Migraines - How do you handle diet and exercise when you have a Migraine?

wmeyerbill455 · July 2015

MFP Community, I would really appreciate any tips anyone has for keeping to the diet and exercise when they have a Migraine Headache Day? I suffer from Classic Migraine (aura type) and when I get them everything gets a bit off track. How do others Cope?

memere101 · July 2015

I suffer from terrible migraines also. When I get one I limit my exercise to walking and make sure I'm drinking enough water. I sometimes get so sick to my stomach that eating is difficult. But I can usually eat my standby steel cut oats with blueberries and I add cinnamon and chia/flax seeds (I have some that I have ground up already). Usually sleep is the only thing that helps with the headache because I can't take many medications.
Hope this helps a bit

auddii · July 2015

I typically sit in a dark room and if possible sleep to prevent the worst of it. I get nauseous, so I usually don't eat during them and exercise is definitely out.

wmeyerbill455 · July 2015

Thanks, I also cut way back on the exercise, but find it difficult dieting when my head hurts so much. I don't get the abdominal migraines very often so I usually eat more. I get the vertigo migraines and eating helps to quell the dizziness. Just wish I could find a better way.

wmeyerbill455 · July 2015

Memere101, thanks you gave me some food ideas and I kind of forgot about the need to make sure I stayed hydrated. Your advice did help.

Vune · July 2015

I finally started taking a preventative medication a few years ago, when it was obvious the migraines were so severe and frequent that they were interfering with my work (as a stage actress, I would dry heave on the bus to the theater, and even blanked on stage once). I kissed a few frogs (gabapentin, propranolol) until I settled on amitriptyline. They all take care of the migraines, but this one might have the least invasive side effects for my needs. Regular, generic excedrin type painkillers usually work for any pain that sneaks through, though it's rare nowadays.

When I have a migraine and can eat, I eat potatoes. Glorious potatoes, full of electrolytes and associated with comfort food! Baked potatoes are a great vessel for a quick, light dinner.

AddieOverhaul · July 2015

auddii wrote: »

I typically sit in a dark room and if possible sleep to prevent the worst of it. I get nauseous, so I usually don't eat during them and exercise is definitely out.

I'm the same. Luckily I have drugs that knock me out. there is no hope for any exercise and I don't feel up to eating at all either.

marieamethyst · July 2015

auddii wrote: »

I typically sit in a dark room and if possible sleep to prevent the worst of it. I get nauseous, so I usually don't eat during them and exercise is definitely out.

I do this as well, after I pop my Midrin pill and down a ton of caffeine! If I feel better before the day is over I'll try to tackle some exercise (which usually happens since Midrin is magical with migraines for me, at least), otherwise I move along and start again the next day when I'm feeling better.

999tigger · July 2015

If you have a fully blown migraine then it usual incapacitates you and exertion will not be possible. Your priority should be coping with the migraine. I cna only think if you have effective medication then you could consider resuming exercise after. Sometimes a walk might assist, but most of the time I need rest , stillness, a cool breeze and darkness.

Your diet should be migraine friendly, which means you shoul avoid your trigger foods and you will probably need to control your blood sugar levels, but these are all aimed at preventing you getting into a migraine in the first place. The priority is focused on getting through the migraine and not wit diet or exercise.

Spreyton22K · July 2015

I feel like I have suffered with headaches ALL my life - they migrated into your classic migraine style in my late 20's.

Now at 52 the Lupus I have been fairly recently diagnosed with does have a bad habit of manifesting as a combo of Migraine, with vasculitis symptoms and also they have decided to behave like cluster headaches: ie the b@stards stay for days at a time, and they make me look like one of those pop-eyed goldfish from all the pressure in the vessels around my head and face.....

Really during these episodes I am just barely able to get myself from A to B in a darkened house so thinking about exercise is right out.

Nutrition during these tough times is something that I have found can really help or hinder your journey through and progress out the other side. My gut is severely affected too, so what I eat needs to be easily digested as well as enjoyable. As someone else has pointed out staying well hydrated is always a good idea and can actually decrease the amount of migraines you get. I like the idea of eating a spud....comforting, easy to digest - anything along these lines is brilliant, maybe biscuits such as plain sweet ones or salted crackers would help....even getting yourself something like a liquid meal could help with queasiness and is at least easy to prepare.

You have mentioned vertigo as part of your issue....one of the meds. that may help is the anti-nausea drug under the brand name Stemetil, here in Aust. This acts on helping nausea through affecting the inner ear and balance....it may be something you and your Doc. can discuss.

