When I was a young adult, I suffered from headaches and migraines. Every. Single. Day. I tried traditional and alternative medical treatments hoping to cure my suffering. After trying multiple medications that had terrible side effects, ruling out organic brain problems through an MRI, massage therapy, chiropractic care, and acupuncture, I was still no better off. I subsequently relied on Tylenol, ibuprofen, and became addicted to barbiturates in order to manage my symptoms. The neurologist I was seeing at the time told me that "it's genetics" and "you'll have to learn to deal with migraines for rest of your life." He then referred me to Botox treatments, stating I would need Botox injected into my head every 10 weeks and the cost would be approximately $1,000 per round of injections. As a poor graduate student, this was scary, frustrating, and simply unacceptable. A co-worker referred me to a naturopathic provider who suggested I eliminate yeast from my diet and another chiropractor suggested I try an elimination diet. Although I did find some relief from eliminating yeast from my diet, I did not have a sustainable approach to removing yeast from my diet permanently. The elimination diet sounded promising but required a lengthy commitment to remove several major food groups from my diet all at once including dairy, beef, pork, eggs, histamines, nightshades, corn, wheat, gluten, yeast, caffeine, alcohol, and more, and then adding them back in slowly one by one to see what negative reactions may or may not occur. Although it is a very healthy way of eating whole foods free of any major food allergens, it is a "hit or miss" approach and I simply did not have the mental fortitude, social support, or financial security to follow through on.
"It's genetics...you'll have to learn to deal with migraines for the rest of your life."
Fast forward several years later to ongoing headaches, migraines, and obesity... After I had my first child I was at my wit's end. I was tired of feeling sick and tired and the natural fertility method I was using called Natural Family Planning revealed I had extremely low basal body temperatures. With the help of my husband, I was able to find a functional medicine doctor that was helpful in diagnosing my hypothyroidism based off my low body temperatures and he convinced my to try the elimination diet. This time around, I was willing to give it a go - I had the support of my husband and a newborn baby to help make my health a priority. Having medication to support my thyroid gave me additional energy to help with this extensive process and I did lose weight and feel better, but still struggled to identify which foods were causing which negative reactions. This is when I turned to a food sensitivity finger prick blood test.
A quick finger prick blood test from the comfort of my home revealed I was highly sensitive to wheat and yeast, moderately sensitive to gluten, lime, polysorbate 80, and coffee, and mildly sensitive to whey, egg whites, rye, and cauliflower. Having this information empowered me to remove only these specific foods from my diet instead of the major food categories that were required in the elimination diet and I was better equipped to identify negative reactions when I did subsequently add these foods back in. At last, I finally had some concrete answers. When I eat wheat, yeast, and gluten I get headaches, migraines, and I become irritable and anxious which shows up as anger and lashing out at others. When I eat lime, coffee, or cauliflower, I have heart palpitations which can be mistaken as anxiety. And when I eat egg whites, I break out in a rash.
"It's freeing to know I am no longer a slave to food sensitivities."
Having this information changed my life. Do I still have the occasional headache or migraine - yes - but they are very few and far between. I no longer rely on medications to help me struggle through my day. I'm no longer pouring money into interventions like acupuncture and massage therapy that do not alleviate my symptoms. I have more energy and feel healthier than I have in years. I know that if I do eat one of these foods, there could be some negative reactions in the next few days and I can prepare for those consequences. Mostly, I decide to completely remove these foods from my diet so I don't have any potential setbacks. It's freeing to know I am no longer a slave to food sensitivities.
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