Exercise-Caused Headaches

[codyf]

Hello,

I've asked this question before, but I'm posting again due to a recent visit with my GI doctor. I am a 20 year old college student who was diagnosed with Celiac in August of 2020, and many of symptoms have either lessened or completely gone away since my switch to a gluten-free diet. However, my main issue, exercise-caused headaches, has not subsided at all. Originally, my doctor suggested that the headaches were probably due to Celiac. However, after seeing my GI doctor around a week ago, he suggested that the exertion-based headaches might be caused by something other than Celiac. I've also had an MRI of my brain, which revealed nothing abnormal. I've looked through many posts throughout this forum, and I've seen many people complaining about a fog over the brain and general feelings of fatigue. However, I didn't see anyone posting directly about the symptoms I'm experiencing. I do have a general fog around my brain, especially when I wake up, that persists throughout the day. However, whenever I attempt to exercise, the fog turns into more of a headache/pressure, which then turns into a throbbing pain causing me to throw up if I persevere through it. I am a college soccer player, and desperate to get back to being healthy in order to be able do what I love. Currently, I can't workout/run/play soccer for more than around 10 minutes without the headache/pressure causing me stop. I was wondering if anyone else experienced a similar symptom due to your Celiac diagnosis, or possibly what else could be causing it? Thank you for your guys help.

Cody 

[knitty kitty]

Cody,

It may be a thiamine deficiency.  Thiamine is Vitamin B1, which your body needs along with magnesium and the other B vitamins, to provide energy for exercise and oxygen to your cells.  Hypoxia, lack of oxygen in the brain and resultant headache, is caused by thiamine deficiency.

"Effect of physical activity on thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin B-6 requirements"

https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/72/2/598S/4729690

And...

"What is Thiamine to Energy Metabolism?"

https://www.hormonesmatter.com/thiamine-energy-metabolism/

And...

"Longstanding Thiamine Deficiency Ignored By Doctors"

https://www.hormonesmatter.com/longstanding-thiamine-deficiency-ignored-by-doctors/

Doctors don't recognize thiamine deficiency.  Doctors are trained to prescribe pharmaceuticals which only mask the real problem. 

Please consider high dose thiamine and magnesium supplementation.  As an athlete, you have a higher metabolic need for thiamine.  Celiac Disease causes malabsorption which results in malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies.  High dose Thiamine is needed to correct the deficiency.  I know. I experienced thiamine deficiency myself.

Hope this helps!

 

 

[codyf]

1 hour ago, knitty kitty said:

Cody,

It may be a thiamine deficiency.  Thiamine is Vitamin B1, which your body needs along with magnesium and the other B vitamins, to provide energy for exercise and oxygen to your cells.  Hypoxia, lack of oxygen in the brain and resultant headache, is caused by thiamine deficiency.

"Effect of physical activity on thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin B-6 requirements"

https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/72/2/598S/4729690

And...

"What is Thiamine to Energy Metabolism?"

https://www.hormonesmatter.com/thiamine-energy-metabolism/

And...

"Longstanding Thiamine Deficiency Ignored By Doctors"

https://www.hormonesmatter.com/longstanding-thiamine-deficiency-ignored-by-doctors/

Doctors don't recognize thiamine deficiency.  Doctors are trained to prescribe pharmaceuticals which only mask the real problem. 

Please consider high dose thiamine and magnesium supplementation.  As an athlete, you have a higher metabolic need for thiamine.  Celiac Disease causes malabsorption which results in malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies.  High dose Thiamine is needed to correct the deficiency.  I know. I experienced thiamine deficiency myself.

Hope this helps!

 

 

Thank you! I appreciate the reply. However, I had some blood tests done recently and I found out my Thiamine level is 180.4. The reference range is 66.5 to 200 according to Labcorp, so it seems like I'm on the higher end of the spectrum if anything. 

[knitty kitty]

Blood tests aren't a reliable indicator of the amount of thiamine in the tissues. Blood levels often reflect how much thiamine you consumed in the previous 24 hours.  Was yours a fasting blood test? 

"Vitamin B1, Whole Blood"

https://www.labcorp.com/tests/121186/vitamin-b-sub-1-sub-whole-blood

This article explains why blood tests for thiamine aren't accurate....

