Chocolate induced migranes

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I'm starting to see a connection with my DD12. She had a lot of chocolate on Tues. and Weds. By Weds. afternoon she had a monster of a headache. It took 3 hours for her to feel better. My FIL has choc. induced migranes. My DH has had migranes but doesn't feel that chocolate caused them.

How long does it take from the time you eat chocolate until you get a migrane.

TIA,

Lori

 

[sunlver]

I think it may be common in people who are headache prone. I get migraines, not the horrible ones, but ones where sometimes otc meds doesn't help(thankfully I have IMITREX on hand)..
Sometimes I can eat chocolate and nothing. Other times, with in minutes I eat something chocolate and I immediately get a headache.
Also,I can eat a few m&m's and feel nothing, but if I eat handfuls of them, I get a headache

 

[ericamanda01]

Chocolate is a definite trigger for me. But I noticed that her age is around the time that I started getting migraines. Hormones can defiantly be a factor. I get migraines around the time of my period, so I would talk to her doctor.

 

[juligrl]

Chocolate is a definite trigger for me. But I noticed that her age is around the time that I started getting migraines. Hormones can defiantly be a factor. I get migraines around the time of my period, so I would talk to her doctor.

I can link mine to hormones better than I can to chocolate. That said, chocolate and cheese (like pizza for dinner followed by a really good Hershey's bar) is a recepie for a miagraine for me.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Chocolate is a definite trigger for me. But I noticed that her age is around the time that I started getting migraines. Hormones can defiantly be a factor. I get migraines around the time of my period, so I would talk to her doctor.

I wanted to offer your DD a little bit of hope and it's along the lines of what Ericamanada01 has said. I started to get migraines frequently when I was 12 and this lasted until I was about 19. I have had only a couple in the past 9 years. The docs told me that they figure it was because of hormones and growing and all of that. So, while it's a pain (literally) right now, it may be just a juvenile condition for her too. I know that doesn't really answer your question or help you right now but I just thought I would share some possible good news.

 

[Kathi OD]

When our DS22 was much younger he used to tell us that his head was "spinning." After awhile we figured out it was migraines. We took him to a pediatric neurologist who found nothing physical that would be causing the headaches. He then told us that while we "didn't hear it from him," that we should start looking at certain foods. He gave us a list of things to look out for. Chocolate was on the list, as were cheese and caffeine. We finally figured it out that DS could eat any of the things on the list by themselves without a problem, but eating certain things in combination was a definite trigger. Fortunately for him, chocolate isn't a problem, but cheese and hot dogs are, along with caffeine.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

For me, the trigger always seemed to be processed foods.

 

[tazdev3225]

My DD started getting migraines when she was 6 y/o. She was predisposed to them because her dad has suffered from them almost his whole life. Hers were triggered by numerous things including chocolate. She saw a pediatric neurologist who gave me a list of known triggers. These included chocolate, caffeine, and certain chemicals used in processed foods such as lunch meats, hot dogs and cheeses. She also started getting them more often when she hit her teens right before her period. She can't do much about the hormonal migraines but if she limits her intake of edible triggers she is ok. She also learned from her father not to take asperin for them all the time because of the risk of rebound migraines. Ironically caffeine also helps her fight off a migraine if she drinks it just as she is getting one. Good luck they are not fun to deal with.

 

[Snowysmom]

Chocolate is definitely a trigger for me, especially the dark chocolate. If I eat chocolate after about 5 pm, I usually wake up with a migraine. I drink coke when I get a migraine for the caffeine and it helps with the nausea. My DS had very bad migraines around your DD's age and then got better for a few years. At 18 they came back frequently. The neurologist says it has to do with surging hormones and should calm down again soon and they have. Hopefully your DD will do better as she gets older.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I've been charting my DD's headaches at her allergist's request. They seemed to occur more often during the 3rd and 4th week of the month. I bet it is hormones!

She also has acid reflux and is suppose to lay off of chocolate. Of course it is difficult this time of the year. She is a chocoholic!

Thanks for all of the replies.

Lori

 

[js]

My ds-10 was diagnosed with migraines.
Chocolate is one of his triggers although he doesn't always get it when he eats it.
My dh and I took him for ice cream today and he did say he was going to get vanilla since he didn't want a headache. Sometimes I think he just knows when one may come on. I wish your daughter well.

 

[suzimar57]

my DH gets migraines from several foods (chocolate, coca-cola, coffee) - anything with caffeine - also light, sound, stress, lack of sleep, missed meal, bad weather - practically anything can "trigger" his migraines...

has used many many meds over the years - until recently, Imitrex would work, but when it stopped helping him, he switched to Depakote (with Maxalt as a last-ditch effort just before needing to go to hospital)

he's been on Depakote for past 6 months (an anti-seizure medication, which is also used to prevent migraines) with excellent results - not a single migraine bad enough to land him in the hospital ER...

until last weekend - back to hospital, Depakote not working anymore - his blood pressure had been extremely high (165 over 115) which may have been a cause in migraines

so in summary: no chocolate for DH. Ever.

(every once in a while i'll wear a chocolate scented lotion from Merry Chocoholics, just so DH can "revisit" the Hershey bars of his lost youth....)