Customer Reviews

Living Well with Migraine Disease and Headaches: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know (Living Well (Collins))

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Teri Robert's book "Living Well with Migraine Disease and Headaches : What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know" is a superb, easy-to-read and comprehensive resource for anyone who needs help coping with chronic headaches or migraine disease.

Many friends and family members are getting a copy of this book right away -- because they desperately need the information. I can't tell you how many are migraine sufferers -- who have every classic symptom -- yet they suffer and muddle through, grabbing an aspirin here and there, thinking somehow that they're just having regular "headaches!" (Yoo hoo, friends and family, a regular old headache does NOT make you nauseous, sensitive to light, and out of commission for 2 days!!!)

I also know too many chronic sinus headache sufferers, and those who struggle with tension headaches, who need some answers, and will benefit greatly from the conventional and holistic approaches outlined by the author, who I've followed for years as a well-respected patient advocate and health writer in the area of headaches and migraine.

There's excellent advice on finding the right practitioners (it's not always as easy at it should be!), choosing the best medications, lifestyle choices that can help, and a big fat resource section in the back, filled with websites, organizations, books and other places to get additional information and help.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that anyone with migraines or chronic headaches get this book! And...pick up a copy for everyone you know who doesn't seem to be living well with their own migraine or headache problems, because this book could be the turning point for them.

The book begins with "Headache and Migraine Disease Basics" and provides specific information about types of headaches, descriptions of symptoms and current treatments. Occasional case histories personalize the text and offer insight into the debilitating pain of headache and migraine sufferers. Covering a great deal of general information, the book necessarily touches only lightly on some issues, leaving it up to the reader to pursue individual clues for a definitive diagnosis and appropriate treatment. For the most part, this book addresses the types and treatments available to the patient. Although the author is not a physician, there is a thorough discussion of headache categories, symptoms, particularities and treatments, a guide through the confusing jargon and essential details for an accurate diagnosis. Part Two addresses the most important element of successful treatment: "Your Health Care Team and Treatment Regimen". The patient must chose the right doctor, ask the right questions and remain informed, proactive in his own treatment. When dealing with triggers and stress control, the author combines positive reinforcement and patient anecdotes, suggesting rigorous attention to diet and daily exercise, both critical for those seeking to alleviate constantly recurring headaches.

There is a comprehensive list of medications used for various types of headaches and a short discussion of Botox, which has proved to be quite effective for some patients, offering as much as three months of pain relief, an area to pursue with your doctor when personalizing your treatment. There is also a chapter on the triptans, specific medications (like Imitrex) that work to abort the migraine, "selective serotonin receptor agonists." A growing number of headache sufferers respond to these drugs, a light at the end of the tunnel for those who have been restricted to pain medications and the rebound headaches that occur from the use of such medications. Personally, I have had great success with triptans, allowing both physiological and psychological relief from the constant threat of headache pain. However, the use of triptans must be carefully monitored and may be mitigated by blood pressure.

"Emergency Care and Pain Management" speaks to the occasional need for an Emergency Room visit. There is a form (included) for your pain management physician to fill out, confirming the diagnosis, your regular treatment and suggested emergency room treatment. The form is helpful in avoiding the common suspicion of drug seeking behavior that is a common problem for ER staff. A glossary, frequently asked questions, recommended reading and various appendixes complete the volume. This book is helpful for the individual who needs basic information about treatment and diagnosis of chronic headaches. At the very least, the patient will be more knowledgeable and able to help the physician treat the problem as successfully as possible. Luan Gaines/ 2005.

This is THE BOOK for anyone who suffers with head pain and other symptoms associated with headaches or migraine disease. If you have been at a loss as to where to turn to get help and relief for your illness, I will tell you where to turn. TURN the pages of Teri Robert's Living Well With Migraine Disease and Headaches: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You... That You Need To Know. Her writings will help lead you toward wellness and self empowerment, and also assist you in managing all of your health issues, whatever they may be.

