Calorie Deficit = Low Blood Sugar = Migraines?
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ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken wrote: »Some tips. Make sure you stay hydrated. water yes but also electrolytes. Coconut water is great for this, also low sodium tomato juice, carrot juice, making sure to get enough sodium is important. Have you noticed an increase in urination? This is a sign that water weight is being lost. You may also experience tiredness, a rapid heart rate, and lightheartedness if you are dehydrated. Dehydration can have a lot of side effects. Sometimes a diet can have a diuretic effect depending on your carb consumption.
Yes! I pee all-freaking-day-long sometimes. Literally, like every 20 minutes. And, yes, sometimes that's a prodromal migraine symptom. So, in your opinion, am I getting too much or not enough salt? I'm hearing it from both sides! Or just not enough water??0 -
baylie1114 wrote: »ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken wrote: »Some tips. Make sure you stay hydrated. water yes but also electrolytes. Coconut water is great for this, also low sodium tomato juice, carrot juice, making sure to get enough sodium is important. Have you noticed an increase in urination? This is a sign that water weight is being lost. You may also experience tiredness, a rapid heart rate, and lightheartedness if you are dehydrated. Dehydration can have a lot of side effects. Sometimes a diet can have a diuretic effect depending on your carb consumption.
Yes! I pee all-freaking-day-long sometimes. Literally, like every 20 minutes. And, yes, sometimes that's a prodromal migraine symptom. So, in your opinion, am I getting too much or not enough salt? I'm hearing it from both sides! Or just not enough water??
Not enough sodium. Sodium helps us hold on to water. When we have a great loss of water weight potassium, magnesium and sodium all go out also. Do you get leg cramps too? I sure did. So increase sodium. Olives, beef jerkey, and even the low sodium tomato juice help with that considerably. I know it seems odd to suggest low sodium tomato juice, but for some reason it has more potassium, and still has a great deal of sodium. I would not lower fluid intake as that can put you right back into dehydration. Just up the sodium and other minerals. You should see a change in a few days.1 -
ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken wrote: »Not enough sodium. Sodium helps us hold on to water. When we have a great loss of water weight potassium, magnesium and sodium all go out also. Do you get leg cramps too? I sure did. So increase sodium. Olives, beef jerkey, and even the low sodium tomato juice help with that considerably. I know it seems odd to suggest low sodium tomato juice, but for some reason it has more potassium, and still has a great deal of sodium. I would not lower fluid intake as that can put you right back into dehydration. Just up the sodium and other minerals. You should see a change in a few days.
Thanks, I'll consider that. I don't get leg cramps, but my feet cramp up sometimes out of nowhere.1 -
baylie1114 wrote: »ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken wrote: »Some tips. Make sure you stay hydrated. water yes but also electrolytes. Coconut water is great for this, also low sodium tomato juice, carrot juice, making sure to get enough sodium is important. Have you noticed an increase in urination? This is a sign that water weight is being lost. You may also experience tiredness, a rapid heart rate, and lightheartedness if you are dehydrated. Dehydration can have a lot of side effects. Sometimes a diet can have a diuretic effect depending on your carb consumption.
Yes! I pee all-freaking-day-long sometimes. Literally, like every 20 minutes. And, yes, sometimes that's a prodromal migraine symptom. So, in your opinion, am I getting too much or not enough salt? I'm hearing it from both sides! Or just not enough water??
The only way to know for sure is to track it with MFP (run a report on sodium intake over the past week if all your food is entered in MFP and the sodium value is accurate). Most people eat too much, not too little, since it is in just about everything things days. I've never heard of anyone eating too little sodium, although I'm sure it happens. Before changing anything, I would definitely verify the amount of sodium you are consuming. Good luck!!
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HappyAnna2014 wrote: »The only way to know for sure is to track it with MFP (run a report on sodium intake over the past week if all your food is entered in MFP and the sodium value is accurate). Most people eat too much, not too little, since it is in just about everything things days. I've never heard of anyone eating too little sodium, although I'm sure it happens. Before changing anything, I would definitely verify the amount of sodium you are consuming. Good luck!!
