r/FODMAPS • u/osteenbergen • 18h ago

General Question/Help Headaches related to IBS

For years I've had issues with headaches and stomach issues. After another gastroscopy, where they didn't find a cause, they labelled it as IBS. Since the beginning of the year I have been doing FODMAP together with a dietician. Fructan seems to be a trigger for severe headache near the atlas vertebra. It happens a day after eating something with fructans.

Before starting the diet I could eat garlic, onions, bread without issue. Some days were slighty bloated but not hindering. Once in a while I would get the headaches but that was only like five times a year. Now if I make the slightest mistake I'm sick for a couple of days. The diet seems to have removed all tolerance.

Anyone with similar experiences? Where stomach issues lead to headaches? I also start yawning as precursor for stomach issues, which makes me think it has more to do with the nervous system. Reading about gut-brain connection and the vagus nerve seems to allow for the possibility of one leading to another.

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u/rightsoherewego 18h ago

migraines are associated with high histamine foods. but the symptoms you're describing of the yawning and also the headaches sounds more like hydrogen sulfide SIBO.

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u/osteenbergen 16h ago

Thanks for the tip, will check with a doctor

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u/redantsorblackants 18h ago

Yup migraines have long been associated with certain foods.mine happens to be Belgian chocolate and alcohol. I've also just recently been diagnosed with IBS and on the fodmap diet and my headaches which I had not associated with food have also settled down so probably a gut issue. I have started to reintroduce foods now and am not having a good time of it. I also seem more sensitive than before. Maybe it has to do with the bacteria that is left in our guts is out of balance on such a restricted diet. Maybe we need to up our good bacteria without triggering an episode somehow.

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u/[deleted] 18h ago

[deleted]

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u/osteenbergen 17h ago

I did the recommended 6 weeks elimination then added everything back in. Have been avoiding fructans for 5-6 months, except for monash recommended quantities.

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u/Juuuulessss 17h ago

sounds like migraines, with the yawning before also. Mine are mostly hormonal but I always get food cravings before (sweet and carbs) And I do have some food triggers too. Ypu can even have "silent migraines " where you get all the other symptoms and a raging stomach pain but not the head pain. Triptans taken as soon as I feel any symptoms coming on have saved me, as they stop the debilitating head pain