Nowadays, far more than ever before, people can do useful science (collect data, draw conclusions) about their own health. This personal science can produce much better results than expert advice. For example, I found ways to sleep better and raise my mood superior to what sleep and mood experts know. I wonder how others are using this new power. This is why I wrote a story for Boing Boing about a woman (Sarah) who figured out what caused her migraines after conventional doctors failed to help her. She was eventually helped by an expert (a naturopath) but most of the improvement came from self-experimentation showing that cleaning and skin care products caused migraines.
The story got many comments. A surprising number were eerily dismissive. You might think it was a good thing that Sarah got rid of frequent crippling migraines after doctors failed to. Nope: “Anecdotes are not data” (56 likes). The same person also said “data is data”. Both are examples of preventive stupidity. “Big Brother loves you,” replied Mark Frauenfelder, and I agree. Another surprising comment was “Don’t encourage these people” (= people like Sarah). One of the dismissista s came to his senses. “I’d simply like to close with an apology, as on reflection little I’ve posted here has been useful or expansive,” he wrote.
Some comments nicely summed up the main points of the story. “When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail” was a good description of Sarah’s conventional doctors. They acted as if their only tool was the ability to write prescriptions — so every problem called for a prescription. When the first 10 drugs didn’t work, they tried more drugs. When the first 30 drugs didn’t work, they tried more drugs. Surely this is bad medicine, yet, as far as I can tell, that’s what they learn to do.
Some comments asked questions it would have helped if I had anticipated. How could Sarah have tried 50 different migraine drugs and 13 different birth control pills in one year? I wasn’t puzzled by this but details would have clarified things.
Above all, the comments supported my belief that Sarah’s problem was common. Many commenters said they had migraines caused by environmental triggers. Only one said his migraines turned out to be caused by a tumor. In spite of this pattern of causality, the comments also suggested that conventional doctors generally prescribe drugs for migraines. (“They had the prescription typed into the system before I was even finished telling them what was going on.”) It’s like trying to enter a room by breaking through a wall (prescribing a drug) instead of using the door (finding the triggers). It’s as if all they have is a sledgehammer.
“data is data”: bollocks. “Data” is plural.
“It’s time to admit that data has joined agenda, erotica, insignia, opera, and other technically plural Latin and Greek words that have become thoroughly Anglicized as singular nouns, taking singular verbs. No plural form is necessary, and the old singular form, datum, can be left to the Romans.”
https://www.linztech.com/grammarcentral-topics.htm#data
There is a certain ingredient in that is common in perfumes and personal care products that triggers migraines for me. I know it as soon as I smell it. My wife has had to throw out new soaps and lotions because of the “smell.”
Another trigger for me is eating something made of processed carbs first when I am very hungry. Since I cut the wheat and most processed food out of my diet, I rarely get migraines anymore, and when I do they are usually pretty mild compared to the old days.
Hardly anyone believes it though, and very few try it. People do not want to change how they are living, even if it is harming them. They prefer a short cut every time (i.e. drugs).
Dearieme and Alex, lol. You really get to the heart of the matter.
I recently suffered migraines up to 2 times per week which started in my right temple. I thought I had tried everything – naturopath, chiropractor, regular neck stretches, avoiding common triggers (e.g caffeine, chocolate, red wine etc). After seeing a very clever osteopath, we deduced that looking at the ergonomics of my desk at work was key because it was likely that my right shoulder was getting overworked from using the mouse with my right hand. She also gave me exercises to strengthen my mid back. The thing that made the greatest difference was swapping the mouse to my left hand (which required a few days training) and surprise, surprise, no migraines.
Fascinating story, Pen Pen.
The doctros were actually tinkering. They tried all drugs looking fr the effects.
The only difrences were
More dangerous. Less emthodical (they do not measure methodically the effects daily). And pretending authority and science.
This is what a friend noted to me. That we do many tricks etc. Unconsciously, but do not notice it consciously.
PS. What is your new book about?
I have had migraines since I was a child and my 13 yr. old son has had them since he was 8. He was having 2/week with vomiting by age 10. 6 years ago I began suspecting my diet was the primary cause of my migraines. At that point they ruled my life and affected every aspect. Doctors, naturopaths, herbalists, acupuncturist, holistic MD’s, biofeedback, and medications did not help much or for long. After going gluten-free for unrelated reasons I noticed a small improvement immediately and thus began my search for an answer in my diet.
I now avoid consuming artificial chemicals; all herbs and spices; most fruits and veggies (not all!); anything fermented; and generally avoid all grains. I also avoid strong and artificial scents. Foods that are high in amines, salicylates, and tannins definitely cause headaches for me. If I follow the diet, I have no migraines. My son follows a modified version of my diet and has a migraine less than every month. My best diet consists of meat, salt, butter, (Dr. Mercola at https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/12/07/why-is-butter-better.aspx) has great info regarding the benefits of butter!), raw milk, egg yolk, cabbage, kale, lettuce, carrots, potatoes, apples, pears, and mango.
David Buchholz, MD (Johns Hopkins neurologist) wrote a book, Heal Your Headache: The 123 Program, about the strong connection between headaches and diet and has a good explanation for the difficulty in determining headache triggers. And this sight is great for info on the potentially problematic chemicals in foods https://failsafediet.wordpress.com/.
On the topic of the efficacy of drugs, I was wondering if you had read these two New York Review of Books articles:
https://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2011/jun/23/epidemic-mental-illness-why/
and
https://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2011/jul/14/illusions-of-psychiatry/
A fascinating review of books comparing whether drugs work better than placebos…mostly they don’t…
Yes, I read them and blogged about them: search “Marcia Angell”.