you said it
Breath of Fresh Air A number of years ago , I read in your NHF newsletter , HeadLines , of oxygen inhalation as a treatment for cluster headache . I brought this to the attention of my primary care provider , and we gave it a try when my next spell ensued . The success in aborting or mitigating the severity of my headaches was far beyond my expectations and far superior to any of the medications I had tried over the years . I would say it changed my feelings about the spells — which mercifully recur only about every three years and last about a month — from utter dread to a manageable challenge to be met .
I was therefore surprised to see no mention of oxygen therapy in last issue ’ s discussion of cluster treatments and medications . I think any piece on clusters should include this valuable information so it can reach and help others as it did me .
– Thomas B .
Better Together My heart goes out to Ellen R ., who suffers from both chronic migraine and fibromyalgia , from the Reader Mail section ( pg . 11 ) of the last issue . Somebody has to help her ! Has she seen a neurologist ? How about Neurontin ? I know somebody who is on that and it ’ s helping so much . Is she all alone ? Thank you for giving her a vehicle to reach out for help . – Maria R . HW : If you ’ re looking for advice from other headache sufferers or just need an outlet , join the community on the NHF Facebook page .
School Days Thank you for supporting people with headaches . As an 18-year-old college student who has had a nonstop migraine for the past year , it means a lot that people are raising awareness about this . Throughout my senior year of high school , it was hard to tell parents and teachers , “ Yes , I do have a migraine every day .” Thank you for reaching out to those who are in a similar situation . – Kayla P .
Come Back ! Your magazine is a tremendous disappointment . The vast majority of its content is for and about people with migraines . Those of us with other types of headaches get little or no attention or , most important , help . As awful as migraines are — and I know many people who have them — other headache disorders are awful , too , and deserve just as much attention . As far as the magazine goes , count me out . – Marsha H . HW : Hey , Marsha , if you ’ re still out there , we ’ re sorry you feel that way , but we ’ re working on it . Check out our website , www . headwisemag . org , for articles on nighttime headaches , new daily persistent headache and more .
Pass It On Waiting in a doctor ’ s office yesterday , I came across your magazine . Very impressive ! I notified my California cousin , and she was very interested . She has lived with migraines for most of her life . I will also send your website link to my brother-in-law who gets those terrible cluster headaches . Again , I was impressed with your premiere issue . The articles and photography were so well done . – Ann B .
Try , Try Again Wonderful first issue , but no mention of how to receive a regular copy at home . I will be telling other sufferers . Thanks . – Katherine H . HW : Hey , Katherine , glad you like the mag . All you have to do to receive an issue is become a member of the NHF . Go to www . headwisemag . org / subscribe . www
If you have comments or suggestions about Head Wise or www . headwisemag . org , send them to editor @ headwisemag . org or post them on the NHF Facebook page .
CORRECTION : In our Volume 1 , Issue 2 Q & A ( page 24 ) with Frederick G . Freitag , DO , we mistakenly accredited Dr . Freitag as an MD . He is , in fact , a doctor of osteopathic medicine , or DO . Our apologies to Dr . Freitag .
6 HEAD WISE | Volume 1 , Issue 3 • 2011