Posted by Margi (161.184.81.207) on January 04, 2002 at 14:24:50:
I saw a post further down the board that was almost like dangling a carrot in front of a sufferer's nose without offering any help other than to suggest they join OUCH. (In other words, join OUCH and maybe then I'll tell you how to find relief!)
That's not what we're here for, folks. OUCH is here to promote understanding of cluster headaches, to hopefully fund research into the treatment and cure of cluster headaches. But we're also here to act as a buffer for the cluster headache sufferer who comes to us for the first time, looking for relief. We've all been that sufferer or supporter at one point and, frankly, if I'd gotten that answer when I first found this place, I would have continued searching elsewhere and gone away thinking it would cost us MORE money to find relief for my husband's headaches.
If we, as OUCH members can't direct the newbies to find the proper resources, I don't know why we're here. You don't HAVE to join OUCH to read the OUCH website. There is LOTS of fabulous information there that is free for the clicking.
Let's keep things in perspective here - first and foremost, help the sufferers and their supporters. Once folks find that OUCH has some valuable resources, and is open for business maybe THEN membership will increase.
Sorry, Elaine, if this goes against membership committee principles, but I honestly don't think it does. Please know that this is not a personal attack on anyone - I've seen this happen before too by different people, I guess I've just finally found my courage to speak up about it.