This story is published with Louise’s permission.
Before and after
Before the programme
- 8 migraine days a month, plus 3 extra headache days, with pain levels up to 9
- 12 triptans a month: structurally dependent on heavy pain medication
- Daily symptoms: brain fog, gut problems, constipation, bloating
First results after 4 weeks
- Weeks without an attack: no more migraine right after the first consultation
- No more triptans needed: from 12 a month to zero
- The body is recovering: digestion has improved, deficiencies are being filled
1. The starting point
Louise (32) had had chronic migraine since childhood. On average she had eight migraine days a month, plus three extra headache days. Her attacks could last up to 24 hours, with pain levels up to 9 out of 10. To keep functioning, she took an average of twelve triptans a month: heavy migraine medication she needed again and again.
Migraine was not her only complaint. Louise had irritable bowel syndrome with stubborn constipation, with a bowel movement only three times a week. She bloated easily, had trouble absorbing certain nutrients and could not tolerate alcohol. Between attacks she struggled with brain fog, a hazy feeling as if her brain was never quite clear.
On top of that, Louise was someone who was always there for others, but found it hard to set boundaries for herself. A stressful childhood had kept her nervous system on high alert for years. She scored high on hypersensitivity and recognised the feeling of being constantly in survival mode. Her cortisol was chronically elevated. Physical exertion could trigger an attack, and if she didn’t eat on time, she knew the next migraine was on its way.
2. The approach
Breaking the cycle of medication overuse headache
With twelve triptans a month, Louise was caught in a vicious circle. The more often you reach for acute medication, the more sensitive your brain becomes to pain, and the sooner the next attack comes. This is called medication overuse headache, and it is one of the main reasons migraine becomes chronic.
So the first step was an attack plan: an alternative strategy to step in at the first signs of an attack without reaching for triptans. That way the brain learns there is another way, and the vicious circle is broken.
- Metabolism: restoring metabolic flexibility so her brain no longer depends on a constant flow of glucose
- Gut health: restoring the microbiome and the gut barrier, the basis for a well-functioning immune system and brain
- Addressing deficiencies: blood tests showed significant deficiencies that were structurally weakening her body, so these were filled in a targeted way based on the results
- Stress regulation: calming the overstimulated nervous system and addressing the chronically elevated stress hormones
“It’s going fairly well. I haven’t had any migraine in the past few weeks.”
Louise, client of the clinic
3. The result after 4 weeks
What stands out in Louise’s story is the speed of the improvement. Right after the first consultation and starting the interventions, she reported that she had gone weeks without a migraine attack. For someone who had eight attacks a month for years, that is remarkable.
The triptans, of which she needed twelve a month, are no longer an issue. Her digestion has improved and the constant bloating has decreased.
The extensive blood analysis showed significant deficiencies that were structurally weakening her body. Louise had been vegetarian for years, which may explain part of those deficiencies. But diet alone doesn’t explain everything. With a DNA analysis, we map whether Louise genetically has a higher need for certain nutrients, regardless of what she eats.
The programme isn’t finished yet. There are still areas that need attention, such as immune function and hormonal balance. But the foundation has been laid and the direction is clear. Louise feels the difference, and that after just one month.
Does this sound familiar?
Many people with migraine recognise this pattern:
- Triptans as the only way to keep functioning
- Gut problems that nobody links to your migraine
- Brain fog and the feeling that your brain is never really clear
- Always being there for others but ignoring your own body
By addressing not just the migraine but the whole picture (gut, metabolism, stress system and nutrient deficiencies), the body can recover. No miracle cure, but a targeted approach that removes the causes instead of suppressing the symptoms.
Recognise yourself in Louise’s story? The Building Block Analysis is a good place to start mapping your own building blocks.
