Headache after workout

[Larissa Kelly]

I need your help on this one. For the past year or so, after a hard aerobic workout, I get a headache. It's not usually a sever headace, but it's bad enough to make me pretty darned grumpy. It usually goes away after a quick nap. I can't figure out exactly what I'm doing wrong, but I suspect it has something to do with nutrition.

It happened this morning. I got up at 7AM for an 8:15AM cycling class. I had a banana and about 16 oz of water before class and 16 oz during class. Class was an interval class for 1 hour. I got home around 9:45AM (headache was already starting) and had 2 boiled eggs and a sl. ww toast, with black coffee.

I took 2 tylenol and the headahce is still with me now (7:21PM). I tried to catcha quick nap this afternoon, but I just couldn't rest. I'm not really tired, but I still have this nagging pain behind my eyes.

Any ideas? I have wondered for some time if I'm pushing my heart rate too high during class.

[NJspin]

See a doctor! I have really low blood pressure and have to drink lots of water or I get a slight headache sometimes when riding. But as long as I eat right away it goes away. Don't take any chances with this.

[SpinBob]

I agree with Steve, maybe it's time for a check-up. The last time I suggested that someone take some Motrin, on the "other" forum, I pelted with negative posts telling me I had no business "prescribing" medicine. Regardless of the fact that it was an OTC pill.

[amybatt]

I agree with seeing a doctor. But I also think you need more fuel before working out in the morning, especially strenuous workouts. Only a banana??? Where's your protein, carbs and fat??? Does this happen if you workout at the middle or the end of the day (after you've had some meals?)

[like2bike]

Seeing a doc is the first step for certain. But I'm curious...Larissa, Amy's post brings to light some very good points....can you elaborate a little further so we can all discuss and brainstorm?

[cfoam4me]

Always wise to check with a Doc first, fuel's an easy thing to fix once you know that's what it is. Keep us posted, please.

[Larissa Kelly]

I agree with seeing a doctor. But I also think you need more fuel before working out in the morning, especially strenuous workouts. Only a banana??? Where's your protein, carbs and fat??? Does this happen if you workout at the middle or the end of the day (after you've had some meals?)

Amy, I have tried eating protein bars, eggs, smoothies, etc., before my early AM workouts. I seem to get sick to my stomach if I workout soon after eating. I don't normally eat anything before my AM workout because of the stomach thing, since my usual classes are at 5:30 AM. The only reason I had the banana yesterday was because I was able to get up early enough digest it some before I began class.

I will say that I try to eat a balanced meal as soon after a workout as humanly possible. I have an apple and some form of protein/fat (boiled egg, cheese) on the way from the gym to work most mornings. I do believe that if I eat quickly enough post-workout that I can at least minimize the headache.

For you guys that teach at 5:30 AM like I do, what do you eat before and how soon before teaching?

Maybe I'm going to have to set my alarm for 4:00 AM and get up long enough to eat something??

I can't tell you all how much it means to be that ya'll are concerned. I really appreciate it!

[rick316]

I have this when I workout/teach too intense having not warmed up properly.Also,if haven't eaten properly which leads me to think low blood sugar levels or something of the like.

[Cheeze]

The best recommendation is to consult with your doctor. Your body may be trying to tell you something.

But if I have to guess - this is related to your (lack of) nutrition. Prior to that 8:15 class you have essentially fasted for 10-14 hours. Then when you start training (plus the stress of teaching) your body is going to go after sugar for fuel. Remember you brain runs on sugar. So ......... you've fasted for 10-14 hours; you train hard; your body uses the available sugar for fuel; your brain is sugar starved; you get a headache.

Cheeze

[yvonne]

i'm guessing that it's a hydration issue.

the point being that i'm (as are the rest of us, ) guessing ... talk to your doctor.

all of the advice is good, anecdotal subjecture, it's our nature to be helpful :D ~ the place to start is with your m.d. if your bp, etc. is under control, you may want to talk with a doc who has some sports med background (my general md is a triathlete - big score there!), it helps if they have some personal experience with the "joy of exercise."

keep us posted!

[rick316]

It could also have something to do with the rate that your body transfers hydro-glycerides via the little red things that lead to the other slightly paler things.On second thoughts,go talk with your GP would be best:roll:

[SpinBob]

Larissa,

I generally don't eat anything before teaching in the morning, but then I rarely eat before lunch most days, even when I'm not teaching. I don't have much of an appetite in the morning, so when I feel hungry, I eat.

My problems with headaches are either stress or sinus related, or both. I do find that Tylenol has never worked really well for my headaches and I prefer ibuprofen or aspirin.

[Larissa Kelly]

I appreciate all of your feedback. I will try to hydrate more and I will do my best to eat *something* before my next workout. I teach at 5:30 AM tomorrow. I am going to try a myoplex shake. Perhaps without solid food my tummy won't rebel during my workout.

