Food Triggers Not the Only Solution

A reader shared the following experience. I can attest that while identifying food triggers can help, it's not the only solution. She writes...

If you're really into identifying triggers and eliminating them from your life, the guru on that topic is Dr. David Buchholtz. He is recommended at Johns Hopkins University Hospital as the JHU expert on headaches. Those who want to see him in private practice may find he doesn't accept your insurance. Not sure if he's currently on staff at JHU. He published a book called Heal Your Headaches detailing his three point plan.

One: identify triggers through an elimination diet.
Two: go off all drugs because they all cause rebound.
Three: if you still have headaches then try a prophylactic, preventative medication.

The troubling conclusion...if it didn't work...you didn't do it right.If you're convinced that diet is everything...he's the man.I went to Dr. Buchholtz 11 years ago. I followed his program to the letter. I started with a boiled chicken diet and gradually added each food to identify if any were triggers. I was not allowed to take any medications but aspirin in order to remove all drug-rebound potential. A lot of people can have an arrogance towards doctors and pharmaceuticals. I had always felt condemned for taking medicine for my headaches. So...Buchholtz method must be "God's" way.

We refer to that year as the year we threw the calendar away. I threw up everyday with a raging migraine for months. At Christmas, we farmed out our homeschooled children to live with other families. By March, I had aspirin poisoning. When I returned to see him in August for prophylactic medication, he was no longer accepting my insurance. I went home and took an Imitrex shot and got my life back.

A lot of suffering can go into identifying triggers. As many triggers as we may identify in the environment there may a hundred times more manufactured within our own bodies or in the petroleum based chemicals of our carpeting and melamine cupboards.If you want to follow his plan, buy the book...it's available used everywhere. He has a lot of knowledge about some things that might be exceedingly helpful. At least he's a doctor that took an interest in triggers. But, some people have strong opinions about it his book. It may be helpful to learn not to pull our triggers, but we're not addressing the loaded gun pointed at our heads.Boiled chicken didn't solve my problem. Imitrex made the trigger stop firing. And in the end, Toprol XL removed the gun entirely. Three cheers to GlaxoSmithKline!

I'm curious what you think of this post. What has your experience been?

Review: Suffering and the Sovereignty of God

If you suffer from migraines Suffering and the Sovereignty of God is a book you should read. Here's a portion of a review by Tim Challies:

This is not a book that deals with suffering as an abstract principle. In the introduction Justin Taylor writes, “The authors do not write as mere theoreticians, waxing eloquent about abstract themes. No, this is a book of applied theology. Its theology has been forged in the furnace of affliction.” Of the contributors, two are paralyzed, two lost parents when they were only young, two have recently suffered the death of a child and two are even now battling prostate cancer. “The point of mentioning this is not to portray them as victims or to elicit your sympathy, but rather to reiterate that they are fellow soldiers in the battle, fellow pilgrims on the journey.” They are equipped to speak about suffering because they have suffered.

Suffering and the Sovereignty of God continues the tradition of fine books based on keynote addresses at the Desiring God National Conference. It is a compassionately biblical and pastoral examination of a difficult subject. Suffering is an experience common to all human beings and is an issue we all wrestle with at one time or another. This book provides encouragement that God is sovereign, that His purposes are being worked out in suffering, and that even through the darkest trials there is hope. I am confident that this book will be used by God to encourage many of His people, both those who have already suffered greatly and those who have not, but are seeking to equip themselves for the trials that are sure to come in this fallen world.

If you've read the book, please leave a comment with your thoughts. And feel free to share any other books that you've found helpful.

Caring for Your Soul When Your Head Hurts

We'd love to hear from you on the following questions: 

1. What scriptures comfort you in the midst of a headache? 
2. What Christian books encourage you to trust God during physical pain?

Please share a comment with your answers!