Yeah, I thought that was strange, too. I did run the report for the last 30 days, and I am well below the "goal" most days. I haven't been verifying sodium content when I'm tracking, though. It's something to consider, anyway.
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I just had a random thought... what sort of treatment plan are you on? Are you taking supplemental magnesium? My neuro has me on a supplemental cocktail of 800 g of mag, 400 mg of Co-Q 10, and 400 mg of B-2. Be careful working up to that level of magnesium, because it has a laxative effect.
I should note that I go to one of the top research centers in the country for migraines for my treatment. I'm really lucky to live close to one.0 -
It isn't the calorie deficit itself that causes me to get headaches; it's waiting too long between meals or after workouts to eat. I've been eating 1200 calories/day for nearly two years with no problems, but if I go for a long run and then don't eat for a while, I'm guaranteed to get a migraine; same if I skip breakfast and wait too long to eat lunch. I'd recommend building snacks into your meal plans for the day, especially snacks that are high in fiber and protein and low in carbs/sugars--they'll help you feel full without causing as much of a blood sugar spike.1
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I just had a random thought... what sort of treatment plan are you on? Are you taking supplemental magnesium? My neuro has me on a supplemental cocktail of 800 g of mag, 400 mg of Co-Q 10, and 400 mg of B-2. Be careful working up to that level of magnesium, because it has a laxative effect.
I should note that I go to one of the top research centers in the country for migraines for my treatment. I'm really lucky to live close to one.
I'm not on a treatment plan at all. My doc just keeps pushing pills at me to "try" when I get a migraine. None of them have worked at all. I've used a supplement called Butterbur that I thought was helping; but if it was, it stopped working. I'm strongly considering going to a specialist now though. I wonder how long I'll have to wait for an appointment....0 -
Best of luck in finding help with migranes. Mine always lasted 24 hrs to the minute & usually started (waking me) from a sound sleep. Meds from Dr was almost as bad...leaving me in a sit & stare blank state. Excedrin Migrane med finnaly helped to the point where I only need med 3-4 times a yr. So thankful & know you will feel the same!0
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baylie1114 wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I just had a random thought... what sort of treatment plan are you on? Are you taking supplemental magnesium? My neuro has me on a supplemental cocktail of 800 g of mag, 400 mg of Co-Q 10, and 400 mg of B-2. Be careful working up to that level of magnesium, because it has a laxative effect.
I should note that I go to one of the top research centers in the country for migraines for my treatment. I'm really lucky to live close to one.
I'm not on a treatment plan at all. My doc just keeps pushing pills at me to "try" when I get a migraine. None of them have worked at all. I've used a supplement called Butterbur that I thought was helping; but if it was, it stopped working. I'm strongly considering going to a specialist now though. I wonder how long I'll have to wait for an appointment....
I take Butterbur too, that has been tested clinically. I'm sorry it stopped helping you.
What meds is your doctor trying to get you to take? A lot of pills are rescue medications to take as interventions.
The thing with migraine protocols is they are like a ladder you need to work your way up.
I've run through the whole gamut myself.
I'm at the very top of the ladder now, getting therapeutic botox and using injectable rescue meds along with two daily medications I take for support, but it took a long time of trial, error, and failure to get here. A lot of this was done simply because insurance won't let you jump straight to the end game.0 -
It isn't the calorie deficit itself that causes me to get headaches; it's waiting too long between meals or after workouts to eat.
I'd have to agree with that too! I'm not a big breakfast eater, but I do find it important to eat something small or by 10am I am quite likely to have the start of something brewing. Likewise, if I don't pack snacks/lunch, by early-mid afternoon I will have a problem.
Lack of sleep and dehydration are also not good for me, and hormones are the biggest trigger of all.
I never really managed to discover much of a link with food (white wine sometimes).
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I take Butterbur too, that has been tested clinically. I'm sorry it stopped helping you.
What meds is your doctor trying to get you to take? A lot of pills are rescue medications to take as interventions.
The thing with migraine protocols is they are like a ladder you need to work your way up.
I've run through the whole gamut myself.
