What Ails Me… Migraines

BySimply Happenstance

 A couple of months ago, I hit a new low

{which is one of the reasons I finally headed back to the doctor after years of not going}.

Husby was at work for a 48-hr shift and I was home with my four little ones.

I had a migraine that was so bad…

that my oldest son {age 8} had to make ego waffles for his siblings for dinner

{so embarrassing to admit}….

I found myself running to the toilet to vomit…

I was sure that this was going to be it…

the time that my brain would finally cease and I would die of a brain aneurism or something

{however unrealistic that actually may be}.

 My 6 year old, plagued with a look of helplessness and fear, came running…

asking if I was ok.

He took it upon himself to get me a hair tie.

Later that night, after the pain lessened to a point I could tolerate…

my oldest son took me to the prayer box in my bedroom…

with tears in his eyes, he showed me a handwritten letter on a small piece of paper….

a prayer to God,

asking Him to make his mommy feel better.

I was completely overwhelmed and brought to tears with the sheer sweetness of his heart….

that his initial instinct was to pray.

I was crushed,

at the same time…

thinking about the affects this would have on my children….

seeing their mommy so frequently sick with migraines.

 >>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<

So… as you can see, I’m at the end of my rope…

I hate to complain, especially on our blog,

but I am 100% certain that I’m not the only one out there experiencing this

{in fact, one of my best friends in life suffers from this same issue}.

I have chronic daily headaches and several migraines a month….

several.

I have had two in the last week,

in addition to daily headaches that just don’t seem to go away at this point.

They are debilitating and unfortunately stand in the way of me being my best.

I have had headaches for as long as I can remember…

even as a small child.

I have seen every specialist you can imagine…

we even went as far as cutting off several inches of my long hair

{as a teenager}

because one doctor thought my heavy hair was the culprit!

At the age of 16, I decided I was DONE with medications and doctor’s appointments.

I stopped going at that point.

I haven’t taken a prescription migraine medicine since then…

until early this week,

when I finally broke down {out of utter desperation} and took a dose of Imitrex.

It didn’t help.

In fact, I swear I felt worse.

Perhaps I didn’t give it a fair chance…

but I’m just not a pill person.

I don’t like feeling out of control…

which is one of the reasons I don’t drink alcohol.

>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<

There are a few things I have learned about my headaches…..

First I have a few really bad habits….

like staying up until 12 or 1 am most nights,

{blogging hasn’t helped that any — in fact, it’s nearly midnight as I write this!},

not drinking enough water and eating too much sugar

{my vice when the kids go to bed}….

 A few other triggers:

the sun,

 going too long between meals,

tension,

stress,

hormones…

{hello hormones — nothing alleviates those migraines},

and food intolerances and/or allergies.

A few years back I had a basic blood test done to see if I had any food allergies.

It tested for the 30 most common.

The results came back that I had 8 mild allergies of the 30 tested and 1 moderate

{which was eggs}.

I have found that eggs are a huge trigger.

I have experimented with a vegan diet in the past….

but I’ve strayed the past several months.

Research suggests that one of the main causes

of migraines happens to be food allergies.

In an attempt to figure it out on your own, without testing,

you can experiment with an elimination diet

{although I suggest consulting with your personal physician first}.

I think this is my next step

{and then maybe acupuncture… a whole separate post}….

A necessity for my wellbeing and that of my family.

An elimination diet isn’t just good for headache sufferers…

it also has proven benefits for people suffering from:

Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Psoriasis,

Arthritis, Asthma, Eczema,

IBS, GERD, Anxiety, Constipation/Diarrhea,

Sinus Problems, Weight Loss/ Weight Gain and Infertility. 

Here are the basics of an Elimination Diet {taken from WebMD:

The elimination diet involves removing specific foods or ingredients from your diet because you and your doctor think they may be causing allergy symptoms. Common allergy-causing foods include milk, eggs, nuts, wheat, and soy. Your doctor will supervise this diet over a few weeks. There are usually several steps to this diet.

    1. Stop eating suspicious foods.

During this time, you will need to:

  • Carefully read food labels and ask how foods are prepared at restaurants so you can be sure to avoid possible triggers.
  • Keep a food diary to record the foods you are eating.

If you remove a certain food and the allergy symptoms go away while following this diet, your doctor can usually confirm that that food may be the cause of your problems.

While on this diet, make sure you eat other foods that provide the same nutrients as those you’re avoiding. (For example, try tofu-based foods instead of dairy products.) A dietitian can help you plan meals.

    2. Slowly add back in suspicious foods, one at a time.

After eliminating or taking foods out of your diet, your doctor will ask you to gradually reintroduce into your diet the foods you were avoiding. You’ll add them one at a time over time. This process helps link allergy symptoms to specific foods.

Carefully record any allergy symptoms that you get as you add each food back in. If symptoms return after eating a food, your doctor can usually confirm that this is a trigger.

