Eating rubbish stops my headaches

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So I am a migraine sufferer. I've tried all sorts - sumatriptan, proprananol, amytriptaline. i have tried cutting out coffee, alcohol, sugar, chocolate, exercising more, drinking lots of water. Nothing works. However, when I just let myself eat what the hell I want (often including chocolate, take aways, etc ...) I feel fine!!! I can't go on like this because I've put on nearly 3 stone, but whenever I attempt to diet I feel so rubbish and the migraines are hell. I have tried speaking to the doctor, but she doesn't seem to understand / believe me! and, says maybe it's comfort eating. But it really isn't! Anyone have an explanation? According to doc, eating well and cutting the crap should make me feel better, but it really (genuinely) doesn't! (Ps. I used to eat v healthy, and was a size 10 and very fit. I could go a long time without food. Also, no stressors at the moment - life better than it's been in years - so def not comfort food as doc thinks!) thanks for advice!

Same. It took me a while to work out that it was blood sugar related. If I eat loads I don't get migraines, but if I avoid anything high GI during the day, I can avoid them too.

It's not about avoiding sugar as such, but sticking with low GI food.

I do find that I eat to avoid migraines though, so I know what you mean

God, that doesn't make much sense!

Hope you got the gist

I'm in the same boat! Hopefully someone will be along to help!

What kind of diet do you do when you diet?

Maybe the high fat, moderate protein, low carb kind might work better for you. Sometimes it is the lack of fat in a calorie cutting diet that gives you problems.

If it's any consolation my migraines have dropped off massively since doing low carb and starting HRT. Not sure which one is working though!

I get a lot of headaches and migraines and when I feel one coming on I just have to eat pure stodge.

I wonder if all the salt helps.

Not sure - but I know that when I do get a migraine I am ravenous for days and seem to crave carbs and fat.

Depending on what you are eating, the odds are you are addicted to sugar and caffeine. It sounds as if the headaches you get are withdrawal symptoms from reducing those things. I used to be 'addicted' to coffee and would get headaches if I stopped.

You are in a vicious circle of feeding an addiction to junk food and suffering withdrawal symptoms when you stop.

The only way is to go cold turkey and eat real food not crap. Stop thinking of it as a 'diet' but as a healthy way of living. If you carry on as you are you will probably end up diabetic, with high blood pressure, maybe cancer and heart disease. Sobering thought ? :(

It sounds likes sugar and caffeine withdrawal you are getting. Maybe cut down on these things graduallly? Otherwise you will have migraines plus all sorts of other issues.

I'm exactly the same. It doesn't have to be unhealthy foods it can be anything really but as long as I keep eating I'm ok. It makes it really hard to keep the weight down, I'm always 10-20 lbs more than I should be.

I used to find that a bag of giant chocolate buttons helped cured a migraine quite quickly with some sleep and painkillers.

However since finding out I was diabetic and cutting out sugar/carbs I don't have migraines at all.

I would ask for your blood sugar to be tested.