Cindy McCain's address to the International Headache Congress
Cindy McCain: Time to address this
Cindy McCain, the wife of 2007/2008 US presidential candidate John McCain, publicly advocated for the concerns of migraine and headache patients at the 2009 International Headache Congress in Philadelphia (USA). Cindy McCain supported her husband's presidential candidacy in 2000, who was defeated by his Republican candidate George W. Bush. She also became particularly known for her involvement during her husband's presidential candidacy in 2007/2008.
Cindy McCain is a migraine sufferer herself. Your central statement was longed for by many of those affected:
“I am one of the many millions affected. The time is ripe to address the matter.”
Her speech was greeted with many minutes-long standing ovations by over 2,000 international scientists and physicians at the 2009 International Headache Congress on September 12, 2009 in Philadelphia. Cindy McCain formulated three key points:
1. “Improve the lives of your migraine sufferers by listening, providing awareness and attention, and understanding how disabling the condition can be.”
2. “Work with political leaders and demonstrate the importance of health policy. Develop a brain trust to promote integrated multidisciplinary research and care. “Enable the implementation of scientific research in the laboratory for the practical care of those affected and for both areas to inspire each other”.
3. “Create a public awareness campaign to increase awareness of migraine and headache disorders and highlight the enormous physical, medical and psychological hardships the disease poses to those affected.”
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Dr. Fred Sheftell, President of the American Headache Society, said: “Cindy McCain has dedicated her life's work to helping people around the world achieve better lives. We are honored and thrilled that someone with her prominence and credibility is standing up and making her voice heard against the silence and anonymity of this disease. She is a true hero for migraine sufferers worldwide.”
Cindy McCain made a clear statement during her address: “My mission is to push for greater awareness and respect for migraine sufferers in the medical community. “Our society must also ensure that more scientific efforts are made in the care of headache patients.”
International Headache Congress 2009 Philadelphia, USA
Cindy McCain himself suffers from a severe form of migraines. She also had to be treated in hospital several times because of her migraine disease. Less the stress in connection with the political support of her husband caused the triggering of migraine attacks, rather than light light, noise or strong smells. Mrs. McCain said: "Migraine is a really serious illness. I am one of the lucky ones who received an exact diagnosis. But I have to continue to fight with the severe pain and severe disability. Nevertheless Being, but the truth is that I had to say goodbye to life for 24 or more hours during the attacks ”.
She obviously felt the same way as many other migraine sufferers. No one made it clear to her that she had or is suffering from a detectable and treatable condition called migraines. Reflecting on her own experience with the diagnosis and treatment, Cindy McCain said: “I was frustrated and in terrible pain. My family doctor and even my neurologists didn't take the pain and the illness seriously. No one has prescribed me effective therapies to get the severe pain problem under control”.
Cindy McCain also recalled how difficult it was for her to find clear words to describe her migraine pain. She explained how she wanted to make it clear to her husband what was going on inside her during an attack: “It's torture. It's like you're tied to a chair for four days. I can't imagine what torture exactly means and how unbearable such tortures must be, but I think it must be something like my headache, because migraines must be very close to such experiences."
Cindy McCain also expressed her anger and frustration over the slow progress in care for migraine sufferers. At the forefront, she saw health policy's disregard for the needs of those affected. “I am amazed at the lack of progress in this area. There is not a single specific preventive medication for migraines and there are not enough effective treatments to control the attacks”.
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Mrs. McCain offered pointed advice to the scientists and doctors in attendance: “My advice to doctors is loud and clear. His name is:
- Listen to! Listen to what your patients tell you about their illness.
- Listen to how severe the pain is and how much suffering they have to endure.
- Listen as the pain robs them of life.
- Listen to how bad they are and how bad they feel.
- Listen to them. Take them seriously and help them to take responsibility for their illness and for their lives”.
Cindy McCain: “I am one of the many millions affected. The time is ripe to address the matter.”
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She speaks from my soul! I have lived with this pain for 30 years. Doctors and other people don't take you seriously. The magic word is psychosomatic. I now also suffer from severe depression and refuse to take medication.
I wanted to join Bettina Frank.
The disease migraine is not seen enough as a disability.
In the notifications from the pension offices it says “Migraine – pain illness” and you are fobbed off with 30 GdB.
But migraines are more than just a pain disorder.
I agree with Cindy McCain: Migraines are a disability, if not a severe disability.
You often read in the forums here that migraine patients are treated as psychosomatic patients, even though
it should actually be known that migraine is a neurological disease.
Perhaps the researchers will be able to suppress the liver-damaging effect of CGRP antagonists or
even avoid it altogether by making a small chemical change.
Warm greetings to everyone - the medical team
- the tireless physiotherapists
- the sister team
- the kitchen staff
and everyone I have forgotten.
Peter Schwirkmann
Thank you for this encouraging article! Mrs. McCain openly addresses topics that are still taboo in our society. Migraine is a disease that is incredibly restrictive and hindering in daily life, but cannot be perceived by others. Often enough, the “healthy” population still lacks awareness that a migraine sufferer is not a malingerer or hypochondriac, but is actually seriously ill during the attack (and not only then).
Constant pain, lack of acceptance from other people, inadequate medical care, depression and the resulting social withdrawal set in motion a vicious circle that is often difficult to break.
Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to once again express my special thanks to Professor Göbel and his entire team, who work hard for us headache patients every day! Without your commitment, your research and your very special commitment, many of us would no longer have a life worth living.
The new developments regarding CGRP antagonists are very sobering, but not discouraging. The most important thing is that research is being carried out and at some point there will be a prophylaxis that can be used primarily for migraines. I'm very confident about that.
Kind regards
Bettina Frank