Chronic Migraines STOP for Megan
A Real Food Revival Success Story
Erin Chamerlik, MS, MT
Megan, age 24, suffered from chronic migraine headaches for four months.
“I was super active with work and church and other activities. I would go from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. with plenty of energy.”
Suddenly Megan was sidelined with migraine headaches. She frequently missed work and used up her vacation time and sick days. She saw her regular doctor and a neurologist.
She was given an MRI and extensive blood work.
Her doctors prescribed medication to dull the pain, but the migraines never went away. She went to bed in pain and woke up in pain. They even tried beta blockers to relieve the pain, but this powerful medication dropped her blood pressure dangerously low, causing her to pass out.
The doctors suggested that she be admitted to the hospital so that they could administer even stronger drugs that would lower her blood pressure, even though her blood pressure was normal.
She was prescribed strong pain killers that cost $4 per dose, but they made no difference.
Megan tried chiropractic treatment and massage therapy. The massage therapy helped only for about 6-12 hours. She had blood work done for food allergies, but this test didn’t bring any answers, listing sensitivities to odd foods like celery, lettuce and asparagus.
Megan’s pain was severe and unrelenting. She wore sunglasses at work and would go to bed by 6 p.m. just to get some pain relief. As a last resort, Megan’s doctor suggested antidepressant medication for her migraines.
After four months Megan and her mom attended Erin’s class, Achieving Wellness & Weight Loss.
After the first class Megan had enough information to launch 100% into the elimination diet. She stopped eating gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, all processed and refined foods and focused on eating real food. She enjoyed meats, eggs, fish, poultry, vegetables, fruit, seeds, nuts and healthy fats.
Within the first week on the elimination diet
Megan started to feel like her old self again.
It took about 3 or 4 weeks for the migraines to go away completely. She found that she had developed a sensitivity to MSG found hidden in most processed and restaurant food and also to pasteurized dairy.
Prior to the elimination diet Megan was eating a typical American diet.
- For breakfast she might have a Carnation Instant Breakfast drink with milk or sugary cereal or a bagel or English muffin.
Carnation Instant Breakfast, like Megan drank for breakfast, can contain hidden MSG like
Natural And Artificial Flavors and Carrageenan. These substances are known to cause migraines and neurological damage. Some Carnation drinks contain artificial sweeteners like Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium, known to cause headaches and much worse.
- For dinner her family often prepared Weight Watchers recipes or recipes from the American Heart Association, believing that these were healthy choices. “I thought I was making healthy choices because I ate whole wheat and we always ate low-fat or no-fat foods.
“Taking the class was eye-opening.”
Especially learning that we need to eat healthy fat like butter, coconut oil, olive oil and eggs. Now Megan enjoys eggs, pasture-raised bacon or sausage and vegetables for breakfast.
She eats real food, wild-caught fish and pasture-raised animal foods when possible. She learned how to prepare vegetables like Brussels sprouts and makes her own salad dressing and mayo from olive oil.
Adding a few targeted supplements including vitamin D3, magnesium (Try Mg Plus Guardand probiotics brought additional benefits.
Megan has had the opportunity to share her story with other friends suffering from chronic migraines.
One woman had suffered for 20 years and is now migraine-free, after discovering a sensitivity to sugar and gluten.
People are in tremendous pain and willing to try prescription medication and even Botox for relief.
Nevermind the fact that Botox has scary side effects – like giving one woman severe pain causing her to be bedridden for 6 weeks.
PubMed lists 28 other nasty side effects for Botox including headaches!
These medical approaches do not address the root problem, but simply attempt to cover the pain for awhile.
Happily, Megan had a Real Food Revival, and is now free from chronic, debilitating pain, that plagued her for 4 months. Just in time – she is getting married in a few weeks.
Megan’s advice,
“Even if you think you eat healthy, check out the class, just come. See what you can learn. It is so eye-opening. There is so much I didn’t know and it definitely made all the difference in my life.”