I'm at the very top of the ladder now, getting therapeutic botox and using injectable rescue meds along with two daily medications I take for support, but it took a long time of trial, error, and failure to get here. A lot of this was done simply because insurance won't let you jump straight to the end game.
Doc just has me on rescue triptans. They have never helped a bit, even when I take them at the first the aura flickering. As someone else said, the only thing that has even touched them is Excedrin Migraine, and really it only helps with the hangover phase a little.
It's encouraging to know that there are people in the world who have gotten them under control though, and that it's not something I'll just have to live with forever. When they only come around once every few months, I can kinda brush them off. But definitely not once a week! Ughh....0 -
baylie1114 wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I take Butterbur too, that has been tested clinically. I'm sorry it stopped helping you.
What meds is your doctor trying to get you to take? A lot of pills are rescue medications to take as interventions.
The thing with migraine protocols is they are like a ladder you need to work your way up.
I've run through the whole gamut myself.
I'm at the very top of the ladder now, getting therapeutic botox and using injectable rescue meds along with two daily medications I take for support, but it took a long time of trial, error, and failure to get here. A lot of this was done simply because insurance won't let you jump straight to the end game.
Doc just has me on rescue triptans. They have never helped a bit, even when I take them at the first the aura flickering. As someone else said, the only thing that has even touched them is Excedrin Migraine, and really it only helps with the hangover phase a little.
It's encouraging to know that there are people in the world who have gotten them under control though, and that it's not something I'll just have to live with forever. When they only come around once every few months, I can kinda brush them off. But definitely not once a week! Ughh....
The pill form of triptans didn't work for me either.
I went to the emergency room with a thunderclap headache once which numbed the whole side of my body. They gave me a triptan in an iv... that ended up closing my throat.
By the time I was seeing my big guns neurologist, and he said no more triptans for me. I'm actually on an old school med, DHE, and if taken at the first sign of a migraine is really effective.
You might find you need to go the injectable route, coupled with daily back up meds (I tend to have a low-level migraine daily and take cymbalta and topomax to help with things -- beta blockers are also commonly used as daily support, but they lowered my blood pressure too much). Sometimes when I'm going through a really bad spell, I have to go on a short course of prednisone. Additionally, I have compazine that I can use as needed. It helps with pain and nausea for some of the more minor migraines I get and I use it to add some oomph to the DHE when I get a really bad one. I thought I'd lay all this out there to show you what a detailed migraine protocol looks like for a chronic sufferer. I'd definitely suggest moving on to a specialist.0 -
I have good success taking beta blockers daily, and luckily triptans do work for me (although they make me a space cadet - with the beta blockers it's rare to need the triptans much though).
I also have anti-nausea meds for while the triptans take effect.
I was hesitant at first about having to take pills every day but it is so freeing to not be constantly waiting for the next one to hit.
Oh, and I managed to get this all sorted through my regular doctor - luckily it didn't take long to find the right meds and they work for me (had the "bonus" of my mum having the same issues and responding to similar treatment so a bit of a head start).
My BIL gets migraines too and he takes a mild antidepressant daily to prevent them.
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »The pill form of triptans didn't work for me either.
I went to the emergency room with a thunderclap headache once which numbed the whole side of my body. They gave me a triptan in an iv... that ended up closing my throat.
By the time I was seeing my big guns neurologist, and he said no more triptans for me. I'm actually on an old school med, DHE, and if taken at the first sign of a migraine is really effective.
You might find you need to go the injectable route, coupled with daily back up meds (I tend to have a low-level migraine daily and take cymbalta and topomax to help with things -- beta blockers are also commonly used as daily support, but they lowered my blood pressure too much). Sometimes when I'm going through a really bad spell, I have to go on a short course of prednisone. Additionally, I have compazine that I can use as needed. It helps with pain and nausea for some of the more minor migraines I get and I use it to add some oomph to the DHE when I get a really bad one. I thought I'd lay all this out there to show you what a detailed migraine protocol looks like for a chronic sufferer. I'd definitely suggest moving on to a specialist.
