Migraines after rides

[Amanzi]

I've taken to chewing gum whilst doing longer events and drinking 1.5x more than I should. The gum stops me clenching my jaw which has dropped my migrates by 70%.

[Craig Slow]

Funny enough exercise is one of the suggested cures for migraine suffers, but for some of us ... exercise causes migraines and is medically recognised. Search for "exercise induced migraine" . They don't know exactly what causes it and they can be fairly random.

 

In my case its heat and intense exercise. Short hard bursts at max heart rate will normally cause me problems down the line. This does not happen every ride/race, but an intense game of squash is a guaranteed migraine for me

 

Hydration, rest, foods etc make no difference. I don't suffer from migraines on a normal day to day basis, but did in my late teens and twenties.

I'm in same space, happens a lot during really long races. I found cutting caffeine helped... Edited October 4, 2014 by Craig Slow

[King_Crispy]

Could also be the potassium from the bananas.

Cut out the bananas and any caffeine from your diet for a week and then go ride.

[North Shore]

Could just be heat stroke, or heat stress which is easier to get than you'd think. Try riding with iced water and leave the sugar drinks at home.

['Dale]

If its just a bad headache(no vision problems or nausea) then it could well be to do with bike fit.

My wife gets hectic headaches cause by neck strain and sometimes shoulder strain.

Could be from muscle tension (neck, shoulders) whilst riding

If so, strengthen them shoulders and neck muscles a bit in the gym

[lechatnoir]

I once had a prolonged headache/migraine, and ended on a drip with intravenous anti inflammatories. Sorted it out. Doc said it was dehydration, and even though I WAS drinking fluids, my body wasn't absorbing it.

 

On a side note, a mate of mine used to get loads of migraines, and then suffered intense swelling in his leg which was liagnosed as a clot from his calf into his thigh. Went on blood thinners (Warfarin etc) and the migraines went away.

 

YMMV. Best get checked out by a specialist. Good luck

[Malpiet]

From my own experience setup and hydration is key, it didn't take away my headaches though but eliminated most of them.

[popcorn_skollie]

I once had a prolonged headache/migraine, and ended on a drip with intravenous anti inflammatories. Sorted it out. Doc said it was dehydration, and even though I WAS drinking fluids, my body wasn't absorbing it.

 

On a side note, a mate of mine used to get loads of migraines, and then suffered intense swelling in his leg which was liagnosed as a clot from his calf into his thigh. Went on blood thinners (Warfarin etc) and the migraines went away.

 

YMMV. Best get checked out by a specialist. Good luck

 

This may just be it. About 2 years ago I too had a clot in my calf. It wasn't bad enough to be admitted. No swelling but the pain was excruciating. Got put on some meds and leg excercises and was back to normal after a couple of weeks. Never had the migraines since recently though.

But I'm willing to bet they might just be related.

I've already requested an appointment online with a neurologist at some local specialist migraine unit. Would never have occurred to me had you not mentioned it. Thank you 

['Dale]

Try Rehydrate as well after a ride

[babse]

reviving an old thread here but...

 

as a migraine sufferer for some years already, they have hit me bad in the last few weeks and causing some concern.

In the last 2 weeks both after long sunday rides (4hrs +), the migraine has hit not immediately after the ride but the very next day causing severe headaches, bad eye sight, throwing up and nausea. 

My on the day hydration is definitely sufficient (in my mind at least) because im so afraid of this happening.

Ride - +3 x 650ml water with the 3rd bottle topped up with a sachet of rehydrate. 

After Ride - a lot of water throughout the day (at least 2L)

 

My question here is, can bad hydration stem from earlier in the week???

I do drink quite a bit of coffee throughout the week and not nearly as much plain water as i should be drinking.

[Jewbacca]

reviving an old thread here but...

 

as a migraine sufferer for some years already, they have hit me bad in the last few weeks and causing some concern.

In the last 2 weeks both after long sunday rides (4hrs +), the migraine has hit not immediately after the ride but the very next day causing severe headaches, bad eye sight, throwing up and nausea. 

