[Closed] Dehydration headaches

Had very similar until I stopped using electrolyte tablets. Night and day difference without them. Just water for me from now on.

I find after being out on a hot sweaty day on the bike something like an ensure or recovery shake kind of thing with its minerals and vitamins works.

What's your daily water intake?
Should be 3 - 4 litres a day based on normal activity.

Could be over hydration?

When I first got a camelbak I drank more than previously on a ride as it was readily available compared to a bottle.
I’d get headaches, initially thinking I was dehydrated (cos “hydrate or die”) so drank more, still get headaches, drank more etc in a vicious circle.

When I found out about water intoxication, I started cutting down on the water and headaches improved.

From spring until late summer I find mild hayfever symptons can give me headaches. Regular Loratadine sorts that out and makes me feel way more perky in general. It's a recent thing, never used to suffer from it that much (at least not as noticeably).

I had this years ago and it turned out to be the hydro tablets containing a large amount of magnesium (I think) this was exclusively high 5 I was using. It came to a crunch when I had one a bottle on a 24hr event, and was quite ill the day after.

I use SIS now more sparingly with now issues. Worth an internet search.

Cheers folks. I only tried the tabs because I was getting the headaches with water only.
I don't really know what my water intake is. I have a pint glass on the desk all day, which I regularly top up (water, not beer 🙂 )
Thing is, I'm not drinking any more or less than I've ever done, but this has only started in the past 6 months or so.
Was gonna try calling docs today

If I just use plain water on the turbo (indoors at about 16degC in winter) I often get a raging headache. Fixed it by using a Hypotonic (I think) mix. Orange squash (with actual sugar in) big pinch of salt and water. 500ml in an hours session I don't think I've ever had the issue. Forget and it can be a problem. Torq fuel mix also worked.

Was gonna try calling docs today

Is the best move.

I get serious exersion headaches, after prolonged efforts it can feel like a migraine and only remidy is sleep.

Current post big ride routine is water, some proper food can of pop (for sugar so sometime replaced by choc bar) and 2 cocodimol tablets. Even then i may still get them. Oh and have the ac on cold in the car.

More offten nowdays i just have a recovery nod.

a recovery nod

I wish! Headache keeps me awake, then I have to resort to ibuprofen.

If you are properly hydrated, it's not a dehydration headache. Could you be wrong about the cause?

Indeed. Missed the docs call time cos of work. Will try again.

What’s your daily water intake?
Should be 3 – 4 litres a day based on normal activity.

That seems like a huge amount. I don’t think I’ve ever drunk 4 litres of water in a day. Do you have a source for this?

Was directed to do an EConsult, so filled in 6 million boxes and hopefully will have some suggestions from a health profesh. 🙂

If it is dehydration then ye could try taking some Dioralyte sachets as it helps with major dehydration

4 litres of water in a day

Don’t think it’s just 4l of pure water. Tea and coffee count towards it and maybe water in fresh fruit & veg.

Good shout to get Dr to check you out if it’s a new and recurrent problem.
Since a bit of an off resulting in head injury and broken neck, I sometimes get exercise induced migraines which are worse if I’m dehydrated. They are horrible. Most often eventually responds well to rehydration and paracetamol. I try avoid alcohol after long rides as this often acts as a trigger as well.

easily...

What’s your daily water intake?
Should be 3 – 4 litres a day based on normal activity.

That seems like a huge amount. I don’t think I’ve ever drunk 4 litres of water in a day. Do you have a source for this?

Two medical sources - colorectal surgeon and my GP.

I took advice of the germans, been doing it for years.

https://www.precisionhydration.com/performance-advice/hydration/non-alcoholic-beer-recovery-drink/

EDIT: I missed the non alcoholic bit 😬

Thanks for replying frank conway.

I'm always a bit sceptical about these "you should ..." rules. Is that 4 litres for a 50kg woman as well as a 100kg man? Our bodies have evolved over hundreds of thousands of years to know when we need to drink unless we have a condition that disrupts this. Under normal circumstances do we need to be told how much to drink? Animals seem to get by without advice.

I've read loads of different sources and they don't seem to able to agree on an amount. The NHS suggest 6-8 glasses, or about 1.2 litres, which is good enough for me ... unless I'm thirsty of course, in which case I'll drink more.

Not suggesting you're doing anything wrong of course. If you're happy with your intake it's working for you.
As I said I don't think I've ever drunk 4 litres in a day, and I lived in Thailand for a decade and Australia for 4 years. Maybe during the hot season I managed it if you include all the fruit I ate.

I'm not qualified to dispute advice/recommendations from medical professionals so...I do my best but it's challenging.