Man, you've been through the ringer! People who don't get migraines really have no idea... Though I suppose that's true of most chronic conditions. Best of luck to you, and to anyone working through this! Thanks so much for the tips and support! I will be looking into seeing a specialist.0 -
baylie1114 wrote: »Thanks everyone! I was feeling quite defeated, thinking I was going to have to choose between living with being overweight and living without migraines. Now I'm feeling hopeful that I can find some balance that will work. I just hope I can find it soon, cuz these migraines need to GTFO! ;-)
Do go see a doctor about the migraines. I doubt seriously it's the calorie deficit causing them unless of course you're incorrectly setting your deficit and aren't getting the nutrition your body needs. Blood sugar issues could mean diabetes or pre-diabetes. Don't give up and just 'live with obesity', where there is a will, there is a way. You can do it, you just may need the help of your doctor.
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Aren't some people's migraines triggered by certain foods? Is it possible you've added or increased something that is causing you a problem?
I knew someone who had terribly debilitating cluster migraines, but he was never able to identify a trigger. The standard stress/caffeine/alcohol/dehydration triggers didn't seem to correlate for him.0 -
Aren't some people's migraines triggered by certain foods? Is it possible you've added or increased something that is causing you a problem?
I knew someone who had terribly debilitating cluster migraines, but he was never able to identify a trigger. The standard stress/caffeine/alcohol/dehydration triggers didn't seem to correlate for him.
I always find it odd that caffiene can be listed among the triggers, but it also a suggested treatment for some! My friend does pretty well with strong coffee and aspirin for her migraines as long as she catches it early. I find it can help too...but if it's too late, then I can't stomach it to know if it might help at that stage.0 -
I always find it odd that caffiene can be listed among the triggers, but it also a suggested treatment for some! My friend does pretty well with strong coffee and aspirin for her migraines as long as she catches it early. I find it can help too...but if it's too late, then I can't stomach it to know if it might help at that stage.
Yep, a Tylenol and a Coke has been one of the best "treatments" I've tried! That's all I could take when I was pregnant and got migraines. Excedrin Migraine has caffeine in it, which I think is why it helps a bit. But even so, the headache knocks me on my *kitten* for 2 or 3 days.0 -
I am jealous of everyone who can take Excedrin migraine or take a Tylenol and coke and get relief. My migraines laugh at those. They come right back up when I get sick with them.1
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I am jealous of everyone who can take Excedrin migraine or take a Tylenol and coke and get relief. My migraines laugh at those. They come right back up when I get sick with them.
Yes, so did my friend's. He had to carry around injectors (can't remember the name of the drug) and inject himself in the thigh when he felt the first twinge or he'd be completely incapacitated from the pain.0 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »baylie1114 wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I just had a random thought... what sort of treatment plan are you on? Are you taking supplemental magnesium? My neuro has me on a supplemental cocktail of 800 g of mag, 400 mg of Co-Q 10, and 400 mg of B-2. Be careful working up to that level of magnesium, because it has a laxative effect.
I should note that I go to one of the top research centers in the country for migraines for my treatment. I'm really lucky to live close to one.
I'm not on a treatment plan at all. My doc just keeps pushing pills at me to "try" when I get a migraine. None of them have worked at all. I've used a supplement called Butterbur that I thought was helping; but if it was, it stopped working. I'm strongly considering going to a specialist now though. I wonder how long I'll have to wait for an appointment....
I take Butterbur too, that has been tested clinically. I'm sorry it stopped helping you.
What meds is your doctor trying to get you to take? A lot of pills are rescue medications to take as interventions.
The thing with migraine protocols is they are like a ladder you need to work your way up.
I've run through the whole gamut myself.
I'm at the very top of the ladder now, getting therapeutic botox and using injectable rescue meds along with two daily medications I take for support, but it took a long time of trial, error, and failure to get here. A lot of this was done simply because insurance won't let you jump straight to the end game.
I'm on inderall for my migraines. Caffeine can be a trigger or not... Strange.0 -
It's very true about some triggers only being a trigger if combined with others - or with the body at a certain level of stress.
Makes it very interesting trying to narrow it down - normal diary of trigger foods doesn't work without possible days of comments about life and stress and sleep too.
