Can anyone please tell me is there anything I should avoid while im in cycle? obviously i know not to have alcohol(already made that mistake), but is there any food i should avoid?

Other than alcohol, there seem to be no universal food triggers. And I use the word "universal" somewhat carelessly - there are a few of us for whom even alcohol isn't a trigger.

You're just going to have to experiment.

Oh - nitro glycerin. Several have reported that, upon being admitted to the hospital for heart problems, nitro triggered a huge hit.

This is where a good headache journal comes in handy.  When you get hit you note the time of day, level of attack, what was going on, what you had eaten shortly before, any solvents, perfumes, etc that you had been exposed to, etc.  (Solvents or perfumes are generally instantaneous, so they don't factor in quite as much)

I know this doesn't do a whole lot of good the first cycle or two, but over a period of time you start noticing patterns and learn things that you need to avoid.  None of us have universal triggers, but we all tend to have things that will trigger to some extent.  The challenge is to learn them.  THEN, the beast morphs.  You will always need to pay attention to what seems to be triggering each cycle and avoid it.  It is better to avoid something that MIGHT trigger than to suffer when it does.

Jerry

I have read that chocolate is supposed to be a trigger so i have been avoiding it. perfumes and solvents dont do anything to  me so i havent needed to avoid them. i have noticed since i have been drinking more water i havent been having as many hits, one a night every other night and they are not as bad as they were(althoi am hoping this is down to the cycle coming to an end?)

I personally avoid MSG (mono-sodium glutamate) when I'm in cycle.

@melissa, what is MSG?

The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about MSG: START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE


                 [smiley=smokin.gif]

The only thing I've found constant in all the years I've had this "disability" is the barometer and as of today - NO ONE has told me how to avoid the changes in it...  :)  When it rises - my head plays hell with it... When it goes down - I do pretty well...

The journal is a good idea... each of us has to find our own "triggers"... and then learn to avoid them.

Hugs BD :-*

AlienSpaceGuy wrote on May 14^th, 2011 at 2:31pm:

The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about MSG: START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE[quote] My apologies for being a computer illiterate...the comments below are mine...the quoted post above. A very interesting site....rather more dramatic than my taste...some truths...some debatable points. But this aint the time or place ..... MSG and aspartame are vicious triggers for ME. YMMV. MSG is "hidden" in many of the processed foods we eat. e.g.... hydrolized protein, flavor enhancers, yeast extract, etc, etc, etc...read the label...research the terms! Eater beware!!!! High glutamic acid containing foods affect me... when in high cycle. These include soy sauce, tomatoes, mushrooms...google it..it's all there. Many of the foods listed as migraine triggers (chocolate, nuts, citrus fruit) have no effect...again...YMMV. Best, Jon