Symptoms I

The following was written nine years ago when I decided to ascertain the cause of Ben's frequent migraines. Thinking it might be food related, I put him on a diet and attempted to catalog his eating habits. I sent a daily email on my observations to my friend Kelly Daniele who had grown worried after witnessing some of these episodes. I was forced to abandon my efforts three days later though, and return to life.

Cluster Headache Dietary Trials - Day 1:
Morning:
Ben, who has willingly agreed to these trials, balks at the absence of sugary cereal at breakfast.  He attempts to fix a bowl of Ramen, but settles for a large meal of eggs and cheese toast.  He supplements upstairs with a homemade chocolate chip cookie he has stored in a baggie.

Lunch:
Ben agrees hungrily to a bowl of vegetarian vegetable soup (after confirming that there would be no fries).  He blanches to discover that it has been diluted with a little water.  He ultimately accepts the bowl, but crabs, "I feel like an old man!"

After Lunch:
Ben recounts a story where a group of survivors are forced to eat their own buttocks.

Snack time:
We are working math problems on the back deck to enjoy the warm sun and brisk breeze. This time is punctuated with declarations of dire hunger, starvation, and encroaching scurvy.  I offer homemade trail mix.  Dog-like, Ben snuffles through the nuts, leaving the dried cherries behind.  I threaten, and he gobbles the fruit in one gulp - to abbreviate the horror. He is caught sneaking two to the dogs.  He demands some of the M&M's for his troubles and receives two.

Math time:
Allie has made everyone a glass of lemon water which Ben slurps gratefully.  However, I later find the sugar bowl has clumps of sugar from Ben's wet, digging fingers.  He admits to retrieving one "lump" to sweeten his lemonade when he was ostensibly going for more ice.

Late afternoon:
Ben is sent outside to put in an hour of P.E.  He comes back fifteen minutes later saying it FELT like an hour. I look on helplessly. The rest of the afternoon is spent inquiring about dinner.

Dinner:
Ben returns for more roast and is warned to leave some for Dad and Luke (who will soon be home from work).  He protests injuredly that he's not an animal after all.  But, suspiciously, there is not enough roast for Luke to have seconds as well.  Ben leaves a dirty plate upstairs.

After scouts:
Ben begs for a hamburger from Sonic. I say no, and he says, "Well, how about onion rings?"

Back home:
I have shopped and brought home the items Ben requested for these trials: Iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, hoagies, and 1,000 Island (Kraft or Kroger, but NOT Wishbone or homemade).  He begins to make a sandwich (even though it is 9:00 p.m.). I relent because, actually, we are all starving. Even Allen emerged from his lair to make a bologna sandwich.  Ben then proceeds to make a salad as well, so I allow Luke to eat half the huge sandwich Ben has created (for that is how he views his sandwich artistry).  He squeals in a decibel I did not think possible since he entered puberty.

To be continued.........