This blogsite is a place of comfort, knowledge, and companionship for migraine sufferers following the program designed by Dr. David Buchholz, M.D., author of "Heal Your Headache: The 1-2-3 Program for Taking Charge of Your Pain". For more recipes containing no MSG, nitrates, nitrites, sulfites, tyramine, chocolate, or caffeine, and for more information on Dr. Buchholz, please visit my website at www.migrainefreecooking.com.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
A Place to Talk
This website is designed not only to be a place to find helpful recipes, but also a place for migraine sufferers to talk and share comments, stories, or whatever they wish. Feel free to share!
I've been a migraine sufferer for years, found Dr. Buchholz's book, and have never felt better. I'm glad there's finally a website containing recipes to match!
Both my daughter and I suffer from migraines. It is always hard to get a teenager on board to limit dietary triggers and please the whole family as well. The recipes sound great and I can't wait to try them out. Thanks for all your hard work!
I need help! What are some ideas for packing lunches for picky teens with migraines? Nothing helps my daughter! I don't know where else to turn but change her diet. She takes over 20 preventative pills per day from her Neuro. I have to do something to help her. Daily she eats yogurt, bananas, peanut butter sandwiches, cheese. This is what she packs for lunch every day. Any suggestions. Thank you so much.
Careful with bananas! They can be a HUGE trigger, they are for me anyway. I had an emergency room migraine once after I ate a bag of dried banana chips. I can eat like 1/4 of a banana on a good day & that's it.
Hi Vicki. I'm sorry to hear about your daughter's headaches. Hopefully I will mention something that will help get them under control. All of the foods mentioned in your post contain tyramine, which can be a very powerful migraine trigger. Plain yogurt contains tyramine, and then if the yogurt also has citrus fruit added, even pineapple, it contains more tyramine. Aged cheeses, bananas, and peanut butter are also full of tyramine. Instead of a peanut butter sandwich, will she eat a sunflower seed butter sandwich instead? You can purchase sunflower seed butter online and in health food stores. What about a sandwich made with American cheese and mayonnaise? Are there other fruits she will eat, like apple wedges, pears, blueberries, or strawberries? Instead of hard cheeses, will she pack American cheese slices instead? What does she drink with her lunch? Does it contain citrus fruit or caffeine? If it's chocolate milk, try strawberry milk instead. If it's sprite, try grape or strawberry soda instead, or maybe caffeine-free root beer. If it's coke, try caffeine-free coke instead. Diet coke? Try Diet Rite or caffeine-free Diet Coke with Splenda. It's also important to eliminate MSG and other triggers from her diet, at least in the beginning. If you've read "Heal Your Headache" you know the foods MSG can be hidden in, like fast food, sauces, casseroles, gravies, ready-made meals or boxed meals from the supermarket, and it can even be listed under certain aliases.
Have you read Dr. Buchholz's book, and is your daughter old enough to read it? It's important to read this book to fully understand the diet, and even the effects of the medications your daughter may be taking.
I've had some spam on this site, so if you would like me to delete your earlier post, please let me know. I would be happy to do so. I have your information here. My information can be found on my profile page, and I can be contacted there, or here as you have already done.
I'm excited about the cookbook. I've been on Buchholz's plan for 3 months and feeling better. I'm wondering if lamb is a food to avoid; it's not mentioned in either books. Thanks, Jaci
I'm glad you are feeling better! It's always nice to hear other success stories, and I hope the cookbook helps to provide you with some more meal ideas. As far as I know, lamb is safe to eat. However, like any food, if it is a problem for you, then it should be avoided. Thank you for posting. I hope to hear from you again sometime.
I need some help. I just started yesterday and after my first grocery trip, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed! The 1,2,3, Book says to we can each cottage cheese and non-processed american cheese. But I noticed both of these can contain enyzmes. Can we eat enzymes? I noticed the 1,2,3, Book says that enzyme-modified foods are a no-no. Are added enzymes the same thing? And any snack suggestions? My snacks used to consist of yogurt, nuts, cheese.....
Thank you for posting. So that I may help better, would you mind telling me what pages in Dr. Buchholz's book you are referring to, and what ingredients in the cheeses you are referring to? When it comes to American cheese, be sure it comes from the deli counter and doesn't say "processed" anywhere on the package. With cottage cheese, I'm finding that local brands of dairy are best, and I just have to find the one with the best ingredients. However, I'd like to be more clear on what you mean by enzymes.
For snacks, you may eat seeds to replace nuts. I like Dakota Style sunflower seeds the best. I also like pumpkin seeds. Try frozen custard (prepared fresh), or homemade custard. Fresh fruit and veggies are always good. Unflavored crackers and chips are a great salty snack.
Thanks for writing back so quickly. I really appreciate it and am findig your blog/website very useful. I think the enzyme-modified information is on page 76- in the table of potential ingredients containing MSG. One of the potential MSG containing ingredients is "enzyme modified" foods. I saw on the Deli counter-Land O Lakes American cheese listed enzymes as an ingredient, and so did Organic Valley cottage cheese. I just wanted to make sure these added enzymes are OK, before I add these to my staple foods! This is quite the process getting started.
Thank you for your kind comments. The ingredients could potentially be a problem. If they weren't modified, why would they need to be listed? That's the question. Does your supermarket have Boar's Head American cheese? I have found it to be safe personally, and quite tasty too. Cottage cheese is difficult. Many cottage cheeses contain more potential trigger ingredients than that. So, I'm going to be looking for Organic Valley. Thanks for letting me know about it! I've been using a brand only sold locally, but I'm always open to new brands too. Just do the best you can, be sure there is plenty of variety in your diet, and have fun. It will be like second nature very soon.
I have been a migraine sufferer for years and it was getting to the point where I was scared of doing making any plans and I was depressed most of my days. I then read the 1-2-3 book and I'm on month 5 and I haven't had to take one imitrex. It's amazing when you consider I was taking up to 6 a week. I've never felt better. I still have off days but they are what are considered "normal" headaches and I have no complaints! The diet was hard the 1st 2 weeks but by then the pain was lessening and I was hooked. After 4 months I have slowly started adding things back in but truthfully, most of the trigger foods I don't want anymore anyway. And no fast food EVER! Can't thank Buccholtz enough and now that I have found this blog, I thank you!!!
Thank you for your kind comments, and for taking the time to post. It's so nice to hear your success story! I'm glad the 1-2-3 Program worked for you, and I hope everyone has a chance to read what you have shared. After doing away with the foods that make us feel so horrible, the truth is that they don't even taste good anymore. Thanks again for posting.
Howdy! Do you think that raisins, prunes, dates, and other dried fruit are OK as long as sulfites are not listed in the ingredients? I got some dried fruit that claims to not have sulfites or any other preservatives but I don't know if I should trust it. I wondered if tyramine is formed in the drying process. Also do you think canned tuna and other meat without added MSG might still form tyramine or MSG as a result of the canning process?
Hello, and thank you for posting. I apologize for the delay in my response. Dried fruits without sulfites are okay as long as the fruits themselves are on the approved list. Raisins, for instance, are on Dr. Buchholz's avoid list. I would also avoid fruits like bananas and pineapple. Canning, freezing, and drying are all forms of preserving foods. These methods of preservation would actually slow the process of natural tyramine production, in my understanding. Just be sure to avoid those preserved in hydrolyzed protein, or another MSG alias. I hope that helps.
