My name is Julie, and I am a 41 year old wife, mother, and teacher whose life has been controlled by migraine headaches for the past 10 years. I have seen many different doctors, gone through many different tests, and taken many different medications over the past 10 years in hopes of relieving my headaches. However, nothing provided any relief for any length of time. At their worst, my headaches lasted for three days and occurred three times a month or more. These headaches were so bad that I was not able to perform normal tasks and usually ended up in bed, often vomiting and in severe pain. I visited my family practice doctor, who although sympathetic, did not really know what to do for my pain and suffering besides give me a shot of Demerol which just made me groggy and even more nauseous. She prescribed different medications over the years and I do believe she tried to help me and find some relief for me. However, most of the medications or combinations of medications would work for awhile and then the headaches would return just as severe or even worse. After many years, I was taking 2 preventive medications daily as well as my actual headache medicine and still having more than 6 headache days a month. The headache medication I was taking was expensive and I often needed more of it than my insurance would pay for. There were many months when we paid full-price for the medication simply because I needed it and insurance would not pay for it. I was afraid to go anywhere without my medication and the next headache was always in the back of my mind. Another problem with the medication is that it did not always work. I felt at the mercy of my headaches most of the time. My doctor also sent me to an ENT who thought my sinuses were the cause of my headaches. After enduring a horrible sinus surgery, the headaches once again returned. I saw an allergist, who helped me with my allergies and asthma, but was unable to do anything for my headaches. At different points in my treatment, I had several MRIs, a CT scan, took Elderberry wine as a medication, and saw a chiropractor who told me I had a sensitivity to aluminum and citrus fruits. After hopefully, but skeptically, avoiding both aluminum and citrus fruits for a few months, as well as receiving light therapy treatments, nothing really changed and my headaches continued as usual. Finally, I felt like the only thing I hadn't tried was acupuncture. I had always thought about it, but didn't know where to go. After a friend recommended Cheech, I decided that it was time to give acupuncture a try. Although I was nervous, Cheech quickly put me at ease and assured me that he could help me. I have been receiving acupuncture for several months now, and the difference has been life-changing for me. Although I still have headaches, they are much less severe and they go away almost immediately once I take my medicine. Just knowing that has changed my life in ways that no one can imagine. I don't worry about headaches controlling my life now—even if I do have one I know that it will not control me. I can simply take my medicine and it will go away. Such a simple thing, but after my pain was out of my control for so many years this has been an unbelievably positive change in my life.

 

                                                                                                                                                                -Julie M.​