This is actually what I think happened to me, i.e. my brain surgery changed my brain chemistry so it was sensitive to and negatively impacted by things which it hadn't been before, primarily aspartame. If you aren't keeping a headache journal, I really urge you to. When I got a headache, I wrote down what I had eaten or had to drink a hour before, what I had been doing, what the weather was like it, etc. Patterns started to appear. My Mayo Clinic neurologist recommended taking Excedrin when heavy duty prescription pain pills weren't working and for me they were a miracle. By eliminating my triggers and taking Excedrin, I got my life back. However, please note I was taking them under a doctor's supervision and do NOT recommend you try them without a doctor's recommendation. I didn't understand a previous post about not taking any pain pills, frankly...maybe the poster meant opiates?...but please consult your doctor if you want to try Excedrin. Good luck! Nancy