Yes, that helps--thanks! I'm finding the migraine-prevention diet to be soooo complicated, excessively restrictive, and near-impossible to follow, but I'm trying. I can't understand why raisins without sulfites are bad if fresh grapes are OK. Also I love prunes in my oatmeal and I have some with no sulfites but I keep wondering if the prunes were made from red or black plums. I know that red plums are to be avoided but the type of plums used is not listed on label. Maybe I'm just being too picky, but my headaches never go away so I keep trying to figure out if I'm missing a trigger. Anyway, thanks for your reply!
I think I posted this on the wrong page yesterday....I had a question about malted barley flour. It seems to be in most baked goods. Dr. Bucholz had malted barley on the list of things to avoid. I'm wondering if he was referring to malted barley, like in beer, or if the malted barley flour is also a problem. Just got your cookbook, BTW, and spent my weekend preparing chicken stock, ketchup, etc.! I'm hoping it will help my daughter's migraines.
Hi Cindy. Sorry for the delay in my response. Thank you for posting! I wish your daughter well. I used to think malted barley flour wasn't a problem until I started to look into it further. Barley flour would generally be okay, except commercial barley flour goes through a malting process which changes the chemical structure of the barley a little. It is even found in general multi-purpose flour. The best way to avoid it is to buy organic unbleached white flour, and to buy organic bread. I know this seems hard, and it is, so here is my advice. When you are eating out at a restaurant or are at a friend's house, don't worry about it. Just eat the simplest prepared meal, because in the grand scheme of things, this ingredient is not your biggest enemy. There are many worse foods on the market. I hope that helps, and I wish you well with your journey.
Heidi, What bread do you eat day to day? I can't even find bagels without that barley malt flour. I'd hate to give up bread but, don't want to make my own. I'm thinking if I ate a sandwich several times a week or had toast, that is more than occasional intake. Is there any kind of bread or should I look for a bakery? I guess I could use tortillas and wraps but, not to make yummy garlic bread.... Thanks, Marie BTW - So far, the 123 plan and your cookbook have not disappointed. I'm only about 6 days in so, I am still suffering many monster headaches but, they are diminished from what they were. Miracle.
To the anonymous poster, thanks for replying again. Prunes are not generally made from red plums. However, if prunes seems to be a trigger for you, avoid them. If not, then by all means, enjoy! Make sure your oatmeal is not pre-flavored, but plain. Other than that, the best advice I can give is to keep your food as simple as possible. Also, remember that step 2 is about more than just diet. It's also about lifestyle change, including sleep and exercise, and steps 1 (and possibly 3) need to be implemented as well. I admire you for sticking with the program.
Hi..im Shelly and i have had vestibular migranes every single day for a year now..i don't get the headache very often and when i do its not to bad..its the disequalibrium that is so bad for me and all the other symptoms of migrane..its so frustrating not even being able to go for a little walk because i feel so unbalanced and i ruin plans with my husband and kids because of this and i know it frustrates them..i did get heal your headache and your cookbook about a week ago and i am following it..hopefully this diet will help alot..i am on a low dose preventitive and i will be starting a second low dose one too..
I'm glad you have found "Heal Your Headache", and I hope it helps you like it has helped countless others. Thank you also for the cookbook purchase. I know the dizziness and other symptoms can be hard to live with. I look forward to hearing of your progress. It's important for people to know that the headache doesn't always have to be present for the symptoms to be. Thank you so much for posting. Please keep us updated.
Hello. I'm new to the diet and am confused about a few things. I'm wondering if milk is a trigger. In Dr. Bucholz's book it says no. But other websites say it's a major trigger. I'm wondering about wheat as well. Those two foods would be used a lot on the recommended diet. It seems like nothing is safe. Also, I eat a lot of eggs. I read that eggs have tyramine. Again, Dr. Bucholz doesn't mention anything about eggs. Yet many other migraine sites do. And can you tell me why tomatoes are a trigger? I had one small slice of a tomato today and it made my mild headache severe! Thank you very much for any input!
Hello Frances, Milk is not considered a trigger according to the 1-2-3 Program. Some believe certain properties of milk may cause headaches, but they are not a trigger according to this diet. If you are worried about the process used to make milk super-market ready, then try buying one that isn't ultra-pasteurized, like Kalona Super Natural. Some dairy products, however, are a trigger, like aged cheese, buttermilk, yogurt. You may find that you can tolerate organic dairy better than other dairy because the cows haven't been fed growth hormones (as long as it isn't on the avoid list). Wheat has been vilified for about 20 years now, even though it is a very healthy ingredient. Many products containing wheat may be a problem due to other ingredients, but wheat itself shouldn't be, unless you do in fact have celiac disease or another condition that would cause you to have a reaction to wheat. Just read the ingredients. You may, however, want to purchase unbleached organic all-purpose flour, or whole wheat flour. Eggs do not have tyramine, not enough to worry about at least. Tomatoes are a trigger for some due to the high amount of free glutamate present (not to be confused with an aversion to wheat gluten). Most people, however, can tolerate tomatoes just fine. Maybe your headache was already going to be severe and the tomato was eaten coincidentally at the same time. Then again, maybe not. Many tomato-based sauces are not safe due to additives, onions, or whatever else, so avoid those, but I wouldn't rule out tomatoes just yet. If you eventually find that tomatoes are a trigger for you, it may be that you can tolerate cooked tomatoes better than raw ones. So basically, listen to Dr. Buchholz. And, give foods several chances of course, but if something not on the avoid list is a trigger for you, then by all means, avoid it. I hope that helps. I wish you well with the diet. Heidi
Thank you Heidi for your long response! I bought your cookbook and am determined to stick to this diet.
I do have a couple more questions. I'm wondering about lemon juice and onions. I'm desperately trying to make my own salad dressing and found that most recipes contain lemon juice, onions, and vinegar (sometimes all three). I'm stumped as to what dressing I can use. I'm currently using a Honey Mustard (Ken's) because it had the least amount of triggers. However, I'd love to make a good homemade one with no triggers. Vinegar and dried onions seem to be in every dressing in the store. Are dried onions or onion powder a high risk?
And I have another question about chicken stock or broth. One of your recipes calls for chicken stock. Where can I find a safe one to use?
I'll be curious to hear about the hams as well. I noticed even Turkey's are processed. I'm now really curious about meats like Turkey to make for the holidays.
I'd like to add that Trader's Joe's has a Tuscan bread that seems to be minimally processed. However, it gets stale very quickly because of the lack of preservatives. But for those looking for bread with the least amount of triggers, I found that one to be ok. Perhaps you might know of some better ones.
Again, thanks for the support! Please take your time in responding to my post. I don't plan to quit this diet any time soon. (if ever)
The Honey Baked Ham Store seems to be okay. Any hams without nitrates and MSG aliases would be fine. I'm having trouble finding those in my area, but check at specialty grocery stores. You might try an online search also. Type in ham + "free of additives" or something similar to see what comes up. I'm sorry I couldn't be more help.
Yes, onion and lemon juice can be quite a trigger for many because of tyramine. In the beginning stages, I would stay clear of it as much as possible. However, we are allowed to use condiments sparingly, so if you've found a salad dressing that is fairly safe, just use it sparingly. When it comes to making your own dressing, substitute with white distilled vinegar, shallots or green onions, and then canned peach juice for the lemon juice. You may also leave the lemon juice out completely. I have some recipes for salad dressings in the back of my cookbook also.
When it comes to chicken stock I am usually referring to the recipe for making chicken stock in my book. However, as long as you are buying stock and not broth from the store, they are fairly safe. Beef and vegetable stock are another story, as they generally contain MSG aliases. It is always best to make it yourself, though.
