Migraine
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Maven |
Ok guys, I could use some of the wise and insightful info you are so good at. Just last week I noticed that I had to squeeze a little to get my jeans on, hmmm... not so good
 . Lol, anyway I remember hearing somethin about being over weight can cause our headaches to be worse. I don't know how much of that is true, I don't even remember most of what I heard. But it popped back in my head.I really an working at having an all over heathy lifestyle. I have never been good at this. In fact I never really have been able to 'diet' or anything because I can get rather obsessive, and that leads no where good. But anyway, I am trying to get in a routine of regular exercise, so far I am doing well with this. Now the next thing I was to tackle is my diet. I general, I am a very healthy eater. Especially for my age, as my friends give me a hard time when ever they can. I know that for my height, I should be about 135-140. Just last summer I stuck around 145-150 but I am noticing it slowly goin up. That's were the thought popped into my head. I don't want to let my headaches get worse just from getting fat! Ugh!! Do you guys have an special diet tips or tips at all? I think I am going to look into that special k diet. Or maybe even slim fast. Anyone tried these? It almost sounds too good to be true. How do you guys juggle a diet and miss the food triggers and other things we are supposed to avoid? I am also finding that I am very sensitive to med side effects. When I started Topamax, bam! Off went ten pounds in less than 2 weeks. When ever the anti-depressants are adjusted as my preventatives, bam. I add another 4-5 pounds before I get used to it. It is so strange. But basically just wondering what diet techniques work for you guys? Thanks   Alaura“Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without words, and never stops at all.” |
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Forum Moderator Grand Wizard  |
Alaura,
Do you have a Wii? A whole bunch of us were doing the Wii Fit thing a while ago- it's as low impact as you want it to be, and as high impact as you want it to be. You can choose your activities from the menu, and it encourages you to come back day after day. Also, on many of the exercises, you don't have to move your head a lot- I was able to do things even with extreme vertigo!!! I've used it to do some yoga and strength training. It also has some games to improve balance, which also make you move around. I've lost about 15 pounds- not all from the Wii fit, but from watching what I'm eating, etc I used to be 115-120lbs at 5'4''. Now, I'm 135 at 5'5' That's down from 150 and 5'5. Going off Amitriptyline was a big help. It stopped the weight gain, and allowed me to actually get somewhere with the diet thing. Jamie Forum Moderator |
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Community Manager Supreme Guru  |
Hi Alaura,
There was a small study recently talking about stationary bikes and that is doesn't trigger a Migraine attack for most Migraineurs. I'll give you the link so you can read it if you'd like:Finally, certain exercise won't make our Migraines worse! |
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Forum Moderator Supreme Guru  |
And one more article I think you'll benefit from on those days that you don't have enough energy to work out, which seems to be where I'm falling into these last few months:
10 Ways for Migraineurs to Sneak in Some Exercise The one I use ALL the time is parking far away from the store. I always force myself to park at the far end of the lot, it drives my kids crazy! LOL Laura Forum Moderator |
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Community Moderator Supreme Guru  |
Hey Alaura!
I found that weight watchers works great as far as a healthy eating change. I recently started it again and dropped 20lbs without feeling like I'm dieting. I am a little less strict on it now, but I also weight myself every friday to make sure the pounds don't creep back up! Eileen Gray Community Moderator eileen@helpforheadaches.com "The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to over come, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater then our suffering." - Ben Okri Please donate!!! Click below to donate to the AHDA - THANK YOU!!! http://www.networkforgood.org/....aspx?badgeId=102755 my blog: http://fireinmybrain.blogspot.com |
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Maven |
Thanks guys.
Nancy and Laura- I think you guys gave me those links when I put up my post about exercise. I did find them helpful! I am getting to get a bike and see how that helps. Is it just stationary bikes, or would it be the same if I rode a bike around town? The 10 ways to sneak in exercise... I love it! I am always finding new little ways to do stuff like that. My favorite has to be the stairs. I always find some reason to run up them several times. Sometimes its intentional, others, I can be rather forgetful, lol. Jamie- I have heard quite a bit about the wii fit. I will take a look into it, but I have to say, I am a tight wad! If I can't find anything at a reasonable price, I can't make myself buy it. That may be worth it though, I will just have to look. Its strange that you mentioned the Amitriptyline. That is one of the several that I am on. Evertime its adjusted, I see the scale go higher. So I seem to be battling the meds more than diet and exercise. Eileen- Weight watchers. Why didn't I think of that? You can even do that online now can't you? 20 lbs is great! I am doing pretty good with the exercise, well at least I keep getting better at it. I bought the stuff for the Special K diet, just to see how it works. Today is day 1, so I will just have to see. Like I said, I am a pretty healthy eater, so i guess I really don't need a 'diet' but I am goin to try anyway. If special K doesn't work... I am headed to weight watchers! Thanks guys! Alaura“Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without words, and never stops at all.” |
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Maven |
Hey guys.
