Defeated by Headaches- please advise!! :)

[rrkelley]

This is my second time doing this diet. I was such an inspiration to everyone I was around, they began doing the diet. Well one day, exactly 4 wks into it, I went for my normal walk and threw a little jogging in there. I jogged a little more than I should have walked, but I made it. I did it for 2 miles alternating. When I got home, I jumped in - clothes and all- in to the family pool. Felt awesome!

Well the next day I began to have a migraine type headache. I don't get migraines, so I shrugged it off as stress or something. I have had this headache since March 27, 2006. I have been to the neuroglogist for MRI, Ear Nose and Throat for sinus, I have been taking everything under the sun to control the pain and to nock the headache out. I am very tolerant to OTC medicine so I have to take 2 Lortab (hydrocone) just to function at work. The headaches are slowly getting less intense, but still there. But the doctors have found NOTHING!!!!!!

Since I have been off of the diet the "proper" way, I try to hear and there begin again. Maybe a day or two. Then I go back to stomach soothing foods which include breads and crackers when my headache becomes overwhelming.

When you speak of the induction flu. Could I possibly be going thru it over and over and over because I try the diet for a few days and bam-- jump back into my sweets and carbs when I don't feel well?

I have told the doctors about the diet and the act like the didn't even hear me. They don't believe it has anything to do with it. But I had lost 23lbs in those 4wks. and now I have gained back 15. Unfortunaly i sold all my "big" girl clothes on Ebay to celebrate- no i am up the you know "What"

Should I jump back it to this diet full force and see if it breaks the headaches. What can I do about excersise.? I surely can't power walk or run, I maybe could take a pain pill and do my walk. or just some at home stablized excersises.

Thanks for any input. Is there a ticker for down agian up again?

[Kate113]

Re: Defeated by Headaches- please advise!!

I'd say it's a good possibility that those sweets and carbs you keep going back to and then backing off of may have something to do with your headaches. I know someone else will be along with a better answer, and I may be mistaken, but doesn't chocolate (or at least some forms of it) contain caffeine? I know when I started Atkins, I had a 4 day migraine and I attribute that to caffeine withdrawal. Try sticking to the plan no matter what and see if they go away. Then you'll know for sure if it's the foods you're eating or not.

I'm also reminded of another time that I had major headaches every day. It was just around this time of year when we started to turn on the heat in the house. Turns out it was carbon monoxide from the furnace causing it. If you don't have a carbon monoxide detector, I'd highly recommend getting one.

Let us know how it goes.

[RachelnLa]

Re: Defeated by Headaches- please advise!!

Wow, carbon dioxide - scary! glad you figured that out!

I'd make a list of foods I was eating before atkins.. look at their contents -caffeine, sugar and sodium etc. It could possibly be the sugars/withdrawal or a particular food you were eating. For me, too much paprika or chili powder causes migraines. And too much sugar would give me one too - like a piece of wedding cake with all the sugary icing! Start Atkins again, give it two weeks and see if your headaches go away. It's a good way to track foods and see what bothers you and what does not. Best of luck! You can do it!

[jroche5998]

Re: Defeated by Headaches- please advise!!

I always had severe headaches 3-4 times a week. On the plan I had one in the course of 18 months. I fell off plan and started getting them again. Last week I had a virus that gave me a nasty headache (confined to bed) for three days. But nothing like what you've described or for anywhere near as long. As far as it being the induction flu, it's possible. There severity of the symptoms are directly related to the level of your carb addiction if you never truly detox from the carbs you could be in one long detox mode. Just my opinion. I hope you feel better.