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Some years ago, Tony began having severe migraines about once a month. They gradually became more frequent
and severe, at which point his doctor started prescribing a drug which provided relief from pain so acute he couldn't imagine getting
out of bed unless he needed to vomit. In time, repeated use of the drug also often caused rebound migraines and was making Tony "dumb
and punchy."
"I was hurting," recalls the 61-year-old Ojai resident, who was having incapacitating migraines several
times a week. Then, desperate for help, Tony found the Keeler Migraine Center, where he first went through a complicated process
that educated him about migraines. He also began journaling, a cathartic process that helped him identify his migraine "triggers."
As a self-employed business owner working 60-80 + hours a week and commuting between his Ojai home and Los Angeles,
Tony says, "The word 'normal' had never been in my vocabulary." But on Dr. Cowan's advice, he reduced to a 50-60 hour work week,
exercising with less intensity and taking advantage of the Keeler Center's weekly meditation and support groups, which are among the many
complementary therapies offered.
Underscoring his progress, Tony has seen tremendous improvement. "And my wife has noticed the difference!" he laughs
and says of the wonderful woman he married 43 years ago. Now Tony's idea of a good week is one where he either has just a mild headache
or no migraines at all.
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