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Product Reviews:
Migraine |
Rating: 3 (out of 5)
Summary: Medically great however tedious
Comments: Oliver Sacks is better in theaters than read. I consider "The man who mistook his wife with a hat" the only readable book from him. |
Rating: 3 (out of 5)
Summary: An okay overview of the types of migraine
Comments: This is a pretty great review of the varieties of migraines and the various symptoms people experience.
However, it does not actually explain the physiology of migraine; the actual cause of migraine.
It was interesting, however did not really supply any answers, just descriptions. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: Explains a lot
Comments: I have suffered from migraines for years, however, many of my experiences were strictly visual: without pain. I have enjoyed reading Dr. Sacks' work before and this book is no exception to the rule. I am an artist. When I saw the color plates showing what other non artists experienced visually during or before a migraine, I was floored. These images explained it all to me. I have seen the same types of things since I was a child.
Interesting book and helpful to those who "suffer" from migraine. I put suffer in quotes because I enjoy the visual disturbances unless they occur when I am trying to read or online!! I am sorry I did not purchase this book sooner. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: the best book on migraine
Comments: This is informative, scholarly and interesting at the same time. I read it and look at the illustrations and I am amazed at how many of my life's experiences have been related to the migraine. The condition changes - or can change - throughout a lifetime. I had no idea. |
Rating: 4 (out of 5)
Summary: Fascinating
Comments: I found the book helpful and interesting. I do not know why some reviewer's found it so difficult. It is true that he describes many case studies and that only some of those would coincide with any1person's experience (thank greatness, I'd hate for anyone to have all those symptoms). Perhaps 75% of it did not apply to me personally, however that part was interesting too. Some of the case studies were similar to my father's migraines, some similar to my mother's. My sister and my nephew have slightly different symptoms that were described. The book connected all of them. however, what made me really grateful for the book is that Sacks described (as rare occurrences) several bizaree incidents in my life which I had never been able to explain. Times when I had told a doctor what I had experienced and had him shrug his shoulders, or even get angry and say, "How can you expect me to diagnose anything based on that?" Or simply not believe me. For many years, migraines ruled my life. It was not unusual for1to last for 3 or 4 days. Intense, unremitting pain. It took a couple of decades for them to be diagnosed. I can not tell you how many times I was treated for sinus infections. Even after diagnosis and referral to a neurologist, there was no treatment that was effective. Then my doctor started telling me about that a new drug would soon be released that might help. I hounded his office, asking if it was out yet. It was delayed and delayed, however at last Imitrex was released, 1st as an injection, now it is a pill. And for me it works. My doctor says that it works for approximately 70% of migraine sufferers. It changed my life. Now I can take this pill, lie down in a dark room if possible, and an hour later, the headache is gone. My neurologist said that they have now identified a flawed gene that fails to produce a protein that is common in many migraine sufferes. Imitrex interacts with the neuro receptor that is looking for that protein. however like Sacks said, migraines are overdetermined. There are many factors involved and he covered almost all of them in his book. He missed one. Dehydration plays a major role in my migraines. If my head begins to hurt, the 1st thing I do is drink a glass of water. |
