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Some of you might remember that I started running a few months ago, when my son and I did the 5K. I started to enjoy running and kept it up but began to notice that it occasionally precipitated a headache, not a migraine but a dull headache. Of course now I am avoiding running to avoid a headache. It's almost laughable . . .first I am sensitive to so-called healthy foods, now exercise.
I am hoping that it's just this terrible heat and I was not adequately hydrated. It didn't happen every time so that is a possibility. However I am also wondering if it is blood pressure related since I sometimes have elevated BP. I am going to get a BP cuff to start monitoring more closely. A less likely reason, at least I hope, is 2 small venous cavernous malformations I have in my brain. They were discovered after my flu shot and I had an MRI because I was getting headaches. The neurologist told me they had < 1 % chance of bleeding, so I never worried about them. And then there's histamine, which is always a possibility in my case. Sometimes mast cells degranulate from sudden changes (like exercise or barometric pressure etc). Mast cell patients always complain about exercise intolerance.
Any other thoughts?
Mary Beth
Exercise Intolerance
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Exercise Intolerance
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
Mary Beth,
People with asthma often have exercise-induced wheezing. That must be mast cells, too? A friend with asthma actually worked up to being able to run (I cannot remember how he did this, unfortunately)... but now he's mostly doing stretches and yoga, and lots of walking.
The heat surely can't help - even if mast cells were not a concern.
Have you tried dialing back your runs - say, cutting them in half and working them up a minute or two at a time? I read a book once about recovering from running injuries or starting to run. Week 1 was: run 30 seconds; walk 4.5 minutes; repeat for 35 minutes. Sounds like you're beyond that chapter already... but you know what a fan I am of hard-core baby step ;) And actually, an injured runner I know took that program much slower once it built up to 8-20 minutes of running and 1-2 of walking.
I know it's been a pleasure for you to do this, and to share it with you son. I bet you'll find a way, even if that means doing something else when the temperatures are truly dreadful.
Keep us posted...
Love,
Sara
People with asthma often have exercise-induced wheezing. That must be mast cells, too? A friend with asthma actually worked up to being able to run (I cannot remember how he did this, unfortunately)... but now he's mostly doing stretches and yoga, and lots of walking.
The heat surely can't help - even if mast cells were not a concern.
Have you tried dialing back your runs - say, cutting them in half and working them up a minute or two at a time? I read a book once about recovering from running injuries or starting to run. Week 1 was: run 30 seconds; walk 4.5 minutes; repeat for 35 minutes. Sounds like you're beyond that chapter already... but you know what a fan I am of hard-core baby step ;) And actually, an injured runner I know took that program much slower once it built up to 8-20 minutes of running and 1-2 of walking.
I know it's been a pleasure for you to do this, and to share it with you son. I bet you'll find a way, even if that means doing something else when the temperatures are truly dreadful.
Keep us posted...
Love,
Sara
Sara - It's interesting that you posted about your friend having exercise induced asthma. I was just wondering if that's what happens to me. If I haven't been exercising regularly and start an exercise program, I have to have an inhaler with me. I have not been diagnosed with full blown asthma, but the called it exercise induced asthma. It started 4 years ago. It's funny that after a month or so of regular exercise, the wheezing stops. I guess my mast cells get used to it and settle down. Does that me I'm allergic to exercise? LOL. I haven't exercised in almost a year, so I think I'll tell anyone that asks why I haven't been to the gym that I'm allergic. LOL. Don't you know I'd get some funny looks!
I need to do some research on this mast cell issue. Mary Beth, what are some good sites to look at?
Hugs,
I need to do some research on this mast cell issue. Mary Beth, what are some good sites to look at?
Hugs,
Denise
"Be the change you want to see in this world."
Mahatma Gandhi
"Be the change you want to see in this world."
Mahatma Gandhi
Mary Beth - If I was to give an uneducated guess, I would think the headaches are from dehydration. I'm not sure where you live in Texas, but it's got to be at least as hot as it is here in Nothwest Louisiana. We have been up around 100 degrees for almost 2 weeks straight. We supposed to be getting a "cold" front next week....the high will be 95. LOL. You can dehydrate really quickly in heat like that. I'm sure you already know all that, though.
