I'm starving and have a pounding headache......It's only been 3 days

Hi - I'm really hungry and have a pounding headache since I started my 2 week liquid pre-op diet on Tuesday. The hunger thing I can deal with, but the headache is out of control. I can have 3 protein drinks and 1 small healthy meal aday. I save my meal for dinner w/ the family. Is there anything I could add that would satify my hunger and possible relieve headache? I do drink chx. broth through the day as well. I was wondering if even something like v-8 would help ..... I think the headache is from lack of carbs ?? Any advise would be great........ thanks

Wow, I feel sorry for you, do you think it's from no sugar and probably no caffeine? I would try a lot of water and focus on the protein. Other than that I guess I would call my doctor.

Marta, What you are experiencing is what I am worried about happening to me....I start my fast on Jan 11th. My understanding is that the headache is probably due to a combination of things....lack of sugar (carbs) and lack of caffeine. When I am strictly dieting, (weigh****chers) I always get a sugar withdrawal headache...and it can be miserable!! Thankfully it only lasts a few days, and then I usually feel much better. Are you a coffee drinker or tea drinker? If so, can you drink tea or coffee black? Can you take Tylenol or extra strength Tylenol, (which I bet you have already tried.)? Check with your doc to see if you could take Excedrin (it has caffeine in it which helps headache.) But, I know they won't want you to take much unless you take the aspirin- free...anyway, I hope you are soon feeling better. Take care, women are tough and we can do anything as long as there is an end in sight!! Lura

I don't have anything that may help, but will definately continue to read what is posted, I'm on day 2 of my diet and headache is not cool at all and I feel like I'm weak, wish I'd started breaking myself away from caffiene and sweets sooner instead of stuffing myself with everything I could find since I knew I wouldn't be able to after surgery..... SO NOW I SUFFER!!

Hi - It is now day 5 of liquid diet and the headache has greatly subsided. I do take tylenol when i feel one coming on, but they seem to happening less.I still drink coffee - it's liquid......but I only drink 1 cup in the morning or decaf later in the day. The second and third day I felt totally weak and disoriented, I had a hard time focusing at work and crabby..... my family was ready to throw me under a bus. Now, I feel fine and actually seem to get up earlier in the morning and not feel sluggish. Hang in there...... I do believe that I gets better....

Dear Marta It is a miserable thing to go through, but I have been doing deep breathing exercises, and it helps tremendously. I have been on a liquid fast since Dec 19; however, my surgeon wants me on clear liquids only. If you can't see through it, I can't have it. So Christmas day was really difficult for me. If felt like I hit some kind of emotional or psychological wall. But I went into a quiet room and sat down and started just breathing in slowly through my nose, until my lungs were pretty full, and then I would slowly breathe out. I did this for about 7 minutes and I felt a lot better. The head-ache was gone and I wasn't as edgy. Since then I have been doing this a couple times a day as needed. I have even made a little area in my den with candles and soothing music. It is my 'me' time, and when that door is shut everyone knows to leave me alone. It sounds kinda new age and flakey but I think the deep breathing is the key. My surgery date is Jan 3rd and as time passes I find the head-aches are few and far between. I hope this helps. Janet W

Thank you for all the advice. I start my slim fast on New Year's day. I am dreading the head ache from starving and my caffeine withdraw. I hope by the time you read this your head ache is gone. Audrey

If your doctor is ok with it try some caffeinated tea. You are probably going through caffeine witdraw and if not...caffeine helps migranes. Good Luck and God Bless