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New York Times Migraine (and Chronic Daily Headache) Blog
By Kerrie | February 11, 2008
Launched last week, the New York Times’ new migraine blog provides patient and expert perspectives on migraine and chronic daily headache. From the first two posts, it looks to be an excellent addition to the growing community of headache and migraine blogs.
“Philosophical resignation” is how author and migraineur Siri Hustvedt describes her acceptance of migraine as part of her life:
Our media fetishizes the heart-warming stories of those who, against all odds, never lose hope and fight their way to triumph over poverty, addiction, disease. The person who lies back and says,
Topics: Community, Coping, News, Society, Treatment |
February 12th, 2008 at 4:14 am
Thanks for posting this good article by Siri Hustvedt!!!
February 12th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I just heard part of the NPR program about migraines and this blog. I was so pleased to hear this reported on, but I wish there had been more depth and more useful information.
I don’t have migraines anymore! I wish you all the same. Mine were relatively minor for many years, beginning in my early 20s and not officially diagnosed until they worsened in my early 40s. But then my whole life changed.
They would start at 4 am as vomiting woke me. Then the pain came, snaking up out of my brain stem. It felt like the back of my head would split open. It spread all over my head.
The vomiting continued every half hour until something - usually a heavy tranquilizer delivered by suppository - stopped it and put me to sleep and ended the headache.
I tried every pharmaceutical available but there were only side effects. I meditated and practiced relaxation techniques, which helped very little. I was told I had basilar migraine, which was untreatable. I nearly lost my job because I was sick for a week after each of these. They came twice a month. Each one was worse than the one before.
My husband and I had heard that cannabis worked for migraines but we didn’t know where to get it. Under threat of being fired and being so sick so often, it seemed like a good idea to find some - a challenge because we didn’t know how to get it. Fortunately, my husband prevailed.
The first time I tried it, the nausea came under control very quickly and then the most amazing thing happened. It felt like an eraser moving along the pain pathway. Within a few minutes, it killed the headache. I fell asleep for a few hours and then went to work. I felt funny for a day or so, but that was it. I went from being sick two weeks a month to having two 4 hour migraines a month.
After being told by several male neurologists that there was “no such thing as menstrual migraines”, two years after menopause the headaches and the vomiting stopped completely. I have not a migraine since. Now, of course, the association with estrogen is well known.
I know that cannabis is illegal in many places, but I certainly recommend it to anyone with intractable migraine. I also hope that the medical community will find a solution soon.
Thanks again for your blog. And good luck to you all from a fellow, former sufferer.
March 27th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I have suffered with chronic DAILY migraines for 7 years. Doctor after doctor have tried all of the bp meds, anticonvulsants, beta-blockers, you name it I’ve tried it. They basicly gave up on me and classified my headaches as “rebound”. I did start having headaches before I ever took anything for them.
I have found myself in a desperate search for relief of my pain as doctors don’t give pain medicine to migraine sufferers. I believe this is because of the abuse of medication in this society is so bad Doctors are afraid of being sued. There must be something done about this. Maybe give the patient a lie detector test or some kind of scan to PROVE this intense pain that they can’t see!!
I too have resorted to the use of canibus as it is my ONLY relief unless I can find me a couple of lortabs. If anyone wants to start a movement to protest this craziness write something on here and maybe we can get something going!