Many whole turkeys are safe. Some will have a solution added to them that contains MSG aliases, so just avoid those. Cold cut turkey should be avoided.
Thanks for letting us know about the Trader Joe's bread!
I'm glad you plan on staying with the diet. I hope it helps.
Thank you Heidi for your valuable input. The cookbook is a Christmas gift for me and am really excited to get it.
I did find Kitchen Basics chicken stock in the store and was very happy! I'd love to make my own but time is an issue.
I thought I found a good lemon substitute online called Sumara. (it's a spice and it's cheap to order) Well, I heard that the berries are related to Mangoes and so I think it might not be an option. If anyone wants to explore that further then that's one option. I read that the taste is not as strong as lemon.
Help! I have just started the diet, thought tapering caffeine rather than going cold turkey would help, but it didn't. Day 2 and a big migraine is brewing - the thought of this without my frova is scary. Please tell me this is going to be worth it?
Hello. I can't promise you anything, but I will tell you that if your doctors haven't found anything else wrong, then this is the program you need to follow. It works. Be sure to follow ALL parts of the program, including exercise, regular sleep patterns, drinking enough water, and anything else Dr. Buchholz mentions in his book. Everything makes a difference, especially medication and diet. It may help relieve some pain to stretch and massage the back and sides of your neck. The beginning is the worst part. If you make it through this, sunshine is on the other side. Yes, it's worth it. Hang in there. You can do it.
Thank you. I have complete confidence in this program, and I wish you the best. I'm working on a new post, after reading some new material, which will hopefully help people as well.
I've been on the diet for a while & it's great but I've noticed something recently. I've been getting headaches while on the treadmill: slow speed 3.0 [20min/mile] & it usually starts after about 10min. I usually block it out but sometimes I can't. Anyone else get exercise induced headaches?
I used to have headaches during and after exercise. Are there added triggers in your life lately that didn't used to be there, or have you increased your workout routine? Vigorous exercise is more likely to induce a headache than mild or moderate exercise. You can take some over-the-counter medication (no caffeine, of course) shortly before you exercise to help prevent this from happening. Just be sure not to take it too many times per week (follow Dr. Buchholz's advice). I hope this helps. Thanks for posting!
I am so delighted to find your website! I am nearly finished Dr. Buchholz's book and wanted to know how others were handling the diet. My neuro had recommended the book many years ago and I ignored him. I made some changes in my diet, but did not eliminate caffiene or fast-acting meds. The book was eye-opening! I am adopting the diet and already feel better after two weeks. I was taking Relpax with aspirin or Excedrin or Tylenol-Sinus...whatever worked. I haven't taken anything stronger than aspirin in the past 14 days, and that only once. I am excited to believe this is the real deal! Thanks for the information you are spreading here and for putting the cookbook together (I bought it today). I plan to revisit your site soon!
I'm glad you found this site too! I'm so happy you read Dr. Buchholz's book. It is eye opening, isn't it? Thank you for writing in, because there are many who don't believe lifestyle change or a book will make a difference for them, but it can! I think we've been handed so many options that don't work, that we are skeptical of anything at all. Your comments are priceless. Thank you, and best wishes.
Hi Heidi, Love your cookbook. I am a migraine sufferer with a seventeen month old son. I have not been able to get my migraines back under control since having him. I quit breastfeeding nov. 15th and have been on verapamil and low dose of nortriptalyne. I am still having an awful time. I have been doing the 123 diet for a couple of month. I just wonder if it is going to be a battle until my hormones go back to normal. Any thoughts? Struggling :) Holly
I completely understand your situation. I stopped breastfeeding after just a little while with my second son because I needed to start preventive medication, and I didn't want that to pass through the breast milk. It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. I guess this is the advice I would give: This is still a very stressful (and joyful) time for you, as your son is still young, so hormones are not the only trigger here. To reduce stress, take some time every day for yourself. Find time to wind down with exercise, as it is as important as rest. Drink PLENTY of water, as the body needs to flush the toxins that have built in your system, and it can't do it without water. You don't want to sweat ALL of those out. Many of them can be released through the bowels with the help of water. The last thing I have to say is, give the diet some more time. It does work. Many people feel better after a couple of months, but some need more time. However, if you aren't noticing any difference at all, it may be time to reevaluate some aspect of the program. You should have noticed some relief by now. But, if you have felt some relief, give it more time. Think of all that your body has been through and how much healing it has to do. It took awhile for me to heal, but I am SO glad I took the time. The diet is a preventive measure in itself. The other piece that has to be in line is medication. So, be sure you have steps 1 and 3 under control also, as well as the rest of step 2. There is hope, so keep it up. I'm healed to the point now that I can eat some of my favorite foods every once in awhile again without incidence. It's so nice. Have faith that you will reach that point too. I hope that helps.
Thanks for all the info here! I need advice.. I have tried the program about 4 or 5 times now, with no success. I have had a migraine daily for almost two years now, and am soo desperate for relief. I have tried everything, including many neurologists, botox, acupuncture, nerve therapy..and many other things, and nothing is helping. I am on nortriptiline and depacote, but they don't seem to do much either.
So the first times I tried it I did it for a few weeks, and I tried it for a few weeks a few other times and a month at the longest. Do you think this was to short to start to get relief? I gave up because I felt no different at all when I did it. Anyone have experience like this, and how long does it take?? The drs don't seem to think it will help much to try again, but they aren't against it. I would do anything, anything to not have a headache 100% of the time.
I hope I am not the only one who replies to you, because I want you to know that this method really does work. Other 1-2-3ers, please chime in! Dr. Buchholz comments in his book (I'm paraphrasing) that it often takes about two to three months to feel TOTAL relief, but that you should start to notice a difference in about two weeks. Keep in mind that you START to notice a difference in two weeks. Part of the reason it takes awhile is because it takes time to get used to the diet. I was just answering an email with many very good questions about the diet itself, because it isn't easy to navigate at first. Our food system is full of processed food, and labels might as well be a foreign language. It takes awhile. It's a lifestyle change just to adjust to the diet, so if I were you, I would definitely give it more than a month. I know it can seem overwhelming and hard to wait, especially when in pain, but nothing else has worked, right? So give this a true chance. And remember, diet is only part of the program. There are three steps, and diet is only part of the second one. Also, keep in mind how much pain you are in. It's not going to be an overnight fix. Your body takes time to heal. Let it do its magic and don't give up on it. I hope that helps.
Hi thanks for replying. I am already doing steps 1 & 3, so I am praying for relief as I continue to follow step 2. I have a question for you about buttermilk. I see its on the list of 'to avoid', but was wondering if fresh, homeade buttermilk is okay. I am starting to make my own butter out of heavy cream (which is okay to eat) and half of it turns to butter and the rest buttermilk. So I wanted not to waste the buttermilk that comes out of it, and use it for cooking. I'm not quite sure why it would be bad if its just from cream. Thanks!
Hi About4 weeks ago I started the 123 program. The first 2 weeks were tough, followed by 2 headache free weeks! A first for me in a LONG time. But then another 4 day headache set in. Can anyone tell me if the duration of these spells will get less over time? Am I just being too impatient?? I didn't expect they would suddenly end, but am looking for a better idea of what to expect over the next few months. Thanks Judy
I welcome comments on this post. No one wants me to answer every post, so I love when you give each other advice. However, please don't leave a comment about another website that blatently contradicts advice given in my book and Dr. Buchholz's book, especially the same advice in several places on the same post. This is not helpful to followers of the 1-2-3 Program. Furthermore, these types of comments will be seen as an advertisement and will be removed. Thank you!
