IBS and Chronic Headaches
#251156 - 03/09/06 01:36 PM
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Saa
Reged: 03/09/06
Posts: 2
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Hi everyone,
I have recently diagonosed IBS that went undiagnosed for a long time. I am trying to get the symptoms under control w/the diet, and I suppose things are promising for a start. Since the onset of my symptoms though, I have had chronic constant headaches which I know come from the IBS. Does anyone know any foods I need to avoid to control the headaches, or will they have to clear up w/time like the other symptoms. For the past two days I haven't eaten anything not on the diet list, and they are less intense but still happening.
Thanks, Sara
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Hi, Sara! I haven't heard of headaches being associated with IBS before. Do you mean you usually get them with an attack? What kind of headaches (cluster, tension, migraine)? If you're IBS-D, maybe when you have attacks you're getting dehyrdated and this sets off the headaches.
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I get that too. I basically have a headache every day. It is completely linked with the IBS but hard to explain how. I usually wake up okay-ish, eat breakfast, then go to the bathroom, which takes forever and leaves me feeling not empty (I am IBS-C) and my colon cramps up for the rest of the day and I get this awful headache. If anyone has any remedies I'd love to hear them. I find regular painkillers (advil etc) totally ineffective.
-------------------- IBS-C, lots of spasm and trapped gas.
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I agree. I have D and if I don't get enough water in my system I get horrible headaches. If I keep myself well hydrated (at least 4-6 cups a day of water, usually more) my headaches happen less often. The downside is you pee more, but at least your head doesn't hurt. Also, stress relief can help the headaches and the IBS along with it. And I wear glasses, with time the prescription is no longer strong enough and back come the headaches.
-------------------- ***********************
If you're not dead, you've still got time.
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Because I've just started waking up from a headache every morning for about 2 weeks now. And it lasts all day long.
I don't know if it's connected to IBS...or stress....or something more serious.
-------------------- ~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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I was also waking up with horrible headaches for a while. My dentist told me I was grinding my teeth at night (probably a stress thing). So I got a mouthguard, which has reduced the waking-up headache. Although I still get them during the day.
-------------------- IBS-C, lots of spasm and trapped gas.
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Me too! I used to get them all the time and then my genius husband who has been telling me to drink more water, bought me a case and then challenged me (he knew that would do it) to drink 2 bottles a day at work (A LOT FOR ME) and within a week, they were gone. I was stunned. I know I don't drink nearly as much water as I should but I also don't get thirsty (really ever) so I don't remember to drink. I have signs posted in my classroom to remind me! Now some of my students remind me, too! It's truly amazing the difference that water can make. My headaches were really bad. I got glasses, went to the chiropractor, and nothing. Water did the trick. Much better now. Drink up! It can't hurt, that's for sure.
-------------------- Flipada - IBS-C "It's a gas, gas, gas"
**Lauren**
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hi i am so glad
do u eat veg after your meals and when do u drink water before during after a meal
dot
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I drink water before, after, and during all of my meals. I always have a water bottle with me. It can only help, an dif you drink more than you need, you just pee it out. Great! I usually eat veggies with my meals of a soluble fiber base.
-------------------- ***********************
If you're not dead, you've still got time.
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Beth, Do check your BP! I don't want you getting a stroke too !!!! Now, don't forget! -Bob
-------------------- <img src="http://www.math.mtu.edu/~rwkolkka/BritPicA.jpg">
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...although dehydration and stress from the IBS can trigger them. If plenty of fluids and stress relief doesn't stop them, get checked out by your doctor.
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I don't mean to sound at all critical - you know tons more than me about IBS. But I've often read that headache is a common IBS symptom. I just did a google search and found a few research papers on this too. I am not dehydrated (I'm a C and drink constantly) and always have headaches. As to whether they are stress-related - that's obviously tougher to answer. Certainly my life is no walk in the park! This is from the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research website at www.badgut.com: "Symptoms that may be related to IBS which occur outside of the digestive tract can include sleep disturbances, back pain, chronic pelvic pain, headaches, interstitial cystitis, (a bladder and pelvic pain disorder with symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency, and/or pain), temporomandibular joint disorder (pain in the face or head region), and post-traumatic stress disorder." Any thoughts?
-------------------- IBS-C, lots of spasm and trapped gas.
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Renee, Yes, I think she is. You can frequently get headaches from nausea, and IBS as we all know can cause nausea,but the headaches aren't caused directly from IBS per say. -Bob
-------------------- <img src="http://www.math.mtu.edu/~rwkolkka/BritPicA.jpg">
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I used to get horrible headaches as well when I woke up. I had the perfect night sleep and this would kill me in the morning. My GYN switched my birth control and that helped a little. My eye doctor though seeems to think that it has to do with my eye pressure when I wake up. He wants to see me first thing in the morning to check it out but I have not scheduled it. Good luck and I hope they disappear soon!
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Yep
#252446 - 03/16/06 07:36 AM
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Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
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The headaches can be caused as I said by tension and dehydration so alot of IBSers get headaches but they aren't an IBS symptom per se. If you're getting alot of headaches you should talk to your doctor.
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I also starting waking up with horrible headaches right around the time the dr starting talking IBS. Since I've always had sinus issues, I just thought it was that - however, the sinus meds didn't make a dent in the pain.
Turns out the pill I was on was the problem. The drop in hormones caused splitting headaches, my dr put me on one that tapers off in the placebo pills, but I wasn't in the habit of taking them... even a few hours late taking the pill and I would get a headache. I'm off the pill and on NuvaRing now.
Just a thought....
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