So I went to the store and got all the stuff for this Special K diet. Looked online today just to see that this diet isn't all that its cracked up to be. Bummer, but I am still going to try it as I have all their 'items'. If it works; good but if not; I will try somethin else. I guess people can lose weight on this diet, but just get it all back as soon as they hit the end of the 2 weeks. I was thinking I could try slim fast, but really all I need to lose is 10-15 lbs. Plus, I seem to just be battling the med side affects, more than diet and exercise. What kind of diets do you guys use? Is there anything out there that actually works, And isn't just false advertisement or pumped up to be more than it really is?  Or better yet, have you guys found anything that can overpower the medication and side effect of weight gain?Eileen- I am still thinking of the weight watchers thing. But again, I am a tight wad, lol. So I am trying to find the cheapest things first. Alaura“Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without words, and never stops at all.” |
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Sage |
Hi Alaura:
I just want to throw in my two cents here. I'm a huge advocate of Weight Watchers. In college I was 210, and went down to 150. I maintained between 155-160 for 6 years. I didn't start having a problem with my wieght til the meds. And as I always say, I eat when I'm depressed and not feeling well, which has been for the last two years now! (Take one pint of Ben & Jerrys for chronic pain as needed! )I want to caution against Special K/Slim fast and those kinds of fad-type diets. Blood sugar drops from not eating frequently enough can trigger migraines. As far as the WW cost, I did WW at home, where they send you all the stuff in the mail. I'm not really a meeting type person. Anyhoo, it was I think $120 spread out over 4 months. Check online. It's worth the money because you always have all the tools in case you pack on a few. |
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Maven |
Ok getting a little frustrated. It will be a week tomorrow that I started this diet. There is supposed to be some weight loss in just 2 weeks. I am half way through it, and not getting anywhere. I am really thinking it is my meds now. I tried to rule that out as much as possible but i am sure now.
Being just 19, I have always been able to lose weight fast. But I can gain it really easy with meds. I was on Doxipen and gained like 20+ lbs. But once I stopped it, I was able to get rid of the weight. Now I am on Vivactyl (amytriptaline and another med combined) and Limbitrol, both anti-depressants I take for my head and both have that weight gain side effect. I was gaining it so slow at first that I didn't mind, I was tolerating it. But now that it isn't getting better, I am about fed up. At least this diet this week so far has stopped the gaining  , but not started any weight loss. I realized that I am about 20 lbs heavier, so I am getting really frustrated. I didn't think it was that much, the weight I am at now is just flat out disgusting!! (no wonder my clothes are getting a little tight  )I also wondered about this special k diet. It probably wasn't the best one to try. Kel you were right, its just a fad diet and I am risking it with the headpain. So now, I am just monitoring what I eat, eating healthy, and exercising. I just hope this works a little better. I am just going to talk to Dr. N about this when I go back this month. I will see what he has to say, or recommend. Did you guys ever find a way to beat the med side effects, when you were gaining weight? Or did you have to stop the med and go from there. Any advice there at all? I can give up the med, as I have been on it a year and my headaches aren't controlled. It just depends on what happens my next appointment, I guess. In the mean time... I am busting my bottom with exercise and getting really firm with my diet. Hope it works Alaura“Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without words, and never stops at all.” |
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Community Moderator Supreme Guru |
I am not a fan of Amitriptyline at all. This is from personal experience only. I gained a lot of weight and also had this wierd twitch that didn't stop until after I discontinued the Amitriptyline. It was so bad that my twitching would wake my husband up!
As far as the weight, as I said before - during and after this drug it took me almost a year to get back to my pre-amitriptyline weight. It's not that I ate more or felt more hungry on the drug - at least not that I noticed - I just couldn't get rid of the weight! Nothing had changed in my life except the Amitriptyline. Here is the real question for you: Does the amitriptyline help your Migrianes? Do you feel it is making a difference for your head? If not then maybe it's time to talk to the doctor about a different preventive. It's one thing to deal with the Migraines - we all have been dealing with them. But to have to deal with that, a medication that is not only not working but possibly contributing to weight gain? I was just not having it. Eileen Gray Community Moderator eileen@helpforheadaches.com "The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to over come, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater then our suffering." - Ben Okri Please donate!!! Click below to donate to the AHDA - THANK YOU!!! http://www.networkforgood.org/....aspx?badgeId=102755 my blog: http://fireinmybrain.blogspot.com |
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MMC Lead Expert Supreme Guru  |
Hi, Alura,
Just an FYI -- I don't know who told you that Vivactil is a combination of amitriptyline and something else, but it's not. It's one medication, protriptyline, which is a tricyclic antidepressant in the same family as amitriptyline. These meds aren't used nearly as much as they used to be. Dr. Krusz calls them "primitive" and mostly doesn't prescribe them because there are better options. Every nutritionist I know will tell you that diets don't work... that it takes a change in lifestyle... that dieting usually means not eating things we want instead of developing new tastes and preferences... that as soon as we stop "dieting," we go back to our old ways. For myself, I've been eating less red meat, and don't miss it. Going more for fresh fruit when it's in season, frozen or canned in juice rather than syrup when the fruits I like aren't in season. I really don't like very many veggies, but have gotten into the habit of eating those I do like more often. Also, a trick my diabetes educator taught me is to ignore what foods are thought to be for certain times of day. If I want a smoked turkey sandwich for breakfast, that's what I have. Just a few thoughts on the diet issue.
