after 8+ years - no more Migrane . . .

[khushy]

no migranes for 3 weeks now . . . after 8+ years of 2-5 a week, some lasting days, I am (as you can all guess) DELIGHTED - having had many many tests, drugs, brain scans (yes I do have one and can prove it), diets, cut-outs - we believe that the culpret is . . . ASPARTAME - as found in Robinson's Barley Water (even the no artificial variety!) :-) so I am back on the chocolate - happy days :-)

[okgo]

Congrats.

Having had constant pain for a few days via toothache I can't begin to imagine how good you must feel about that.

[swiftpete]

Wow that's awesome. Nice one! I'll have to bear that in mind as I get migraines myself, although I rarely drink cordial. Is it in anything else?

[The Nur]

Is your name an indication towards your self-prescribed medication?

[khushy]

The Nur said:

Is your name an indication towards your self-prescribed medication?

huh???

Khush (my real name) in Hindhi means a source of happiness - if thats what you are on about LOL!

[eybic]

Aspartame is in a lot of things but normally sugar free stuff, that's right they substitute a natural sugar with a chemical which it is believed causes lots of health issues (according to google). It's crazy that people are scared of sugar and would prefer manmade chemicals instead.

[Sheets Tabuer]

My 11 year old was having several migraines a week, we started on a plan where we would remove one of his usual foods to try and narrow down anything in his diet that could be causing it.

We removed a popular "max" cola and we've seen a reduction of around 90%.

Just need to find out what is causing the other 10%.

[The Nur]

khushy said:

huh???

Khush (my real name) in Hindhi means a source of happiness - if thats what you are on about LOL!

Never mind

[Lemmonie]

i too have just experianced the delight of no more migrains. Again i was having so many i was perscribed beteblockers.

They work!

[Mr Kitten]

That's interesting... I've always avoided "diet" type fizzy drinks as they always tended to give me a bd of a headache.

[BlackVanDyke]

Nice one!

I avoid anything with aspartame in it because it always tastes incredibly strong (and revolting) - completely ruins anything it's in for me and yep, seems to make me feel like crap too.

My dad's the same, two sisters don't get it at all so I'm wondering if the ability to notice/taste aspartame, and the tendency to have it make you feel ill, might be genetic...

Anybody else who's feeling like crap regularly, if you haven't tried cutting it out it's probably worth a try if you don't have any better theories.

[sawman]

for the last few years I have been actively avoiding Aspartame, but it is getting increasingly difficult. it is not just diet drinks these days but many regular drinks too.

At least its not in beer!

[The Beaver King]

I used to get migranes between the ages of 8 to 15 years old.

They'd last for 3-4 days and I'd get them every 4 weeks.

I had eye tests, brain scans and my diet was monitored. Nobody could work out what was causing them and all they could do was give me Migraleve, which did absolutely nothing.

Then one day I was at the doctors with my mum and our usual doctor was on holiday, so I had a young, newly qualified, cover doctor. He gave me a course of acupuncture and I've never had another migraine in 10 years.

I'd love to meet him again, just to say thank you.

[andy_s]

Sheets Tabuer said:

My 11 year old ...........

We removed a popular "max" cola .........

That would have seemed an obvious place to start.

[Pints]

khushy said:

ASPARTAME - as found in Robinson's Barley Water (even the no artificial variety!)

Evil stuff. I go with the full fat sugar options over anything with this horrid artificial sweetener in it.

[Antonia]

Sorry it took you 8+ years to find it out, but glad you have. I also get headaches from Aspartame. I do struggle at times to avoid it (in combination with my other food neuroses).
Hope you stay pain free.

[BlackVanDyke]

sawman said:

for the last few years I have been actively avoiding Aspartame, but it is getting increasingly difficult. it is not just diet drinks these days but many regular drinks too.

At least its not in beer!

Things you will be OK with, soft drinks-wise:
full-fat Sainsburys High Juice squash, all flavours. Likely the same for other supermarket brands but I haven't checked.
the whole Luscombe range
Schloer
full-fat Coke
Entire Innocent range - smoothies, thickies (!!) etc.
Anything which says it is juice is usually OK and anything which says it is a juice drink usually isn't.

Most/all non-alcopop booze should be fine, just stay away from anything that's a stupid colour and you'll be reet.

[khushy]

just thought I would check-in - my migrane's are 90% down in frequency and magnitude - keeping off the Asp as much as possible - I now read everything - sad but thats life.

I am so happy!

khushy

[ajame5]

I've had migraines for the last 15 years, definitely will be seeing if any of this is in my diet! Out of interest, what symptoms did you get?