Headache after eating

[captainheadache]

I get intense, throbbing headaches 2 hours after eating food.  The more sugar content, the more intense the headache, and the longer the headache lasts.  If I eat something like a snickers bar or a piece of cake, the intensity is debilitating and the pain can last for days.  Just about anything with more than a few grams of sugar gives me a headache.  I've dealt with this since I can remember, and I've been physically and mentally drained for most of my life (ie, if I can go 2 or 3 days a month without having some kind of head pain, I'd be ecstatic).  

Here's some extra information:
I'm very underweight.  I am about 5' 10" and I weigh 120 ~ 125lbs.  The most I've ever weighed was 135, and I had to work very hard lifting weights at the gym for months to reach that weight.  I have about 5% body fat.

My mom is diabetic (type II) and her parents were diabetic (needed insulin shots, so type I?)

My half-sister has Grave's Disease.

I've been to the emergency room a few times because of headaches, but my blood sugar is always "normal".  MRI's have shown nothing abnormal.

I yawn incessantly after eating - especially during the afternoon.  I can yawn 20+ times a minute for over an hour depending on how much I eat.  After the yawning stops, the headache usually starts to kick in.

I wake up and have to go pee at least 1 to 3 times a night.

I've wasted lots of time and money seeing internists and specialists.  No doctor has ever run a test outside of standard "blood work", which shows my blood sugar as being "normal".  Every doctor is eager to treat the symptom, but the best "cause" I've heard is that "headaches just happen to some people".  The diagnosis is always given about 5 minutes after I say that I have headaches, and then I'm sent off to the pharmacy to pick up the latest prescription migraine medication.  I'm very frustrated by this.

Any recommendations?

[AngelaAlexander]

I also had severe headaches whenever I ate chocolate. It turns out that I have a problem with the casein in milk, which is a protein. I'll get a migraine that lasts for a while if I eat products that contain milk. Also, my throat constricts, I get congested, and I just feel bad. Benedryl is the only thing that works; not Tylenol, Advil, Aleeve, or any other over the counter-products for headaches. For the longest, I thought that if I took Dairy Ease and used lactose-free milk, that would be the end to my problems. However, I didn't have an issue with lactose, but the casein. I tried to eat soy cheese and drink Silk, but I was still getting congested, although not nearly as bad as I get with milk. I'll take that congestion because I like to bake. I was still having abnormal lab tests, so I got tested for Celiacs. I have it and was told to eliminate all gluten, which has been VERY difficult as many things contain it. When I first went gluten free, I noticed a change in the first few weeks. My joints didn't ache, my head didn't hurt, I wasn't congested, I thought more clearly, and my food didn't get "stuck" in my throat. Before, I had been diagnosed with GERD (gastroesophogeal reflux disease). My food wasn't digesting properly and I would basically regurgitate my food in the back of my esophagus. It got so bad that I actually got a yeast infection in my esophagus (YUCK!) and had to have a procedure to open it back up because it had constricted (hence the feeling that my food was "stuck"). I had a set back recently after eating some fries from a local fish restaurant. Apparently, they fried the fries in the same grease they use to cook their fish. Also, I don't do well with the fried foods due my GERD. Anywho, I hope that you're feeling great by now as it has been some years since you've put up this post, lol. :)

[CorinneF]

PS:  The yawning and the frequent peeing are also symptoms common in migraine sufferers.  Most doctors don't know that.  

[CorinneF]

Your experiences are consistent with migraines that are rooted in metabolic syndrome.  The leg cramps are a clue that you might respond well to magnesium therapy - since low magnesium this is a factor in both issues.

Magnesium of about 400mg extra a day, above and beyond what you would normally need to balance your calacium intake.  If you take this therapy, it goes better if you have a well rounded multi-vitamin.  Other vitams that do very well include B2 at about 200mg extra per day.  200mg of Q10 helps the B2.  

Metabolic syndrome involves an insensitivity to insulin, which might be why your situation is so easily triggered by sugar.  Metabolic syndrome is often linked to migraines, in which case, unchecked, the symptoms only get worse until it develops into full blown diabetes.  

If that is the case, it's very important to avoid refined sugars and refined grains.  Vigorous exercise for at least 15 minutes a day is also crucial if you have Metabolic Syndrome but you need to be sure to follow that with some kind of protein snack like a glass of milk.  I've found that if I do this exercise pre-bed, it further helps the leg cramping.

I hope that helps.

[armymom0388]

I thought i was the only one this happens to. When I tell people sugar and/or carbs make me sick, they look at me and say "oh". I suffered with migraines for years. I noticed that before it rained they were really bad. It wasn't until my husband and I were on a cruise and I got a migraine everyday. By the third day my husband suggested I see about the acupuncturist on board. He was the one who told me to cut out all sugars and carbs. I did and never had a headache. That was 5 years ago. Now I am at a different job and it is very difficult. There are cakes, soft pretzels, etc. almost 2x a week. So we are back to square one. I was curious if anyone ever experienced drainage from the ear when they are sleeping. I experience this when I eat rice, potatoes or any sugar.
Thank you everyone for all the wonderful tips and info.

[astich]

This is all very interesting.  I don't necessarily get headaches just after eating (I pretty much always have a headache, or did until I had Botox and now have a reduction it seems so far).   However, as someone who is in recovery from an eating disorder as well, I put 2 and 2 together and realized that I didn't really suffer migraines when I was actively restricting calories.  I did some research on the matter after I started hearing about Ketogenic diets for children with epilepsy (which I also have, but it's controlled with meds), and there's a lot of not-so-scientific, anecdotal information about it online:  http://www.hcop.com/?z=1080

I bought Keto strips and tried to maintain on it; it DOES help me, moreso than anything else, but it's really hard for me to maintain without spiraling out of control.  So. . .it might be a better option for some than others.

[solsonmedhelp]

I also eat potatoes.  Sometimes I can handle rice and sometimes I can't.  That is why I started looking for headache info.