Teri Robert tells you what you "need to know" in battling symptoms that are interfering with your day to day life from a combination of approaches including: informative, educational, supportive and compassionate. As a sufferer of migraine attacks from the age of six Teri knows how it feels to have pain flood in and overtake you. She openly shares her personal experiences and ah-ha revelations in her life journey toward wellness. Testimonies from others are also included in her book which help readers feel that they are not alone.

I come from a family with a history of migraine disease and experienced my first migraine at the age of 19. My mother wasn't as lucky, hers began at age 13. I truly appreciate the journey Teri has taken in helping educate anyone who is willing to listen that we do have choices. We don't have to resign ourselves to living a lesser quality of life for the lack of available treatments or understanding doctors. If you allow her, she will help enable you in "pushing the envelope" so that you can get the help you need and also to never give up hope.

This book is such an excellent resource for migraneurs. Migraine is misunderstood disease. Misunderstood by many doctors, many patients, and many of our loved ones and friends and coworkers. Dr. Robert has devoted so much of her life to helping the migraneurs of the world, and this is her best effort yet. She speaks with the voice of the sufferer, the patient advocate, and the patient educator. This book does not speak down, but rather educates us so that we can advocate for ourselves. It's a must-read for migraneurs and headache patients, and I would dare say some doctors.

This book is such a gift for all those that suffer with migraine disease. It is so informative and can help educate those that suffer with migraines. I copied a few of the pages that list migraine triggers to keep in my purse.


The fact that the writer herself has suffered with debilitating migraines for years and runs a support group online shows how dedicated Teri is as a patient advocate. I highly recommend this book to all those that suffer.

There is a wealth of information in the book that is vital for one who suffers and needs guidance with medications, doctors, triggers and so many other factors. Migraines are very complex, Teri Robert helps to sort out the confusion and teaches one how to take care of yourself to help prevent a migraine attack and how to take care of yourself when having an attack. Anyone who knows someone with migraines should read this book to understand what your friend or loved one is going through.

I have dealt with migraines for more than 15 years with varying degrees of success. I recently had a resurgence of migraines when I moved to a new part of the country with an extensive new collection of allergens to exacerbate my asthma. In the process of expanding all my sinus cavities, the migraines started up again. I THOUGHT I had figured out all of my triggers and found a way to avoid them and finally dealt with the debilitating pain. I was wrong.

Ms. Robert's book offers extensive information about the nature and causes of Migraine and other headaches. She offers advice and suggestions that have worked for her and many others and cautionary tales as well. While not being a health practitioner herself, she advocates for them as well as their patients.

My only vexation with this book is that while reading it I felt as though I should be jumping onto some band wagon of "Migraineurs" and perhaps should belong to a political action group or some Million Migraineurs March because of a diagnosis. While I understand the need to normalize a disease diagnosis and make idividuals feel like part of a group and supported but perhaps it goes a bit over board for some.

This is the book that changed my life! It gives you comprehensive information, guides on how to help yourself in an ER situation, doctors that don't listen, and how to get the best care possible for yourself or your loved one.

Teri writes with such knowledge and compassion. Every single medical term is explained. She speaks from the heart and you can tell this book was a labor of love.

Thank you Teri! You helped me get my life back!!

If you are a Migrainuer or part of a support system of a Migrainuer (family members, friends, or even part of the medical team) you will find the information in this book very helpful. Being a Migraine Disease patient, I found this a wealth of information. I was able to use information found within to discuss different meds with my GP as optional treatment with preventatives, abortive, and rescue pain meds.

I would suggest this book to everyone, Migrainuer, family members, friends, or even part of the medical team that would like more info or just to be able to understand just a little of what this nuerological disease can do to someone and their life.

I originally ordered this book on kindle and found it so useful to me that I bought three paperback version for friends I know that have migraines too. At the time, I was going through a bad period with up to 24 headaches a month. I took the steps suggested in the book and was able to get my migraines back down to a more manageable level. Whenever they increase, I again use these methods to bring them back into control again. I highly recommend this book as it explains headaches and migraines very well and gives people solutions that include common sense suggestions as well as medical options.

I have had migraines for over 20 years. I thought I knew it all and could write the book on migraines, but this one actually taught me some new tricks! I have shared it with 3 other people and even bought it for my sisters who suffer from migraines.