 Teri Robert Lead Expert, MyMigraineConnection terimmc@helpforheadaches.com visit me on
 The generally long periods of time between my Migraines are the result of working with a Migraine specialist to refine my preventive regimen. You can see my current regimen HERE. |
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Grand Wizard |
Alaura -
Teri's got a good point - I read a book way back when about how almost any diet will work in the short term. But what we lose quickly we tend to gain back, quickly! Our bodies are built for feast or famine - when we lose a lot, fast, our bodies' built in survival mechanism reacts as if we had been through a famine and need to put on the extra weight to see us through the next famine. If we make healthy eating pattern changes - less animal fat, more fiber, more fresh fruits & vegetables, less refined sugar and flour, we lose weight slowly, learn a new way of eating we can sustain, and don't trigger the mechanism in our bodies that makes us gain it all back! - Megs |
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Master |
If it's available to you, visit local farmer's markets. It will provide you a place with inspiration; fresh, healthy choices; excellent resources (the folks at the stands often have wonderful preparation ideas for their produce), and it's often cost-effective.
My plan for eating healthy is whole-grains, a variety of colors of fruits and veggies, and lean protein sources. I agree with Teri and Megs that diet is a temporary solution. Health is a lifestyle. You can make it work for you, just keep trying. |
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Community Moderator Supreme Guru |
Also, another good alternative to try is the veggie burgers and things of that nature. I love the chik'n patties by Morning Star, as well as everything else they make! It saves a bunch of fat and calories, plus they have fiber too, which is always an added bonus.
The fad diets are just that - a fad. It's like the others said, it has to be a lifestyle change. I still count points although I am just maintaining right now - and yeah, I do slip up put I don't beat myself up about it. The great thing is that we are in prime fruit season for berries and tropical fruits. I love a good fruit salad - and it's cheaper to make when the fruits are in season. Veggies too! I love fresh spinach with garlic - put it in a pan and YUM! - and you can just use some spray - not butter - or the smart balance spray "butter" is really good too!!! It is hard to get going sometimes, but well worth it when you get on the scale! Oh, and another little tip - if you are a coffee drinker or soda - switch to diet (if you can and are not already) and use sweetener instead of sugar. I dropped 5lbs just by making that change alone. Eileen Gray Community Moderator eileen@helpforheadaches.com "The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to over come, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater then our suffering." - Ben Okri Please donate!!! Click below to donate to the AHDA - THANK YOU!!! http://www.networkforgood.org/....aspx?badgeId=102755 my blog: http://fireinmybrain.blogspot.com |
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Maven |
Hey guys-
Sorry about that, I got the meds confused. I am on vivactyl but also on Limbitrol, that is the one that is Amitriptyline (50mg) and Chlordiazepoxide(20 mg) combined. So I really have 3 of the antidepressants. And they just don't seem to work for me. I had this weight gain with others that I tried, too. I know that a healthy diet, along with exercise is the best way to go. I am not doing the special k thing anymore, it is just a fad. But the frustrating thing is, I am a very healthy eater. My friends give me a hard time when they a sitting around with greasy pizza and I am to my lonesome with a healthy little salad, lol. Plus most days, I am lucky to eat two meals a day, one is pretty typical and maybe snack on just a bit of veggies or fruit. That is thanks to IBS, i just can't eat a lot if I eat at all. So I really just don't know where this weight is coing from. I need to be a little more patient, i think. I am just used to losing weight easily, so I am just scared that I won't lose it I am like you, teri, give me an orange or some veggies, before the red meat. I do eat some poultry, but not red meat. I have even bumped up the exercise, so i think I just need to be a little more patient to see the results.All though, the whole anti-depressant thing to prevent my headaches, is probably goin out the window. Like I said, i gained from one in the past, my headaches are out of control, and they make me feel worse (well emotionally). So I think it is time to look elsewhere for my preventative. Thanks guys I am focusing more on the healthy life style and exercise rather than the diet. So I will just have to see how it works out. Thanks! Alaura“Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without words, and never stops at all.” |
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