I am also going to search out a doctor. I have mentioned this to my family doctor and he didn't seemed too concerned.

SpinBob, I have tried taking other pain relivers besides Tylenol but I am recovering from a peptic ulcer that seems to have been unduced by taking too much Aleve. Hmm...maybe this headache thing is affecting me more than I originally thought. Yep, I'm going to see a doctor...before I fall apart completely. Re-reading this thread makes me feel like I'm a basket case.

Thanks, everyone, for your input.

[amybatt]

:oI appreciate all of your feedback. I will try to hydrate more and I will do my best to eat *something* before my next workout. I teach at 5:30 AM tomorrow. I am going to try a myoplex shake. Perhaps without solid food my tummy won't rebel during my workout.

Something else to consider are these Ensure shakes. You can find them in the diet food aisle. My grandparents drank them for nutrition when they had cancer, and old people get them in nursing homes when they won't eat. It's about 230 calories, 6g fat, 12g protein. I used them when I had a bad stomach bug last year just because I hadn't eaten a lot for about a week and the doc was afraid I'd start to lose weight. BUT, I had some leftover and used them before workouts and they were good (well, the chocolate one is, if it's really cold! :grin:) My point in explaining who drinks them and why is that they are very gentle on the stomach and made to not upset it. Someday I'm going to throw one in a blender with some ice and vodka, maybe some kahlua, but I think that's for another discussion.... :o

[SpinBob]

...Someday I'm going to throw one in a blender with some ice and vodka, maybe some kahlua, but I think that's for another discussion.... I can't wait for that thread...

[Pink]

:o

Something else to consider are these Ensure shakes. You can find them in the diet food aisle. My grandparents drank them for nutrition when they had cancer, and old people get them in nursing homes when they won't eat. It's about 230 calories, 6g fat, 12g protein. I used them when I had a bad stomach bug last year just because I hadn't eaten a lot for about a week and the doc was afraid I'd start to lose weight. BUT, I had some leftover and used them before workouts and they were good (well, the chocolate one is, if it's really cold! :grin:) My point in explaining who drinks them and why is that they are very gentle on the stomach and made to not upset it. Someday I'm going to throw one in a blender with some ice and vodka, maybe some kahlua, but I think that's for another discussion.... :o

My gf's son has had Crohns since he was a very young kid. His GI told her to give him Ensure. He was so little -- still wearing the same clothes in 9th grade that he wore in 5th. Around 16 his started shooting up and is now about 5'10". He's still drinking them (he's now in college and may be adding vodka...).

[capegirl]

what about caffeine, or energy supplements, they can give me a serious headache when I overload on any of them....I used to drink those energy drinks while or before I taught, they killed me, BAD headaches....

LW

[Kathleen H]

Larissa:

As a migraine sufferer, I empathize with your headache situation. While I am not suggesting you are getting migraines, are you wearing anything on your head? About all I can do is wear a loose ponytail holder. Anything else and the pressure is too much for my head and causes a headache.

Also, keep a diary for a week or so until you can get in to see the doctor. What you eat, what you drink, when the headache occurs, how intense is the headache, etc.

Whatever happens, good luck!!!

[musicgal28]

Silly question. But, are you breathing properly during your workout? A headache is sometimes the result of a poor flow of Oxygen to the brain. Even though, when leading a session anytime you talk you are exhaling, you must still make time to take your own deep breaths. And if you are running on a treadmill and find yourself working hard, make sure you are engaging the diaphragm and getting a full breath. Just my thoughts...

[Lewis]

:o

Something else to consider are these Ensure shakes. You can find them in the diet food aisle. My grandparents drank them for nutrition when they had cancer, and old people get them in nursing homes when they won't eat. It's about 230 calories, 6g fat, 12g protein. I used them when I had a bad stomach bug last year just because I hadn't eaten a lot for about a week and the doc was afraid I'd start to lose weight. BUT, I had some leftover and used them before workouts and they were good (well, the chocolate one is, if it's really cold! :grin:) My point in explaining who drinks them and why is that they are very gentle on the stomach and made to not upset it. Someday I'm going to throw one in a blender with some ice and vodka, maybe some kahlua, but I think that's for another discussion.... :o

I know some folks who swear by ensure. Like Spinbob, I cant eat in the morning, but I can drink a shake. Find what works for you. I have a friend who runs two full marathons a year and never eats breakfast. He says that if you're eating properly ( several small meals a day) breakfast can be skipped.

[NJspin]

And here I sit craving a cornbeef Ruben sandwhich on marbled rye bread. The other morning I had ice cream for breakfast. I would have never done this a few years back.. but then I went to Peru where we ate sandwiches for breakfast every day: Pork with fried sweet potaotes on an awesome flat roll topped with marinated red onion.
Darn, I can't wait until snake time at 9:15! lol....:grin:I know some folks who swear by ensure. Like Spinbob, I cant eat in the morning, but I can drink a shake. Find what works for you. I have a friend who runs two full marathons a year and never eats breakfast. He says that if you're eating properly ( several small meals a day) breakfast can be skipped.

