Okay so I fell off the wagon this weekend. I had some friends staying at my house (with 2 boys aged 3 and 5) and there were several college friends of mine around eating (and drinking) all sorts of things. I gave in. Oh well. At least it was an opportunity to see what would happen if I did eat wheat, dairy, and sugar. (and yes, I had all 3!)
Well, apparently I really do have issues with wheat. My stomach was not happy! I felt bloated, gassy, and had some tummy issues as well. When I had a coke one day (the first one I've had in over 7 months), I could not sleep that night because my stomach felt like it was in knots. Dairy makes me feel bloaty, but cheese give me a horrible headache. I guess it's nice to know which food causes which issues so I'll know in the future. More importantly, I am now more aware that my crazy gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free diet is working and I'm more resolved to stay on it.
Getting back on the wagon:
This is hard to do. Even though my body is having these symptoms, it craves food with wheat, dairy, and sugar (esp) in them. It's an addiction situation I think. SO - I'm back off wheat and dairy, but am still eating sugar for today. Tomorrow, I'll kick the sugar. I find it easier to do it in steps like this. If I go off all 3 at once, I feel terrible and lack energy to get through the day.
Showing posts with label Symptoms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Symptoms. Show all posts
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Migraines Just Suck!
I have not been as diligent about posting lately because I have been having an increase in migraines these past two weeks and I can't figure out why. The main thing that motivated me to start this quest for health is the fact that I have these terrible migraine headaches. Those of you who have them know how all about the intense pain as well as the nausea and depression that accompany them. Also, you know how frustrating it is when people who don't have migraines think you're just being lazy. They have no idea!
I have woken up with a headache every day for almost two weeks now. This is upsetting because I have been REALLY careful about what I've been eating. Some days, I can still go to work and function with the pain (after taking Maxalt), but some days (like today) I just can't get out of bed. The pain is what I call "active" pain. If someone hits you in the head with a baseball bat once, the pain will throb for a while and will be kind of dull. BUT - if someone hits you over and over again with a baseball bat, you just cannot ignore it! The pain renews itself. This is what a migraine is like. The worst part is that in addition to the pain, I always lie in agony and feel supremely guilty. I think about all the things I should be doing and all the people I'm letting down. It's hell.
I have been working with a Functional Medical Practitioner in order to stop them. My goal is to figure out how to NEVER have a migraine again! The diet and supplements she has put me on have helped me lose almost 30 pounds. This is an awesome side-effect, but that's not why I'm doing this. Here are some things I have tried. Some of these have kind of worked (in that they reduced the frequency of the migraines), but some of them really have not. If you are a migraine sufferer, some of these might work for you.
Remedies I have tried:
1. Avoiding common migraine triggers - coffee, wine (esp red), avocados, tomatoes, vinegar, chocolate, bananas. (This did reduce the frequency of my migraines.)
2. Seeing a Chiropractor - they can help if the migraines are due to a structural problem. If not, then they can't.
3. Massage - didn't seem to do anything.
4. Aroma Therapy - also didn't seem to do anything.
5. Giving up wheat, dairy, and sugar - seemed to help at first, but these past two weeks have been confusing.
6. Putting my feet in hot water - an old wives' tale someone told me about. Didn't seem to do anything.
7. Medication from my neurologist - the first thing he prescribed made me really depressed. Now, he prescribes Maxalt. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Also, he says to take Advil as soon as I feel the pain start. If you take it before the headache "grabs hold", sometimes you can prevent it. (Sometimes.)
8. Yoga and exercise - although is makes me feel better in general, it doesn't seem to affect the migraines.
9. Hypnotherapy - it was worth a shot!
10. Getting glasses - they say sometimes your eyes could be the problem. (It wasn't with me.)
11. Getting a special TMJ mouth splint that I wear at night - this helped reduce the frequency. (I can tell a difference if I forget to wear it.)
12. Ultrabath - this does seem to reduce the frequency and can ease symptoms sometimes.
As you can see, I have tried several things. I'm not just sitting around being a victim here!
Here are some things I'm going to try this week:
1. Acupuncture - a friend told me her mom is having some success with this for migraines.
2. Get hormones tested - apparently, migraines can be hormonal. Maybe mine are out of whack.
3. See my Functional Medical Practitioner again.
If I figure out a cure, I will definitely let you know. I would love to hear from other migraine sufferers. Are there any remedies, which you have tried, that work?
I have woken up with a headache every day for almost two weeks now. This is upsetting because I have been REALLY careful about what I've been eating. Some days, I can still go to work and function with the pain (after taking Maxalt), but some days (like today) I just can't get out of bed. The pain is what I call "active" pain. If someone hits you in the head with a baseball bat once, the pain will throb for a while and will be kind of dull. BUT - if someone hits you over and over again with a baseball bat, you just cannot ignore it! The pain renews itself. This is what a migraine is like. The worst part is that in addition to the pain, I always lie in agony and feel supremely guilty. I think about all the things I should be doing and all the people I'm letting down. It's hell.
I have been working with a Functional Medical Practitioner in order to stop them. My goal is to figure out how to NEVER have a migraine again! The diet and supplements she has put me on have helped me lose almost 30 pounds. This is an awesome side-effect, but that's not why I'm doing this. Here are some things I have tried. Some of these have kind of worked (in that they reduced the frequency of the migraines), but some of them really have not. If you are a migraine sufferer, some of these might work for you.
Remedies I have tried:
1. Avoiding common migraine triggers - coffee, wine (esp red), avocados, tomatoes, vinegar, chocolate, bananas. (This did reduce the frequency of my migraines.)
2. Seeing a Chiropractor - they can help if the migraines are due to a structural problem. If not, then they can't.
3. Massage - didn't seem to do anything.
4. Aroma Therapy - also didn't seem to do anything.
5. Giving up wheat, dairy, and sugar - seemed to help at first, but these past two weeks have been confusing.
6. Putting my feet in hot water - an old wives' tale someone told me about. Didn't seem to do anything.
7. Medication from my neurologist - the first thing he prescribed made me really depressed. Now, he prescribes Maxalt. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Also, he says to take Advil as soon as I feel the pain start. If you take it before the headache "grabs hold", sometimes you can prevent it. (Sometimes.)
8. Yoga and exercise - although is makes me feel better in general, it doesn't seem to affect the migraines.
9. Hypnotherapy - it was worth a shot!
10. Getting glasses - they say sometimes your eyes could be the problem. (It wasn't with me.)
11. Getting a special TMJ mouth splint that I wear at night - this helped reduce the frequency. (I can tell a difference if I forget to wear it.)
12. Ultrabath - this does seem to reduce the frequency and can ease symptoms sometimes.
As you can see, I have tried several things. I'm not just sitting around being a victim here!
Here are some things I'm going to try this week:
1. Acupuncture - a friend told me her mom is having some success with this for migraines.
2. Get hormones tested - apparently, migraines can be hormonal. Maybe mine are out of whack.
3. See my Functional Medical Practitioner again.
If I figure out a cure, I will definitely let you know. I would love to hear from other migraine sufferers. Are there any remedies, which you have tried, that work?
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