Too many variables.0 -
About two years ago I started experiencing migraines. Most of my triggers are beyond my control: ovulation, menstruation are just two of them. But there are soooo many triggers out there. For some people it's smells. Not eating enough, going too long between meals, being dehydrated can all be factors. Some people have issues with barometric pressure. It could be the foods you eat. Common triggers: chocolate, aged cheeses, nitrates, sulfites (think red wine).
I am going to heartily second and third the suggestions to get a referral to a specialist. In the meantime, I am going to suggest 2 apps. The first should be something to track your cycle (I use Period Tracer). The second is Migraine Buddy. Migraine Buddy was developed by some neurologists who specialize in migraines. It allows you to track your sleep as well as any migraines you experience. It'll let you record symptoms, reliefs, etc. The data can be downloaded into spreadsheets if you want to take that to the specialist.
As you're already keeping a food diary, you're ahead of the game.1 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I am jealous of everyone who can take Excedrin migraine or take a Tylenol and coke and get relief. My migraines laugh at those. They come right back up when I get sick with them.
It doesn't help with the migraine itself, just a tiny bit with the hangover phase. It's the ONLY thing that has helped even at all, so I call it the "best." ;-)
Doc gave me generic Midrin yesterday as a rescue, and said that if my diet changes don't help, she'll refer me to a neurologist.
Thanks for the tip on the Migraine Buddy app! I'll look for that!1 -
baylie1114 wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I am jealous of everyone who can take Excedrin migraine or take a Tylenol and coke and get relief. My migraines laugh at those. They come right back up when I get sick with them.
It doesn't help with the migraine itself, just a tiny bit with the hangover phase. It's the ONLY thing that has helped even at all, so I call it the "best." ;-)
Doc gave me generic Midrin yesterday as a rescue, and said that if my diet changes don't help, she'll refer me to a neurologist.
Thanks for the tip on the Migraine Buddy app! I'll look for that!
I did Midrin on one of my steps up the ladder. I hope it helps you.0 -
Another vote for the injectable form of sumatriptan. Mine are monthly or less often (but extremely intense, with vomiting and visions, untreated they can last for days) so I don't use anything except rescue medicine; pills come right back out for me, and are hit or miss for my daughter, but the shot has been 95% reliable for 15 years.
Keeping a regular schedule, exercise in the morning, managing stress (stress isn't a trigger for me but relaxation is, the change from stressed to relaxed), those things help, but aren't entirely controllable.
If you are getting a lot of headaches and treating with caffeine/triptans/excedrin migraine then rebound is also a concern.
My thoughts are with you, I hope you can find relief, both a lifestyle that minimizes the frequency and a medicine to kill the migraine when it does happen.0 -
We also have promethazine (it comes in pills, and also supositories) for nausea, that never really did much for the pain and didn't work to let me take anything - the migraine nausea is different somehow, nothing goes past the stomach, it just waits and comes back up. But it does help if I want to take the shot and sleep till its gone.
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So, you guys, when you say that your medication "helps" do you mean that it kills the pain completely after it has started? Or stops it from happening at all? Or numbs it enough for you to function? Am I expecting too much to not have pain at all???0
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baylie1114 wrote: »I'm just curious if anyone else finds themselves getting more frequent migraines while calorie counting/dieting. A family member of mine suggested that my blood sugar could be out of whack, and she recommended upping my protein and fat content. It makes sense, because I've been relying on fruit a lot as breakfast and snacks, and my carb (read: sugar) numbers are always super high. Today, I increased my daily calorie goal from 1200 to 1400 in order to get in the added fat and protein. (1400/day still gives me around a 1000-calorie/day deficit; I was just trying to build in some extra wiggle room.)
Any one have other suggestions for minimizing migraines while losing weight? Anyone else seen a correlation?
Other recommendations for stabilizing blood sugar?
1,000 calorie deficit is really aggressive...at 1200 you were in a 1200 calorie deficit...even more aggressive. Calorie restriction in general is a stress on the body...the more aggressive it is the greater the stress on the body and for most people I know who suffer from these, stress is a huge factor. I'd say probably a combo of a very aggressive calorie deficit and eating too much sugar.1
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