Going gluten-free for migraines?

nikki_dw · December 2013

I'm in the midst of reading "The Migraine Miracle" by Josh Turknett. So far, it's describing my life since late childhood... plagued by unpredictable and debilitating migraines and having narrowed down few triggers. I've missed concerts, days of work, spent vacations throwing up, and slept on my bathroom floor during my college graduation party all because of migraines. :sick:

The book suggests eliminating a number of things from your diet. Some like added sugars won't be that hard... But going gluten free? I'm a comfort food eater. I love bread. I love pasta. I love pasta with a side of bread.

But I'm willing to do almost anything to get rid of these migraines and take control of my life.

My question: Have any of you switched to a gluten-free diet for your migraines? And did it work? :huh:

LisaLu618 · December 2013

This is my first time posting, but as someone with celiac disease AND a migraine sufferer from a very young age like you, I figured I'd chime in. Switching to the GF diet when I was diagnosed with celiac disease did not help my migraines in any way. I'm not saying it wouldn't help you - it's definitely worth a shot! I can just say it didn't help mine at all.

Phrick · December 2013

My now-13 year old son suffers from migraines, they began when he was about 5 and have persisted right on through. We went strictly, painfully, completely GF as an entire household for 6 months hoping that it would help him, and if anything the headaches began coming even more frequently, rather than diminishing! GF did absolutely nothing for his headaches, so we went back to eating our pasta-with-a-side-of-garlic-bread and being HAPPY people.

asp415 · December 2013

Thanks for this post OP & everyone that responded. I'm a migraine sufferer & was considering going GF as well. I think after your replies I will research it a bit more. Thanks.

nikki_dw · December 2013

Thanks for sharing your experiences with me. I'm still considering it because anything is worth a shot at this point, but I think I'll look a little more into it.

LB2812 · December 2013

I have a family member who had trouble with headaches and migraines and he ended up being diagnosed with celiac disease. He's gone completely gluten free now and has no more issues! So it's worth a shot IMO.

Melissa132129 · December 2013

I've had migraines most of my life (29 now) and I've tried so many things. The only thing that has helped me (tried at the beginning of this year) is to take magnesium at night before bed. Right now I take 800 mgs. I used to have 5-6 migraines a month that would last 2-3 days at a time. Now I have maybe 1-2 a month that are not that extreme. It's been worth it for me. I don't think I could ever give up gluten but I might have tried if I still was having them 5-6 times a month. Good Luck!

Phaedra2014 · December 2013

I'm in the midst of reading "The Migraine Miracle" by Josh Turknett. So far, it's describing my life since late childhood... plagued by unpredictable and debilitating migraines and having narrowed down few triggers. I've missed concerts, days of work, spent vacations throwing up, and slept on my bathroom floor during my college graduation party all because of migraines. :sick:

The book suggests eliminating a number of things from your diet. Some like added sugars won't be that hard... But going gluten free? I'm a comfort food eater. I love bread. I love pasta. I love pasta with a side of bread.

But I'm willing to do almost anything to get rid of these migraines and take control of my life.

My question: Have any of you switched to a gluten-free diet for your migraines? And did it work? :huh:

I resisted cutting out grains for years and years. Finally, two years ago, I cut them out completely. Best thing I ever did for my migraines.

Sabine_Stroehm · December 2013

It's worth a try! I would definitely give it up if I thought that was the trigger (I'm 90% GF already and rarely have migraines any more...don't know if that's what did it, but BOY does my stomach feel better!)

aliencheesecake · December 2013

Between my IC and migraines, the list of possible food triggers is ridiculous. I'd never eat anything! The sinus-like migraines I used to get in early adulthood seemed to have slacked off, and the only thing that really helps my tension migraines is to prevent them with hard exercise! Good luck to you!

Melissa132129 · December 2013

double post

Sabine_Stroehm · December 2013

I've had migraines most of my life (29 now) and I've tried so many things. The only thing that has helped me (tried at the beginning of this year) is to take magnesium at night before bed. Right now I take 800 mgs. I used to have 5-6 migraines a month that would last 2-3 days at a time. Now I have maybe 1-2 a month that are not that extreme. It's been worth it for me. I don't think I could ever give up gluten but I might have tried if I still was having them 5-6 times a month. Good Luck!