Hugs,
Hugs,
Denise
"Be the change you want to see in this world."
Mahatma Gandhi
"Be the change you want to see in this world."
Mahatma Gandhi
Denise,
The weather here is the same. It is miserably hot and I am hating summer. To think we have to suffer through this until October is an unbearable thought. Blueberry picking this morning was a joke. It was already too hot by 9 am. Dehydration very well could be the cause of my headaches. I will try again tomorrow and see what happens. I am sure that you are right about mast cells. When I only run 1-2 miles, no problem, but if it is longer I seem to have a problem. I use a camelback for water and really try to stay hydrated.
Sara,
My son ditched me after the 5K, LOL. I am a solo runner these days.
Mary Beth
The weather here is the same. It is miserably hot and I am hating summer. To think we have to suffer through this until October is an unbearable thought. Blueberry picking this morning was a joke. It was already too hot by 9 am. Dehydration very well could be the cause of my headaches. I will try again tomorrow and see what happens. I am sure that you are right about mast cells. When I only run 1-2 miles, no problem, but if it is longer I seem to have a problem. I use a camelback for water and really try to stay hydrated.
Sara,
My son ditched me after the 5K, LOL. I am a solo runner these days.
Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
Mary Beth,
A friend of mine's mother just had two days of horrific dehydration - she was heading to the hospital, but got it under control with Gatorade. No idea what's in that, but - not high on my list to test ;)
But I bet you can make your own sport drinks - and here's one place to consider researching: Brendan Brazier is a vegan triathlete. AND he's GF/DF/SF, and has recipes for energy gels, drinks and puddings. If you can get his book 'Thrive' from your library, they start on p. 122 in my edition. Some of them look useful for me - maybe some would be for you as well. And I'm sure, with your knowledge and experience, you could adapt some of his ideas with ingredient tweaks. He does have a product line, but doesn't stress it in his recipes in a way that undermines his credibility (IMO).
If I knew more about your specific yes/no food list, I'd figure out which I should type up and send - but it might be worth a look from your own perspective. I bought it with a very different idea of what my diet would turn out to be, but I think there will be some useful ideas in it even though my health journey has taken a radical MC detour.
I also find that when my diet is well controlled, I seem to need less water to stay hydrated. Probably it's the other way around - when a suspect food is troubling me, I drink a lot more water just to maintain equilibrium. (Does that make sense to you, either personally or professionally?) I'm sure I'll have to recalibrate my thinking as the NYC summer heat/humidity kicks into gear, though we're amateurs in that department from your point of view ;)
Funny that you got into this to participate with your son and he has "moved on."
You go, girl! (Safely, of course.)
Love,
Sara
A friend of mine's mother just had two days of horrific dehydration - she was heading to the hospital, but got it under control with Gatorade. No idea what's in that, but - not high on my list to test ;)
But I bet you can make your own sport drinks - and here's one place to consider researching: Brendan Brazier is a vegan triathlete. AND he's GF/DF/SF, and has recipes for energy gels, drinks and puddings. If you can get his book 'Thrive' from your library, they start on p. 122 in my edition. Some of them look useful for me - maybe some would be for you as well. And I'm sure, with your knowledge and experience, you could adapt some of his ideas with ingredient tweaks. He does have a product line, but doesn't stress it in his recipes in a way that undermines his credibility (IMO).
If I knew more about your specific yes/no food list, I'd figure out which I should type up and send - but it might be worth a look from your own perspective. I bought it with a very different idea of what my diet would turn out to be, but I think there will be some useful ideas in it even though my health journey has taken a radical MC detour.
I also find that when my diet is well controlled, I seem to need less water to stay hydrated. Probably it's the other way around - when a suspect food is troubling me, I drink a lot more water just to maintain equilibrium. (Does that make sense to you, either personally or professionally?) I'm sure I'll have to recalibrate my thinking as the NYC summer heat/humidity kicks into gear, though we're amateurs in that department from your point of view ;)
Funny that you got into this to participate with your son and he has "moved on."
You go, girl! (Safely, of course.)