My on the day hydration is definitely sufficient (in my mind at least) because im so afraid of this happening.

Ride - +3 x 650ml water with the 3rd bottle topped up with a sachet of rehydrate. 

After Ride - a lot of water throughout the day (at least 2L)

 

My question here is, can bad hydration stem from earlier in the week???

I do drink quite a bit of coffee throughout the week and not nearly as much plain water as i should be drinking.

Definitely.

 

Food and hydration prior to the exercise are as or more important than during.

 

Work out how many cups of coffee you drink a day. Be honest. Times that by 30. Chances are you are officially addicted to caffeine and absorb WAY too much.

[Chingy182]

Migraine triggers

There are a number of migraine triggers, including:

• Hormonal changes in women. Fluctuations in estrogen, such as before or during menstrual periods, pregnancy and menopause, seem to trigger headaches in many women.

  Hormonal medications, such as oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy, also can worsen migraines. Some women, however, find their migraines occurring less often when taking these medications.

• Drinks. These include alcohol, especially wine, and too much caffeine, such as coffee.
• Stress. Stress at work or home can cause migraines.
• Sensory stimuli. Bright lights and sun glare can induce migraines, as can loud sounds. Strong smells — including perfume, paint thinner, secondhand smoke and others — trigger migraines in some people.
• Sleep changes. Missing sleep, getting too much sleep or jet lag can trigger migraines in some people.
• Physical factors. Intense physical exertion, including sexual activity, might provoke migraines.
• Weather changes. A change of weather or barometric pressure can prompt a migraine.
• Medications. Oral contraceptives and vasodilators, such as nitroglycerin, can aggravate migraines.
• Foods. Aged cheeses and salty and processed foods might trigger migraines. So might skipping meals or fasting.
• Food additives. These include the sweetener aspartame and the preservative monosodium glutamate (MSG), found in many foods.

[Nika Theron]

Yep. Definately a migraine. Classic aura flicker vision starts in the corner of my eye and then I know I'll be on my ass in the next half hour. The flicker intensity in my vision is usually an indication of how bad the pain will be. Slight nausea but hardly worth mentioning. I've only ever had to lie down twice because it was so bad. Usually anti-inflamitory type painkillers helps depending on severity. But it doesnt make it go away.

 

I've been reading the replies via email. A little swamped at work right now. I certainly dont wish this on anyone else. But it is somewhat comforting to know I'm not the only one. So thank you for the replies. Those of you that experience it. How do you manage or avoid it when riding?

I have high bp and suffer from migraines too, the key for me is rehidrat in my water and another pint of water afterwards, due to light sensitivity I will recommend you see an optometrist and getting yourself a decent pair of shades for when you ride. I got a daith piercing (migraine piercing) 3 weeks ago and I must say I haven't had a migraine since.

[Quagga]

People often confuse dehydration headache with a migraine. 

 

Migraine normally causes loss off some vision,  I use Maxalt that helps to get my vision back to normal and that helps with the nausea.

 

Migraines mostly have a different triggers ind different people. Mine is sweet stuff. Went on a long ride once when I stopped I felt really low on sugar so a slammed 2 cokes, and bam migraine within 4min. 

Other people I know it is cheese or as said above MSG.

[gogo@]

Definitely.

 

Food and hydration prior to the exercise are as or more important than during.

 

Work out how many cups of coffee you drink a day. Be honest. Times that by 30. Chances are you are officially addicted to caffeine and absorb WAY too much.

100%

Exercise induced migraines hit me out of nowhere a while back. Complete with holes in my vision. Which is why I sat up when this thread popped up.

I worked out the triggers were poor nutrition leading up to exercise (too much sugar, caffeine, the day or so before so probable dehydration) then specific triggers on the ride, includinglow electrolyte levels, bright white light reflected off the road, plus heat plus exertion. It wasn’t one specific thing really but the starting point that set it up was stuff that led to a severe imbalance. Hope that makes sense?!?

[wolf1969]

For me it's intensive exertion that triggers migraines - usually a few hours later. Not always though - I think there are other variables involved.

 

Never from intensive sexual activity.

 

Unfortunately.