Posted by JD on March 01, 1999 at 17:58:24:
In Reply to: Have you sent your Email to 48 hours yet? posted by Toni on February 28, 1999 at 17:09:16:
Dear Producers:
I understand the March 4 show will be about severe and/or chronic pain. Based on a promo for the show, it appears you will cover migrane headaches. While I do not mean to minimize anyone's pain (it is to be judged by the sufferer), I would like to point out that migranes are not the most painful form of headache.
You may not have heard about the most severe form of headache is called Cluster Headaches. They are called Cluster because they come in a group, usually over a period of weeks or months, and then go away for months or years, only to return. I suffer chronic clusters - they don't go away.
The malady is so unusual most doctors - even neurologists - have either never heard of it or have never treated anyone with it. It is often / usually mis-diagnosed. There are a number of preventive treatments or abortive treatments, but many sufferers do not get much relief. I'm one of the fortunate ones. I have seen a real specialist and have been cluster free for almost two years after 7 years of life-altering pain.
The web-site noted above is a self-help and moral support group dedicated to cluster headache sufferers - clusterheads we call ourselves. Check it out. It may give you some real insight into one of the least known and most painful forms of headache.
I hope your show gets good ratings. I'll be watching. I will also be interested in whether or how you cover headaches.
James D. Rosen
JDRosen@aol,com