Headaches?

My headaches are amped up now due to seasonal change.
The only diet related headaches I have experienced coincide with not drinking enough water. If my water intake isn't at least 3-4 glasses (on top of hot tea, diet coke, etc) I have headaches.
I chalk it up to my own system's personal hydration level needs.
Good luck! Headaches are the pits and migraines the abyss

Low blood sugar is definitely a migraine trigger for me. As is getting too cold around the head. Dehydration normally gives me headaches rather than migraines, as does missing my cup of coffee! Have you been exercising more? That can also have an effect.

You say it's mostly at night. Is that a long time after your last meal when your blood sugar and body temperature might have dipped? You could try either eating a bit more or a bit differently, or change the timing of your meals to keep on a more even keel.

It's only a week and a half. It may take you a bit longer than that to tweak your diet to be right for you.

In my twenties I started getting treatment for migraines. I was under medical care for migraines for over twenty years. I did migraine journals of what I ate, the barometric pressure, everything I could to try to mitigate attacks. Prophylactic meds and meds for once the migraines started. I did stop eating triggery foods - citrus, chocolate, peanuts, hard/aged cheeses, and I cut alcohol and caffeine to a minimum.

Still had migraines. Not as many maybe - but I couldn't even exercise because that would bring one on.

I just had to really be vigilant and take the triptans as soon as I felt one coming on. The only thing that helped me was menopause. Mine were triggered by my monthly hormone swing. I'm so glad they are gone finally.

I feel your pain, and I'm sorry.

Yeah, whatever feels comfortable for you as a late evening snack. I sometimes have a hot milky drink before bed (I don't have dietary triggers beyond the biggies of blood sugar and hydration).

For me, it's not a good idea to go to bed with a sensation of hunger already starting, so if I'm aware of it, I will have a little snack, even if it takes me over my calorie goal.

It's an easy thing to try as a first step. I hope it works for you.

Why have you cut it out? Sugar is just a carbohydrate which is not bad for you.

I know you said it was only a week and a half, but whatever you do, don't take advil (or any type of OTC painkillers) every day. Max you should take is only 2 days per week, otherwise you will get into a rebound cycle, and rebound headaches are BAD. When that happens, you just have to stop taking all painkillers and deal with the god awful headache until it goes away on it's own. That just sucks.

@jacksonkris8 if you have a migraine or headache for a day or two and you take a painkiller, you expect the headache to go away. If it does, that's great. If after taking painkillers (even OTC) for more than 2 days, it's likely the headache is not going to go away, and what you are left with is really a rebound headache, which can often hurt worse than the original headache you were trying to get rid of. That's why headache specialists will tell their patients not to take triptans no more than 2x per week. They also can trigger rebounds if taken more often.

Once you are in the rebound cycle (if you are taking OTC's everyday, you are most likely in a rebound cycle) the only way to break it is to stop taking painkillers altogether. It's difficult to do because your head feels like it's going to explode, but it's the only way to break the rebound. Sometimes you can take steroids during this time which will help the headache and end the rebound.

I hope that helps a little bit.

I get absolutely horrible headaches when I cut down on my sugar. I also get migraines. So not fun. I usually give up and give in to some sugar, but if you continue with the no added sugar they should calm down in a few weeks, if that is indeed what is causing them. Dehydration can cause it too.