I would entreat you to do some more investigating as to whether you have any food based migraine triggers. For me I have just discovered that Chocolate is a major trigger....*Le sigh*

I have wondered before but never had the "guts" to do the testing.....but sadly it is what it is and I am gonna have to adapt. For others major triggers may be wheat, caffeine, oranges any foods or liquids that are high in amines seem to be culprits.

Meds. are as different as are people and what works well for one won't for another....and I find that too these tricky migraines pull a swifty on me from time to time and what helped before will not touch the next episode....it is a minefield of options and like many here you just have to find the inner reserves to keep on trying what is offered to see if they work.

GaleHawkins · July 2015

Spreyton22K wrote: »

I feel like I have suffered with headaches ALL my life - they migrated into your classic migraine style in my late 20's.

Now at 52 the Lupus I have been fairly recently diagnosed with does have a bad habit of manifesting as a combo of Migraine, with vasculitis symptoms and also they have decided to behave like cluster headaches: ie the b@stards stay for days at a time, and they make me look like one of those pop-eyed goldfish from all the pressure in the vessels around my head and face.....

Really during these episodes I am just barely able to get myself from A to B in a darkened house so thinking about exercise is right out.

Nutrition during these tough times is something that I have found can really help or hinder your journey through and progress out the other side. My gut is severely affected too, so what I eat needs to be easily digested as well as enjoyable. As someone else has pointed out staying well hydrated is always a good idea and can actually decrease the amount of migraines you get. I like the idea of eating a spud....comforting, easy to digest - anything along these lines is brilliant, maybe biscuits such as plain sweet ones or salted crackers would help....even getting yourself something like a liquid meal could help with queasiness and is at least easy to prepare.

You have mentioned vertigo as part of your issue....one of the meds. that may help is the anti-nausea drug under the brand name Stemetil, here in Aust. This acts on helping nausea through affecting the inner ear and balance....it may be something you and your Doc. can discuss.

I would entreat you to do some more investigating as to whether you have any food based migraine triggers. For me I have just discovered that Chocolate is a major trigger....*Le sigh*

I have wondered before but never had the "guts" to do the testing.....but sadly it is what it is and I am gonna have to adapt. For others major triggers may be wheat, caffeine, oranges any foods or liquids that are high in amines seem to be culprits.

Meds. are as different as are people and what works well for one won't for another....and I find that too these tricky migraines pull a swifty on me from time to time and what helped before will not touch the next episode....it is a minefield of options and like many here you just have to find the inner reserves to keep on trying what is offered to see if they work.

Food may be a factor. I never had any testing done but got off anything with sugar or grain in it to help reduce my arthritis pain and that worked great for the pain. One of the side effects was no more headaches for some reason.

Spreyton22K · July 2015

^^^ Well yes that certainly can be a factor and if you are having regular incapacitating migraines then for sure an elimination diet is something to seriously consider.

I do believe though for many, including myself that migraines occur when many factors come into play, to make a 'perfect storm' scenario.

I am happy that you have found relief from your overall pain loading, but I have to ask you this; how is it possible to avoid ALL foods that contain sugar? Have you eliminated fruit and dairy or are you referring to processed sugar that can be found in say for example biscuits, cakes, icecream and the like?

Spreyton22K · July 2015

OP - just a few other thoughts that may or may not help.

Lack of sleep and migraines often go together.....making sure you get adequate rest can improve the frequency and severity of the attack.
I make sure I am prompt with dealing with any signs of an impending attack: ie. don't hang about with taking meds. if you feel a migraine coming on.....
Other things to investigate: Meditation, massage and acupuncture may be helpful. If you work/use computers take regular breaks away from the screen light as this can be a trigger.

fidangul · July 2015

I get severe migraines too. What I try to do is follow the symptoms prior to the migraine attacks and take my meds. This obviously doesn't workout all the time because at times my migraine can come up all of a sudden. Along with the headaches I also get dizziness so standing up alone is a little difficult. So yeah, try to follow the symptons and see if you can prevent it, if not not just rest and drink plenty of water.

jenfitnessmama · July 2015

I also suffer from migraines and actually just got rid of one this morning that I had over night. I usually try to sleep them off and limit what I eat, which usually consists of dry toast or crackers cause they make me so nauseous. I also make sure to have a glass of water near by the whole time.

callmejessica · July 2015

I really can't function at all when I get them. I usually have to just throw up and then sleep it off. Usually the second day I can eat a little and I just drink a lot of liquids. By the third day I am almost back to my normal diet.

Migraines - How do you handle diet and exercise when you have a Migraine?

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