I'm curious about "natural flavors". I'm avoiding everything that has it, but I was wondering about drinks. Buccholz mentions sparkling water or root beer (caffeine free of course) as part of the diet, but I always see natural flavors in the ingredients. I would love to have some lightly flavored sparkling water right now, especially since I'm in the lots of pain stage, and I wonder if because it's sweet it may be ok. P.S. Got your book in the mail!
Hi Karli, Be more wary of natural flavors in savory, salty things. It's slightly possible that you may have a headache from flavored beverages, but not likely. Just avoid beverages with triggers that should be avoided like citrus, raspberry, etc. Artificial flavors would not contain tyramine, so artificial lemon flavor for instance, is safe. I hope that helps, and I apologize for the delay in my response.
Hi there. I just found your site - I hope it's not too late to ask questions, as I see this thread has been going for a while? :) I've read the book several times and am VERY strict with my diet. Even more strict than the book suggests, if you can imagine. :) I did wind up in rebound hell with Advil, even though the book says Advil doesn't cause it. I'm pretty sure, for me, it did. If not, I have no other reason to explain why I've had a migraine every day for 2 months when my diet has been so clean. :( So I've gone cold turkey off of that for one week and hope to see the light at the end of the tunnel soon. If anyone has any experience with OTC rebound and how long it took to get out of it, I'm all ears! I'd love for this suffering to be short lived. OH! And how long must I abstain before I CAN take something for a headache/migraine again someday??
I have started taking Topamax as a preventative but my doc said until I can get out of advil rebound, the Topamax probably won't help too much. (I have been taking 12-16 advil a DAY for the last like 2 months... just to make it through each day.) I'm relieved to read on this thread that I can try to add eggs back in! I for some reason thought I had to avoid them, but if you all seem to think they're ok, I'm happy to bring them back. :) I'm going to buy your book as well, thank you for offering this lovely support network! :) - Jess
Hello there, OTC medication isn't a trigger as long as it isn't taken more than 2-3 times per week, or for longer than a certain amount of days in a row after trauma (like surgery or an accident). So, I know you have probably already figured this out, but your doctor is correct. You were/are most likely suffering from rebound. What I'm most worried about is what damage the ibuprofen could have been doing to your organs. I hope that you have made it through the rebound tunnel and back into the bright side of life again? I THINK the pain usually only lasts for about 3-14 days (depending on the person) of constant headache, and then just intermittent headaches afterward that become less and less frequent and severe. Can I just give you a big high-five for doing this? It is very hard to do. Only you and your doctor will know how long it will take before you can take something again, but keep in mind that you won't need medicine very often in the near future.
As far as Topamax not helping much during rebound, your doctor is correct. You have a great doctor! Hang on to him/her. Preventive medications won't help much if triggers and rebound medication are getting in the way.
It sounds like you are on the right track, and I hope things are looking much brighter for you since you posted last. If not, they should be soon.
Heidi, So happy to find this site. I recently read Dr. Buchholz's book and thought, this is me! So many of the symptoms were ones that I was experiencing. Because I was not experiencing headaches, nausea or vomiting, I couldn't grasp the dx. My symptoms incl photophobia, sinus pressure, neck issues amd disabling vestibular issues. Now I understand that they are migraine, and I have started his food trigger elimination diet. I have also purchased your book. Thank you! Shopping has become a time consuming and difficult task. Reading and understanding labels is not easy. It's also quite scary to read all the additives, preservatives, etc. Even health food stores incl some of these items. I am determined to get this right however. Some of my questions have been addressed by others. Here's a few more... wild game is a trigger. Is all-natural turkey breast at the deli included? Cottage & cream cheese are ok but I am finding some of the trigger ingred in them. I found cultured organic cream cheese & cottage cheese but cultured items are triggers. Does this incl cultured cr cheese and cottage cheese? Cocoa is out. Is there some acceptable cocoa? Thought you mentioned something but I can't find it now. Just trying to get this right in hopes of eliminating my migraines and getting my active life back. Thnk you, Heidi!
Hi! I'm so glad you found Dr. Buchholz's book too. It's great how the information just fits, isn't it? Some deli meats are okay, some are not. If you're not sure, ask the person behind the counter if the meat has nitrates in it, or if you may read the label. Nitrates are the main worry with deli meats. Fresh turkey itself should be okay, so don't worry about your Thanksgiving bird. Don't worry too much about the ingredients in cottage cheese and cream cheese. Just find the best one and eat it. Headache triggers are not allergies (they are not immune-mediated), so we follow the diet to the letter to heal our pain, but if we have a drop of trigger food it's not going to cause a "reaction". We just have to follow it faithfully in the beginning in order to stop the cycle. So, find the best possible cream cheese, cottage cheese and ricotta cheese you can and enjoy them. :) Dr. Buccholz made them allowable for a reason. Sorry to say, but we just can't have cocoa. There are naturally occurring chemicals in cocoa that cause headaches. May I just say I miss it terribly?
I hope you do get your life back, and I believe you will. You deserve it!
Help! I have almost daily migraines so I'm starting the elimination diet. But I'm stumped as to what I'm going to snack on that has enough protein to prevent headaches if I'm eliminating cheese, yogurt, nuts, some beans, etc. suggestions??
I read where you said sugar is definitely not a migraine trigger. I have to disagree with that. Sugar is a major migraine trigger for me. I have to avoid sugar like the plague. If I eat anything with sugar in it I get the most excruciating migraine along with the nausea and vomiting. I think everyone is different and you can't say one food is definitely not a trigger.
Hi, iam 17 and I've suffered from migraines since i was 8, iam lucky to have 1-2 days pain free a month, I've had to take a year out of college because of how bad iam getting, medications aren't really helping and I have no idea what to eat anymore , if anyone can help please email me - jessshepphard@gmail.com
red dye 40 is a huge trigger for me and for a friend's son. It is in soooo many foods. I recently found out that red grapes are a big trigger for me as well. Of course I have to avoid the more common triggers of caffeine, chocolate, and alcohol. I have found that sleeping propped up on lots of pillows has helped tremendously. I'm down to about 2 bad days a week and that is a huge improvement! My neuro prescribed Maxalt 10 mg. I found that 5 mg works much better because I can still function instead of becoming drowsy. It just became generic. I do not take it more than twice weekly. Showers as hot as I can stand, with the pressure of the water right on my forehead, eyes and neck muscles relaxes me and often alleviates the headache. Eating small ice cubes distracts me and helps manage the pain. Antihistimines and most OTC anti-inflammatories cause next day headaches. I've recently started to question if my deoderant is a culprit. Believe it or not, I'm not a hypochondriac; I'm just trying to have a life without headaches at all. I'm trying to see myself as a detective solving mysteries
I've been a migraine sufferer for years, found Dr. Buchholz's book, and have never felt better. I'm glad there's finally a website containing recipes to match!
ReplyDeleteHi Heidi- you've got some great recipes on here! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBoth my daughter and I suffer from migraines. It is always hard to get a teenager on board to limit dietary triggers and please the whole family as well. The recipes sound great and I can't wait to try them out. Thanks for all your hard work!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments. It helps to know that I am on the right track, and that this blogsite has been helpful to you. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteI need help! What are some ideas for packing lunches for picky teens with migraines? Nothing helps my daughter! I don't know where else to turn but change her diet. She takes over 20 preventative pills per day from her Neuro. I have to do something to help her. Daily she eats yogurt, bananas, peanut butter sandwiches, cheese. This is what she packs for lunch every day. Any suggestions. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeletevicki
mrsjones72@sbcglobal.net
Careful with bananas! They can be a HUGE trigger, they are for me anyway. I had an emergency room migraine once after I ate a bag of dried banana chips. I can eat like 1/4 of a banana on a good day & that's it.
