Posted by todd (139.62.224.5) on June 24, 1999 at 13:07:50:
Just thought I’d toss out my thoughts.
Backdrop: Home video of someone in the midst of a CH attack, no sound
Voice Over:
The (wo)man you are watching is suffering from what is called a Cluster Headache.
Headache? (skeptical voice)
Headache implies Take a couple of aspirin and all is well in a half hour.
Clusters are to headaches as nuclear explosions are to firecrackers.
As the Titanic is to bath tub toys.
As the sun is to a nightlight.
Clusters are a debilitating illness that destroy quality of life, interfere with jobs, family and friends.
Clusters don’t discriminate. Once thought to be a predominately male illness, recent studies indicate that as many as 1 out of every 4 victims is female. Age at onset ranges from the teen to the golden years. Only 12% have any family history of clusters. No correlation to race, nationality or location has been found.
They cost sufferers thousands of dollars each year in medical treatment and drugs---much of which most insurance companies won’t cover.
Many doctors are barely, if at all, aware of Clusters.
The cause isn’t known.
There is no cure.
Many of the current treatments available cause side effects that range from sleeplessness to depression to death. And even the most effective can’t prevent an attack. In fact, most Cluster sufferers take migraine drugs which have never been tested or studied for their effectiveness on Clusters. The pharmaceutical industry doesn’t feel the Cluster market is large enough to warrant the investment needed to do the necessary research.
OUCH is the Organization for Understanding of Cluster Headaches. A grassroots effort on the part of sufferers and the supporters who live through this agony with them to get the word out. We have no celebrity spokesperson. No telethon. Our offices reside in cyberspace, and in the homes and generosity of the many members who devote their time to this cause. This awareness announcement was made possible by the generous support of the stations and cable systems who donated the air time to run it, and the production facilities and expertise of
(insert name) who graciously produced it.
Please don’t send money. OUCH isn’t asking for your contributions, just your understanding.
To find out how you can help, please visit our website at www.clusterheadaches.com.