Migraine Books

I thought I would ask what migraine books anyone has. If they have any that they feel have helped in any way.
Also any that are crap and dont waste your money.
There are a lot out there...of course...

I have several, but would have to go upstairs and check them out.
Which I will of course, but meanwhile I am very fond of one by Andrew Dowson. Questions and Answers.

P

Ok, I also have Keeler Migraine Method.by Robert Cowan
and
Heal Your Headache, by David Bucholz.

Anyone familiar with these?

I've read Heal Your Headache. I thought for a beginner or a common migraine patient it was very helpful and one of the better ones out there. I've looked through maybe 20 migraine and headache books over the years at libraries and bookstores (browsing). I wouldn't pay money for any migraine book because it is very unlikely you will read it cover to cover more than once. If there is some stuff you want from it, scan the few pages or take some notes. Save your money for the copays, lol. There are many at the library, or use the library system to order them from another library, or ask and many times they will buy it for you. But mostly, there is better info on the web than in books. So many of the books say the same things. Of course, I think many of us here on the forum are in the smaller percentage of migraine patients (more severe and more frequent and more untreatable). I would take any resource with a grain of salt until you figure out if it is reputable. One of my favorite resources besides these forums is headachedrugs.com (Dr. Robbin's site for articles). Best wishes.

tortoisegirl wrote: Of course, I think many of us here on the forum are in the smaller percentage of migraine patients (more severe and more frequent and more untreatable). I would take any resource with a grain of salt until you figure out if it is reputable.

I agree. I also agree that the web has the best sources for us chronic migraineurs, as long as the source is confirmed as reliable and knowledgeable.

I have several migraine books and I've read several others. Most everything pertains to episodic migraines or the person who is just beginning to have migraines.

Becky

hi pen i have several books some that i havent read yet, i need to go and look at titles and authors, the few that i have read are ok as long as you have occasional migraines or monthly migranies liked to your cycle, i havent found one that can give good advice when you have constant daily migraines ,and have tried all ususal routes, if anyone has a book that has helped greatly with persistant daily migraines i would love the name and author??

There is an exception. One of our top headache neurologists Dr Andrew Dowson has a book called Migraine and Other Headaches: Your Questions Answered
It was recommended to me by another neurologist. It is very expensive, but an excellent reference book.
I am hoping he will update it soon. He's a nice guy too, and he, his wife and daughter all have migraines...

There is a lot more on the web of course, but a huge amount of it has the same problem as the books....not aimed at the chronic sufferer. And a lot sorry to say is inaccurate, and much just total crap.
I do find it hard to wade through. I think its nice that Teri does a lot of that for us....

P

Oh and the Keeler book I mentioned. He also is a miggie, and does deal with chronic migraine...

Hi,

I have several books on migraine- some have been helpful, some have not. For better or worse- here is the list of migraine books I have and my views on them. I hope it is helpful.

Migraines and Other Headaches By Stephen Silberstein, et Al-- very helpful. It was particularly helpful when I was first diagnosed. I reccomend it highly.

Migraines- by Oliver Sacks- it is ok, but nearly unreadable due to the medicalese is hard to read.

All in My Head- by Paula Kamen- this is extremely good. It takes through one persons journey with chronic migraine and trying to find treatment. It is definitely worth reading.

The Idiots guide to Migraine- (a friend gave it to me as a joke)- however, it has some great infromation on migraine and I would reccomend it.

I would reccomend all of these. I hope that this helps.

Pain free days,
sailingm

Thanks a lot. Not read any of these. I guess we do get different books either side of the pond.
Probably all on Amazon but we wouldn't necessarily not them.

The best migraine book EVER, and I am very suprised no one mentioned it yet is

ALL IN MY HEAD: An Epic Quest to Cure an Unrelenting, Totally Unreasonable, and Only Slightly Enlightening Headache by PAULA KAMEN

Paula Kamen is an investigative journalists and a migraineur patient to boot, so who's better equipped than her to write a M book?

You can take a peek at her book here, but I strongly advise to BUY BUY BUY this book, it's worth owning, not borrowing owning a book!:

http://books.google.ca/books?id=dLEVFN_nDC4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=all+in+my+head+paula+kamen&source=bl&ots=nTCQXEFZvv&sig=G4Y0KArE3KXm5tI0WWFeQqZPeEo&hl=en&ei=EdeBS_r-H5TYsQOJqLmGBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Another decent M book is by our own Teri Robert "Living Well with Migraine Disease and Headaches" By Teri Robert, PhD

Living Well with Migraine Disease and Headaches:
http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060827762/Living_Well_with_Migraine_Disease_and_Headaches/index.aspx

and the very first book I ever read and bought and which directed me to Ronda's website -YES!- our Ronda's old website was by dr Elkind
"Migraines: Everything You Need to Know About Their Cause and Cure"


It is a bit outdated book, unless you buy an updated version, but still good because dr Elkind explains a lot in a simple manner, for example why we have nausea but can't vomit during an episode, so it's well worth reading , too.
I still recommend this book, too. And although he uses "cure" in the title, in the book he explains there is no known cure for M as the origin of M is still unknown.

Risa

Oh sorry just SAW Paula's book WAS mentioned after all!

just another migrainity moment in its glory, sheesh!