    3. Last, you will be asked to once again to stop eating the foods (one at a time) that you and your doctor think are causing your allergy symptoms. The list should be smaller this time. The goal is to see if the symptoms clear up for good.

 {Image Via: Somebody Heal Me} 

 >>> Dr. Oz’s Comprehensive Elimination Diet Guidelines <<<

FOODS TO INCLUDE                                               FOODS TO EXCLUDE

Fruits: whole fruits, unsweetened, frozen or water-packed, canned fruits & diluted juices Oranges & orange juice
   
Dairy substitutes: rice, and nut milks such as almond milk & coconut milk Dairy & eggs: milk, cheese, eggs, cottage cheese, cream, yogurt, butter, ice cream, frozen yogurt, non-dairy creamers
   
Non-gluten grains and starch: brown rice, millet, quinoa, amaranth, teff, tapioca buckwheat, potato flour Grains: wheat, corn, barley, spelt, kamut, rye, triticale, oats (although certified gluten-free oats would be OK)
   
Animal protein: fresh or water-packed fish, wild game, lamb, duck, organic chicken & turkey Pork, beef/veal, sausage, cold cuts, canned meats, frankfurters, shellfish
   
Vegetable protein: split peas, lentils, & legumes Soybean products (soy sauce, soybean oil in processed foods; tempeh, tofu, soy milk, soy yogurt, textured vegetable protein)
   
Nuts and seeds: walnuts, sesame, pumpkin, & sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, pecans, almonds, cashews, nut butters such as almond or tarini Peanuts and peanut butter
   
Vegetables: all raw, steamed, sautéed, juiced or roasted vegetables Corn, creamed vegetables
   
Oils: cold pressed olive, flax, safflower, sesame, almond, sunflower, walnut, canola, pumpkin Butter, margarine, shortening, processed oils, salad dressings, mayonnaise, & spreads
   
Drinks: filtered or distilled water, decaffeinated herbal teas, seltzer or mineral water Alcohol, coffee & other caffeinated beverages, soda pop or soft drinks
   
Sweeteners: brown rice syrup, agate nectar, stevia, fruit sweetener, blackstrap molasses  Refined sugar, white/brown sugars, honey, maple syrup, high fructose corn syrup, evaporated cane juice  
 Condiments: vinegar, all spices, including salt, pepper, basil, carob, cinnamon, cumin, dill,    garlic, ginger, mustard, oregano, parsley, rosemary, tarragon, thyme, turmeric  Chocolate, ketchup, relish, chutney, soy sauce, barbecue sauce, teriyaki, & other condiments

 

 >>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<

I am hoping that I can figure this out, once and for all.

I pray that I can identify my most common triggers so I can avoid them,

living a healthier… more satisfying life.

I know from experience in the past

{when I was eating a clean, vegan diet},

that my eating plays a huge part in the role of my daily headaches and migraines.

I have found that in addition to clean eating, my yoga practice also really helps.

I think it’s the relaxation that comes after…

and the stillness that my body craves from “savasana” at the end.

I hope that I will have good news to report back to you in a few weeks.

For those of you that can relate,

I hope that this sheds some light on what may be causing some of your ailments

and inspires you to join me on this journey.

I would love to hear your personal stories and input,

so please share in the comment section below!

Here are some links I hope you will find helpful:

Dr. Oz // Elimination Diet with complete list of foods

Mark Hyman, MD  // Eliminate migraines

Nourishing Meals // Recipes & personal stories of success

CNN Health // Other common causes of Migraines

Healthful Pursuit // Printable Food Journal

CNN Health // A Migraine Diary

My Fitness Pal  // Free phone App to track food

Recipes for an Elimination Diet // Gwyneth Paltrow’s cookbook, “It’s All Good”

{released April 2nd, 2013}

 

 

25 Comments

  1. Sara, I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve been suffering. Migraines are nothing to mess around with. Please take good care of yourself, and when you feel frustrated and want to give in, just remember those babies who are counting on you. Hugs.

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Jennifer. It’s been a long road with these…. but you are right, the kids are a great motivation to try everything in my power to get to the real triggers. I really do think food is incredibly healing, so if I can avoid any food intolerances and focus on whole, healthy foods… I think I will feel so much better. Thanks for your sweet comment! You are such an amazing source of support for our blog! Nicole and I appreciate you! Hope all is well and happy with your family! xo

      Reply

  2. Sara, I am so sorry that your headaches are getting more frequent:( I am sure sharing your story will help others and hopefully be able to have others help you too. It looks like you have really done your homework and I am thankful for all the great info on this diet! Your boys are so sweet to take care of their momma;)

    Reply
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  4. Hi Sara, I just stumbled on your page by accident. Reading it down quick, I just wondered if you have considered any of the following: The role of histamine in foods you eat? Chemicals around your house and in your cosmetics, (including air fresheners, deodrants and perfumes, and also furniture, carpets)? Your general posture, especially at/around the neck? And whether they might be VDU headaches, from looking too long at Computer screens all day? Also have you any vision issues — need glasses? A simple diet to try, might consist of : organic porridge for breakfast, no milk; a green salad with chicken for lunch, and vegetables with chicken for dinner. If you try that for 2 to 3 weeks, it can be a simple way to start. Hope that’s food for thought at least. I wish you and your family all the best, Good luck. Darcy.

