Headaches revisited

[Wahine]

Indy - can you tell me where your headaches are or where they start? Are they all over your head or do they start at the temples or base of your skull?

When you get your headaches do they seem to be inside your skull or does it seem like your scalp aches?

Is there a word you can use to describe the pain, (for eg: throbbing, stabbing, dull toothachy pain)?

Do you get any other symptoms, (changes in vision, tingling, dizziness or vertigo)?

I might be able to help more if you can answer some of these questions. Or I might not be able to help at all.

[indysteel]

Indy - can you tell me where your headaches are or where they start? Are they all over your head or do they start at the temples or base of your skull?

When you get your headaches do they seem to be inside your skull or does it seem like your scalp aches?

Is there a word you can use to describe the pain, (for eg: throbbing, stabbing, dull toothachy pain)?

Do you get any other symptoms, (changes in vision, tingling, dizziness or vertigo)?

I might be able to help more if you can answer some of these questions. Or I might not be able to help at all.

Wahine, yesterday's headache was primarily concentrated around my left eye and left upper sinus. I would describe it as throbbing at its worst and a dull ache at its best. Given its location, I initially thought that it was sinus related, especially in light of the weather/allergy season. However, I didn't have any other allergy symptoms yesterday (when my allergies are bothering me, I mostly get a runny nose). As the day wore on, I felt a little sick to my stomach, but not terribly so.

When my headaches don't otherwise respond to OTC painrelievers or decongestants, I usually assume that it's a migraine. My migraines typically strike around my left eye as well, so it's hard to tell the difference between a congestion headache and a migraine. I hold off on taking my migraine medicine until all else fails (except when I'm on my period and I can safely assume it's a migraine) because the meds knock me out and cost a lot. My migraines typically don't cause any other symptoms, e.g., auras, nausea, sensitivity to light, etc. I'm lucky in that regard. The headaches suck, but I can function okay.

I should add that I took my migraine medicine when I got home from work yesterday, and the heachache was mostly gone in about 20 minutes. So, I can safely assume it was a migraine, but I'm obviously left with questions regarding causation. I do think it's telling that I tend to get them when it's warm outside. I don't remember getting them or getting them as often during the fall/winter months. I also don't remember getting them after shorter rides. The temps are supposed to drop this weekend to the 50s-60s, so I'll be interested to see if I get another headache.

Just a few further notes on Sunday's ride just in case anything jumps out at someone. For breakfast, I had coffee (I almost always start my day with about a cup or less of strong coffee), an English muffin with peanut butter and jelly, yogurt and right before the ride, a banana. During the ride, I ate another banana and a couple of Cliff blocks with caffeine. I drank water and CytoMax Energy drink during the ride. I did not drink a recovery drink after the ride, but I did eat a sandwich with a fair amount of protein within the hour. I also had some water, Pepsi and chips. Over the course of the next few hours, I drank about 16 more ounces of water. Since I ate a late lunch, I had a small serving of pasta and an orange for dinner. There may have been a handful of GS cookies thrown in for good measure.

I am very sensitive to light because of my gas permeable contacts, which is why I've invested in some good polarized and photosensitive sunglasses. I tend not to think it's an issue with light because I don't recall getting headaches on sunny but cool days.

Thanks for all your input. At this point, I may just have to play around with my hydration and nutrition as it gets warmer. I think I'll also try taking some Excedrin during or immediately after a ride.

[GLC1968]

Kate - we are very, very similar. You just described my pain, and pretty much my nutrition for my last ride day! I also get migraines around my period (though they have greatly lessened going off the pill).

I think the only difference is that my pain is more centered behind both eyes...and it hit me sooner (2 hours after the ride).

I don't normally use electrolyte supplements when I drink water unless its super hot or I'm out there a LONG time, but I'm going to play around with that a little bit going forward.

Keep us updated on your progress!

[Wahine]

Typically headaches that are related to more systemic causes, (dehydration, low blood sugar etc), are more global in nature. That is, they tend to be more evenly distributed over the head. They may be more towards the front or back but they are usually pretty even side to side.

Your migraines are atypical in that you don't get an aura etc and that it is more to one side. This makes me wonder if your very nasty headaches are related to changes in blood flow and neurological activity as migraines typically are. Not that it really matters. It wouldn't change any of the suggestions I have.

So what am I thinking so far. This is where things get interesting. From a PT trained in a Western University point of view you could be having a headache as a result of nerve irritation at the upper segments of the neck related to your cycling position. It's a nice diagnosis that accounts for the location and quality of the headache. Unfortunately, it does not explain why it's worse in the heat.

Get ready, cause we're about to get a little weird. So I switched out my brain for my Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) brain and I have to say that I think you are suffering from blockage of qi in the gallbadder meridian, with increased liver yang. This explains location, temperature dependency and the fact that it is worse with activity. This diagnosis is also often related to migraines, pms and menstral cramps.

If I were you, I'd go see a TCM doctor who practices acupunture and can prescribe herbals.

I'm going to try to find a link that helps locate TCM practitioners and post it.

I hope you're feeling better.

[indysteel]

Wahine, very interesting. I know nothing about TCM, but I am open to your suggestions in that regard.

In yoga, we often talk about poses that unblock this and that. Are you aware of any poses I could do that might help do some unblocking?

[indysteel]

For all of you playing along at home, I got a headache again after yesterday's ride, but not after Saturday's.

Just a few details: Saturday's ride was fit in between rain storms and was pretty leisurely because it was so wet out. I think we ended up doing about 37 miles at a pretty easy pace. It was warm out, but not overly sunny. I drank a recocvery drink after the ride and then ate a big dinner.

Sunday's ride was A LOT harder. I ate my usual pre-ride meal (and was famished I might add after about the 5th mile). It was sunny, but not quite as warm as it was on Saturday. I ended up doing 49 miles, which wouldn't have been that hard, but the winds were gusting to 30mph. It was rather intense at times.

I drank another recovery drink after the ride and then had a sizeable lunch. As with last week, the headache started about 3-4 hours after the ride ended. Same degree, type and location. This time, I took my migraine meds pretty quicky, and it went away in short order.

The migraine medication is just not, in my mind, much of a solution. As I've indicated, it's expensive and makes me sleepy. It's weird though because some of my menstrual migraines, if I catch them early, will respond to Excedrin. The post-ride headaches, however, don't at all.

Sigh......

[nafula]

I get those headaches too. I've done some research on the topic.

Google "exercise headaches" and see what you find out. They are literally headaches that you get from exercising.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exe...daches/DS00641

It usually helps if I take an Excedrin before I go out. If I catch them in time, I can get rid of them fairly quickly. If I don't, I might as well just go to bed.