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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> Can Ketosis Help?
        
(Message started by: fubar on Jul 17^th, 2006, 4:47pm)

Title: Can Ketosis Help?
Post by fubar on Jul 17^th, 2006, 4:47pm

This seems interesting. I like to eat, so this would be incredibly difficult for me.

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1526-4610.2006.00321_5.x

Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain
Volume 46 Page 182 - January 2006
doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2006.00321_5.x
Volume 46 Issue 1

Can Ketosis Help Migraine Sufferers? A Case Report
R. Scott Strahlman, MD

The ketogenic diet has long been used in the treatment of severe epilepsy in children, adolescents, and adults and seems to be well tolerated.1,2,3 Even less stringent diets, such as the Atkins diet, have shown promise in the treatment of seizures and have been shown to have antidepressant properties.4,5

My wife began having severe headaches in elementary school. The headaches worsened during her teenage years and were officially diagnosed as migraines. The family history is significant for severe migraines on the paternal side.

The migraines were described as a "throbbing, burning, hot knife" sensation in one temple. During her adulthood, the headaches progressed and were occurring many times a week. She tried multiple lifestyle changes without any change in the frequency of the headaches. Exercise, dieting, and two pregnancies did not alter the frequency.

Numerous medications were prescribed by neurologists over the years. Agents that helped the most included Imitrex, Amerge, and Fioricet. Pharmacy profiles show that in 2004, at the age of 43, the patient was filling prescriptions about every 6 weeks for: Imitrex 50 mg #18, Amerge 2.5 mg #9, and Fioricet #30.

In an effort to lose the weight gained during pregnancy, the patient enrolled in a diet program under medical supervision. Patients undergo a modified fast, taking 3 to 4 high-protein, low-carbohydrate shakes a day. Each shake is 200 calories, and the shakes are the sole calorie source. Ketosis is induced and monitored on a weekly basis. A caloric restriction of 600 to 800 calories per day is maintained. Blood pressure, blood chemistries, and electrocardiograms are monitored regularly. Most patients stay in ketosis for 4 months or longer, depending on how much weight needs to be lost.

After going into ketosis, my wife went from having almost daily headaches to being completely free of migraines. Her last migraine was in late April, 2004. She maintained ketosis and the modified fast for almost 7 months and then went off her fast and began to eat regular foods. She has continued to be headache-free. She has now gone from daily migraines to going 14 months without an attack and has gradually reintroduced trigger foods such as alcohol and chocolate without getting a headache.

In conclusion, ketosis appears to have cured my wife's migraines. Other refractory migraine sufferers might be willing to enter a period of ketosis to rid them of their headaches. This letter is submitted with the hope of stimulating further research to confirm the benefits of a ketogenic diet on migraines.

R. Scott Strahlman, MD

Title: Re: Can Ketosis Help?
Post by floridian on Jul 17^th, 2006, 5:03pm

J. Morgan's detox diet induces ketosis (among other things), and he claims it works for him.

http://www.med-owl.com/clusterheadaches/tiki-index.php?page=Detox%20Diet

Title: Re: Can Ketosis Help?
Post by unsolved1 on Jul 17^th, 2006, 6:09pm

To avoid complications, the seizure medicines Topamax (topiramate) and Diamox (acetazolamide) must be stopped before the diet is started.

Your chances of getting kidney stones also goes through the roof.

Goodluck

UNsolved

Title: Re: Can Ketosis Help?
Post by fubar on Jul 17^th, 2006, 8:24pm

Hell, there's no way I could do this. I was just putting it out there for people who might be interested.

I have lost 37 lbs since September. Went from 212 to 175, and I haven't stopped losing yet. I didn't do anything to change my diet. I'm on the see-food diet. I eat food that I see that I want. I think the weight loss is mostly from the fact that 6-8 cluster headaches a day pretty much destroy my appetite. Doc says I look great. My blood pressure is great, my resting pulse is 50 to 60 bpm.

I just got out of the hospital. They did the DHE treatment (Raskin protocol). Let me just say that sucked ass. 'Nuff said. Did not help at all, and left me with bruised arms with blown veins. That DHE is like battery acid.

Next stop is UCSF where I will be evaluated for deep brain stimulation (DBS) implant. If that doesn't work, we may go for the trigeminal nerve rhizotomy, but I really don't want that at all. One step at a time, but I can't do this chronic thing forever. If I can find a source for a cluster-buster shot, I will try that again too.

Anyway... I know that's TMI, but some people may learn from my experiences.

-Fu

Title: Re: Can Ketosis Help?
Post by john_d on Jul 17^th, 2006, 8:31pm

fubar- That's rough, I really hope and pray you get some substantial relief soon.

Title: Re: Can Ketosis Help?
Post by fubar on Jul 17^th, 2006, 8:49pm

It's no rougher than anybody else's problems. Everybody has their own 10. You don't get to pick your shit, you just get to deal with it, and I'd rather have my own shit than anybody else's. Thanks for the vibes though!