My partner is on day one of her 10-day pre-op liquid diet and has come down with a bad migraine. She can't take any pain relievers according to the doctor. She does have a history of migraines. Her goal for calorie intake is 800 calories a day. I don't know if it's the stress, the lack of calories, the lack of sugar, PMS, or what, and it's only day 1, but she seems to think she may need more Protein during the day. She's drinking 2 Protein shakes (soy-based) which leaves her only about 240 calories for "dinner." Does anybody have any suggestions? Should we change the timing of the shakes? Is there some other way to get the protein without the calories? It seems weird that this should be happening so soon, especially since she doesn't get a migraine if she has a cold, and she doesn't eat much then. Help!

BadgerMom

It's not uncommon to get bad headaches when reducing calories so drastically. Many people have the headaches for the first 3 or 4 days. What kind of shakes is she drinking that are so high in calories? She should try finding a high protein shake that is lower in calories so she can have them more often.

If she has been prepping for this with weight loss already, it could be hormone related.

I had migraines for years, they were always hormone related, they hit any time I had an estrogen surge. I was never able to be on the pill or anything due to that. Well a hysterectomy did away with my migraines, until a few days after being banded, and wham I got one, then another a few days later!

When I mentioned it to the Dr. they explained that fat cells hold estrogen, and when you lose weight quickly it is dumped into your system. He said they would ease....and they did!

I never got another until a couple of weeks ago, following my Tummy Tuck--PS said the exact same thing, that I had fat cells continuing to die off due to lack of blood flow following surgery, so I was getting a PMS size dose of hormones......just had the one.

Not sure if this could be related or not...but thought it might shed a little light!

Hope they get better, migraines are so painful.

Kat

this doesnt sound like migraines...sounds like headaches from not eating enough and that happens to you when you are on diets for pre op.

I suffer from migraines hate hate hateeeeeee them :|

Tell her to try Isopure protein shakes, When you mix 2 scoops with water you get 50 grams of protein for only 210 calories. Im not too fond on the taste when mixed with water though but if you need it, its definety better.

Thanks for the help on the migraine. She's better this morning. She was diagnosed with chronic migraines years ago, though they've gotten much, much better as she's gotten older. We used to take trips to the ER several times a year when she was in her 30's. It was awful. Last night she had all of her classic symptoms she's always had - light sensitivity, nausea, yucky burps, etc.

Is Isopure soy-based? She tried them when she was experimenting with the shakes to find out which ones she liked, and she can't use the whey ones. They give her monster migraines (she is allergic to certain kind of animal products). What about Jello?

BadgerMom