DeleteMy daughter triggers with peanut butter
DeleteHi Vicki. I'm sorry to hear about your daughter's headaches. Hopefully I will mention something that will help get them under control. All of the foods mentioned in your post contain tyramine, which can be a very powerful migraine trigger. Plain yogurt contains tyramine, and then if the yogurt also has citrus fruit added, even pineapple, it contains more tyramine. Aged cheeses, bananas, and peanut butter are also full of tyramine. Instead of a peanut butter sandwich, will she eat a sunflower seed butter sandwich instead? You can purchase sunflower seed butter online and in health food stores. What about a sandwich made with American cheese and mayonnaise? Are there other fruits she will eat, like apple wedges, pears, blueberries, or strawberries? Instead of hard cheeses, will she pack American cheese slices instead? What does she drink with her lunch? Does it contain citrus fruit or caffeine? If it's chocolate milk, try strawberry milk instead. If it's sprite, try grape or strawberry soda instead, or maybe caffeine-free root beer. If it's coke, try caffeine-free coke instead. Diet coke? Try Diet Rite or caffeine-free Diet Coke with Splenda. It's also important to eliminate MSG and other triggers from her diet, at least in the beginning. If you've read "Heal Your Headache" you know the foods MSG can be hidden in, like fast food, sauces, casseroles, gravies, ready-made meals or boxed meals from the supermarket, and it can even be listed under certain aliases.
ReplyDeleteHave you read Dr. Buchholz's book, and is your daughter old enough to read it? It's important to read this book to fully understand the diet, and even the effects of the medications your daughter may be taking.
I've had some spam on this site, so if you would like me to delete your earlier post, please let me know. I would be happy to do so. I have your information here. My information can be found on my profile page, and I can be contacted there, or here as you have already done.
Best wishes.
I'm excited about the cookbook. I've been on Buchholz's plan for 3 months and feeling better. I'm wondering if lamb is a food to avoid; it's not mentioned in either books. Thanks, Jaci
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are feeling better! It's always nice to hear other success stories, and I hope the cookbook helps to provide you with some more meal ideas. As far as I know, lamb is safe to eat. However, like any food, if it is a problem for you, then it should be avoided. Thank you for posting. I hope to hear from you again sometime.
ReplyDeleteI need some help. I just started yesterday and after my first grocery trip, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed! The 1,2,3, Book says to we can each cottage cheese and non-processed american cheese. But I noticed both of these can contain enyzmes. Can we eat enzymes? I noticed the 1,2,3, Book says that enzyme-modified foods are a no-no. Are added enzymes the same thing?
ReplyDeleteAnd any snack suggestions? My snacks used to consist of yogurt, nuts, cheese.....
Thank you for posting. So that I may help better, would you mind telling me what pages in Dr. Buchholz's book you are referring to, and what ingredients in the cheeses you are referring to? When it comes to American cheese, be sure it comes from the deli counter and doesn't say "processed" anywhere on the package. With cottage cheese, I'm finding that local brands of dairy are best, and I just have to find the one with the best ingredients. However, I'd like to be more clear on what you mean by enzymes.
ReplyDeleteFor snacks, you may eat seeds to replace nuts. I like Dakota Style sunflower seeds the best. I also like pumpkin seeds. Try frozen custard (prepared fresh), or homemade custard. Fresh fruit and veggies are always good. Unflavored crackers and chips are a great salty snack.
Thanks for writing back so quickly. I really appreciate it and am findig your blog/website very useful. I think the enzyme-modified information is on page 76- in the table of potential ingredients containing MSG. One of the potential MSG containing ingredients is "enzyme modified" foods. I saw on the Deli counter-Land O Lakes American cheese listed enzymes as an ingredient, and so did Organic Valley cottage cheese. I just wanted to make sure these added enzymes are OK, before I add these to my staple foods! This is quite the process getting started.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comments. The ingredients could potentially be a problem. If they weren't modified, why would they need to be listed? That's the question. Does your supermarket have Boar's Head American cheese? I have found it to be safe personally, and quite tasty too. Cottage cheese is difficult. Many cottage cheeses contain more potential trigger ingredients than that. So, I'm going to be looking for Organic Valley. Thanks for letting me know about it! I've been using a brand only sold locally, but I'm always open to new brands too. Just do the best you can, be sure there is plenty of variety in your diet, and have fun. It will be like second nature very soon.
ReplyDeleteI have been a migraine sufferer for years and it was getting to the point where I was scared of doing making any plans and I was depressed most of my days. I then read the 1-2-3 book and I'm on month 5 and I haven't had to take one imitrex. It's amazing when you consider I was taking up to 6 a week. I've never felt better. I still have off days but they are what are considered "normal" headaches and I have no complaints! The diet was hard the 1st 2 weeks but by then the pain was lessening and I was hooked. After 4 months I have slowly started adding things back in but truthfully, most of the trigger foods I don't want anymore anyway. And no fast food EVER! Can't thank Buccholtz enough and now that I have found this blog, I thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comments, and for taking the time to post. It's so nice to hear your success story! I'm glad the 1-2-3 Program worked for you, and I hope everyone has a chance to read what you have shared. After doing away with the foods that make us feel so horrible, the truth is that they don't even taste good anymore. Thanks again for posting.
ReplyDeleteHowdy! Do you think that raisins, prunes, dates, and other dried fruit are OK as long as sulfites are not listed in the ingredients? I got some dried fruit that claims to not have sulfites or any other preservatives but I don't know if I should trust it. I wondered if tyramine is formed in the drying process. Also do you think canned tuna and other meat without added MSG might still form tyramine or MSG as a result of the canning process?
ReplyDeleteHello, and thank you for posting. I apologize for the delay in my response. Dried fruits without sulfites are okay as long as the fruits themselves are on the approved list. Raisins, for instance, are on Dr. Buchholz's avoid list. I would also avoid fruits like bananas and pineapple. Canning, freezing, and drying are all forms of preserving foods. These methods of preservation would actually slow the process of natural tyramine production, in my understanding. Just be sure to avoid those preserved in hydrolyzed protein, or another MSG alias. I hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteYes, that helps--thanks! I'm finding the migraine-prevention diet to be soooo complicated, excessively restrictive, and near-impossible to follow, but I'm trying. I can't understand why raisins without sulfites are bad if fresh grapes are OK. Also I love prunes in my oatmeal and I have some with no sulfites but I keep wondering if the prunes were made from red or black plums. I know that red plums are to be avoided but the type of plums used is not listed on label. Maybe I'm just being too picky, but my headaches never go away so I keep trying to figure out if I'm missing a trigger. Anyway, thanks for your reply!
ReplyDeleteI think I posted this on the wrong page yesterday....I had a question about malted barley flour. It seems to be in most baked goods. Dr. Bucholz had malted barley on the list of things to avoid. I'm wondering if he was referring to malted barley, like in beer, or if the malted barley flour is also a problem. Just got your cookbook, BTW, and spent my weekend preparing chicken stock, ketchup, etc.! I'm hoping it will help my daughter's migraines.
