Headache!

Got a headache on Friday.  It's news because it's my first headache since mid-July, and here it is mid-September.

This is a good reminder that there is no 'cure' for migraines.  There are only strategies for coping with them.

I believe I got the headache for two reasons:  I had my period.  This is the first cycle I've experienced on only 50 mg of Nortriptyline, so it's not surprising I had a little headache pain.  Also, I just wasn't hungry from late Thursday to early Saturday, so naturally I got a headache for eating so light.

What kind of headache was it?  I'd say it was about a 2 or 3 on the pain scale.  It was so slight that I ignored all the early signs, "treating" it with caffiene and snacks.  By nightfall I needed to Excedrin Migraine and in the middle of the night I took two more (with a Mylanta tablet).

Lesson learned.

Can you really live without carbs?

I think many people avoid this diet because it's so hard to imagine life without that familiar bowl of cereal for breakfast.  It's hard to think of a lunch sans sandwich.  And so many wonderful dinner entrees sit on a bed of pasta or rice.  Finally, there's that dessert.  We love our desserts.  Giving all this up sounds hard.

But you know what's hard?  Giving up alcohol was hard.  It's a social activity.  Whenever I got together with co-workers after work, they sneered when I didn't order wine.  They'd ask why I was drinking water or juice.  It feels weird.  But I learned to be brief.  "I have migraines," I'd say.  Then, they'd ask about the headaches instead of my weird beverage choices.

When I confirmed that soy sauce and processed meats really do give me headaches, I thought it would be hard to give them up.  I live in the Pacific Northwest, where we love our teriyaki chicken.  Our family probably got some form of teriyaki take-out three times a month.  Or more.  And giving up processed meats meant giving up those healthy Subway sandwiches that my children loved.  Well, guess what?  Not having headaches is pretty fun, too.

Having my period without the associated migraine is also fun.  And that's what I get from eating no-carb.  Virtually no headaches.

Sure, I miss sugar.  I mainlined hot tea with sugar for years.  But I can drink it without.  I miss my square of dark chocolate after meals.  But I can live without it.  And I really miss fruit juice.  That's going to be the first thing I add back in once I have lost some weight.  But I'm full after each meal.  And if I'm not, I eat a piece of cheese.

I'm not getting headaches.  I can live without the carbs.

The Menstrual Report

My period ended today.  During the entire period, I needed Excedrin Migraine just three times.  And all three times I had a headache I'd rate as a 3 or 4.  All three times, the pain went away quickly.

If that was a benefit of not eating carbs, then I'm in.

Typically during a menstrual period I have a 7-8 headache from the day before it begins until the day after it ends.  Excedrin Migraine does no good.  Aleve is slightly better, as it reduces the cramping.  I usually need Axert.  I'm fatigued and uncomfortable for the entire period, no matter which drugs I use.

But this last one...wow.

After a week...

After one week of not eating carbs, I've gained a pound.

But that's not all bad.  I also started my period.

Here's what's good:  I haven't had a migraine during my period.  I felt minimal pain in the night once, got up and popped a couple of Excedrin, and went back to sleep.  That's it.

If eating no carbs means I can have headache-free periods, I'm all for it.

Another good thing:  typically, when I have my period, I'm tired and have awful cramps.  I'm not having any trouble with fatigue this time, and I've had really minor cramps.

Finally, one more good thing.  I've had more energy.  This could be a sort of psychosomatic thing, that I'm doing household chores to keep my mind off of food, or to prove to myself the diet is helping.  But I definitely feel like jumping out of the recliner more often.