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Hi, crazy question. I fasted today. During the fast, I had a minimal headache. I kept my day as chill as possible. Spent a few minutes reading a book, went to a shiur, did an errand and spent a few hours just chilling with my family. I didn’t really do much, how come it was not until after I broke my fast that I got a pounding headache. I feel worse than when I was fasting.
That’s normal.
I can’t tell you why, but I can share some of my own experience which might help.
Most of my life I have fasted fine. It slowed me down a little, the fast, but that’s about all. However, I often felt quite sick the day *after* the fast !?!
My solution (which I fell upon by “accident” after one fast where I had to run out of the house and didn’t have much time to eat) is *not* to eat a lot right after the fast. First I drink — water. Then I drink more water….I don’t eat until I’ve drunk a few cups of water and given myself a bit of time to absorb. Then I eat lightly — usually starting with fruit and waiting a bit after that to eat anything heavier (this whole process can be an hour long — or 20 minutes. I don’t know if it matters). Even then, I try not to stuff myself. Keep drinking water between the different steps up to eating. And then drink more water say, an hour or two later (and before going to bed, and the next morning …)
Additional curious point — I suffer from migraines. One part of my treatment plan is to drink a lot of water. Nonetheless, I don’t think I have had a migraine on a fast day more than once in my life — and I’ve had migraines for 20 years!
So here are a few thoughts:
1. Maybe your body during the fast didn’t dehydrate enough to give you a headache, but after the fast, though you ate, you didn’t drink enough, and thus got a dehydration headache later?
2. Maybe there is a connection between food and headaches, so some people don’t get the headache that might be “coming to them” until ingesting some solid food?
3. Maybe some of us just have bodies that respond more slowly. This gives us a chance to head off the headaches/weakness by drinking a lot right after the fast?
In any case, whatever the cause, perhaps my solution will help you….or someone else.
Also, drinking a lot in the days before the fast can help avoid dehydration, which could help with possible headaches whether they would come during or after the fast.
Perhaps you overate after having not eaten all day?
Basya:- However after Y’K and Tisha b’Ov on a Sunday & Assoro b’Teves on a Friday, how do you 1st drink water?
I no longer get headaches during or after a fast day. What works for me, is to be well hydrated and eat carbs before the fast and take a nap during the fast day. It works.
I think that mild dehydration is a major reason for the headache. If that is the case you will be the most dehydrated at the end of the fast having gone the most time without liquids. I don’t think that hydration instantly kicks in the second you break your fast so your body will be the most dehydrated as you are breaking it.
Other reason could be a sugar levels spiking. If you are eating lots of carbs after not eating anything you blood sugar (even for non-diabetics) could spike and maybe cause a headache.
Disclaimer: I am not a Medical Doctor and this could all be totally wrong. Just a guess.
FT – “So I have fasted on multiple occasions. I usually have 32 oz Gatorade a day two days before and day of fast. Then day after fast and right after fast same thing. I taper off of caffeinated beverages a week before. If I haven’t drank a ton of soda coffee etc, then I just stop. If not I reduce amount in half per day then go to e/o day. So if week before I wound up having two can of coke a day, I try to do 1 a day for two days, coffee based frappe two days later with no caffeine in between and nothing after.”
This is a freebee, nothing more than this! Before the fast you’re correct in cutting down on caffeine, nothing more. Also, eat a lot of carbs, but don’t stuff yer face.
“I broke this fast with bagel and schemear and ice cream plus gatorade.”
Start with Gatorade & OJ, then wait at least 20 min. Then eat; but not a lot.
147 — sorry I am replying a year later; I don’t frequent the Coffee Room!
I don’t have a solution for Asara b’teves on erev shabbos — but it doesn’t happen often! I guess the best in that case is kiddush, hamotzi, and drink water, sing zmiros, and then eat more?
What is the problem with Y.K. / Tisha B’av on Sunday? I guess it is an issue for the one making havdola? Is that what you mean? First of all, if you make kiddush/havdolah on grape juice I think it is less of a problem. In any case, drink lots of water right after the wine/grape juice.
Also, my husband said (I don’t know if this is universal) that it is OK to drink water (just plain water, no other eating/drinking) before havdola on motzai shabbos; that should then be fine on motzai tisha b’av on Sunday as well. Not sure about Y.K. – I don’t think I’ve ever done that…..or thought to ask…..
“However after Y’K and Tisha b’Ov on a Sunday & Assoro b’Teves on a Friday, how do you 1st drink water?”
I don’t understand why you can’t just have someone else drink the wine from kiddush/havdalah and you break your fast on water. Am I missing something?
Motzei Tisha B’Av I was the only one home and there was no grape juice in the house, so I had to make havdala on wine. I like wine though and it wasn’t such a big deal – I just went to sleep early.
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