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy. Sorry for the delay in my response. Thank you for posting! I wish your daughter well. I used to think malted barley flour wasn't a problem until I started to look into it further. Barley flour would generally be okay, except commercial barley flour goes through a malting process which changes the chemical structure of the barley a little. It is even found in general multi-purpose flour. The best way to avoid it is to buy organic unbleached white flour, and to buy organic bread. I know this seems hard, and it is, so here is my advice. When you are eating out at a restaurant or are at a friend's house, don't worry about it. Just eat the simplest prepared meal, because in the grand scheme of things, this ingredient is not your biggest enemy. There are many worse foods on the market. I hope that helps, and I wish you well with your journey.
ReplyDeleteHeidi,
DeleteWhat bread do you eat day to day? I can't even find bagels without that barley malt flour. I'd hate to give up bread but, don't want to make my own. I'm thinking if I ate a sandwich several times a week or had toast, that is more than occasional intake. Is there any kind of bread or should I look for a bakery?
I guess I could use tortillas and wraps but, not to make yummy garlic bread....
Thanks,
Marie
BTW - So far, the 123 plan and your cookbook have not disappointed. I'm only about 6 days in so, I am still suffering many monster headaches but, they are diminished from what they were. Miracle.
I have found that Winn-Dixie and Publix has their own bread brands the wheat brand that does not have the malt barley flour
DeleteTo the anonymous poster, thanks for replying again. Prunes are not generally made from red plums. However, if prunes seems to be a trigger for you, avoid them. If not, then by all means, enjoy! Make sure your oatmeal is not pre-flavored, but plain. Other than that, the best advice I can give is to keep your food as simple as possible. Also, remember that step 2 is about more than just diet. It's also about lifestyle change, including sleep and exercise, and steps 1 (and possibly 3) need to be implemented as well. I admire you for sticking with the program.
ReplyDeleteHi..im Shelly and i have had vestibular migranes every single day for a year now..i don't get the headache very often and when i do its not to bad..its the disequalibrium that is so bad for me and all the other symptoms of migrane..its so frustrating not even being able to go for a little walk because i feel so unbalanced and i ruin plans with my husband and kids because of this and i know it frustrates them..i did get heal your headache and your cookbook about a week ago and i am following it..hopefully this diet will help alot..i am on a low dose preventitive and i will be starting a second low dose one too..
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you have found "Heal Your Headache", and I hope it helps you like it has helped countless others. Thank you also for the cookbook purchase. I know the dizziness and other symptoms can be hard to live with. I look forward to hearing of your progress. It's important for people to know that the headache doesn't always have to be present for the symptoms to be. Thank you so much for posting. Please keep us updated.
ReplyDeleteHello. I'm new to the diet and am confused about a few things. I'm wondering if milk is a trigger. In Dr. Bucholz's book it says no. But other websites say it's a major trigger. I'm wondering about wheat as well. Those two foods would be used a lot on the recommended diet. It seems like nothing is safe. Also, I eat a lot of eggs. I read that eggs have tyramine. Again, Dr. Bucholz doesn't mention anything about eggs. Yet many other migraine sites do. And can you tell me why tomatoes are a trigger? I had one small
ReplyDeleteslice of a tomato today and it made my mild headache severe! Thank you very much for any input!
Hello Frances,
ReplyDeleteMilk is not considered a trigger according to the 1-2-3 Program. Some believe certain properties of milk may cause headaches, but they are not a trigger according to this diet. If you are worried about the process used to make milk super-market ready, then try buying one that isn't ultra-pasteurized, like Kalona Super Natural. Some dairy products, however, are a trigger, like aged cheese, buttermilk, yogurt. You may find that you can tolerate organic dairy better than other dairy because the cows haven't been fed growth hormones (as long as it isn't on the avoid list). Wheat has been vilified for about 20 years now, even though it is a very healthy ingredient. Many products containing wheat may be a problem due to other ingredients, but wheat itself shouldn't be, unless you do in fact have celiac disease or another condition that would cause you to have a reaction to wheat. Just read the ingredients. You may, however, want to purchase unbleached organic all-purpose flour, or whole wheat flour. Eggs do not have tyramine, not enough to worry about at least. Tomatoes are a trigger for some due to the high amount of free glutamate present (not to be confused with an aversion to wheat gluten). Most people, however, can tolerate tomatoes just fine. Maybe your headache was already going to be severe and the tomato was eaten coincidentally at the same time. Then again, maybe not. Many tomato-based sauces are not safe due to additives, onions, or whatever else, so avoid those, but I wouldn't rule out tomatoes just yet. If you eventually find that tomatoes are a trigger for you, it may be that you can tolerate cooked tomatoes better than raw ones. So basically, listen to Dr. Buchholz. And, give foods several chances of course, but if something not on the avoid list is a trigger for you, then by all means, avoid it. I hope that helps. I wish you well with the diet.
Heidi
I read that you can have some hams..which ones?Im big for ham on Christmas and Easter..
ReplyDeleteI apologize for the delay in my response. Let me check into this and get back to you.
ReplyDeleteSoybean oil is fine?
ReplyDeleteYes, soy oil is fine. Still need some time to check on the hams. I'm sorry it is taking so long.
ReplyDeleteThats ok..i understand..it can take awhile to check on alot of things lol..thank you for your help,i really appreciate it..
ReplyDeleteThank you Heidi for your long response! I bought your cookbook and am determined to stick to this diet.
ReplyDeleteI do have a couple more questions. I'm wondering about lemon juice and onions. I'm desperately trying to make my own salad dressing and found that most recipes contain lemon juice, onions, and vinegar (sometimes all three). I'm stumped as to what dressing I can use. I'm currently using a Honey Mustard (Ken's) because it had the least amount of triggers. However, I'd love to make a good homemade one with no triggers. Vinegar and dried onions seem to be in every dressing in the store. Are dried onions or onion powder a high risk?
And I have another question about chicken stock or broth. One of your recipes calls for chicken stock. Where can I find a safe one to use?
I'll be curious to hear about the hams as well. I noticed even Turkey's are processed. I'm now really curious about meats like Turkey to make for the holidays.
I'd like to add that Trader's Joe's has a Tuscan bread that seems to be minimally processed. However, it gets stale very quickly because of the lack of preservatives. But for those looking for bread with the least amount of triggers, I found that one to be ok. Perhaps you might know of some better ones.
Again, thanks for the support! Please take your time in responding to my post. I don't plan to quit this diet any time soon. (if ever)
Hi Shelly,
ReplyDeleteThe Honey Baked Ham Store seems to be okay. Any hams without nitrates and MSG aliases would be fine. I'm having trouble finding those in my area, but check at specialty grocery stores. You might try an online search also. Type in ham + "free of additives" or something similar to see what comes up. I'm sorry I couldn't be more help.
Hi Frances,
ReplyDeleteYes, onion and lemon juice can be quite a trigger for many because of tyramine. In the beginning stages, I would stay clear of it as much as possible. However, we are allowed to use condiments sparingly, so if you've found a salad dressing that is fairly safe, just use it sparingly. When it comes to making your own dressing, substitute with white distilled vinegar, shallots or green onions, and then canned peach juice for the lemon juice. You may also leave the lemon juice out completely. I have some recipes for salad dressings in the back of my cookbook also.
When it comes to chicken stock I am usually referring to the recipe for making chicken stock in my book. However, as long as you are buying stock and not broth from the store, they are fairly safe. Beef and vegetable stock are another story, as they generally contain MSG aliases. It is always best to make it yourself, though.
