Aura Migraines

[Coco Nutter]

Hi All,

 

I am currently onto day 3 of my first whole 30 (yey) I have been an aura migraine sufferer since I was younger (Aura migraines are where you experience certain sensations such as loss of sight, tingling in your arms and legs, blurred vision, a circle of light in your eyes before and during a migraine attack)

 

I was told by doctors from a young age that the cause of my migraine were predominantly chocolate and cheese. I loved both so ate them in small quantities but found when I did binge on these I would suffer with a migraine attack.

 

Since January I've taken on board a predominantly Paleo lifestyle, and have now embarked on a whole 30 to really restart my body. Last night I suffered a horrible migraine, I'm not sure what could have caused it if I've been off the dairy. I think maybe the sugar withdrawls could be part of it....anyone have any tips for helping to treat migraines on the whole 30? What they have found best to avoid so as not to bring on a migraine attack? I am currently experiencing a constant headache, this I know is expected on the programme but I didn't expect migraines

 

Any help or advice would be much appreciated

 

Thanks

 

p.s....I am from the UK also so uk friendly tips are welcomed

[Squinty]

Hi there Coco!

 

I'm also on Day 3 of my Whole 30, also in the UK and also developed a humdinger of an aura migraine this morning! Hurrah - you're not alone! I've had these since childhood and have only ever really previously handled them with nurofen (if I can catch it early enough) or sleep.

 

The migraine I had this morning was different to the usual ones, though. It was a visual one - 15 minutes of thinking I was going blind in my left eye and then felt as if someone had buried an axe in my head. Nice...slightly more intense than the usual ones I get. Just out of interest, did yours feel different in any way to the ones you're used to?

 

Of course nurofen seems to be a no-no during the Whole 30... Luckily I'm working from home today, so went back to bed and napped solidly for 30 minutes. When I woke up, the worst of the migraine seemed to have gone. Definitely still a vice-like headache there but I'm suspecting this is more to do with me not drinking enough and also the toxins stamping their collective feet, wondering when sugar mountain will come back ;-)

 

Obviously if you're at work or mega busy, having a nap might not be practical, though... I did read in ISWF that we can take tylenol (paracetamol in UK) rather than nurofen. I'm hoping the headaches will shift but guessing we need to ride the storm out... Migraines are clearly the way that my body communicates with me when I've fed it rubbish or I'm not feeding it what it's clearly gotten addicted to. I was already dairy, soya and gluten free (due to Ehlers-Danlos fun) so was hoping I wouldn't have such a hideous hangover on day 3 but I'm starting to think my sugar demon is pretty hefty and peeved with me right now. They can't stay angry for too long, right? RIGHT?!

 

I hope you feel better soon and best of luck with the next 27 days!

[Tom Denham]

You can take any prescription meds you are used to taking during your Whole30. Some may degrade or slow your experience, but the trade off may be necessary or at least preferable to suffering.

 

Make sure you eat plenty as the stress of hunger can provoke attacks. I mention eating plenty because so many newcomers to the Whole30 eat undersized portions under the influence of diet plans they carry around in their heads. Also, be sure to drink lots of water. 

[Coco Nutter]

Thanks Squinty and Tom, much appreciated advice

 

Squinty - I take daily propranalol (beta blockers) prescribed from my doctors for my migraines and usually knock myself out with some paracetemol and sleep to fend off the migraine. It came on just before bed so sleep was on its way, I'm just very mindful that stress, change, tiredness etc do bring on my migraines but hopefully throughout the whole 30 by the time I get to "tiger blood" stage I might see some improvements.

 

My migraine felt pretty similar to the ones I usually get the I did perhaps feel the addition of "flu-like" symptoms more than normal and it came at night, mine usually come right in the middle of the day.

 

Fingers crossed for improvement and good luck to you too!

[MRM2407]

I only suffer from mild migraines a couple of times a year, however I experienced my first aura migraine on Day 3 of my Whole30 as well, which went into the worst migraine I'd ever had.  At the time, I attributed it to stress as I was going through an extremely stressful/emotionaly draining couple of days, however looking back I'm sure that sugar withdrawls could have had an effect on it as well.  I took some meds, chugged a lot of water and had a miserable night trying to sleep it off.  The next day I was still sensitive to light but the pain was gone, thank goodness.  Interesting to hear that other ppl had similar experiences during their initial days of starting Whole30.  I'm happy to report I'm on day 29 and have had no other migraines.  Hopefully you will have a similar improved experience!

[staceychev]

I haven't had an aura / ocular migraine in many years (and have only had a handful in my life), but I just started one and I'm on... you guessed it, Day 3! I'm not having any other detox/adjustment symptoms, so maybe this is how my body is reacting to this particular Whole 30. I know that this is an older thread, but I wanted to add my 2 cents in case other people came searching.