Headaches - causes?

[Rhonda0726]

I have been waking up in the night with severe throbbing headaches in the back of my head on both sides. I was reading some journals, and several have mentioned, headaches, and stopping eating nuts in the same sentence. I have been snacking on English Walnuts and Hickory Nuts but no more than an ounce a day, and not every day. Has anyone noticed any problems like this?

[wbahn]

I'm not eating nuts anymore, but I was for a few weeks and didn't notice any headaches. The nuts just seemed to be stalling me. I do still get headaches from time to time but they seem highly correlated to when I don't each enough or drink enough - particularly the day before the headache.

Hope you figure it out - headaches are NOT fun. At least my weekly migraines seem to be a thing of the past!

[alto]

Hi, Rhonda. I can't help on headaches and nuts. Lots of people have headaches when they start this WOE.

Here are two links that might be helpful. The first is specifically about headaches, the second a more general "I've started low carb and I feel lousy" link.

http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16014&highlight=headaches

http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=271901#post271901

Edited to add:

Just editing to say that this intrigued me, and I did a search for NUTS and HEADACHES, but came up only with the journal entries that you've probably already read. One way to find out, of course, is to cut the nuts :) But the supplements aspect may be part of it, too. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

[wbahn]

Oh, dear me, I didn't even clue in to the fact that you are still pretty early in Induction (even though I used that fact in my earlier response).

Many, many, many people have huge headaches - especially sometime between Day 2 and about Day 5, but some experience them later or for longer. I thought I was going to die during Day 2 and Day 3 even though I was a frequent and severe migraine sufferer.

Just push through it and drink LOTS and LOTS of water. Nothing else really seems to help. They will go away on their own as your body gets completely detoxed from the carb load.

[disneybebe]

Seriously, my DH. Everytime he comes home half drunk, I'd get this really severe headache.

I've also noticed that everytime I eat peanuts, I'd get bloated afterwards. Yet I'm fine with walnuts & almonds.

Good luck & happy low-carbing!

Bebe :wave:

[razzle]

I think the induction headache is due to two things--one is a detoxing process from foods you're sensitive (like allergic) to. Think of it as like detoxing from a heroin addiction--people doing that have horrible headaches, vomit, break out in cold sweats...we just get a minor version of all that. :)

The other thing that I think is happening is that your brain has lowered levels of (i believe) glycogen right now. We can produce enough blood sugar to make the body out of protein, in a process called gluceneogensis, but if our bodies can just grab the sugar from the small intestines outright when we consume sugar (any carb is sugar to the gut), it will do so at less metabolic cost. So for a few days, while our body is figuring out that it needs to fire up the gluceneogensis process, we have too little glucose (or glycogen--I forget which and perhaps Doreen can set me straight about the different of the function of the two substances) in our brain for good brain fuction, and we have headaches, poor short term memory, and some tend to whine a bit about how hard things are--as a product of this chemical imbalance, not necessarily a whiny personality! ;)

as others have said, it goes away. for now, eat smaller meals more often to help prevent the worst of the headaches. Drink PLENTY of water--dehydration headaches stink.

nuts, aged cheese, red wine, and chocolate trigger migraines or vascular headaches--you could look up the symptoms of migraines to guestimate if that's what you have (should be one side of your head only as a quick test, so sounds like it's not this).

[imready]

I agree with Razzle, it doesn't sound like a migraine to me.

I have a couple of relatives that have nut allergies, but they don't get headaches.

Could it be the way you are sleeping at night? It's just strange that its so sudden. Perhaps its muscular...Have you been surfing the net too much? ;)

[Rhonda0726]

Thanks to each of you for your help! My doc seems to think it is along the muscular line, he said there are some heavy duty muscles going up the back of the head, and that could be part of it. he wanted me to go on muscle relaxers, but I am not taking them. My hot water bottle, and prayer work just as well, without the drugged feeling! I take enough meds with my seizures, I DO NOT want any more!I have layed off of the nuts for a few days, and have upped my water. I have only had one bad headache(in the middle of the night) in the last 3 days. So, maybe it is a combination of all 3? It is so great to finally have somewhere to go and get input from people who are going through some of the same things, and don't laugh or shrug off some of my questions! Thanks to all! :wave:

[LucyCL]

Rhonda
Another cause may be if you have stopped having caffiene in any shape or form - (tea, coffee, coke). I stopped having coffee & had the most dreadful headache for a week - but since then I have been fine.

Lucy

[disneybebe]

Originally posted by Rhonda0726
It is so great to finally have somewhere to go and get input from people who are going through some of the same things, and don't laugh or shrug off some of my questions! Thanks to all! :wave: [/B]

Hi Rhonda,
I just realised that my original reply to your thread was somewhat insensitive. If I did offend u, pls forgive me. I used to suffer from really bad headaches too & my heart goes out to u. Again, I apologize if I'd offended u.
Please take care & all the best!

Bebe :wave:

[doreen T]

I concur with everything posted above ... just another thought worth mentioning is that DEHYDRATION will cause one mother-of-a-headache too. Drink yer water, lots of it. Are you eating a snack in the evening? If not, you might consider having some protein before bedtime. Nocturnal hypoglycemia can cause headaches.

I empathize with not wanting to take more meds than you already are. I get severe muscle spasms in the back of my neck and shoulders too, usually during waking hours though. I resisted the muscle relaxers for a long time, but finally I realized that the pain was interfering with my ability to carry on with a normal day. I take Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) and to tell the truth, it's improved the quality of my sleep too.

Try all the tips listed here, but if the pain persists then do consider taking some medication to help. You may only need to take it for a short term, or just occasioinally, as I do.

Hope you're feeling better :)

Doreen

[razzle]

rhonda, sorry it took a day for this to dawn on me but if it isn't night time hypoglycemia or dehydration...waking up with nighttime headaches COULD be from teeth-grinding. A cheap fix for this is buying a football-player-type mouthguard at Walmart or a sporting goods store, fitting it, and wearing it at night. Teeth grinding can be from emotional stress but is more often due to an imperfect bite (ask your dentist) and would definitely result in neck tension upon waking. (Your jaw genetally hurts, too, when you get up)

If it is grinding and the cheap mouthguard cures you, your dentist can fit you with a molded plastic nighttime mouth guard that will be far more comfortable. I've had them charge me anywhere from $250 to $450 US for these...and insurance in the states never pays (grrr, even though I've worn the enamel off two teeth). If the bite problem is curable through orthodontia (mine isn't--would take about a $20,000 torturous sugery!), it might be worth it to you.

HTH! :)

[Rhonda0726]

Bebe- heavens no! You didn't offend me! I took it like I felt it was offered, got a smile, and went on!! Feel free to drop a line anytime!
Doreen-I think the water may be an issue too. I am trying to up my amounts and see if that isn't helping. I also am hypo, and had really cut back, so that figures in too.
Razzle-I don't think I grind my teeth, but I do have a habit of clenching my jaw. So, yes, that could all figure in there too.

I go weigh in tomorrow and then have a follow up on Thurs for my headaches. They have also changed my thyroid medicine, and I am going to ask about that. I don't do well, when they go switching brands on me, even generics! Thanks so much to all of you for your helpful ideas. Have a good day! :wave: