trigger

Hey all -

If I've been working hard and/or been on a long ride, I often get killer headaches afterwards. I did a hard 1 1/2 hours on the trainer, and I have one right now. I don't very often get headaches otherwise, and this friggin' sucks.

I do well to stay hydrated (drank two bottles tonight on the trainer) so I suspect that it's something else. The fact that I leave salt stains on my gear makes me think electrolytes. Do you all agree?

If we do agree its likely electrolytes, what's the best way to deal with the issue. I've heard about Nunn (which appeals as I can still use regular water and just add the tablets) and Heed.

Thoughts?

chrisvu05

use an electrolyte drink for one of those bottles and you'll probably notice a difference...however just because you are done riding doesn't mean you are done drinking...you should continue drinking water/electrolyte replacement for the next hour or two and then continue with a good schedule of lots of water often.

chrisvu05

Never tried Nunn. Heed is good stuff. I use that in the summer. I often use gatorade but cut it with half bottle of water half bottle of gatorade. Experiment with your electrolyte drinks....there are plenty of options and not all of them work for all riders.

zatopek

Post-ride urine output is likely your best accurate measure of how well hydrated you are after training. If I'm not peeing relatively dilute urine within one hour after a ride, I know I have inadequately hydrated. Those headaches sound like the result of dehydration. How about the next morning when you rise? Are you still feeling the headache?

chrisvu05

correction...post ride weight difference from pre-ride is your best bet at looking at how dehydrated you allowed yourself to become. more than 2% difference and you weren't hydrating enough.

patentcad

God, what a friggin hanging curve this thread is.

JTGraphics

I add Elete to water and add a little to a sports drink also on rides had worked for me so far.
You can get some small bottles for $5 to try.
I like it because it’s pretty much taste free and odor free you can add it to anything and leaves no residue in your bottles.

trigger

No - usually by the time I get up it's OK, though once this happens I hit the water and herbal tea like crazy. I understand that this is probably somehow tied to consumption of fluids, but with my tendency toward very salty sweat, I was wondering if it was more in the "quality" of what I was intaking more than the quantity. In other words, perhaps I am at the points where plain water isn't cutting it anymore and should think about electrolyte replacement as well. I'm very new to all of this, so please excuse me if I am missing something obvious. Thanks for the help.

patentcad

What if it's a brain tumor?

chrisvu05

sometimes I wonder if you've been the victim of a brain tumor...although I do enjoy your posts.

Flatballer

Even during races where I drink gatorade and plenty of water and take electrolyte replacements (Endurolytes, by Hammer) afterward, I still sometimes get headaches. They're definitely not as bad as when I don't get the electrolytes though. My urine can be completely clear, but I'll still get the headache if I don't take the electrolytes in.

patentcad

Benign colloid cyst.



Asymptomatic. One neurosurgeon told me to get it removed. I told him I would take my chances.

trigger

Hah ... sometimes I've wondered that actually. In all seriousness, if it's a brain tumor I probably won't have to spend so much time on the trainer anymore. Win.

No - I only get the headache after particularly hard rides, so I doubt it's a tumor. Warning signs of an aneurysm?

Thanks Pcad. Though getting snarked at by you is sort of a BF right of passage. Do I get a sticker?

trigger

This sounds like me. My urine is clear, but ow! my head. I'll look into the Endurolytes. Anyone have an opinion on these vs Nuun?

patentcad

In all seriousness, I might consult a neurologist about those symptoms. Head pain after exercise (persistently) could potentially be the sign of something you may want to know about. Can't hurt to check it out, could hurt to ignore it. Hope it's nothing.

chrisvu05

however it is more likely just dehydration...


get your Blood pressure checked too...

patentcad

But brain tumors offer far more drama and BF Blog Fodder. Try not to F that up for us.

sideshow_bob

i've seen people get bad headaches though poor fit and/or position on the bike. they take far too much weight in the hands and arms, which in turn makes the neck muscles overly tight, hey presto headache.

do you get headaches regardless of the bike you're on, do you get headaches regardless of the effort you are putting out (ie hard ride vs easy ride) or is it only on hard rides, and then only after a certain amount of time?

nitropowered

Why are people resistant to going to the doctor? If you are getting headaches all the time during similar rides, I would definitely see a doctor.

Its better to go to the doctor and check out ok, than be dead one day after your trainer workout.

jonathanb715

Mine stopped after I got divorced. YMMV.

JB

Randochap

Google "exercise induced migraine."

Ratfish

Stfd

Srsly though, I go months without a headache and it's because I drink so much water, so one might reasonably assume that it has something to do with water or caffeine or perhaps something else. The North American diet is so chock-full of salt that it is unlikely that you would excrete it all so quickly.

rollin

I used to get post ride headaches. I spoke to my GP and she suggested that they maybe due to salt loss. I always drank water but this clearly wasn’t enough. I now use Nuun tablets on all of my rides. Problem has gone.

(I find Nuun has the advantage of being portable so I can fill up along a ride. I hate all the flavours except Lemon Lime)

In extreme heat I also find that using over the counter electrolyte replacement sachets (designed for people who have diarrhea) help.

It is usually 35-40 Deg C here.

(I have no medical training so speak only for myself)

Randochap

Dioralyte are good.

trigger

Thanks for the replies and concern. Regarding going to a Dr - I have no problem doings so, but I suspect (hope) that this situation can be self treated.

1) fit on the bike is groovy, I've never been so comfy on a bike before.
2) the headaches don't happen whenever I ride, just after particularly hard or long sessions
3) I eat a much cleaner than average diet with few processed / packaged foods and zero fast food so my salt intake is likely not as high as the average North American
4) I leave salt stains on my gear, and have very salty sweat
5) I do try to be well hydrated on rides, and in daily life.

All of this leads me to think I ought to try Nuun or Endrolytes asap, and see if that fixes the problem.