Love,
Sara
Hey there Mary Beth,
That certainly does sound suspiciously like dehydration, but from one mast cell sufferer to another, I would proceed with caution. As you well know, not only can exercise induce degranulation but so can heat and/or sun exposure. My recollection is that you have had very serious mast cell episodes in the past, so do be careful if you are at all suspicious that degranulation is the culprit.
Perhaps you could try exercise at a gym or home where you aren't contending with the heat/sun and see if that makes a difference in how you feel. That with hydrating more may give you some relief from the headaches when you exercise.
Just curious Mary Beth, do you carry an epi with you when you are running?
Be well,
Julie
That certainly does sound suspiciously like dehydration, but from one mast cell sufferer to another, I would proceed with caution. As you well know, not only can exercise induce degranulation but so can heat and/or sun exposure. My recollection is that you have had very serious mast cell episodes in the past, so do be careful if you are at all suspicious that degranulation is the culprit.
Perhaps you could try exercise at a gym or home where you aren't contending with the heat/sun and see if that makes a difference in how you feel. That with hydrating more may give you some relief from the headaches when you exercise.
Just curious Mary Beth, do you carry an epi with you when you are running?
Be well,
Julie
Julie,
I do carry an epi pen and some antihistamines wherever I go. When running or biking I use a camelback. I never worried about the effects of exercise but I have worried about bee/hornet stings. Sun has never set me off, but I have experienced degranualtion from exercising back a few years ago when I was sick. I usually feel great after running and the headache comes a few hours later.
Sara,
Yep, I am thinking a sports drink will be better. I have concocted my own in the past and I think there is a rehydration fluid recipe on this site somewhere.
Gloria,
I get more itchy bumps in the summer. This also started after I got sick. I have found that rubbing alcohol dries them up and stops the itch. I think it could be prickly heat rash.
Think I'll hold off on outdoor exercise a few more days. The temp is expected to drop to low 90s in a few days and that might be a better time to experiment.
Mary Beth
I do carry an epi pen and some antihistamines wherever I go. When running or biking I use a camelback. I never worried about the effects of exercise but I have worried about bee/hornet stings. Sun has never set me off, but I have experienced degranualtion from exercising back a few years ago when I was sick. I usually feel great after running and the headache comes a few hours later.
Sara,
Yep, I am thinking a sports drink will be better. I have concocted my own in the past and I think there is a rehydration fluid recipe on this site somewhere.
Gloria,
I get more itchy bumps in the summer. This also started after I got sick. I have found that rubbing alcohol dries them up and stops the itch. I think it could be prickly heat rash.
Think I'll hold off on outdoor exercise a few more days. The temp is expected to drop to low 90s in a few days and that might be a better time to experiment.
Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
Hi MB,
It's always something, sigh! I'm also wondering about outside pollutants - not just pollens but things like ozone, etc. I have had mild headaches from ozone, but mostly it causes me to cough. You might check to see if headaches happen more on code orange or red days. Do you run first thing in the AM? That's the best time, before the ozone builds up. Also, it might help to use the Neil Med sinus rinse immediately after exercising outside to remove pollutants/pollens that have collected in your nasal passages before they cause the body to react.
I also think it could be exercise-induced mast cell degranulation and/or dehydration. I doubt it is BP, but it never hurts to monitor it. Usually increased BP is asymptomatic.
Do you have access to an indoor treadmill? Or do you know if you have the same problem if you exercise indoors?
I feel like you do about summer. I never used to mind the heat pre-MC. Now I just don't feel my best during summer. Normally here we have about 29 days of temps over 90, but last year we had 59 days over 90. It was brutal! And this summer appears to be shaping up the same. Sigh. I will be thrilled when fall arrives.
Love,
Polly
It's always something, sigh! I'm also wondering about outside pollutants - not just pollens but things like ozone, etc. I have had mild headaches from ozone, but mostly it causes me to cough. You might check to see if headaches happen more on code orange or red days. Do you run first thing in the AM? That's the best time, before the ozone builds up. Also, it might help to use the Neil Med sinus rinse immediately after exercising outside to remove pollutants/pollens that have collected in your nasal passages before they cause the body to react.
I also think it could be exercise-induced mast cell degranulation and/or dehydration. I doubt it is BP, but it never hurts to monitor it. Usually increased BP is asymptomatic.
Do you have access to an indoor treadmill? Or do you know if you have the same problem if you exercise indoors?
