I've had headaches since I was 16, 58 now. In August I was diagnosed with meneire's disease and after I shared my hx with migraines, my ENT specialist said the two are sometimes connected - migraines with meniere's. He said to look up migraine triggers and avoid them like the plague. I was vaguely aware of triggers or what "my" triggers were (weather changes is my big one, red dye is another, can't eat red velvet cake for example). I need to add that this doctor told me to go off all caffeine and alcohol (not a big deal to me) but I sure miss drinking a regular Pepsi each day. I now drink only water, 3 quarts a day in fact.
One migraine trigger was a total surprise to me but it makes sense: aspartame and all artificial sweeteners. I knew diet drinks were lethal and to be avoided. But aspartame and it's many, many names, second most common name is phenylalanine (a dozen I think) is in so many products: 90% of gum and mints sold in grocery stores, light yogurt, the 5 hour energy drinks (and probably all of the energy drinks), some cereals, some candy, you really need to read every single food label, from now on if you want this toxin - aspartame - out of your system.
So my story is this: I no longer have headaches. I do not wake up with one at all, used to be I'd have one until I had my cup of coffee for the day.
I don't know if this lovely side effect to being diagnosed with meniere's - giving up caffeine and aspartame (used to chew Dentyne and Trident daily) - is what eliminated headaches but it's sure nice to no longer have them.
I feel like the last person on the planet to become very aware of how many products (6000+) aspartame has been added to our food products. It now takes me 90 minutes to grocery shop, I question and read every label. No more will I just toss something in my grocery cart.
Give up caffeine and aspartame and you may see improvement too.
Thanks for reading.
Post Edited (Marsky) : 9/20/2013 5:57:14 PM (GMT-6)