"Thiamine Deficiency Testing: Understanding the Labs"

http://www.hormonesmatter.com/thiamine-deficiency-testing-understanding-labs/

 

I know. I was skeptical, too, but high dose thiamine really does help.  

 

 

[codyf]

15 hours ago, knitty kitty said:

Blood tests aren't a reliable indicator of the amount of thiamine in the tissues. Blood levels often reflect how much thiamine you consumed in the previous 24 hours.  Was yours a fasting blood test? 

"Vitamin B1, Whole Blood"

https://www.labcorp.com/tests/121186/vitamin-b-sub-1-sub-whole-blood

This article explains why blood tests for thiamine aren't accurate....

"Thiamine Deficiency Testing: Understanding the Labs"

http://www.hormonesmatter.com/thiamine-deficiency-testing-understanding-labs/

 

I know. I was skeptical, too, but high dose thiamine really does help.  

 

 

Very interesting. My blood test was a fasting test; I couldn't drink/eat anything after midnight, and my test was at 9:30 in the morning. I just went to Sprouts and picked up a vitamin called "Country Life - Benfotiamine". It has 50 mg of thiamine, and 150 mg of benfotiamine (which I believe is a derivative of thiamine). Do you think that's a good amount? The lady that helped me pick out a thiamine vitamin said that this would be the most effective for my needs. 

[knitty kitty]

Yes, I take Benfotiamine with thiamine by Life Extension.  

It's good to start taking the Benfotiamine slowly, gradually increasing every few days.

If you feel a little off, that's fine.  There's a "paradox effect" as your body starts utilizing the thiamine, you might feel a bit yucky, but keep going!  It's just your body adjusting to being able to function properly.  

I took one capsule with breakfast the first day.  Added a second at lunch the next day.  I tried adding a third the following day, but felt yucky, so I kept taking the two a day for another week.  Then I was able to add the third dose.  This is a good point for me.  I've tried more, but one with meals is fine for me.  You'll have to see what suits you, since you're an athlete, you might need more.  

I also take Allithiamine which is a form that easily crosses the blood brain barrier.  The brain utilizes lots of thiamine just thinking and it helps clear up that "brain fog" feeling.

Please keep us posted on your progress.  Let us know how thiamine supplementation helps you! 

P.S.  Make sure you get enough magnesium.  Thiamine and Benfotiamine need magnesium to work.  

And add a good B Complex, too.  All the B vitamins work together.  They are all water soluble, so if it's not needed, it's excreted.  

"Effect of physical activity on thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin B-6 requirements"

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10919966/

 

 

 

Edited February 17, 2021 by knitty kitty
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[codyf]

On 2/16/2021 at 8:08 PM, knitty kitty said:

Yes, I take Benfotiamine with thiamine by Life Extension.  

It's good to start taking the Benfotiamine slowly, gradually increasing every few days.

If you feel a little off, that's fine.  There's a "paradox effect" as your body starts utilizing the thiamine, you might feel a bit yucky, but keep going!  It's just your body adjusting to being able to function properly.  

I took one capsule with breakfast the first day.  Added a second at lunch the next day.  I tried adding a third the following day, but felt yucky, so I kept taking the two a day for another week.  Then I was able to add the third dose.  This is a good point for me.  I've tried more, but one with meals is fine for me.  You'll have to see what suits you, since you're an athlete, you might need more.  

I also take Allithiamine which is a form that easily crosses the blood brain barrier.  The brain utilizes lots of thiamine just thinking and it helps clear up that "brain fog" feeling.

Please keep us posted on your progress.  Let us know how thiamine supplementation helps you! 

P.S.  Make sure you get enough magnesium.  Thiamine and Benfotiamine need magnesium to work.  

And add a good B Complex, too.  All the B vitamins work together.  They are all water soluble, so if it's not needed, it's excreted.  

"Effect of physical activity on thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin B-6 requirements"

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10919966/

 

 

 

Will do. Thanks for all the help. 

[codyf]

On 2/16/2021 at 8:08 PM, knitty kitty said:

Yes, I take Benfotiamine with thiamine by Life Extension.  

It's good to start taking the Benfotiamine slowly, gradually increasing every few days.

If you feel a little off, that's fine.  There's a "paradox effect" as your body starts utilizing the thiamine, you might feel a bit yucky, but keep going!  It's just your body adjusting to being able to function properly.  

