During the on set of a migraine I get the weirdest food cravings. I always want something sugary and sweet, or salami, or tons of bread. Actually I get really hungry for all of these things. I feel like most of them are cravings for migraine triggers - so that is weird!
Does this happen to anyone else?
You betcha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have chronic daily migraines. Started in my late 50's I am 63 now. Am also a type 2 diabetic and the carbs send my sugars thru' the roof. BUT.the carb cravings are uncontrollable and definitely can bring down the migraine along with massive doses of imitrex. I will need to get back to my endocrinologist very soon because the two illnesses are in direct conflict. My neurologist calls them treatment resistant migraines and occipital nerve implant surgery is a new but cost prohibitive treatment. I feel for you
I get that strange craving too but it happens before and during the migraie. My cravings increase as my headache gets worse. I always crave salami, cheese, bread, crackers, white rice, and especially soda pop or candy. At a certain point I cave in to it and eat something but i notice if I eat white bread or crackers my migraine pain will lessen or sub-side. It's not my blood sugar levels since I got tested for diabeties and I'm clear of that. For now since there is little known about migraines we just got to toughen up and get through it. I've had migraines since I was 8.
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Yes! I get this too, and have come to recognize it as an early warning signal that I have a migraine coming on. This hits before the aura and other symptoms appear. I've been trying hard to avoid these foods because, as you mention, we sometimes end up eating trigger foods. A big one for me is chocolate, or anything sugary sweet. Just in the past couple of weeks when this craving hits me I've tried starting with a couple of glasses of water, and then eating protein instead, like turkey or dried almonds. This hasn't stopped the migraine, but does seem to weaken its intensity since I have "added" more triggers to an oncoming migraine. It may also help to have something more substantial in my system, because once the migraine arrives, I often have nausea and food aversion, so at least I will have eaten something earlier that is not going to spike, then crash, my blood sugar levels. What out for salami - it may have preservatives or food additives that would trigger/further intensify your migraine.
Oops! Excuse me - I meant to write the following in the above paragraph.
This hasn't stopped the migraine, but does seem to weaken its intensity since I have not "added" more triggers to an oncoming migraine.