My headaches started when I was 12. Starting with aspirin, I spent the next 10 years working my way through ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, pseudoephederine, and Excedrin to treat my headaches. As I got older, my headaches kept getting more intense, occurring more frequently (2-3 days each week), and lasting longer (some up to three days). Nausea was very common for me, and I remember days when I would vomit upwards of 8 times. Somehow though, I had convinced myself that everyone had headaches like I did, so I said little and forced myself to work through them. Needless to say, I was still missing work often due to the severe pain. <!–[endif]–>

In my early twenties, I finally consulted a neurologist. He diagnosed me with migraines, and recommended Dr. David Buchholz’s book Heal Your Headache: The 1-2-3 Program for Taking Charge of Your Pain. This three step program includes (1) eliminating all migraine medications, as many are actually causing more migraines than they are taking away, (2) eliminating all potential dietary triggers from your life to prevent migraines from starting, and (3) taking a maintenance medication if your migraines are still out of control.

I started this program, and never got to step three. I eliminated all pain medications and dietary triggers that he recommends, and went from having severe migraines 2-3 times a week to having a mild to moderate migraine once every 8-12 weeks. Now, when I do get a migraine, 1-2 doses of ibuprofen does the trick. I have started adding some of the foods back in, and have found that the majority of the potential triggers are not triggers for me. Migraines no longer control my life; I control my migraines.