[veespin]

I need your help on this one. For the past year or so, after a hard aerobic workout, I get a headache. It's not usually a sever headace, but it's bad enough to make me pretty darned grumpy. It usually goes away after a quick nap. I can't figure out exactly what I'm doing wrong, but I suspect it has something to do with nutrition.

It happened this morning. I got up at 7AM for an 8:15AM cycling class. I had a banana and about 16 oz of water before class and 16 oz during class. Class was an interval class for 1 hour. I got home around 9:45AM (headache was already starting) and had 2 boiled eggs and a sl. ww toast, with black coffee.

I took 2 tylenol and the headahce is still with me now (7:21PM). I tried to catcha quick nap this afternoon, but I just couldn't rest. I'm not really tired, but I still have this nagging pain behind my eyes.

Any ideas? I have wondered for some time if I'm pushing my heart rate too high during class.


Larissa....if you found a website that was a hangout for experts in the field of exercise induced headaches I can gua-RON-tee you would not get the confident responses to your question that you've gotten so far.

You'd be advised to see your doctor ASAP with a request for a specialty referral (neurology, for example) if there's no joy from that quarter.

This should tell you something. Like most areas of health, the stuff that afflicts us on a day to day basis is usually pretty benign and self limiting. Once in a blue moon something catastrophic is in the offing. The difference in signs and symptoms between to two is usually really subtle and requires a detailed history and clinical exam, not a collection of random speculations.

See a doctor.

Vivienne

[Larissa Kelly]

Thanks again for everyone's concern. I have a schedule a doc visit for Nov. 20th. I am journaling my diet, hydration, exercise, and headache activity until then. I understand the value of quantitative data so I will go to the doctor prepared.

Would it be overkill to present my data to him via PowerPoint?:grin:

[yvonne]

oooohh! that sounds cool; make sure there are graphs and charts!

[veespin]

Thanks again for everyone's concern. I have a schedule a doc visit for Nov. 20th. I am journaling my diet, hydration, exercise, and headache activity until then. I understand the value of quantitative data so I will go to the doctor prepared.

Would it be overkill to present my data to him via PowerPoint?:grin:

Yes. Don't do it....you'll look like an idiot.

Tell him why you're there in your own words and let him direct the interview with his own questions. If he's a good clinician, he'll begin to get a clue....if he's not, you'll be wasting your time whatever you do.

Vivienne

[DoctorD13]

<<Would it be overkill to present my data to him via PowerPoint?:grin:>>
[/quote]

Hello, pharmacist here.
Don't do power point, DO open Word and write down every symptom you
experience. Get it on paper BEFORE you visit the doc. Give the doc a copy
to put in your chart. I can mull in my mind what I want to stay, but once the lips start to move, what really comes out? That way you know the doc has the real deal in your mind on you.
It sounds like you are having an exercise induced migrane, which I have never seen, but I'm not a neurologist. Start with your primary doc and take it from there.
DrD13
Paul S

[veespin]

, DO open Word and write down every symptom you experience. Get it on paper BEFORE you visit the doc.

My advice is, whatever you do, don't present a lengthy document of every symptom you experience. By all means, if you feel you need to marshall your thoughts before your visit, jot them down on paper to eyeball ahead of time. However, if you present a shopping list of everything you can think of that seems important you, it just looks like you don't have any particular symptom that's particularly important.

Likewise the documenting diet, hydration, exercise etc. I'm not sure what you mean by "quantitative data" being of value but if you overfocus on this one issue, I could see it being, at best, a time waster and, at worst, a real barrier to acheiving a diagnosis....not as bad as presenting a pile of documents you've "researched" on Google or taking along a friend, relative or other party to act as advocate or interpreter (per the sort of recommendations you read in Prevention magazine)....but a barrier none the less.

Here's how I see it....you've had this headache for a year now. You suspect it may be related to one or all of the above variables. These variables are 100% under your control to tweak and experiment with. You've had a year to do that. Two options exist....you've either tried modifying them all to no avail (in which case diet, hydration and exercise intensity are non-issues) or you haven't (and what would that say?)

Chances are, like Paul said, you've got some sort of exertion-triggered headache. Not too uncommon. I say this, not from the symptomatology but because common things occur commonly. Exertional headache is infinitely more common than, say, an honkin' great pulsating aneurysm that's one step closer to a catastrophic rupture with every workout. You doctor's visit is to make sure to some reasonable degree that you have the former, not the latter. You don't want to be taking up significant diagnostic time with red herrings.

Vivienne