Merle Diamond MD, F.A.C.E.P. is the associate director of the Diamond Headache Clinic, and medical director of the Diamond Inpatient Headache Unit at St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago. Dr. Diamond serves on the Editorial Board of Headache and Pain – Diagnostic Challenges and Current Therapy. She has contributed numerous articles to the medical literature, and has lectured extensively on various headache subjects, including: the treatment of headache in the emergency department, women and headaches, and children with headaches.

Barbara began experiencing migraine attacks 11 years ago. A wife, mother, and hospital lab supervisor, Barbara tried to keep up with the demands of her busy life even in the midst of an attack but regularly felt like she was disappointing her family and co-workers. Barbara attempted to treat her migraines with over-the-counter medication for years following her first attack, but had little success. At 50, she approached her primary care physician about her condition and eventually, began seeing a neurologist. Barbara lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and three sons.

Debbie mistakenly assumed she suffered from sinus headaches for more than a decade. While the headaches were not debilitating at first, her condition worsened over time and began to take a toll on her family and social life. By 2005, Debbie was taking sinus headache pills daily in an attempt to control the pain, but that approach wasn’t working. She began seeing a neurologist, who recognized that her headaches were actually migraine attacks. Once properly diagnosed, Debbie worked with her physician to devise an appropriate treatment plan. Debbie lives in New Jersey with her husband and two daughters.

Corianne has suffered from migraines since she was 12 years old. Over time, her migraines became more intense and more frequent. Corianne’s physician suggested many different approaches to treat her attacks, but nothing seemed to improve her condition. A few years ago, she decided to proactively take control of her condition and began researching migraine and treatment options on the Internet. Corianne discussed her findings with her physician, and together they were able to treat her migraines effectively. Corianne lives with her husband and two children in Arizona. She is a business analyst and enjoys arts and crafts.

Michele began experiencing migraines after the birth of her second daughter. She consulted her OB-GYN about the headaches, but the medication she was prescribed was not effective. For 17 years Michele lived with her condition, trying various prescription and over-the-counter treatments, until she happened to be sitting in the audience of a seminar being led by a headache specialist. When the topic of migraine came up, Michele immediately recognized the symptoms being discussed. She made an appointment with the specialist, was properly diagnosed and began an effective treatment regimen. Michele lives in Ohio with her husband and two daughters. She is a vice president in the banking industry.