Help For Migraine Sufferers
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| Anne Kelly |
| 11/4/2009 |
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| We all get headaches every now and then. But one Bismarck woman gets them all the time, and the pain she goes through is far worse. She`s a severe chronic migraine sufferer. Two years Dennette Stotz was suddenly hit with a mind blowing migraine, one that has returned day after day since despite doctors efforts to help her.. "I can`t drive, I can`t work, I can`t shop," says Stotz. Most days, she can`t do much of anything. Because every day, several hours after she wakes up, she`s hit with a throbbing migraine. "Somebody asked me the other day `What`s it like?` I told them if you find a hard cement wall and you bang your head on it ten times and then sit down, that`s probably what it feels like," she says. Aside from constant pain, Stotz says she also feels a lot of frustration because no one can figure out what`s wrong with her, even after an MRI, spinal tap, nerve block, and numerous other tests. And without knowing what`s causing her migraines, treating them is difficult. "I`ve done physical therapy, occupational therapy, massage, acupuncture," says Stotz. She says it all works. But only for a few hours. What has helped long term for Stotz is the medications and supplements she takes daily, along with self hypnosis which helps her relax so she can rest.. "You actually talk to yourself," says Stotz. "You`re going into a relaxed state. You`re kind of telling yourself from your head all the way down to your toes, to relax." The third treatment option that`s helped Stotz is a change in diet. Chiropractic Neurologist Charles Sefcik suggested she try dropping and re-introducing a number of foods so she can figure out which ones she`s sensitive to. "We try to look at, are there some underlying food sensitivities? They might be eating something that they`re unaware is actually causing an inflammatory response or an immune response to their body and that can be trigging a migraine," says Dr. Sefcik. Stotz figured out red meat, hot dogs, and deli meat all make her migraines worse. It`s another minor solution for a major problem running her life. Stotz`s migraines have kept her from working, and medical bills have been adding up. A benefit is being held at Faith Lutheran Church in Bismarck November 8 to help her and her family. You can stop by between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. to make a donation and enjoy a homemade German supper. |
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