Posted by Nathan Wright on May 21, 1999 at 15:11:39:
In Reply to: Re: New Cluster Headache Book posted by lc bob on May 19, 1999 at 20:27:16:
Dear Lc Bob,
217 cluster sufferers and their doctors provided firsthand accounts of their particular experiences regarding age at onset, length of cycles, pain, triggers, effective and ineffective treatments, etc.
Their personal experiences are insightful because they are grouped by category and provide patterns
that were analyzed in the appendix. Common triggers as defined in the book refer to things that are thought by the respondent to provoke the condition when in the midst of a cluster episode (a cluster "episode" being equated with non-remission periods, that is, the approximately 10 week period during which non-chronic sufferers suffer). In the appendix, triggers are listed in order of those things "Most Commonly Reported" by respondents as being capable of triggering a personal attack. Alcohol and smoking were the two most commonly reported triggers.
I am a cluster sufferer, hence my willingness to publish a book on this subject. Although alcohol, for me, does not appear to precipitate an attack, and I do not smoke, smoke from a fire, or second-hand smoke, does appear to initiate an attack in me personally. A similar report by a respondent would be tabulated as a "smoking" trigger.
The cluster book is organized in such a way so that you may read each respondent's remarks. Although this cluster book is not the final word on this mysterious ailment, it is helpful, and the initial response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many sufferers quite grateful for it availability and content.
I hope this was helpful.
Sincerely,
Nathan Wright