I took one capsule with breakfast the first day.  Added a second at lunch the next day.  I tried adding a third the following day, but felt yucky, so I kept taking the two a day for another week.  Then I was able to add the third dose.  This is a good point for me.  I've tried more, but one with meals is fine for me.  You'll have to see what suits you, since you're an athlete, you might need more.  

I also take Allithiamine which is a form that easily crosses the blood brain barrier.  The brain utilizes lots of thiamine just thinking and it helps clear up that "brain fog" feeling.

Please keep us posted on your progress.  Let us know how thiamine supplementation helps you! 

P.S.  Make sure you get enough magnesium.  Thiamine and Benfotiamine need magnesium to work.  

And add a good B Complex, too.  All the B vitamins work together.  They are all water soluble, so if it's not needed, it's excreted.  

"Effect of physical activity on thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin B-6 requirements"

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10919966/

 

 

 

Sorry, one more quick question. After you started taking the thiamine, how quickly did you notice your headaches start to fade away? Also, did you have other symptoms of thiamine deficiency, or was the headaches the only thing? Thanks!

[knitty kitty]

On 2/19/2021 at 1:01 AM, codyf said:

Sorry, one more quick question. After you started taking the thiamine, how quickly did you notice your headaches start to fade away? Also, did you have other symptoms of thiamine deficiency, or was the headaches the only thing? Thanks!

Within minutes of taking thiamine supplements, I noticed improvement.  It was astounding how quickly and how dramatically the changes came.  

I had a chronic thiamine deficiency over a period of years.  I got lower and lower in thiamine and acquired more and more symptoms.  

I would get headaches with pressure during physical activity, taking longer and longer to recover.  Fatigue set in.

Digestion problems:  acid reflux, gastroparesis, SIBO, insulin resistance....Gastrointestinal beriberi.

 Ankle and foot swelling:  Edema of the extremities is a classic symptom of Thiamine deficiency.

Sore calf muscles and Charlie horses:  Magnesium helps relax muscles.  Thiamine needs magnesium to work.  Both are often low.  Sore calves are another classic symptom. 

Ascending Peripheral neuropathy....also another classic symptom.   

I started sounding very hoarse when I spoke.  And I started stuttering!  (Stuttering is a rare manifestation.)  Thiamine deficiency can affect the larynx and throat causing problems swallowing and speaking.  

(Curious Cat Question:  Have you ever listened to how many hoarse people there are at bars? Alcoholism causes thiamine deficiency, too.) 

Eye problems caused by optic nerve swelling....I'm legally blind and one pupil won't constrict or dilate so this kitty always wears shades...  

Dizziness, mal de mer, vertigo, balance issues which got so bad I walked like I was thoroughly inebriated....Thiamine Deficiency affects the vestibular system. 

POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)...My blood pressure wouldn't increase when I stood up and I'd swoon... 

Palpitations, tachycardia, anxiety, then panic attacks, and insomnia despite the fatigue.... Panic attacks are the flight or fight response turned on, but, hey, thiamine is needed to turn it off!

Thiamine deficiency affects the lower part of the brain that controls breathing, blood pressure,  the fight or flight response, balance, digestion, all the stuff you don't have to consciously think  about. 

The World Health Organization has a field test for thiamine deficiency.  The test is to rise from a squat to a standing position. 

I failed miserably.  I squatted down to get something off the bottom shelf in the grocery store and could not stand back up.  My leg muscles were frozen.  I couldn't move.  I had to fall over and straighten out my legs with my hands.  It was difficult to get up.  

And the brain fog.....it was like a dimmer switch in my brain was being turned down lower and lower.  Very scary.

And then there was the concurrent pellagra (Niacin deficiency), Vitamin D deficiency, B12 deficiency and weird anemia because of the concurrent thiamine deficiency, osteoporosis, miscarriages, endometriosis, gallbladder removal.  

Remember the water soluble B vitamins all work together.  It's rare to have a deficiency in just one of the eight B vitamins.  So take a B Complex and vitamin C.

Thiamine is the B vitamin that is lost the quickest (deficiency can occur in as little as ten days), and that we use the most (every cell in your body needs thiamine).

There's more here.....articles about thiamine and more of my experiences with thiamine deficiency....

 

Thankful my experiences can help others.  

Knitty Kitty