Migraines and metabolism

maiomaio71

I read some research a while ago that migraine attacks slow both your metabolism and digestion during an attack...and it made sense in that once I had a migraine no medication I took would work...if my digestion had slowed down totally then the oral meds would just be sitting there until I threw them up. I wonder how early before the pain hits this slowing down occurs, and for how long afterwards it lingers? I obviously don't eat anything during an attack as I'm vomiting for about 24 hours straight. Then I pretty much have re-hydration fluids for 12 hours and then I can start to eat. I'm just wondering what effect this must have on my metabolism? I can't find any decent research on this but this must have some impact on my weightloss efforts. Any other migraine sufferers out there? Anyone with any knowledge of how this would impact weightloss? I weigh monthly so I guess if I wanted to really dig into this I would need to weigh daily and compare attack days with normal days. Just not ready to do that yet!
And I wonder what I should be doing calorie-wise post migraine? Higher calories for a day or two? Or stay in a normal deficit? I'm guessing normal deficit if my metabolism has slowed down...

NovusDies

I have only had a few migraines my entire life so I am not aware of this research.

The basic part of your metabolism (BMR) is what is keeping you alive. It can be influenced but only by a certain amount because your body burns a lot of energy maintaining all your key systems.

I would think the biggest slowdown in your metabolism during a migraine would be your NEAT because you already knew you would not be exercising. NEAT is your daily activity that is not exercise. Brushing your teeth, making the bed, getting the mail, etc. There is a lot of voluntary movement in a day that when you feel bad is less likely to happen. Clutter is a good sign I am not moving as much. When I feel good I want everything put in its place. When I feel poorly I try to ignore it more.

Weighing during an attack will not give you a clear picture of what is happening with your metabolism. You are becoming dehydrated which will make the scale go down and then when you re-hydrate the scale will go back up.

Even without reviewing the research I believe it would be safe to say that at the very least 70 percent of the calories you did not eat during an attack need to be eaten. They do not all have to be eaten the very next day but I think you should eat more if you can. They go in your 'calorie bank' and you can spend them however you want.

maiomaio71

I don't move during an attack, other than to go to the bathroom to throw up. Any movement causes pain and vomiting. I lie in bed, in the dark, pretty much trying to sleep and keeping as still as possible. So my NEAT is virtually zero. The following day I'm pretty lethargic and sluggish, and don't eat much at all, just try to re-hydrate, usually with proper re-hydration sachets otherwise I get another migraine from being dehydrated. So I generally have two days of zero calories. This happens about once a month.

NovusDies

maiomaio71 wrote: »

I don't move during an attack, other than to go to the bathroom to throw up. Any movement causes pain and vomiting. I lie in bed, in the dark, pretty much trying to sleep and keeping as still as possible. So my NEAT is virtually zero. The following day I'm pretty lethargic and sluggish, and don't eat much at all, just try to re-hydrate, usually with proper re-hydration sachets otherwise I get another migraine from being dehydrated. So I generally have two days of zero calories. This happens about once a month.

I hate that it happens to you. I hope you eventually figure out if there is something that can at least mitigate it or at least not trigger it so often.

So if you are not moving I believe my 70 percent estimate is about right unless you have a normally very high amount of NEAT. What did you tell MFP that your normal activity was like?

I am not a medical person so this may be something you are better off discussing with a specialist.

maiomaio71

I put down sedentary as my activity and then I log my steps. Some days I'm really active at work getting in 15-16,000 steps -others I'm marking, writing etc and barely get 2,000 steps before my walks.
Yeah, this was just a thought that with two days approx per month of not eating I thought it would affect my weightloss more. Then I definitely remember a neurologist telling me that migraine stops your digestion and slows your metabolism. I thought it made sense. I have had a lot fewer recently and just wondered if anyone knew more than I did. I was wondering if it all slowed before the attack and then took time to recover. More out of general interest. I can't really do anything about it!
I've discovered more triggers since logging food so this has helped in that sense! It's also why I don't/can't drink alcohol or soda. Which is great from a calorie standpoint!

conniewilkins56

Maiomaio I suffered from severe migraines for about six years and then they disappeared and never had them again....if you can avoid your “ triggers” it certainly helps....mine was bright pulsating lights like at concerts or on movie screens....also stress.....To recover it helped if I laid perfectly still in a dark quiet room and repeated the same couple of words over and over.....it makes sense that your digestion and metabolism would really slow down....I hope you find relief.....nothing brings mine on any longer!

dhiammarath

I've suffered from vascular migraines since I was 12 years old. I either had migraines to prolonged vertigo (once it lasted over a week). I rarely had painfree days for most of my life -- though since dealing with the celiac, the migraines have gotten better (less frequent). Instead of 1-2/week, I get 1 every 1-2 months. Big difference!

That being said, I never noticed whether or not it affected my weight loss. As a child, I was well in the middle of the normal range and that lasted into my adulthood, until I ran out of money and couldn't afford food. Then when I was able to afford food again, I had a "must consume what I can when I can" mentality. My downfall was ultimately them venti Starbucks frapps.

That being said, migraines are the second worst pain I've felt (kidney stones topping out everything)! If they have affected my weight loss or gain any, I have never noticed as they are one of the few things constant since childhood!

Good luck. I hope you continue to have less of them. *hug*!