Severe Headaches!

[lizzy33]

Hi, I have been on Atkins now for about a month and have lost some weight. About a week ago I ended up in the emergency room twice in one weekend for severe headaches.These are totally new to me (no history of migraines) I have had about 4 since then....please tell me this is NOT a side affect of low carb eating....I do not want to give this way of eating up...besides the headaches I feel great on it. Thanks for any input.....by the way both ER docs did NOT think it was a result of low carbs. Thanks, LIz

[Kristine]

Hi. That's odd. :confused:

Are there any foods that you've started eating recently that you weren't eating before you were low carbing? Soy? Red meat? Eggs? Cheese? Avacadoes? Nuts? Some of those are common migraine triggers. There are others.

Have you given up caffeine cold turkey, or stopped any medications recently?

Just tossing some ideas out there...

[potatofree]

A headache severe enough to send you to the ER is NOT a normal side effect of low-carb! Dull, "whiney" headaches are common during induction and also caffeine withdrawal..

I agree about some headaches being caused by certain foods, but the only way to find out for SURE, IMHO, is to consult a neurologist.

[sunspine17]

Are you taking any supplements now? I agree, LC should NOT give you headaches that bad. But if you aren't getting the proper nutrients (I'm thinking along the lines of magnesium and potassium) perhaps it could be making a headache problem that has nothing to do with LC worse. Also water too. Just a thought . . . .

Hope it does not happen again, sounds awful. I would keep working with a doc though so you can get to the bottom of it.

[NickFender]

Did they do anything at the ER to rule out anything serious? If not, see your GP and get a referral to a specialist; try to find somebody who specializes in migraine.