The FastDay Forum

I started a headache half way through my first fast day of the week yesterday and by early evening it was crippling. I woke up unable to lift my head from the pillow this morning. I've been fasting since end September and get these regularly. I am aware that I have to keep hydrated and always have a glass of water on the go. I also thought maybe I'm suffering from caffeine/tannin withdrawal symptoms as I am a tea - drinker so I make sure I have three large cups (milkless) a day on fast days to feed my addiction. There is some talk of sugar that I half read on here and didn't really take in but I am not someone who eats processed food or has a sweet tooth on other days when I'm not fasting.

These headaches aren't every time I fast but I'd say they were one in five and enough to incapacitate me - or at least to stop me reading, doing exercise and concentrating. I'm seriously thinking of giving up but keep persevering because of the health benefits.

I would be concerned having this many. If you really want to persevere perhaps you should see your doctor.

I agree about seeing your doctor, much better safe than sorry.

Also could it be insufficient salt? Bouillon or miso soup might help.

My headaches went after I started a cup of Bovril on fast days so I'm thinking it was the salt for me as like you I drink lots of water.

[carorees]

Yes, if I feel a headache coming on I have a cup of bouillon and it disappears! Worth a try? If not, then you could try upping your calories on fast days so that you enter a kind of maintenance phase where you might not see any weight loss but you could find out if there is some cut-off point of a certain amount of food where you don't get the headaches.

If you get headaches on non-fast days as well then definitely a trip to the doctor would be in order.

I have headaches when I don't take enough caffeine or when I don't take enough sugar. By sugar, I don't necessarily mean to eat dessert. You could try eating a fruit or something with carbs.
When my head aches, first I drink coffee, then I eat carbs and if it doesn't go away I eat... paracetamol.

I do have a very salty WW soup and add salt to it plus I add salt to my evening meal on fast days. Don't get headaches on non-fast days as a rule. These are almost like migraines on fast days. I guess if I went to my doc's he'd say "Why are you doing this?"
Don't really think I'd be able to convince him it was A Good Thing me feeling so crap.

[carorees]

I know we don't usually recommend having sugar or much in the way of carbs on a fast day, but I think you should try having something like a banana next time and sees what happens. If that cures the headache it would suggest to me (Phil, Dominic do you concur?) that you have high insulin levels that are not allowing your body to properly control blood sugar. Have you had any tests for fasting blood glucose at the doctors?

Caroline's suggestion seems a good one to me. Some info about how low blood sugar levels can cause headaches here - but it's not by a medic so take with a pinch of salt - or sugar

I do have a banana on fast days, actually. Re the insulin, Caroline. I only had a cholesterol/sugar/blood pressure check up done about a month ago at a well Woman clinic and everything is normal according to those readings. Fasting today and headache so far kept at bay.

[carorees]

Glad to hear your blood tests were normal. Unfortunately that doesn't mean you dint have insulin resistance but it does mean your pancreas is coping and managing to produce enough insulin to keep your blood sugar normal.

If you get a headache again it would be interesting to know if a teaspoon of sugar helps.

Erm - I may have found the solution. I have been undercounting my calories on fast days and having 400 instead of 500. Do you think that could do it?

Caroline I don't think I could eat sugar. I hate the stuff unless it is in a cake or biscuit which would use a great deal of my caolorie allowance.

[carorees]

Yes, the extra 100 might make a difference...you'll have to experiment!

Leucozade? Spelt wrong but if you can't eat straight sugar?

headache is one of the symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) but both headache and hypoglycaemia can be caused by other underlying factors.

5 grams of glucose is 20 calories and is equal to the total amount of sugar in your blood so one of these sporting energy gels or the like may be a way to test the idea.