Comments on: The Gluten Syndrome and Migraine

By: gigi

gigi — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:02:19 +0000

am very interested in the GF diet and migraines. Any info is appreciated!

By: Madeline

Madeline — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:25:57 +0000

It’s great to hear all the people who have had relieve with a gluten free diet.

I suffered for 2 year with at least 2 migraines a week, I had all the test/scans with no results. I decided to start eliminating different foods, gluten was the second thing and to my relief I didn’t get any more migraines. After 10 years of a very strict gluten free diet, the only time I get one is after accidental exposure to gluten.

I don’t know about other sufferers, but I have found the long I have been on GF diet the more severe and quicker the migraines happen. It only takes trace amounts and less the half an hour to start, these days.

So I have become great at spreading the word to friends/family and co-works all about gluten. I have also notice in the last couple of years the dramatic increase of information/labelling and restaurant with gluten free (with in Australia at least). Which makes live so much easier, I don’t get as mean blank looks when I ask if it gluten free.

By: Buttercup

Buttercup — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:06:50 +0000

I have suffered from sporadic migraines for 20 years. I have been gluten free for 3 months now. The impetus to go gluten free was stomach related-always feeling bloated and uncomfortable. I noticed a direct correlation between my stomach trouble and gluten (I was really hoping to see no connection because who doesn’t love bread!). Surprisingly, after a month, it occurred to me that I hadn’t had a migraine since quiting gluten. I began to research this phenomenom on the internet and was surprised to discover a connection. In short, I haven’t had a single migraine since quiting gluten 3 months ago (a span of time never acheiveable in the past) and will never go back to eating it gluten.

By: kymski01

kymski01 — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 02:11:11 +0000

This is awesome information. I’m so glad I stumbled upon it. I’ve had this migraine for a month and a half. My neuro and I are trying to find solution. I didn’t realize food had such an impact or rather I thought I knew what my food triggers were. I think they are way beyond what I ever imagined.

By: James

James — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:37:05 +0000

Thanks for all your ideas and tips! This is certainly a topic we’re going to have to come back to in depth. Keep the comments coming, and that will give us a better idea what direction to take. There’s no doubt we’re on to something big.

By: Alison

Alison — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:15:59 +0000

GardenGirl — Very good advice! Do you have any suggestions on how to research gluten in topical products such as shampoos, cleansers, sunscreens etc.? I’m having less luck doing this research than research on food. Thanks in advance!

By: gardengirl

gardengirl — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:37:38 +0000

Most people don’t consider hidden sources of gluten when they “go gluten free”, so they think it doesn’t work. MOST rice is sprayed with wheat starch, and wheat starch is a common packaging ingredient-its also used as an anti caking agent in salt, and is the glue on envelopes, stamps, and other things you might “lick” to moisten. People tend to give up, thinking that because they avoided the obvious forms of gluten, that the diet doesn’t work-it DOES work, IF you eliminate all sources of it. Wheat starch is also a common binding ingredient in supplements, vitamins, and medications. so even some of the medications being prescribed for migraines can cause a bounceback type reaction. Do your homework, and learn about hidden sources in shampoos, toothpaste, cleansers, etc. I have been totally migraine free for over 8 years, where as before going gluten free, I suffered weekly with them. Its WORTH the effort. The only migraines I have had in 8 years has been after accidental exposure to gluten. I did not go gluten free for migrains-I was dx with celiac, but the migraines were the first symptom to totally resolve-MANY other chronic ailments totally resolved as well, as long as I am vigilant about what I put in, on, or around my body.

By: R. O'Quinn

R. O'Quinn — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:30:30 +0000

Going gluten-free hasn’t made a difference in my migraines, but has made a HUGE difference for my younger brother. When he is actively gluten-free, he gets 0 migraines. We both have celiac disease.

The thing that has made the biggest difference for me, in 40 years of trying to treat migraine, is the 50 mg daily nortriptyline. It cut my migraine frequency down to about a quarter of what I had before. Triptans work for me, with varying success…so far Maxalt + Compro has the highest success rate – it kills about 75% of the migraines I do get, and of course, the Compro usually helps prevent vomiting as well.

By: TheDailyHerb

TheDailyHerb — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:13:21 +0000

James, so sorry we are waaaaay off-topic here. Promise to be more well-behaved in the future.

Alison, if you have any questions you can twitter me @TheDailyHerb.

By: TheDailyHerb

TheDailyHerb — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:09:53 +0000

You are so very welcome, Alison. Dr. Levin is the THIRD neuro doc I’ve been to. I know how hard it is to find a neuro doc who is up-to-date on the latest treatments, open to alternative treatments, nonjudgmental, suffers migraines too, and spends as much time with the patient as is needed (no rushing).

Your plan sounds good. I can relate to the trouble of working around medical insurance rules. Ug! But the 5-month wait to get an appt will give you ample time to start a letter-writing campaign. When you go into your GP’s office for the referral, you might want to print out any info about DHMC’s Neurology Dept./Dr. Levin. Impress your GP and he’ll help advocate with your insurance carrier.

Good luck!

P.S. Are you in Athol? My son lives in Bolton.