Magnesium. Interesting. I take magnesium citrate (which one do you take, there are a few different kinds) twice daily. It's really helped huh? I take it for digestion and to ward off lovely menopause foot cramps.

RxKetogenicRx · December 2013

OTC migraine prophylaxis combo is Magnesium (citrate is much more bioavailable than the oxide) + Riboflavin (B2) + ubiquinol (coQ10). Migraine with aura responds to progestin only contraceptives.

laurelobrien · December 2013

I changed to a ketogenic diet for health reasons, but I haven't gotten a migraine since :-) I used to get them once a month, the day before my period started. Awful migraines - in tears, vision blacking out, strong desire to put an ice pick through my eyesocket. It might have been something else about keto, but I'm definitely gluten free now. I do not have celiac or any wheat/gluten allergies.

HollisGrant · December 2013

I had terrible headaches for several years, had many expensive tests done (like an MRI of my brain to see if I had a tumor, and seeing a dental specialist), and no one could give me a diagnosis. I would alternate aspirin with Advil and lived on those meds. One day I read the back of the Advil bottle where it said not to take them more than 2 weeks in a row. I stopped taking all over the counter meds, had one more whopping headache, and then they went away.

I was basically poisoning myself with over the counter meds. If you are headache prone, your body can easily become addicted to over the counter meds. When they wear off you get another headache, so you reach for another pill and the cycle repeats. This is called a rebound headache.

None of the doctors that tested me knew anything about rebound headaches. I read a statement from a headache center that said a huge number of the chronic headaches they treat are caused by over the counter meds.

I still get a migraine once a year or so, but they are caused by lack of water, too sudden caffeine withdrawal, certain foods, and stress.

Sabine_Stroehm · December 2013

OTC migraine prophylaxis combo is Magnesium (citrate is much more bioavailable than the oxide) + Riboflavin (B2) + ubiquinol (coQ10). Migraine with aura responds to progestin only contraceptives.

My migraine with aura got worse with fake lady hormones. Interesting about the Magnesium/riboflavin/coQ10 combo. Thanks.

RaeLB · December 2013

There are sooo many possible triggers for migraines:

certain foods or drinks, additives & preservatives, certain smells, noises, and visual stimuli, barometric pressure, weather, certain sleep positions, posture, physical exertion, stress, hormones, lack of sleep, too much sleep, etc

It can make finding your triggers so frustrating. Do you keep a migraine journal? that is the best way to figure out your triggers. Keep a daily journal filled with detail about your entire day: when you wake up, the weather, temperature and barometric pressure, everything you eat and drink, all your activities, your mood throughout the day, when you sleep, etc and when you have migraines, how long they last and rate their intensity.

When you have a journal to review you can look for patterns before the onset of your migraine to try to figure out your triggers.

gert0767 · January 2014

Ive been gluten free now for 3 weeks. I chose o go gluten free as I have had constant sinus problems all my life and I read somewhere that many of my symptoms (including migranes) could be caused by a gluten intolerance. Well, for three lovely weeks I have been pain free and my thought processess are much clearer.
Yesterday I had a really nice cheese bun (not GF) within 1/2 an hour I was feeling not very well at all.
Also during those 3 weeks I have lost weight without even trying and that's over the Christmas New Year period.. I'm very excited.Cant wait to see how I am after 6 months.

thlunski · June 2014

I tried going gluten-free twice for a few weeks and didn't notice any change, I was disappointed. Then my Dr told me it can take 4-6 months to notice. So I tried one more time, feeling very sorry for myself as I love me some gluten. I made a plan so I had some sweets options, chips, bread that was all gluten-free. It's been 3.5 months and I still had some headaches but was feeling pretty good. Last night I had a piece of cake at my sons birthday party - woke up with a horrible migraine. Does anyone know if the one dose of gluten could cause that? I definitely wont be cheating again. Hoping to find some insight. I also noticed huge sinus changes, my running nose is not running anymore!

ashenriver · June 2014

Going gluten free for migraines and other issues will only help if you have a gluten intolerance.

To find out if you have a gluten intolerance go see a doctor.

In order for testing to give a correct diagnoses you want to keep eating gluten.

HotAshMess · June 2014

I highly recommend the CoQ10 combo.

It was suggested that perhaps I had a problem with gluten. I've never been able to give it up 100% but I noticed I have considerably less problems for what its worth.

Going gluten-free for migraines?

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