soup n broth until I get back to normal. So excited (when I know I am the one who can not speak the local language success with such odd requests truly are an achievement)0
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Update -- I've been supplementing the past few days, and yesterday I had coffee. It was a different one than the one that triggered my headache this time around, but neither the morning or the evening cups (with dinner) gave me a headache.
I don't know if it's the magnesium or if it's the point I'm at in my cycle, but that pattern does seem to be coming back. We'll see again in a month or so, though I'm probably still going to back off on the coffee intake, anyway.SamandaIndia wrote: »Wow! I already supplement but my symptoms, aside from fever, are a 1:1 match to low Mg.
@Dragonwolf Magnesium citrate is much more easily absorbed than oxide so suggest choosing a variety other than oxide. GOOD luck n thxs for articles. Off to up my Mg dose a bit.
My supplements are citrate, and epsom salt is magnesium sulfate, so there's no issue there.0 -
Glad to hear that there is some forward progress there.
For the record, I'd gotten my D3 levels up to about 58 before them plummeting over 20 points in less than 6 months right before I developed the migraines. Just to give a point of reference. I'd been in the low 20's off and on for years.
I'd barely gotten my magnesium levels up from 1.6 (below threshold) to 1.8 - bare bottom of threshold - in six months of supplementing. Should be entertaining to see how those numbers look this time around.0 -
I'm a big believer in magnesium and how vital it is to function at our best possible abilities. So, it's easy for me to think that's the answer to your headaches. I tend to be of the opinion that it's best to take the highest tolerable amounts every day.0
