MT. ROYAL, NJ (September 28, 2010) – "Migraine feels like God just punched you in the side of the face," says author Andrew Levy in his interview on the American Migraine Foundation's (AMF) new podcast series, "Off the Top of Our Heads". "It's a metaphysical crisis."
In the interview AMF's president Barry Baumel MD, takes the author through his personal experience with managing the pain of migraine, how not to be a "naïve" patient, and the need for more research funding for this disease that affects some 36 million Americans.
The eight-minute podcast can be heard on AMF's website, www.americanmigrainefoundation.org by clicking on the Podcast icon.
"The podcasts are designed to share a range of perspectives on migraine that we hope will bring insights on this disease to those who treat migraine patients and those who suffer with this disabling disease," says Dr. Baumel. "In his book, Andrew's experience with the disease, while much like most migraine sufferers, is lyrically told and is witty and smart."
Levy is a biographer, essayist and author, and professor and director of The Writer's Studio at Butler University in Indianapolis. His book was praised by the famous neurologist Oliver Sacks, MD, as a "window into the whole landscape of the body and mind, health and disease, and the sheer complexity of being alive."
Some excerpts from the podcast are below:
On migraine pain:
"When my migraines are particularly bad, it really feels like the pain is coming from somewhere else. It doesn't feel like it's part of me or something that I'm generating…but of course it is."
On getting the right treatment:
"You can't be a naïve patient with migraine…I think people have to walk into [the doctor's office] saying I have a disease. I want treatment. If you don't give it to me, refer me to someone who will…"
On migraine research funding:
"…there's a hundred times more per person [spent] for epilepsy research [than for migraine research], 33 times more for people with asthma…these numbers are utterly disproportionate to the pain being caused."
Levy's book was published by Simon & Schuster and is available online and in bookstores.
About the American Migraine Foundation
The American Migraine Foundation is a non-profit foundation supported by the American Headache Society and generous donors dedicated to the advancement of migraine research. The mission of this newly formed foundation is to support innovative research that will lead to improvement in the lives of those who suffer from migraine and other disabling headaches. www.americanmigrainefoundation.org
About the American Headache Society
The American Headache Society® (AHS) is a professional society of health care providers dedicated to the study and treatment of headache and face pain. The Society's objectives are to promote the exchange of information and ideas concerning the causes and treatments of headache and related painful disorders. Educating physicians, health professionals and the public and encouraging scientific research are the primary functions of this organization. AHS activities include an annual scientific meeting, a comprehensive headache symposium, regional symposia for neurologists and family practice physicians, publication of the journal Headache and sponsorship of the AHS Committee for Headache Education (ACHE). www.americanheadachesociety.org