Help! Terrible Headaches

fattofit20

I have had headaches every single day since last Tuesday. It's been exactly one week. Advil only helps slightly. Is or has anyone experienced this while dieting and exercising? I haven't been able to exercise for 3 days now because my head hurts so much. I'm wondering if it could be the Splenda or Vitamin water zero since that's the only thing that has changed in the past week. Or maybe not enough calories? I want to exercise but just can't do it! Help!

mcarter99

I read recently that a change in calorie level can cause it and it goes away. I'm sorry you're hurting!

fattofit20

Thank you! I was beginning to worry and I hope it goes away soon. 4 Advil this morning did nothing!

bcattoes

Hormone changes can trigger migraines. Since diet, exercise and age all affect hormones anyone of these can cause severe headaches. If it continues, I'd suggest a trip or call to your doctor.

murdie

Check your blood presure, sometimes a headache is related to elevated blood pressure.

ashlielinn

The same thing has been happening to me! I've realized that drinking something with caffeine in it (like a cherry coke zero) or sometimes eating a little something helps. I'm curious as to why this is happening, too!

Rilke

Did you just start adding Splenda? It can trigger headaches in some people.

How much water are you drinking?

iLoveMyPitbull1225

lack of sugar, or using sugar subs

sudden drops in calorie intake

fattofit20

Yes! I just started using Splenda last week and also began drinking Vitamin Water Zero which has sugar substitute in it.
I've never had an issue with blood pressure. It's always been low or in the normal range. I haven't been under any sort of stress that is out of the ordinary. I am in menopause so I always think things could be hormonal but for the headaches to last this long is beginning to worry me. I'm not one to run to the Dr. right away for things. I like to give things a little time to sort themselves out but I'm thinking a trip to the doctor just might be in my near future. The pain is from my neck all the way up the back and into the front of my head. I don't think I've ever had headaches like this. I hope I never get them again either!

kariannmbc

I have had a headache exactly as you describe: from the back of my neck, up to right behind my left eye. I was just at the doctors for a yearly physical on Thursday morning, and got the "everything looks great" thumbs up. I woke up with the headache on Saturday morning. The only change I've made in my daily habits is to exercise more consistently (like, more than once or twice a week), and I've really been watching my calorie intake. Sunday, when I totally blew it out of the water, it started feeling better, so I'm trying to increase my calories.

PinkKitty724

I get headaches a lot. They progressed, and got worse and worse. I started going to the chirporactor which helped significantly. Recently I've been getting them again, but not as much. I had one last week (or two weeks ago) that took over my life for about 3-4 days. I broke down and took some Imitrex (I seriously dislike pharmaceuticals).

If you get headaches frequently, see a doctor. If not, it could be something in your diet. For me, the recent episode may have been linked to soy milk because it started right after I switched to soy, and I was terribly nauseated even when the headache went away. I switched back to almond milk and I feel much, much better.

Also, I think eating under a minimum calories of 1200 (you may want to look into increasing this number even, it's MFPs default for most women!) can lend itself to headaches because you may not be getting enough nutrients, or water.

Is there anything that you've recently consumed and did not normally? Headaches may or may not be linked to a trigger that you can change. For me, it was a combination of hormonal imbalance, needing a chiropractor, and something that was in my diet.

Rilke

Yes! I just started using Splenda last week and also began drinking Vitamin Water Zero which has sugar substitute in it.
I've never had an issue with blood pressure. It's always been low or in the normal range. I haven't been under any sort of stress that is out of the ordinary. I am in menopause so I always think things could be hormonal but for the headaches to last this long is beginning to worry me. I'm not one to run to the Dr. right away for things. I like to give things a little time to sort themselves out but I'm thinking a trip to the doctor just might be in my near future. The pain is from my neck all the way up the back and into the front of my head. I don't think I've ever had headaches like this. I hope I never get them again either!

Try nixing the artificial sweeteners and see if they go away.

fattofit20

I began not using artificial sweeteners today. Hopefully that will help. I also think I may increase my calories a little, not much. I'd rather eat a little more and be able to exercise a little to compensate than to have these headaches. I think it may be a combination of too few calories and artificial sweetener. Also, I started the JM 30 day shred last Monday. That and the aritificial sweeteners are the only things that have changed. Thank you for all of your comments and help. I really appreciate it!