Dairy Connection to Headaches?

Hi, I've been trying to get a handle on some "AM" headaches I've been having for a long time. I wake up with headaches occasionally. Today, I've had one for the first time in months. I had cereal and drank a glass of milk before going to bed because spouse asked me to help him drink milk he bought thinking I was using milk in my cereal. (I'm still using soy milk, even though I'm not a vegetarian but he didn't realize this.)

I'm wondering if dairy is the cultprit? I've noticed sometimes that after eating a pint of ice cream after a wicked night I've woken up with a headache.

But then there's been plenty of other times I've eaten dairy without a problem. And plenty of times I've stopped dairy (but only for brief periods of times) and I've had a headache.

My headaches seem to be sinus in nature, without congestion though, and almost always it happens while I sleep and I wake up with them.

Work was hell last night, but works been hell for 12 years. So I can't be stress can it?



Wonder if anyone with headaches can relate? I'm going to go into renal failure from motrin.
Milk is a possible allergy trigger. Instead of Soy (which can also trigger esp. in those wh are peanut sensitive ) try some Lactaid 100% reduced fat free. Believe it our not I haven't had a h/a or IBS since I discovered it. It takes about a week to get used to the "thinner" consistancy.

I'm lactose intolerant myself, and I know that since I haven't been drinking milk I rarely have IBS, gas problems.........or headaches anymore. I can't help thinking there might be a connection.BTW, how's your blood pressure? Sorry, but at your age (a year younger than me?) you're at risk for HTN. Check it out, if you haven't already......sometimes HA is the only clue that one is developing a problem.Hope this helps.

Thanks Marla, I've been keeping an eye on my bp. It's borderline hypertension. Today it was 132/86. So you might be right. Sigh...sux getting old.

headaches are part of my daily life! I dont cosume much diary so i know that cant be my culprit. bu i would really like to know what i is. my doc said maybe stress, caf withdraw, or too much caf? i was confused because after he told me this he wrote a Rx for caffine tabs to relieve my headaches???? confused

Hi Tweety,I wondered about your blood pressure too. I used to have headaches a lot ~ I would go to bed feeling fine, then wake up with one. Now I am on blood pressure meds, and I hardly ever have headaches anymore. There were probably other things that affected me as well.Anyway ~ keep a check on your B/P so you will be ok.Gayle

Perhaps you grind your teeth or clench your jaw when you sleep. I do and this gives me incredible headaches

Originally posted by adrienurse Perhaps you grind your teeth or clench your jaw when you sleep. I do and this gives me incredible headaches

Originally posted by mattsmom81 I never thought of this as a possible cause for morning headaches...but I DO grind my teeth my DH tells me. What can be done for this???

Tweety, dairy could very well be the culprit. Also i know in the past you were doing the low carb thing, are you making sure you get enough protein? sometimes just adding an extra chicken breast or can of tuna during the day will make a HUGE difference.But back to dairy, it could be just the casin that's in milk. Or the lactose. I know my son has a milk sensitivity. He gets headaches, pulls his hair, has weird tummy issues, etc...so we switched to Soy. he prefers Silk Soy. lol Anyway, he can still eat cheese, yogurt, etc....but i'd definitely experiment with the soy or lactaid stuff to see if that helps you.and get your BP under control mr. man!!!!! :kiss

Do you snore? Have any apneic episodes? As I recall from your threads on dieting, you aren't overweight, but apnea can occur in those who aren't overweight (especially if it's central and not obstructive) and can cause AM headaches. My morning headaches have pretty much disappeared since I've been on CPAP (which I hope to get off of someday since I've lost 40 pounds. When I've lost 50 I'm getting another sleep study done!). Mine were more migraine than sinus-y. If you're tired of taking Motrin and think you may be getting rebound headaches from it, there's a great product called Migrastick that's sold in health food stores. It's a little tube of peppermint and lavendar oil with a teeny tiny roller ball on the end and it works great on both migraines and sinus headaches. good luck, it sux to wake up feeling bad...luci

I never thought of this as a possible cause for morning headaches...but I DO grind my teeth my DH tells me. What can be done for this???

Originally posted by 3rdShiftGuy Hi, I've been trying to get a handle on some "AM" headaches I've been having for a long time. I wake up with headaches occasionally. Today, I've had one for the first time in months. I had cereal and drank a glass of milk before going to bed because spouse asked me to help him drink milk he bought thinking I was using milk in my cereal. (I'm still using soy milk, even though I'm not a vegetarian but he didn't realize this.)I'm wondering if dairy is the cultprit? I've noticed sometimes that after eating a pint of ice cream after a wicked night I've woken up with a headache. But then there's been plenty of other times I've eaten dairy without a problem. And plenty of times I've stopped dairy (but only for brief periods of times) and I've had a headache.