Risa

CluelessKitty wrote:Oh sorry just SAW Paula's book WAS mentioned after all!

just another migrainity moment in its glory, sheesh!
Risa

No probs Risa, thanks. Just consider it an extra endorsement..

The most recent migraine book that I have acquired (my Christmas present) is The Migraine Brain by Carolyn Bernstein, M.D. and Elaine McArdle; both of whom are migrainers. I have read through it once, and plan to read through it again and fill out the various checklists and charts.

The one thing that I did not like is that she is against the use of Fioricet and Fiorinal. Fioricet is my rescue medicine. On the other hand she covers, and supports, the use of some Complementary and Alternative Treatments; including Yoga, but fails to mention Chi Gung. She is also against using herbs like Feverfew or Butterbur. Otherwise it is a fairly comprehensive (555 pages) book.

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I also have MIGRAINE: The Complete Guide by The American Council on Headache Eduction with Lynne M. Constantine & Suzanne Scott. It has some interesting charts listing various migraine medications. Though, unless a newer edition (than the copy that I have) has come out, it may be slightly out of date, since the only triptan mentioned is Sumatriptan (Imitrex, Imigran). I need to reread it again.

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I think that I have a couple more migraine books, but they are not accessable right now. I need to go dig them up.

I just got the book.....Migraine Auras: When the Visual World Fails (though it certainly includes auras that are not visual). I have a lot of trouble with my aura symptoms and thought this would be helpful. It is pretty good so far - even though I can't find any meds that work for me knowledge is power and it makes me feel better to understand what is going on in my head. It has 3 chapters: The Nature and Experience of Migraine Auras, The Biology of Auras, and The Treatment of Migraine Auras.

CluelessKitty wrote:The best migraine book EVER, and I am very suprised no one mentioned it yet is

ALL IN MY HEAD: An Epic Quest to Cure an Unrelenting, Totally Unreasonable, and Only Slightly Enlightening Headache by PAULA KAMEN

Paula Kamen is an investigative journalists and a migraineur patient to boot, so who's better equipped than her to write a M book?

I think this has been the best book I've read with regard to migraine. If nothing else, just for relating all the treatments, meds, supplements, etc. we try to cope with migraine disease. Her honest sharing of her experiences was comforting to me. I think it should be a mandatory read for all non-migraineurs who are close to a migraine sufferer. It offers so much insight into the symptoms, emotional suffering, side-effects of meds and treatments.....everything.

Thanks for mentioning this one, Risa.

Becky

The Keeler Migraine Method is where I learned to take an abortive for a preventive. Has worked every time. That is advice I know you wouldn't get from your regular doctor. Pretty much everything else in the book I pretty much already knew but it was worth every penny for that one piece of advice. Haven't read any new books recently.

I knew someone else had read that one....

I haven't read much on migraines. Just because my case seems different and I don't have a causal diagnosis. I'm not sure I want to lay a ton of $ out on information that I may already know or things that don't seem to pertain to me. I have a grasp of the physiology of a migraine, the categories of preventatives and some of the theories behind them, triggers (which I don't know that I have), and some basic coping. So what are books that really may be beneficial? There seem to be a lot that have listed that were more of an entry level or for the sporadic sufferer.

If you had to list 2-3 books that you would say were a must read what would they be?

Well my two would be the Andrew Dowson one I mentioned, and the Keeler method.
Andy Dowson is more of a reference book but he is good and a nice bloke.
Keeler is a kind of a programme but he has migraines so not patronising.

So that would be my two....oh the Dowson one is a tech book and pricey.
Library job I think.

That's where I'm thinking of going first - library. Just to check them out and see if it would be something I would want to keep as a reference copy.

For me the best book has always been Dr. Robbin's book, "Headache Help."

We have had some great neurologists who believed in prescribing lots of different meds. I think Anna has tried close to 90 medications. I always felt that Dr. Robbins validated the preventatives that were being prescribed. And the things you do when you've come to "the end of the line."

His book helped me make sense of it all. Mine is a well worn copy.

Cheryl

Interesting reading people's recommendations. One I like is 'Migraine Your Questions Answered' by Dr Carol A Foster. She's a migraineur and headache specialist. I don't usually like question and answer books but it flows well and isn't irritating. Yes, there's a lot that's in other books but she also gives a wealth of tips that have proved useful to me. Every so often I pick it up and read it again and it reminds me of something I could be doing. I picked it up in the library but liked it so much I ordered it from Amazon. Highly recommended.

I shall look out for some that have been mentioned, thanks. Not too many though, sometimes I reach saturation point

Liz

What a great load of responses, thank you.
I am compiling a list.
Really good to share.
I am glad I thought of it...

I haven't read a lot of books written by the medical doctors but I think it's safe to assume they aren't big into alternative therapies, and most often than not they haven't tried these by themselves.

One more BIG point for Paula Kamen's "All In My Head..." is that she was trying out not only the traditional pharmaceutical therapies but all kinds of alternative ones as well, by herself, and is sharing the outcome with the reader.

To me it's very important thing as one often hears the rumors about various natural and holistic methods but hardly ever encounters someone who actually did tried them and can tell about the experience first hand.

Risa