headaches & bowels

bit personal maybe. But I have had a lousy headache all over but specially in my eyes.l I hardly get headaches. Just replied been rather constituted.
Having finally resolved that,s the head seems to have Improved..
Anyone else had this experience?
Is this the gut brain connection...Ha!!!

It defo is the connection. My specialist told me that during migraine, the stomach and guts can shut down. Just cease functioning - which is why conventional pain killers sometimes have no effect whatsover (as they're just sitting on top of your last meal in your stomach not being absorbed and sent round your body).

Part of my acute migraine treatment is a dose of domperidone to get things moving again! I also use nasal spray triptans as they get into my bloodstream quicker than waiting for stomach to work.

Lovely conversations we have here!

There's a connection. I'm sure about it.
I don't know how it works, but there's a link.

There's definitely a connection. I always have a bad IBS attack the day after a nasty migraine, a 7-9 one, or the ones that make me nauseous. Not so much with the ones that don't hurt as much. Your gut is dependent upon Serotonin to regulate it and serotonin is also one of the culprits with migraine attacks. So when the levels fall... migraines and gut problems. We can't just have one part of our bodies go caput.... noooOOOoooo that would be too easy.

Alli

Now that I have spent the entire afternoon tripping back and forth.....
My head is a lot better. I still have my myofascial pain, but the horrible headache in back and in my eyes went quite soon.
I think I must pay more attention to this, but not sure how to defeat constipation when it occurs, it seems to go with the territory of IBS...
P

Pen,

I take Metamucil (psyllium fiber) twice (sometimes 3x) daily, and seems to have helped a great deal. I drink tons of water, but that alone doesn't do the trick. I need the extra help.

It seems like a migraine throws off the whole body and it takes days for everything to get back to a more normal rythym.

Becky

makes sense Becky thanks. if i can take it withuot severe stomach upset (usual reaciton to EVERYTHING) will give this a try.
My husband eats a banana everyday....works for him....so uncomplicated...

oh yes diet and bowells have been linked to headaches/migraines for a long time, cant tell you how or why, but i have read about it time and time again,

Miralax is great (they even have generic now and it is OTC), but I too have stomach issues ever since my headache started. Lots of nausea, upset tummies, bloating, constipation. Haven't figured any solutions besides daily Miralax and avoiding foods and medications which make it worse. I tried a daily antacid for awhile with no help. This is why many of us do better with migraine treatments that aren't pills, such as dissolving, injections, suppositories, nose sprays, etc. I can still "absorb" medications, but pain pills tend to take 2 hours to kick in for me instead of the "typical" 30-40 minutes.

There's definitely a connection. I always have a bad IBS attack the day after a nasty migraine

another reason for IBS after M could be the meds. They often cause constipation, and when you suddenly stop taking it after an episode, your bowels start to move freely all of a sudden.

I have experienced the same thing, and finally figured out that it is mainly codeine and other pain relivers that cause all this.
They cause, if you please. - a gas/brake, gas/brake - intestinal reaction on top of everything else.

Risa

tortoisegirl wrote:. I can still "absorb" medications, but pain pills tend to take 2 hours to kick in for me instead of the "typical" 30-40 minutes.

They take at least 90 minutes for me too, and Triptans take up to 5 hours.
p

CluelessKitty wrote:There's definitely a connection. I always have a bad IBS attack the day after a nasty migraine

another reason for IBS after M could be the meds. They often cause constipation, and when you suddenly stop taking it after an episode, your bowels start to move freely all of a sudden.

I have experienced the same thing, and finally figured out that it is mainly codeine and other pain relivers that cause all this.
They cause, if you please. - a gas/brake, gas/brake - intestinal reaction on top of everything else.

Risa

Dont take Codeine, but point well made Risa. Mine do have caffeine. I had IBS years before I ever got a migraine. IBS is in my family but not a single person other than me has migraines.
I have a book by a neuro that has migraines, he said lots of success with people sorting digestive tract and helping head, never works the other way around....hmmm.

