Optifast and migraines...and other things

Hi all...sorry in advance for the long post, trying to puzzle this out.

Yesterday was day six on optifast, generally feeling good and had been having none of the nausea/headaches/keto flu etc people mentioned happening around day 2 or 3.

However, last night at bed time I got a bad migraine which resulted in vomiting (it always does for me, not related to optifast), I haven't had a migraine for several years however was a regular sufferer of them over five years ago. Anyway...looking for some help, does optifast cause migraines for anyone else?

Side note here's a few things I'm considering. I had apple cinnamon herbal tea for the first time yesterday and had two. Not sure if herbal teas can cause migraines (I am allergic to ragweed and know there is some connection to chamomile and ragweed but I assume it would be referring to normal allergy symptoms). I don't drink tea normally but t was a nice treat on liquid diet. The other thing is maybe some hormone release with losing about 10 pounds on opti? Or is that not enough weight loss to have the hormones stored in that fat to have an effect?

Additionally another possibility is my center said 3-4 shakes a day plus broth, SF jello and SF Popsicles. I've been getting in three shakes daily and the other stuff. I was really weak and tired yesterday while out and felt like passing out. Realized maybe not getting enough calories in.

Wondered what people's thoughts are about all of that - could it straight up be the opti causing migraines (can't ind anything on my search about that) or could it be the other factors. Wondering if anyone else had migraines on opti? I'm trying to figure out if I need to change the other pieces I mentioned to not get migraines or if it will all be for naught.

Thanks all

I wouldn't think that opti would cause migraines on it's own (at day 6). I feel like if opti was the cause, you would have had a migraine sooner.

could you have been dehydrated?

I would note time and what you are consuming for a few days and see if it happens again.

I get migraines on occasion, but I've never figured out a cause, they just show up.

That's kind of what I thought, that by now any headache type symptom would be over. Thanks for affirming. Dehydration could play a factor I guess, I was surprised to read last night that I should be taking in an additional 8 cups of water on top of the 500 mls I do with my shakes, the broth and Popsicles. I had two teas yesterday but no water so that may definitely have contributed. I am going to increase water today for sure. I'm afraid to touch the tea again lol.

My migraines use to definitely be co-ordinated with hormones increased times and also a lack of sleep. But not had them for so long to hard to tell.

I get migraines from dehydration. If you're not drinking water in addition to the Optifast then I'd start there. Try for at least 64 oz of water a day, no caffeine, and see how you do. Good luck!

I have been trying to add the extra water so hoping that helps. I don't have any caffeine and haven't for months as I don't drink coffee and cut out pop for this journey. As far as I understand the herbal tea I had was caffeine free so at least I know it's not the caffeine! Thank you.

Sugar withdrawal can cause migraines. I stayed super hydrated while on Opti and I still had a migraine 24/7 from day 4 all the way til the day before surgery!

I did wonder about the sugar but thought for sure it would show up before day six. Felt totally fine until I got the migraine. Wondering if the sweetener thing mentioned below be on to something! Once I got sick it went away.

Sorry to hear about the migraine, I used to get them years ago, and am happy they've never come back, I've been drinking somewhere in the neighbourhood of 20 8 oz glasses of liquid in addition to my Opti, so I'm on the opposite end, I've been doing a lot of Crystal Light or plain lemon juice, I would have been drinking close to the same in the daytime before but less in the evening, maybe 16 glasses. Now I'm drinking constantly to take my mind off eating. I actually had to eat something on Saturday as I'd only had 3 shakes as I'd slept in and my blood sugar got way too low.

Last night I was dreaming of food, trying to think of ways to make lasagna without noodles, too bad I don't like zucchini or eggplant.

Well we've made it through the first week, and it is getting easier, tried a new herbal tea today, Lemon Zinger actually drank the whole cup.

Hope you feel better.

They are truly awful! I was down for the count all Sunday because it is so draining. I have too much to do before surgery to spend a weekend down and out. If I read that correctly are you drinking 8 litres of water a day?? I cannot imagine getting 36 8 ounce glasses of water in a day! I'm happy if I get the normal 2 litres lol. I also dreamed of food, but it was rice and I spit it back out lol. I make a mean zucchini lasagna, can't even taste it so looking forward to that some day

I too had an issue Saturday where I thought I would pass out from not having enough, was at the mall and had to be driven home because I wasn't functioning. I've only been getting in three shakes daily most days and apparently that's not enough.

I also meant to say congrats on getting through one week too!! Only two more to go.