Following up on headaches...

[DragonflyMoon]

We were talking about headaches & migraines and how food can be a major factor related to these, so i wanted to follow up on that a bit, before i forget!

My friend has been too sick to email me yet, but i did speak with her and she said that according to the specialist she sees, she learned that blood sugar changes the pressure of the spinal fluid, which flows inside of the inner ear (her problem) and depending on the pressure being up or down, this can trigger headaches. So she has to remain sugar free, to keep the pressure down, and this will in turn (hopefully) cut back on her headaches. So they have her on a modified "Zone" diet, very balanced & although at this point she can have no grains.

She had been doing much better in the beginning of the summer after being on this diet & going to physical therapy for vestibular issues, however, her family went on a 3 week vacation and she stopped eating how she should and now is back to throwing up everyday with major headaches & just feels horrible. Plus, she just found out that she has pockets of fluid building up at the top of her spine and needs a shunt in the back of her head to drain the fluid... and also has to go for spinal taps... my heart is just breaking for her. I can't imagine what she must be going through.

Anyway, i'll write more about headaches when she writes me back, but i did want to share what she told me so far! Interesting how sugar can affect our bodies like that. It really is a poison!

[2big4mysize]

Re: Following up on headaches...

wow I hate that she had to learn the hardway about blood sugar and health.

I hope she is feeling better soon.

[sofarsogood]

Re: Following up on headaches...

Thanks a lot for the info Dragonfly. This could very well explain why my headaches have been better for the past month.

I came on the board this afternoon because I feel crappy. I'm actually tempted to grab anything with carbs and shove it in my mouth. So I figured that before I ate anything I would come here and read a bit. Now you have saved me because I'm thinking that if I cheated 1.) The good of the past month of ketosis would be lost 2.) I might get a bad migraine. On the other hand, WHY am I craving carbs after being in ketosis so long? Anyone have ideas?

[DragonflyMoon]

Re: Following up on headaches...

Thanks a lot for the info Dragonfly. This could very well explain why my headaches have been better for the past month.

I came on the board this afternoon because I feel crappy. I'm actually tempted to grab anything with carbs and shove it in my mouth. So I figured that before I ate anything I would come here and read a bit. Now you have saved me because I'm thinking that if I cheated 1.) The good of the past month of ketosis would be lost 2.) I might get a bad migraine. On the other hand, WHY am I craving carbs after being in ketosis so long? Anyone have ideas?

I don't know ~ maybe it is something in the air because i am in a mega crappy mood today too. I was seriously eyeing coffee cake in the grocery store... what is up with that? I am having one of those days where everything is going wrong (e.g. i slammed my nipple in a tool box by accident, of course... the pain... oh sweet Buddha, the pain...) So needless to say i am low on motivation today, BUT i swear to you, sofarsogood, if you hang in there today, i will to and it will make for a better tomorrow...

PS ~ please keep your breasts away from toolboxes. Thankssss.

[sofarsogood]

Re: Following up on headaches...

Ouch!!!! Actually, I guess there's one good thing about losing weight off my breasts first because I was whippersnipping the lawn today and I definately wouldn't want them to get in the way of that thing!

P.S. I made it through the day somehow. It's 9:45pm here and I never eat after supper, so I'm safe - How about you?

[pstansel]

Re: Following up on headaches...

I used to not care about eating late, etc; until I read some interesting material about how to maximize your weight loss by timing things correctly... i.e. stopping eating 3 hours before bed, making sure you work out at least 3 hours after your last meal and then having a snack within 15-30min after working out, etc; I'm not sure if I buy all of it, but I'm trying it.

[Outback Jess]

Re: Following up on headaches...

I have been reading off and on this book my Mother wanted me to read about metabolism and it states to eat your bigger meals earlier in the day, and again to not eat after 7pm at the latest, and if so, small meals. it also suggests activity after dinner.
I think Barry Sears and the Zone is big on the no later evening meals...
Makes a little sense...the metabolism is slowing down later in the day...

[sofarsogood]

Re: Following up on headaches...

For me, I think that not eating after supper helps to keep my calories down too. I know we're not supposed to count calories, but it does make a difference after induction. Late at night used to be my biggest binge time, so since I restarted Atkins - I just made the rule in my head not to eat after supper and it hasn't been that hard to stick to.

I did read something before about how the time of day you eat won't affect your weight loss, but then I read something else that says that Sumu (sp?) wrestlers gain weight by not eating at all untill 4pm and then eating all evening. Who knows?