Many whole turkeys are safe. Some will have a solution added to them that contains MSG aliases, so just avoid those. Cold cut turkey should be avoided.
Thanks for letting us know about the Trader Joe's bread!
I'm glad you plan on staying with the diet. I hope it helps.
Thank you Heidi for your valuable input. The cookbook is a Christmas gift for me and am really excited to get it.
ReplyDeleteI did find Kitchen Basics chicken stock in the store and was very happy! I'd love to make my own but time is an issue.
I thought I found a good lemon substitute online called Sumara. (it's a spice and it's cheap to order) Well, I heard that the berries are related to Mangoes and so I think it might not be an option. If anyone wants to explore that further then that's one option. I read that the taste is not as strong as lemon.
Yes, Kitchen Basics is great. Thanks for the tip about Sumara! I hope you like your cookbook. Have a Merry Christmas. :)
ReplyDeleteHelp! I have just started the diet, thought tapering caffeine rather than going cold turkey would help, but it didn't. Day 2 and a big migraine is brewing - the thought of this without my frova is scary. Please tell me this is going to be worth it?
ReplyDeleteHello. I can't promise you anything, but I will tell you that if your doctors haven't found anything else wrong, then this is the program you need to follow. It works. Be sure to follow ALL parts of the program, including exercise, regular sleep patterns, drinking enough water, and anything else Dr. Buchholz mentions in his book. Everything makes a difference, especially medication and diet. It may help relieve some pain to stretch and massage the back and sides of your neck. The beginning is the worst part. If you make it through this, sunshine is on the other side. Yes, it's worth it. Hang in there. You can do it.
ReplyDeleteThank-you so much for the quick reply. I have tried everything else so am determined to give this a go. Your recipes look really helpful.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I have complete confidence in this program, and I wish you the best. I'm working on a new post, after reading some new material, which will hopefully help people as well.
ReplyDeleteI've been on the diet for a while & it's great but I've noticed something recently. I've been getting headaches while on the treadmill: slow speed 3.0 [20min/mile] & it usually starts after about 10min. I usually block it out but sometimes I can't. Anyone else get exercise induced headaches?
ReplyDeleteHi Vik,
ReplyDeleteI used to have headaches during and after exercise. Are there added triggers in your life lately that didn't used to be there, or have you increased your workout routine? Vigorous exercise is more likely to induce a headache than mild or moderate exercise. You can take some over-the-counter medication (no caffeine, of course) shortly before you exercise to help prevent this from happening. Just be sure not to take it too many times per week (follow Dr. Buchholz's advice). I hope this helps. Thanks for posting!
I am so delighted to find your website! I am nearly finished Dr. Buchholz's book and wanted to know how others were handling the diet. My neuro had recommended the book many years ago and I ignored him. I made some changes in my diet, but did not eliminate caffiene or fast-acting meds. The book was eye-opening! I am adopting the diet and already feel better after two weeks. I was taking Relpax with aspirin or Excedrin or Tylenol-Sinus...whatever worked. I haven't taken anything stronger than aspirin in the past 14 days, and that only once. I am excited to believe this is the real deal! Thanks for the information you are spreading here and for putting the cookbook together (I bought it today). I plan to revisit your site soon!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found this site too! I'm so happy you read Dr. Buchholz's book. It is eye opening, isn't it? Thank you for writing in, because there are many who don't believe lifestyle change or a book will make a difference for them, but it can! I think we've been handed so many options that don't work, that we are skeptical of anything at all. Your comments are priceless. Thank you, and best wishes.
ReplyDeleteHi Heidi, Love your cookbook. I am a migraine sufferer with a seventeen month old son. I have not been able to get my migraines back under control since having him. I quit breastfeeding nov. 15th and have been on verapamil and low dose of nortriptalyne. I am still having an awful time. I have been doing the 123 diet for a couple of month. I just wonder if it is going to be a battle until my hormones go back to normal. Any thoughts? Struggling :) Holly
ReplyDeleteHi Holly,
ReplyDeleteI completely understand your situation. I stopped breastfeeding after just a little while with my second son because I needed to start preventive medication, and I didn't want that to pass through the breast milk. It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. I guess this is the advice I would give: This is still a very stressful (and joyful) time for you, as your son is still young, so hormones are not the only trigger here. To reduce stress, take some time every day for yourself. Find time to wind down with exercise, as it is as important as rest. Drink PLENTY of water, as the body needs to flush the toxins that have built in your system, and it can't do it without water. You don't want to sweat ALL of those out. Many of them can be released through the bowels with the help of water. The last thing I have to say is, give the diet some more time. It does work. Many people feel better after a couple of months, but some need more time. However, if you aren't noticing any difference at all, it may be time to reevaluate some aspect of the program. You should have noticed some relief by now. But, if you have felt some relief, give it more time. Think of all that your body has been through and how much healing it has to do. It took awhile for me to heal, but I am SO glad I took the time. The diet is a preventive measure in itself. The other piece that has to be in line is medication. So, be sure you have steps 1 and 3 under control also, as well as the rest of step 2. There is hope, so keep it up. I'm healed to the point now that I can eat some of my favorite foods every once in awhile again without incidence. It's so nice. Have faith that you will reach that point too. I hope that helps.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the info here! I need advice.. I have tried the program about 4 or 5 times now, with no success. I have had a migraine daily for almost two years now, and am soo desperate for relief. I have tried everything, including many neurologists, botox, acupuncture, nerve therapy..and many other things, and nothing is helping. I am on nortriptiline and depacote, but they don't seem to do much either.
So the first times I tried it I did it for a few weeks, and I tried it for a few weeks a few other times and a month at the longest. Do you think this was to short to start to get relief? I gave up because I felt no different at all when I did it. Anyone have experience like this, and how long does it take?? The drs don't seem to think it will help much to try again, but they aren't against it. I would do anything, anything to not have a headache 100% of the time.
I hope I am not the only one who replies to you, because I want you to know that this method really does work. Other 1-2-3ers, please chime in! Dr. Buchholz comments in his book (I'm paraphrasing) that it often takes about two to three months to feel TOTAL relief, but that you should start to notice a difference in about two weeks. Keep in mind that you START to notice a difference in two weeks. Part of the reason it takes awhile is because it takes time to get used to the diet. I was just answering an email with many very good questions about the diet itself, because it isn't easy to navigate at first. Our food system is full of processed food, and labels might as well be a foreign language. It takes awhile. It's a lifestyle change just to adjust to the diet, so if I were you, I would definitely give it more than a month. I know it can seem overwhelming and hard to wait, especially when in pain, but nothing else has worked, right? So give this a true chance. And remember, diet is only part of the program. There are three steps, and diet is only part of the second one. Also, keep in mind how much pain you are in. It's not going to be an overnight fix. Your body takes time to heal. Let it do its magic and don't give up on it. I hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteHi thanks for replying. I am already doing steps 1 & 3, so I am praying for relief as I continue to follow step 2. I have a question for you about buttermilk. I see its on the list of 'to avoid', but was wondering if fresh, homeade buttermilk is okay. I am starting to make my own butter out of heavy cream (which is okay to eat) and half of it turns to butter and the rest buttermilk. So I wanted not to waste the buttermilk that comes out of it, and use it for cooking. I'm not quite sure why it would be bad if its just from cream. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIn that case it is probably okay. The problem with buttermilk from the store is that it is aged.
