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I'm really not sure what foods I should be eating. I just know I need to do whatever it takes to ease these headaches because I have no pain medication relief and no doctors visits until January 2013.

I did read that cutting out sugar helped someone. What about foods that convert to sugar quickly (like carrots, potatoes, bread)? Should I cut out the Vitamin A rich foods too ? I read that as well. If I cut out Vitamin A foods and all sugar, then what the heck should I be eating ???

I don't want to do Atkins diet!? But I will if I have to.

I really need specific guidance on this...if anyone is following a very strict, specific diet that has helped you, please let me know so I can evaluate whether it is for me.

Hi I have found that cutting out dairy has really helped with my headaches. I drink soya now its takes awhile to get used but its worth cause it dairy just triggered headaches for me. Giving up cheese was the hardest for me :(

I avoid sugary foods as well. I mainly eat fruit and veg and meat and I've cut down on bread also. I've been doing this about 5 weeks now. My doc suggested that I look at foods to see if they triggered headaches so that's how I noticed.

I have been reading your story, your having a bad time and its terrible that you are unable to get an prescription tablets.

When I have really bad days I sit with an ice pack on my head it numbs the pain for awhlie give ye a little break from it.

I have to agree with that advice and I thought this information and site may be of help to you Headache Sufferers' Diet

It's all so confusing and overwhelming! I even did the no processed food diet for six months, which was basically nothing but fresh fruits, vegs, and lean meats..I still gained weight and had headaches, so gave up. Personally, caffiene has always helped take the edge off my headaches if I catch it early, but I don't use it every day. I feel worse w/ carbs, but I haven't noticed anything but alcohol that directly affects my head. I think it's another one of those things that varies from person-to-person. I did print off the article Heidi provided though...never hurts to try!

Thanks to all. I will start keeping a food journal and cut out specific foods to see if it helps me feel better.

I have read that we are supposed to avoid caffeine. caffeine can increase CSF production. I have always found that a cup of tea or coffee will help me but I never have more than one because of this concern.

we are supposed to be low salt.

I would not take supplemental Vitamin A or D unless you have had a low D level measured. then no more than 2000 units per day. foods with vitamin A (beta carotene) ought to be fine.

I am finding in my research that glutamate may increase brain edema. so anything that contains MSG may cause a problem, but this is also in most processed foods even if it doesn't say MSG on the label. foods that are high in glutamate are dairy and wheat, and protein powders. also Aspartame may do the same thing so as you diet, don't be tempted to use the sugar free drink or processed food; that aspartame may get you. it is known to cause headaches.

hypoglycemia may potentiate the effect of glutamate so don't starve yourself and avoid a high sugar diet that will predispose to reactive hypoglycemia.

I think I am going to start with cutting out the dairy because I just bought a bunch of fruits, veggies, and protein (salmon, talapia, tuna). I think I will do that for a week and see how it goes. Then if not better, I think I will start cutting foods one-by-one to see if they are a trigger for me.

I agree that we are probably not all the same but that some foods are proven bad for us. I have heard from Dr. Oz and other sources that aspartame is bad and can trigger a sugar craving. I did cut out all regular sodas because I know they were causing me to gain weight (I love Dr. Pepper!). But I am getting used to not having it. Instead, I am drinking Green Tea with Stevia (no aspartame).

Thank you Heidi to the link to the Headache Sufferer's Diet.....

Also, thanks to anyone who posts to this thread regarding this question I asked. I will continue to read responses if they are posted even if I don't reply to them.

I am finding it is good to talk about this condition with others who have it, because Lord in heaven knows that my family is sick of hearing it and they don't understand. Sometimes I really think that even my family thinks I am not in as much pain as I am in.....but that is something for another "thread".

Blessings to all.

tilapia and salmon should be OK but I would avoid tuna. too much mercury and your brain has enough trouble right now!

I eat Tuna all the time and have no problems. You'll soon find out yourself what foods trigger your headaches, Everyone is different with this condition.

Good luck

Tuna would not cause problems acutely, as in a food allergy. mercury exposure accumulates in the brain. Dr. Blaylock has shown how mercury will potentiate the neuronal cell death that occurs from excitotoxicity, to kill brain cells much faster. and you may function normally for a long time until suddenly you start having a lot of problems, cognitive issues progressing to dementia. what happens is the brain can function with quite a big loss of neurons, until it gets to a critical point, and then symptoms start to show. so they can show much later after these types of exposures. my concern is that I suspect those of us with IIH are much more sensitive to glutamate than others, and that the glutamate will actually cause brain edema which becomes symptomatic when it increases ICP. it will potentiate that mercury toxicity. I suspect that those of us with IIH also have a dysfunctional blood brain barrier, and this will let all of these toxins enter much more easily. I suspect that's why some of us are so acutely sensitive to smell. there is an opening to the blood brain barrier from the nose, so if it is leaky then those chemicals go right into our brains. I think they trigger glutamate release in the brain and more brain edema, explaining the brain fog I get 45 min after an exposure.
Tuna is known to contain mercury, and there are limits to how much a pregnant woman and a child should eat as a result. I think with a neurotoxin ingestion should be zero and so if there are limits like this, then no one should be eating it.
that's my two cents.
Deb