This blog is for
migraine sufferers like myself who have had the problem for years and
have tried everything but are still getting them regularly. What
makes this blog different is that I am going to share with you all
the things I've tried, and tell you what has worked and not worked
and for some things I may even be able to tell you why. Also I'll try
to keep you up to date on what I'm currently using/not using or
eating/not eating. Sort of a migraine guinea pig if you will. Some
of it is serious and some things well they're just funny. Isn't that
how life is after all?
Let's start from
the beginning: I've been having migraines since I was 13, and still
have them even though I've passed the worst part of menopause. Of
course that would have no bearing on a male sufferer and I'll get to
that too.
Back in the day so
little was known about migraine it essentially came down to take an
aspirin and lay in a dark room with a cool cloth on your head until
the horrible headache finally subsides.
My mother was a
natural foods person and was completely sold on I'm thinking maybe
the 70's version of the paleo diet. She was a huge fan of Adele
Davis' nutrition plan which was heavy on meat and vegetables and low
in other carbs. Sound familiar? The biggest difference is that the
aforementioned nutrition plan also included brewers yeast which is
definitely detrimental to most migraine sufferers! I personally did
pretty well on that plan until the yeast was added. Not only did it
smell awful but I broke out in eczema on my hands and arms that
seemed to last forever.
So needless to say
that whole thing did not work primarily because of the yeast but
you'll see as we go along there are other factors. Well ok since that
was a bust and I not only have these horrible headaches, but now I
also am covered in this awful, unsightly rash, and remember I'm a
teenager at this point, it's time to move on to the next thing. Off I
go to the dermatologist and here we go with any number of pills,
lotions, and a year long course of antibiotics that made my waist
length hair fall out. Because of the headaches the dermatologist also
suggested an elimination diet. The first thing that was taken away
was eggs for 2 months. So while everyone else was eating Sunday
breakfast cooked by dear old Dad, complete with bacon, fresh baked
bread or fresh bagels, and of course eggs. I was having bacon and a
bagel. I know you’re shaking your head over that one as bacon is a
no-no. Ahh well ignorance was partial bliss.
No change after 2
months so let's add back in the eggs and take away milk for 2 months.
Yup no milk in my cereal in the morning before school. Again 2 months
later no change so let's add the milk back in and take away
chocolate. What!! Oh Lord it was almost worse than the migraines. Are
you kidding me no chocolate for 2 months??
Ok I survived and
that probably did help but there were still too many other factors at
play here to have real noticeable success. So on and on it went. 2
months of no fish, then 2 months of no beef, then peanutbutter, then
oranges. You get the picture. And just to add to the fun I was still
going weekly to the dermatologist and receiving some sort of light
treatments along with more lotions and now Atarax.
It's so funny when I
write all this down. I'm chuckling as I write, but you know I was in
teenage hell back then.
Well we made it
through the early teenage saga. Next time I'll take you through what
worked and didn't in my late teens when I was out on my own.