ReplyDeleteHi About4 weeks ago I started the 123 program. The first 2 weeks were tough, followed by 2 headache free weeks! A first for me in a LONG time. But then another 4 day headache set in. Can anyone tell me if the duration of these spells will get less over time? Am I just being too impatient?? I didn't expect they would suddenly end, but am looking for a better idea of what to expect over the next few months.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Judy
I welcome comments on this post. No one wants me to answer every post, so I love when you give each other advice. However, please don't leave a comment about another website that blatently contradicts advice given in my book and Dr. Buchholz's book, especially the same advice in several places on the same post. This is not helpful to followers of the 1-2-3 Program. Furthermore, these types of comments will be seen as an advertisement and will be removed. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about "natural flavors". I'm avoiding everything that has it, but I was wondering about drinks. Buccholz mentions sparkling water or root beer (caffeine free of course) as part of the diet, but I always see natural flavors in the ingredients. I would love to have some lightly flavored sparkling water right now, especially since I'm in the lots of pain stage, and I wonder if because it's sweet it may be ok.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Got your book in the mail!
Hi Karli,
DeleteBe more wary of natural flavors in savory, salty things. It's slightly possible that you may have a headache from flavored beverages, but not likely. Just avoid beverages with triggers that should be avoided like citrus, raspberry, etc. Artificial flavors would not contain tyramine, so artificial lemon flavor for instance, is safe. I hope that helps, and I apologize for the delay in my response.
Hi there. I just found your site - I hope it's not too late to ask questions, as I see this thread has been going for a while? :) I've read the book several times and am VERY strict with my diet. Even more strict than the book suggests, if you can imagine. :) I did wind up in rebound hell with Advil, even though the book says Advil doesn't cause it. I'm pretty sure, for me, it did. If not, I have no other reason to explain why I've had a migraine every day for 2 months when my diet has been so clean. :( So I've gone cold turkey off of that for one week and hope to see the light at the end of the tunnel soon. If anyone has any experience with OTC rebound and how long it took to get out of it, I'm all ears! I'd love for this suffering to be short lived. OH! And how long must I abstain before I CAN take something for a headache/migraine again someday??
ReplyDeleteI have started taking Topamax as a preventative but my doc said until I can get out of advil rebound, the Topamax probably won't help too much. (I have been taking 12-16 advil a DAY for the last like 2 months... just to make it through each day.) I'm relieved to read on this thread that I can try to add eggs back in! I for some reason thought I had to avoid them, but if you all seem to think they're ok, I'm happy to bring them back. :) I'm going to buy your book as well, thank you for offering this lovely support network! :) - Jess
Hello there,
DeleteOTC medication isn't a trigger as long as it isn't taken more than 2-3 times per week, or for longer than a certain amount of days in a row after trauma (like surgery or an accident). So, I know you have probably already figured this out, but your doctor is correct. You were/are most likely suffering from rebound. What I'm most worried about is what damage the ibuprofen could have been doing to your organs. I hope that you have made it through the rebound tunnel and back into the bright side of life again? I THINK the pain usually only lasts for about 3-14 days (depending on the person) of constant headache, and then just intermittent headaches afterward that become less and less frequent and severe. Can I just give you a big high-five for doing this? It is very hard to do. Only you and your doctor will know how long it will take before you can take something again, but keep in mind that you won't need medicine very often in the near future.
As far as Topamax not helping much during rebound, your doctor is correct. You have a great doctor! Hang on to him/her. Preventive medications won't help much if triggers and rebound medication are getting in the way.
It sounds like you are on the right track, and I hope things are looking much brighter for you since you posted last. If not, they should be soon.
Best wishes,
Heidi
Heidi,
ReplyDeleteSo happy to find this site. I recently read Dr. Buchholz's book and thought, this is me! So many of the symptoms were ones that I was experiencing. Because I was not experiencing headaches, nausea or vomiting, I couldn't grasp the dx. My symptoms incl photophobia, sinus pressure, neck issues amd disabling vestibular issues. Now I understand that they are migraine, and I have started his food trigger elimination diet. I have also purchased your book. Thank you! Shopping has become a time consuming and difficult task. Reading and understanding labels is not easy. It's also quite scary to read all the additives, preservatives, etc. Even health food stores incl some of these items. I am determined to get this right however. Some of my questions have been addressed by others. Here's a few more... wild game is a trigger. Is all-natural turkey breast at the deli included? Cottage & cream cheese are ok but I am finding some of the trigger ingred in them. I found cultured organic cream cheese & cottage cheese but cultured items are triggers. Does this incl cultured cr cheese and cottage cheese? Cocoa is out. Is there some acceptable cocoa? Thought you mentioned something but I can't find it now. Just trying to get this right in hopes of eliminating my migraines and getting my active life back. Thnk you, Heidi!
Hi!
DeleteI'm so glad you found Dr. Buchholz's book too. It's great how the information just fits, isn't it?
Some deli meats are okay, some are not. If you're not sure, ask the person behind the counter if the meat has nitrates in it, or if you may read the label. Nitrates are the main worry with deli meats. Fresh turkey itself should be okay, so don't worry about your Thanksgiving bird.
Don't worry too much about the ingredients in cottage cheese and cream cheese. Just find the best one and eat it. Headache triggers are not allergies (they are not immune-mediated), so we follow the diet to the letter to heal our pain, but if we have a drop of trigger food it's not going to cause a "reaction". We just have to follow it faithfully in the beginning in order to stop the cycle. So, find the best possible cream cheese, cottage cheese and ricotta cheese you can and enjoy them. :) Dr. Buccholz made them allowable for a reason. Sorry to say, but we just can't have cocoa. There are naturally occurring chemicals in cocoa that cause headaches. May I just say I miss it terribly?
I hope you do get your life back, and I believe you will. You deserve it!
Best,
Heidi
Help! I have almost daily migraines so I'm starting the elimination diet. But I'm stumped as to what I'm going to snack on that has enough protein to prevent headaches if I'm eliminating cheese, yogurt, nuts, some beans, etc. suggestions??
ReplyDeleteI read where you said sugar is definitely not a migraine trigger. I have to disagree with that. Sugar is a major migraine trigger for me. I have to avoid sugar like the plague. If I eat anything with sugar in it I get the most excruciating migraine along with the nausea and vomiting. I think everyone is different and you can't say one food is definitely not a trigger.
ReplyDeleteHi, iam 17 and I've suffered from migraines since i was 8, iam lucky to have 1-2 days pain free a month, I've had to take a year out of college because of how bad iam getting, medications aren't really helping and I have no idea what to eat anymore , if anyone can help please email me - jessshepphard@gmail.com
ReplyDeletered dye 40 is a huge trigger for me and for a friend's son. It is in soooo many foods. I recently found out that red grapes are a big trigger for me as well. Of course I have to avoid the more common triggers of caffeine, chocolate, and alcohol. I have found that sleeping propped up on lots of pillows has helped tremendously. I'm down to about 2 bad days a week and that is a huge improvement! My neuro prescribed Maxalt 10 mg. I found that 5 mg works much better because I can still function instead of becoming drowsy. It just became generic. I do not take it more than twice weekly. Showers as hot as I can stand, with the pressure of the water right on my forehead, eyes and neck muscles relaxes me and often alleviates the headache. Eating small ice cubes distracts me and helps manage the pain. Antihistimines and most OTC anti-inflammatories cause next day headaches. I've recently started to question if my deoderant is a culprit. Believe it or not, I'm not a hypochondriac; I'm just trying to have a life without headaches at all. I'm trying to see myself as a detective solving mysteries
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