Having a little buffet this evening as it is my Dad’s birthday.
I’m just looking at all the tasty food and am thinking that it’s probably not a good idea for me to taste most of the things! I adore the pasta salad dishes that are made up by the local supermarket. Dying to tuck in! Is that a very bad idea??!
I have been following a pretty boring diet. How do you all manage? Do you follow the diet strictly?
Dr Silver just advised me to eat healthily. I don’t get the impression he sees the diet as vital. The only thing he was definite on was no caffeine. Sounds like I’m trying to convince myself that it will be ok to eat what I want haha! I don’t know enough about the diet to be honest, I have the book ‘How to heal your headache’ but need to take a much closer look at it. I worry about the hidden ingredients that have the potential to trigger an episode.
Any diet/meal tips/recipe ideas?! All tips welcomed
Always interesting to hear another neuros view on diet and its effect on MAV. I have been off and on the migraine diet wagon but even being on it for a while didnt notice any improvement in my symtpoms. Over Easter I ate tonnes of chocolate and other rubbish and felt no more adverse effects than I usually have so am pretty sure it doesn’t affect me much. That being said its probably different for everyone so you may find it beneficial.
Don’t beat yourself up if you find yourself straying every now and then, it’s just as important to enjoy yourself at times! Or at least that’s my view.
I am currently sticking strictly to a paleo diet which is pretty much the same as migraine diet anyway. Lets see how it goes!
My doctor much prefers taking one food out for two weeks to see if you feel better. If you do, you do not put it back in. If you don’t you can put it back in. I am torn. I am kind of following a mix of both. I have eliminated the foods I have always sensed may have been triggers for me and now I am taking out foods one at a time. I am starting with the foods I eat almost everyday.
Even this way I find it hard, especially to get a protein in the morning without my peanut butter! I also struggle to get enough potassium. I do not know if it is because of the new diet, but the last few days I have really struggled with fruit. It is really upsetting my digestive system.
It is definitely hard. I am always impressed by those who have clearly identified their food triggers.
Thanks for your replies The diet is difficult to keep to! I did cheat last night and a little bit today. Just hoping it won’t have any adverse effects. Ricky I agree, we still need to enjoy ourselves. Can’t do chocolate or wine though, pretty certain they are triggers for me.
I think I might try that approach swirlgirl. Unfortunately having had such a boring diet over the last couple of months i am craving everything I’m not supposed to be eating!!!
I went cold turkey and gave away all the foods from my fridge and pantry that were on Dr. B’s list and have been strictly following the diet for about 10 months now. MInd you, I spent the first 20 years of my life in Puerto Rico, so my diet was high in things like avocado, cheese, mango, and papaya as well as some favorite snacks like chocolate, peanut butter, nuts, and yogurt. I also used to use almond milk almost daily in my morning shake…So it was quite disheartening to read the list and give up so many things I loved!
After a string of tests, my ENT was the first to suggest migraines (though not vestibular) and gave me a list of food triggers. I then read The Book and an elimination diet seemed to make a difference. At the time, I was crying in every single doctor’s office, so I was also prescribed Cymbalta and Propranalol by my GP, which I’m sure helped with my neuromuscular issues as well as the anxiety and depression (5 mg. Prop as needed now). I went from 24/7 for about 3 months to a gradual 70% asymptomatic. A few months ago, my neuro recommended physical therapy for my spasms and neck issues and I think that’s what took me to feeling about 90% asymptomatic. I had 24 sessions of the latter and am a bit scare of going backwards over time…I also haven’t gotten off the Loestren (low dosage) pill-at 51-so it’s not for avoiding pregnancy as much as fear of rocking the hormonal boat now that I feel better.
Since then, I’ve gotten a bit bored and daring and have recently started to try to reincorporate some things into my diet starting with an avocado shake (no effect), sticky rice with mango (no effect), an occasional slice of pizza (no effect), all-natural organic hot dogs (no effect), peanut butter that comes mixed with honey (called Bees’ Knees; no effect). I did replace a few things, like now I buy fresh rather than aged cheeses though I do feel it’s OK for me to sprinkle some Parm on my pasta. I’m also using rice milk for my morning veggie/fruit/protein shake and have become a more thorough label reader than ever before. I do suspect that almonds and chocolate might be triggers, but I’m not 100% sure. I am sure motion, busy visuals, bright lights, and stress are triggers. The biggest challenge is the last, as a high school teacher, but I’m getting better at managing it and looking forward to gardening this summer sure helps !
So far, so good…feeling cautiously optimistic. Wishing you’ll find your way and feel better soon,
Yesterday I had a small shot of coffee, a slice of chocolate cake, three little left over Easter eggs and a pizza for dinner. So, some days, not very well at all. :roll:
I tried the diet very strictly and it made no difference for me- caffeine luckily doesn’t bother me either. The only real food trigger for me is alcohol- it makes me instantly worse- so I avoid it like the plague.
@lisa sounds like you’re doing really well I am also a teacher but have been off sick for over a month now. I am pretty certain that stress is one of my main triggers. However, after sampling some of the buffet food I must say I did have a mild migraine headache last night. Nothing like as bad as I would usually get. Think that the propranalol I take must be helping. Funnily enough my dizziness seems to be improving but I am much more aware of pressure in my head!
Thanks for the kind wishes I am getting there!
@scott. Hahaha! I would be too frightened to try any of that at the moment! In time I will hopefully… (salivating at mouth…)
I tried the diet very strictly and it made no difference for me- caffeine luckily doesn’t bother me either. The only real food trigger for me is alcohol- it makes me instantly worse- so I avoid it like the plague.
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Yes, I think stress, alcohol and chocolate are huge triggers for me. After my appointment with Dr Silver I am keeping away from the caffeine!
I tried the diet very strictly and it made no difference for me- caffeine luckily doesn’t bother me either. The only real food trigger for me is alcohol- it makes me instantly worse- so I avoid it like the plague.
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Yes, I think stress, alcohol and chocolate are huge triggers for me. After my appointment with Dr Silver I am keeping away from the caffeine!
X
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interesting… Alcohol actually makes me feel better! my thoughts on it being that it calms down my hypersensitive nervous system
Richy do you think drinking alcohol improves your balance at all? If it helped me I would be in big trouble I would drink all day everyday I’m not even kidding I would become a serious alcoholic.
