Giving Up Processed Foods

[indysteel]

I would certainly start with the soda. I just think soda is, in a word, nasty. I don't mind a root beer, ginger ale, or cream soda every once in a while, but I have never really had a taste for pop, diet or otherwise.

But I do keep tripping up over how fatigued you are. I assume your bloodwork included thyroid and anemia tests....

[shootingstar]

I guess the processsed food that I have:

soy sauce
chocolates (it is Christmas....)
crackers (only several times per year)

I rarely have chips, soda/pop. Only when I was desperate....working in an industrial site at a construction project ...means one is hemmed in by construction equipment. The lunch food truck with chips looked pretty good under those circumstances when I forgot to bring a snack.

I just grew up with cooked food and rarely processed food because we couldn't afford it. Processed food long term, is more expensive. So it's easy for me to carry on.

Besides, if you've ever seen an aisle of Asian processed/junk food, it really tells you to run over to buy the Asian fresh veggies instead. Asian processed foods is real lesson in amazement.

[indysteel]

I'm glad you're getting a full workup, Amanda. It's not that I'm not in favor of cleaning up your diet, but like your husband and doctor, I'd like you to rule out obvious medical conditions, too. I hope it's nothing serious. At the risk of asking too private a question, is there any chance you're pregnant?

Keep us posted!

[Aggie_Ama]

Blood panel was completely normal, my doctor thinks I am dehydrated and the migraine may have been triggered by that or just made everything worse. He couldn't find anything more conclusive than that but wants me to come back if it doesn't subside with plenty of rest and fluids. I felt like I hydrated great in my race Sunday and after the race but maybe I did not do as good as I thought. I did start to up my fluids even more.

Today I feel better although still very tired. I do have a sinus headache but for the first time in nearly two weeks there is a clear sky and I am going to ignore his suggestion to rest and do a short bike ride. Nothing hard just a nice rolling road ride, it is nearly 70 degrees with less than 5mph winds!

My goal is still to go to a less processed diet. I don't expect it to stop my migraines but it might. Right now they are usually every few months but they seem to be more frequent (I have had 5 this year) than they were. So I definitely will consider seeing a neurologist if they persist.

[ny biker]

Fwiw, fatigue and motion sickness can both be migraine-related. And it's possible to have migraine-related symptoms without getting a headache.

[Aggie_Ama]

NY Biker- I usually have extreme fatigue with my migraines, the next day I feel absolutely hungover and like I didn't sleep. This would be the first time I ever got physically sick but I know those evil migraines don't play fair. This is also the first time I have had migraine type symptoms without the aura, I have always gotten an occular migraine first usually gives me a warning so I can get home and not have to drive during the worst part. The after effects seemed to last longer than normal but it could be dehydration on top of it.

I like the suggestion of a headache journal and will be starting one, already found an app for my new Iphone.

[smilingcat]

My sympathies with the migraine. I HATE HATE migraine.

+1 with all those who said about the soft drink and artificial sweeteners. High Fructose corn syrup included.

Also did you change your sports drink or Goo to a different brand? I don't trust many of the sport supplements with synthetic sounding names of the ingredients and additives. My body is okay with Cliff bars, Luna bars, Fig Newtons and hate Goo, shot blocks...

You may want to check out your sport supplement.