So does anyone think avoiding getting constipated can actually improve migraines and headaches please?
I must find the book where the neuro comments on this...

P

Pen,

I think I'm predisposed to constipation or it's tied to the migraines. I have problems no matter what, and I eat a boatload of fiber (fresh vegies and fruits, nuts and whole grains) and drink tons of water.

Plain yogurt daily seems to help keep the rest of the stomach issues at bay for me. I definitely notice when I miss a day.

Becky

I had IBS years before I ever got a migraine.

Not knocking off IBS, but perhaps it was abdominal M?

Risa

Years ago, back when I was a child, my father insisted that all of my headaches were caused by constipation.

I believe that the headaches, and the constipation, are both caused by dehydration.

I believe that the headaches, and the constipation, are both caused by dehydration.

Silly me.
here I am stuffing myself with Maxalt and torturing with laxatives when all I need is just a glass of water...

Risa

Oh Risa,,,,,,I did feel the same when I read that. I think I should drink even a bit more water, but it hasnt ever made a difference to either of my problems sadly.

Just a quick one here. Christmas Eve I had migraine and it was coming back after some relief from Triptan in morning.
By 4pm it was getting horrible. I then got quite an upset stomach after not "going" for a week. I know, I know, but it seems to be how it is for me right now.
Viscious cirle maybe...too many headaches too much medicatioon causing constipation...

Anyways.......By the time the belly quietened...about 7pm my head got better all by itself as well....
There is a link here as we all seem to think, but what is it and how do we sort it.
Good migraine book by good neuro said found a lot of patients improved their migraines by sorting digestives out.
But doesnt work the other way....hmm.

Happened again. Lousy head yesterday (not migraine), stomach played up and within an hour or so, my head improved.
I really need to try to understand this better and sort it out....just not sure how.

Happy New Year.

Just a thought - do you eat a lot of boiled vegetables, for instance - a cauliflower?
It may really help as they have a lot of fiber.
You have to eat it every day, but every day, at least half of boiled cauliflower,
or about same amount of green beans, or bunch of asparagus, etc - boiled (or baked) with a sprinkle of spices to taste. you may also dress it with a spoonful of melted butter, etc.

Try it for lunch, or in place of rice or potatoes for your dinner - the additional benefit is you'll eat fewer calories and lose weight
That is, unless you need to gain weight, in which case eat with everything and /or reward your self with scrumptious desert

Risa

Risa, have you ever seen the "veggies for one" in the freezer section? They have cauliflower
ones with chedder cheese all over it. Oh man is it yummy. Its my own personal
favorite.

They say its weight watchers or whatever, they give you the points value. I myself have never
been a weight watchers girl but if this is what all the foods taste like it may be worth a shot!
Its fantastic, and it should have tons of fiber since its a full serving of cauliflower!

Forget eating it for lunch, I dig in for a snack! It really is THAT good!

Can't say I do, but I did have cauli with cheddar and indeed it's delish!! but I am worried about cheese
being a trigger, so...
my own recipe for cauliflower is boiling it for 10 -20 minutes, depending how tender you like it
and then you lightly brown bread crumbs with butter - just melt the butter until it bubbles,
add crumbs and let them brown a bit while constantly stirring. be careful as they burn easily.
pour over cauliflower.

the best breadcrumbs, though, are from only a white kaiser bun, not mixed breads.
just let the buns air out until stone hard then either put them thru a meat grinder with smallest holes or a fine grater like this:

of course, these "fried breadcrumbs" can be used on green beans, asparagus, too.
Or fresh as breading for pork chops, fish as well.

Risa

yet again i experienced the gut brain connection today...
Wish I knew how to fix it.

Plain fat-free yogurt with active live cultures daily seems to help my stomach issues greatly. I notice when I miss a day.

I actually like the taste of the plain yogurt now, but you can flavor it with some fresh fruit, cinnamon, nuts, cereal or rice.

Becky