migraines & exercise?

squishycow7

Anyone else a migraine sufferer??

I only started getting migraines 2-3 years ago, and not SUPER often... but I can tell what triggers them now: hormones (ya know, that "time-of-the-month"), and EXERCISE.

Now this is just unfair.

It doesn't happen 100% of the time, but as far as I can tell it doesn't have much to do with my hydration, my level or effort, or what. It's just about 25% of the time I'm working out, regardless of what I'm doing, I start getting the weird wiggly-vision and have to stop and take my meds. When this happens I usually have to stop the workout all together because I'm in pain.

Is this just because I'm out of shape, or is this a "normal" thing? As I get in better shape, will it decrease or go away? Obviously I should ask my doctor, but I was wondering if anyone else had this issue.

bmontgomery87

I'd say as you get in better shape they may go away.

I got a terrible one the other week after lifting. But it was because I wasn't breathing properly during squats. So I can't really blame the excercise.

chocolateandvodka

regular exercise and weight loss eventually took my migraines away... if that helps at all...

we're talking weekly migraines, and headaches every day even with Topamax to one every couple of months at the most.

AdamATGATT

Could be a number of factors. Stress and muscle tension are probably two of my biggest triggers now. I don't get migraines from my workouts, but I can get them before (stress) or after (muscle tension), if I didn't stretch out properly.

I've gotten them since I was...3 or 4 years old. Used to have 2-4 of them a month, with headaches in between, but now I am down to .5 a month, with infrequent headaches. Exercise and diet have definitely helped to calm them.

godroxmysox

I get migraines something aweful. I used to get 1-2 a week, but since I've been working out, watching what I eat & losing weight...I have not had one in 2 months **knock on wood** It could just be how my body works, but that's how things went for me. Good luck!

_eislek_

I used to get a migraine at least once a week. I'm talking laying in bed crying myself to sleep migraine. But since eating better and working out at least 5 times a week they have gone away. I hope they can go away for you soon.

FlyEaglesGuy

Could be from your sodium intake. My wife suffered from the same thing. She went to the doctor, and doctor advised her to stay away from those frozen foods that are high in sodium especially during TOM. She used to eat those Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice etc Frozen Foods.

When she started to eliminate those, she got better with it and rarely has them now. Also ask your doctor for a prescription for RELPAX it worked wonders for her.

Heatherbelle_87

Depending on your prior acticity level excercsie does release sodium and other "toxins" from your fat cells helping them shrink.

Major migraine triggers are sodium, MSG, caffeine withdrawal (especially if stopping soda is part of your weightloss & you went cold turkey) certain perfumes can cause migraines. Where you are even putting yourhair in a ponytail can cause migraines; if you put your hair up.

I am a chronic migraine sufferer, to the point the only time since I was 10 I HAVENT had migraines is when I was pregnant with my son. If I put my pony tail too low, like right at the base of my skull/top of the neck area, or too tight when I put it up high and start working out BAM migraine. Now if its too low or too tight Ill get one eventually regardless but the movement of cardio workouts makes it worse. The reason most OTC migraine meds have caffeine despite the fact it causes withdrawal when youre trying to stop caffeine products is because its a vasodialator (make the blood vessels bigger) enabling the medication to reach your brain & be ansorbed faster.

Heatherbelle_87

Could be from your sodium intake. My wife suffered from the same thing. She went to the doctor, and doctor advised her to stay away from those frozen foods that are high in sodium especially during TOM. She used to eat those Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice etc Frozen Foods.

When she started to eliminate those, she got better with it and rarely has them now. Also ask your doctor for a prescription for RELPAX it worked wonders for her.

I love that drug! lol its well controlled and pricey depending on your insurance (top tier for most dug plans) but its the only medication I can still function while taking, the rest knock me out for alteast 10 hours

runlorirun

I have suffered from migraines for 20 years and average about 10 a month. Mine can be triggered from lots of things, the one trigger that makes me get them from the most is lack of sleep. Just for fun the powers that be have also given me insomnia...lol

If I feel the slightest hint of a migraine I will take my meds or at least Tylenol. I also make sure to start out slow. I have a treadmill and have discovered that if I start a just 1.0 mph and at at 15% incline for my warm up, when I have a migraine starting I can usually get through the workout.

When I was thinner than I am now it was much easier and I keep that in mind too.

squishycow7

thanks everyone

the sodium comments made me think... I can be kind of a salt-fiend, so I'll try watching that & seeing what happens. & hopefully fitness will help too!