I feel like you do about summer. I never used to mind the heat pre-MC. Now I just don't feel my best during summer. Normally here we have about 29 days of temps over 90, but last year we had 59 days over 90. It was brutal! And this summer appears to be shaping up the same. Sigh. I will be thrilled when fall arrives.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Good thought Polly. Come to think of it, I know I used to feel worse on high ozone days when I lived in Dallas. I had a commute to work and listened to the radio more than I do now, so I always knew when there was an ozone alert. I will start paying attention to that. Houston is quite polluted so it would make sense that pollution could also be a factor.
I always run before 10 am, but it really is too hot by then. I need to go about 6:30 am I think. I do have a gym membership but I really prefer running outside. Houston is always hot in the summer but this year it is ridiculous. Sure hope I win the HGTV Green House in Denver
I am going to get a BP cuff this week. It was high when I was at the doctors office last week. I know I panic a bit about getting my BP checked ever since I had the hypertensive crisis.
Thanks for your thoughts everyone.
Mary Beth
I always run before 10 am, but it really is too hot by then. I need to go about 6:30 am I think. I do have a gym membership but I really prefer running outside. Houston is always hot in the summer but this year it is ridiculous. Sure hope I win the HGTV Green House in Denver
I am going to get a BP cuff this week. It was high when I was at the doctors office last week. I know I panic a bit about getting my BP checked ever since I had the hypertensive crisis.
Thanks for your thoughts everyone.
Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
Mary Beth,
I was amazed at how much my BP fluctuated when I first started measuring it. Don't let your BP cuff scare you into 'white coat' syndrome towards your own white coat!
I think it's a great idea to check on it yourself, and get a sense of the range, how it shifts over the course of a day and as symptoms or seasons come and go.
Hope the weather cuts you some slack,
Love,
Sara
I was amazed at how much my BP fluctuated when I first started measuring it. Don't let your BP cuff scare you into 'white coat' syndrome towards your own white coat!
I think it's a great idea to check on it yourself, and get a sense of the range, how it shifts over the course of a day and as symptoms or seasons come and go.
Hope the weather cuts you some slack,
Love,
Sara
Mary Beth,
I get exercise induced urticaria. I'm literally allergic to my own heat and sweat!! My face turns bright red and feels like sunburn, and I develop pink spots all over my torso (many with sweat-filled tiny blisters). If I run, my inner thighs start to itch and burn like crazy. My husband complains that I never exercise, and that's WHY I get the rashes - he thinks I don't clean out my pores enough with sweat. Anyway, it sucks. I wonder if that points to mast cell issues in my MC? I've always been exercise intolerant from a cardio perspective too. I played basketball and ran track in high school. I was great at short sprints but could never keep up endurance-wise. It was attributed to my mitral valve prolapse. I yawn all the time when I exercise, but I never get headaches, unless I am dehydrated with low BP.
I get exercise induced urticaria. I'm literally allergic to my own heat and sweat!! My face turns bright red and feels like sunburn, and I develop pink spots all over my torso (many with sweat-filled tiny blisters). If I run, my inner thighs start to itch and burn like crazy. My husband complains that I never exercise, and that's WHY I get the rashes - he thinks I don't clean out my pores enough with sweat. Anyway, it sucks. I wonder if that points to mast cell issues in my MC? I've always been exercise intolerant from a cardio perspective too. I played basketball and ran track in high school. I was great at short sprints but could never keep up endurance-wise. It was attributed to my mitral valve prolapse. I yawn all the time when I exercise, but I never get headaches, unless I am dehydrated with low BP.
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TooManyHats
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I was thinking mast cell involvement. I've also heard about the people that seem to have their mast cells react to too much heat. I don't react to heat, but did walk 4 miles this weekend and had a soft stool this morning. I'm wondering if there is any connection there.
If it is a mast cell problem, could a mast cell stabilizer help you Mary Beth? This is new territory for me. So far I've just been trying to deal with foods and mast cells.
If it is a mast cell problem, could a mast cell stabilizer help you Mary Beth? This is new territory for me. So far I've just been trying to deal with foods and mast cells.
Arlene
Progress, not perfection.
Progress, not perfection.