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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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25

Cindy McCain Declares War on Migraines

Launches public campaign on behalf of headache research

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(Newser) – Cindy McCain has publicly survived everything from miscarriage to stroke to a painkiller addiction—but the malady she took aim at last week was one she's endured in secret: migraines. “I’ve missed part of my life,” she told an American Headache Society luncheon. “People don’t really understand, because a headache’s more than just a headache.”

Current medicine offers few treatments for migraine—McCain’s tried everything from acupuncture to a Micronesian medicine man. She intends to campaign vigorously for the AHS, to fund research into the problem. “For the first time in my life, I’m going to go to Congress, and I’m going to be tenacious,” she says. “If you can give five million dollars to study flatulence in cows …you can give me some money for migraine research.”

Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and wife Cindy right, leave Albright United Methodist Church, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, in Phoenix, after voting.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and wife Cindy right, leave Albright United Methodist Church, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, in Phoenix, after voting.   (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, David Kadlubowski)
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. faces his wife Cindy, during a rally outside Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., Monday, Nov. 3, 2008.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. faces his wife Cindy, during a rally outside Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., Monday, Nov. 3, 2008.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cindy McCain, wife of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is seen during an election night rally in Phoenix Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.
Cindy McCain, wife of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is seen during an election night rally in Phoenix Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.   (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
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The first doctor I went to basically said, ‘Well, you’re just neurotic, you’re just stressed, your husband’s a senator. Go home, put your feet up, and have a drink.' - Cindy McCain

I’ll do anything, including chew broken glass, if it would help me get rid of this. - Cindy McCain, on the many strange remedies she's tried

I’ve missed part of my life. I’ve missed my children in many ways. I’ve made every important event, but there’re times I’ve been throwing up out the car window. - Cindy McCain

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25 comments
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Aaarrrggg
Sep 14, 09 11:52 AM CDT
I hope they do some research into cluster headaches too! My husband suffers from them and they are debilitating, *much* worse than migraines. The only remedy that has shown promise is magic mushrooms but its scary having to get something illegal to help him. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
cornelison
Sep 14, 09 12:45 PM CDT
I've had migraines for 51 yrs. Cluster headaches are related to histamines in the body. They affect more men than women. Ten years ago a hospital in Canada tried a treatment for cluster headaches. They hospitalized the man & gave him extra doses of the histamines causing the problem. The idea was for the mans brain to become tolerant to the histamine. Ask your doctor about this and look on the internet for ideas to ask your doctor about as well. Good uck.
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IN RESPONSE:
prowlerzee
Sep 14, 09 5:29 PM CDT
Thank you two for the extra information. also for yoour attempt to elevate the conversation to the topic at hand, as opposed to the juveniles who think that every moment is appropriate to try to make political havoc.
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IN RESPONSE:
mehrheit
Sep 14, 09 10:50 PM CDT
I had severe cluster headaches for about a year after a terrible car accident, broken neck. They are no joke. I had one continuous cluster headache that lasted nearly 3 weeks! I wanted to cut my f*ing head off. All the Rx meds for it are essentially prescription speedballs, speed+sedative(+sometimes opiate too), and while nice, they quickly lose their sparkle AND effectiveness. -- Wish I would have known about the 'shroom cure! (How does one happen to find out that they work? I smell an interesting story here...)
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dax
Sep 14, 09 11:54 AM CDT
McCain: “It’s more weird stuff, like in some of the countries I travel in it can be, forgive me, but the scent of cooking dog” Reply
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