    Reply

    1. Hi Darcy! You are so kind for taking the time to comment on this post! Thank you so much! That means the world to me! I have not looked at the role of histamines in my foods. I for sure need to check that out. I try to not use harmful chemicals… and am in fact super sensitive to strong smells {such as those you mentioned in deodorants, perfumes, etc.}. I definitely have neck issues from a bad car accident I was in as a teenager. In fact, I really do think that may be one of the culprits. I have been eating only meat, veggies and some fruit for the past 45 days. I had hoped this elimination diet would dramatically reduce my headaches.. but it hasn’t. I’m so sad about that. I really think I get headaches in response to so many triggers {many that you’ve mentioned}. It is not a fun way to live… I’m not a fan of medications, so I’m thinking that I really do need to try something more holistic and natural, like acupuncture. So much to consider! Thanks again, Darcy for your thoughtful comment. That made my day! I will definitely do more research on all that you mentioned! xoxo, Sara

      Reply

  5. Hi Sara,
    This just came up when searching tapioca and migraine. I’m Now 60 and had suffered most of my life with Chronic complicated migraines (The diagnosis for mine with all the other crazy symptoms BESIDES pain, gut issues, facial PARALYSIS) lOnG story short, years of differEnt kinds oF docs, and treatments and Meds from traditional western medicine to yoga, accupunture and CHIROPRACTIC i STUMBLED onto a gluten free diet for an unresolved stomach pain ( which they also couLdn’t find a cause). After a couple of weeks the lightbulb went On, i had only had one in the the 2 weeks since i’d been gluten free! Thats been almost 5 yeArs and there are still other triggers, MSG, wine, CHOCOLATE :(, but theY are 90% better!!! I praise god daily for leading me to the answer, i so wish id had the answer years before. A strict gluten free diet is h a r d, but totally woRth it.!! Everine is different but it worth a try! Also, you might read grain brain by purlmutter. Good luCk with finding yiur answer. GOd bless
    Barbara

    Reply

    1. Hi Barbara… Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my migraines. What a blessing you are! I am so glad that you were able to find the triggers to yours! I have tried elimination diets in the past, but always felt like there were so many things triggering my headaches. I absolutely will try a pure gluten-free diet to see if that helps. I just recently gave up all coffee and have been feeling a bit better. It really is putting together a giant, confusing puzzle. Thanks again, Barbara! xoxo, Sara

      Reply

      1. I found your post by searching tapioca and migraine.
        I found “Heal your headache” by a neurologist 10 months ago and did his diet. I was able to stop the propranolol and now get headaches only when I cheat on the diet. M
        I also found a few years ago that going off of milk products and getting my vitamin D up to normal helped a whole lot. My headaches are so much less strong now that a little peppermint oil over the eye and at the side of the nose (where the pain is) is sufficient to get rid of them within 20 minutes or so.
        THe “heal your headache” diet involves a long list of foods, but not gluten. You can find it on line.
        He also says to stop caffeine and migraine meds, antidepressants and many other medications.
        Also, sleep 8 hours/night, drink lots of water and eat regularly.
        I also have to avoid nightshades (bell peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and white potatoes. Also tapioca seemed to cause the problem, but I am considering experimenting with cassava, hence the search.

        It works like a charm, but I had to say goodbye to all of the foods I was eating regularly.
        I have not had much success with reintroducing the foods on the list.
        But, I can eat sugars! Just not chocolate or ripe fruit.

        Good luck!

        Reply

  6. NO ONE IN MY FAMILY REALLY GETS MIGRAINES, SO IT’S ALWAYS FRESHLY APPALLING TO READ WHAT MIGRAINE SUFFERERS GO THROUGH. sOMETHING THAT COULD HELP YOU (IT’S DONE WONDERS FOR THREE OF MY FRIENDS WHO TRIED IT) IS MOLYBDENUM GLYCINATE, WHICH IS ELEMENT 42 BOUND TO THE AMINO ACID GLYCINE. iT COSTS $7 AT A NATURAL GROCERY STORE IN TOWN.i THINK IT HELPS WITH THE MIGRAINES BY SUPPORTING THE ENZYME SULFITE OXIDASE AND POSSIBLY THE MArc 1 AND 2 ENZYMES. mY FRIENDS JUST TAKE IT WHEN THE MIGRAINES ARE COMING ON, AND IT MAKES THE MIGRAINES EITHER GO AWAY ENTIRELY OR GO WAY DOWN. bEST OF WISHES TO YOU!

    Reply

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