Are you a headache person?

[BecomingMe]

I have suffered from headaches for more than thirty years. Anything or nothing can trigger it eg alcohol, skipped meal, not enough water, exercise. I don’t get the awful monthly migraines any more as I am in my 50s but still suffer random headaches.

I went to bed at about 11pm last night, ate normally yesterday, no alcohol, just water at bedtime and I have woken up with a headache which won’t shift despite two painkillers.

I live a generally healthy lifestyle these days. I have a friend who will polish off a bottle of wine each evening and she never gets a headache whereas I would only have to look at alcohol and feel rough the next day.

If I could work out a definite trigger it would help.

Does anyone else suffer from headaches and do you know what the trigger is? Have you managed to ‘cure’ yourself?

[Heygirlheyboy]

Yes headaches are my thing PITA

Hydration could do that to me as you went to bed early so have gone quite a while. I need two litres plus ideally each day. Humid weather can cause it also for me, lack of sleep, stress, hormones. Dairy and chocolate effect some people. But proper food, sleep and water go a long way. Thankfully it's a while since I've had a full on migraine.

[Seeline]

Lack of fluids for me. I'm waking up with headaches at the moment because it has been hot overnight which makes me dehydrated. I have to balance fluid intake carefully or else I'm always needing the loo!

[BecomingMe]

I do drink water during the day but definitely not 2 litres so I could try that this week. It should be easier on lockdown as I am just around the house at the moment.

[midnightstar66]

Yes I've always been headachey. Thankfully less migraines these days also but I feel like I should have shares in Anadin extra

[thecognoscenti]

If I'm going to get anything it'll be a headache. In contrast I have a cast iron stomach so that's something I guess. Alcohol, stress, dehydration, crying, not eating enough, lack of sleep - all cause headaches for me. I think the trigger is life!

[Selfcarequeereyestyle]

Yes. I have a cast iron stomach but get headaches regularly- at once a week I will have a ‘mild’ headache and at least monthly I will need to take to my bed. Thankfully I only get migraines about twice a year. No idea what the triggers are.

[RuudGullitOnAShed]

Yes - so many triggers for me including not enough fluids, changes in the weather and stress.
As I’ve got older the frequency and severity has generally decreased so I think hormones may also have been a trigger.

[HesterShaw1]

I get a mild headache most days at the moment. Tedious. Can usually be sorted with paracetamol, but the ones I occasionally wake up with (not wine induced) last for bloody hours and the only thing that makes them go away is a nap in the afternoon. Luckily I have no work at the moment

[Heygirlheyboy]

I keep a litre water bottle in sight at all times and sip away. Fill it only when empty and that way I ensure I get the two in.

[Dietsareus]

Yep, I’m a headachey person too, with no particular triggers. Can come out of nowhere and it’s really debilitating 😕

[babbi]

Yes ...I have a headache 🤕 almost every day .
Thankfully the horrendous migraines are very rare these days .
It can be exhausting.

[YappityYapYap]

Same here as other PP's. I always get headaches but oddly never get stomach issues, I'm never sick, I didn't even get morning sickness when I was pregnant with DS and I have only ever had the runs once in my life. It's really weird I think

[BabbleBee]

I’ve been headachy since having children! Not sure if I should blame hormones or the kids....

[Heygirlheyboy]

I'm the same, otherwise rarely unwell, very good health.

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

Migraines, tension headaches, I have a headache almost every day.
Regular sleep pattern, regular eating pattern, no alcohol help. Also making sure you’re not straining your neck at night with your pillow!

[babybythesea]

Yes. Tiredness, not drinking enough, skipping a meal, stress, too much looking at the iPad....

I don’t have as many major migraines as I used to which is nice.

One thing I did read was that if you are prone to headaches in the morning, especially at weekends, it might be because you are lying in, but then your body misses the fluid and sugar it would normally get. So, if you plan on a lie in, put a bottle of water and a couple of biscuits next to you in the bedroom. Wake up at the normal time, have something to eat and drink, and try to go back to sleep.

[AnnaMagnani]

Yes, very much so. Am a experienced migraineur.

I have multiple triggers and I can usually work it out.

Migraine generally likes you to have a boring life of regular hours - get up same time every day, go to bed same time every day, regular diet, not necessarily no caffeine but the same amount every day, no alcohol, or at least minimal alcohol.

So variations from that = migraine. Too late to bed, or too much alcohol are big triggers for me but sometimes I'll think it's worth the risk.

Being hungry is also a trigger which is a disaster weight wise, but also I know that if I lost weight and did more exercise I'd prob not have as many migraines - how to square this circle?

Other things you can do less about such as the weather, or stress.

But a good night's sleep helps a lot - I improved my migraines massively by improving my asthma so I didn't wake at night coughing. The asthma hadn't really bothered me that much, but it turned out the waking up was triggering migraines.

Any of this help?

[Smiling89]

Yes. Regular occurrence for me.

After years of trying to find a trigger I've come to the conclusion my migraines are inflammatory based. Coffee makes me feel better (has anti inflammatory properties), only ibuprofen works (anti inflammatory), headaches are worse when I eat sugar or carb heavy things like bread....

The only thing that dramatically reduced them was the keto diet (extreme low carb) which is used to reduce inflammation in epileptics. My head felt amazing and really clear. I didn't realise the level of brain fog I put up with. Absolutely horrendous for reflux though and I didn't feel it was sustainable long term for the rest of my body.

[BecomingMe]

I am sleeping a bit better at the moment as not rushing around and thinking about everything I have to do the next day.

The obvious thing to do is increase my water intake.

[BecomingMe]

I do eat a lot of bread and carbs so that is interesting.

[MrsMozartMkII]

Y'up.

Headaches most days. Waking up with one is the norm. I used to be able to sleep them off but now it's only Anadin Extra that gets rid.

Triggers for me are:
dehydration, seems like I need a lot more water than I used to!
chocolate
dairy
sugar
carb overload, where I end up almost like a hungover state the next day
high humidity
high winds and sun
stress

So, I drink more water, don't eat those bad-for-me nice things, stay in when the weather isn't right-for-me, and lead as stress free life as possible (hm..., still working on that one!).

[MrsMozartMkII]

Meant to add - I don't stick to my rules and that's probably why I'm still waking up with headaches... It seems that I can resist anything but temptation

[Binterested]

I became a headache person at about 48 years old. I don’t know if it’s the menopause or the HRT that’s done it but I went from one headache a year, easily treated with neurofen, to one a week which nothing touches. I wake up in the morning and I know it won’t go, whatever I do, until after a full night’s sleep. They are often accompanied by a slightly dodgy stomach.

I think celery and garlic are triggers. But sometimes I’ve eaten neither, had no stress, slept well and still wake up in the morning with that looming pain. For me it’s always the same place too

Would love to know how to treat them.

[Oldraver]

I used to wake up with migraines a lot especially if I had a lie in. Figured it was dehydration,

On the odd occasion I wake up muzzy headed I will usually realise I'd not drink much the day before

[mizu]

Yep - used to get monthly migraines but after a full hysterectomy nearly 5 years ago these are now much fewer, but still there. On HRT and seem to have headaches on a cycle still but dull, persistent ones not as bad as migraine.

Anyway, yes, have always been a headache person caused by numerous factors : lack of sleep, too much sleep, chocolate and sweets (still eat of course just have to be careful when in the day, evening best) stress, screens, changes to normal routine.