Capsaicin Intolerance

Okay, so this is neither about God, nor is it about security, but it's too important for me to not post, so here goes.

I have had debilitating headaches for years. Probably 6 or 7. They would typically hit one side of my head, often behind the eye, or to the side at the temple. My neck would sometimes hurt as if it were "out of whack". For years I had a "cure." I would take 3 Advil and one red Sudafed pill, then I would lie on my back for 45 minutes. It seemed that, usually, at the 45 minute mark I would feel my sinuses crackle and drain, and my headache would go away.

Recently, about a year ago, this stopped working. I'd still do it, in hopes that it was lessening the pain, but it became a case of having to wait them out. This was unfortunate, as they used to also disappear without treatment overnight. Now, they would last for over 24 hours with alarming regularity. They were also happening much more frequently. What used to be an occasional (every month) occurrence became every week and then many times per week. They weren't always debilitating, but half of the fear was knowing that it *may* turn into a killer suicidal OMFG headache.

I went to the doctor, and we tried Butalbitol. Some luck keeping the killer ones at bay, but I still had headaches, now more often than not (this was over this last summer). When my perscription ran out, I was screwed.

Then something strange happened: Someone at work mentioned allergies. I did some searches, but couldn't find anything that seemed to be what I wanted. Allergies involve an immediate reaction to the stimulus. I had seen no pattern of even vaguely immediate feedback. I would get them just before heading home frequently, no matter what I had (or didn't have) for lunch.

One article, however, mentioned "intolerance" factors. I looked them up, and they seemed focused on things like lactose intolerance and such which manifest as gastrointenstinal problems.

Not me (or, at least, not my primary problem). They *did* have one interesting factor, however; timing. Intolerance issues would regularly be hours to a day and a half later. Still, these didn't point to headaches.

One site (wish I could remember which) had a side note about capsaicin intolerance. You know, that chemical that makes chili peppers hot? One result of this was -- Ta Daaa! -- headaches.

My life is hot food. Most mornings, I would get a breakfast burrito at my local joint and it would be HOT. My wife makes the best green chili in the world. I love the Armadillo, Three Margaritas, Q-Doba, Chipotle and many local Mexican food joints.

I put Cholula, Frank's, Bruce's, and Louisiana style hot sauce on darn near everything except cold cereal.

But I stopped cold turkey a month ago.

No headaches. None. Nada. Zilch.

Damn.

Last Friday (3 and a half weeks into this) I put it to the test: Three steak soft tacos from Chipotle Grill for lunch.

A tickly Friday evening, and a headache all day Saturday. Not a debilitating one (after all, I didn't put hot sauce on them, and I ordered them mild) but the chipotle marinade seems to have been enough to set off a minor headache.

I will give updates, but I wanted to post this as I could find no one else who seemed to share my problem. For someone out there, I hope my discovery will help you, because I was getting near my wits end.

Now I feel great!

-B