Migraine Matters
Thanks for the many excellent articles in the most recent issue of Brain & Life, and particularly for the article on migraine ("Singer Kristin Chenoweth Speaks Up for Those with Migraine," December 2019/January 2020). I have had migraines my entire life, though my primary symptom is nausea, unlike Kristen Chenoweth's more comprehensive set of migraine symptoms. - Phil Gorman, Charlottesville, VA
Supplement Tips
I was surprised to see no mention of the USP label in your supplements article ("Do Vitamins Really Help People with Neurologic Conditions?" December 2019/January 2020). While it's true that the industry is not regulated, USP does monitor the preparations of supplements within some companies. I attended a talk by a professor of pharmacology who advised that if you want to take supplements, make certain they have the USP label. I switched brands immediately for that reason. - Betsy Fowler, Alamo, CA
As a neuropathy patient and a former neuro researcher at Harvard, I'd heard that statin use is associated with debilitating neuropathy. Some statins now have a black box warning that patients should supplement with CoQ10. This seems like important information to disseminate to your readers, particularly in an article about supplements and neurologic conditions. - Leslie Macgregor, PhD, Boston
THE EDITOR RESPONDS: Thank you for the reminder about the USP label, which indicates that a supplement does not contain harmful levels of contaminants, it will break down and release in the body within a specified amount of time, and it has followed the FDA's Good Manufacturing Practices. As for CoQ10, our experts say there is no evidence of a black box warning on statins about taking CoQ10. Myopathy, a disorder affecting muscles, is a big concern with statins. Neuropathy, a nerve disorder, is often confused with myopathy, so thank you for raising this topic. The majority of patients on statins do not develop muscle problems. There is no need to take CoQ10 while on statins.
My Stroke Story
Your article on stroke ("The Many Faces of Stroke," June/July 2019) really hit home. I had a stroke from a blood clot that traveled to my head. I was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance after falling, slurring my speech, and experiencing intense pressure in my head. The hospital missed my stroke, but when I went to see my primary care doctor the next day, he insisted I see a neurologist. The neurologist ordered an MRI that day and identified the stroke. He did some more investigating and uncovered a genetic problem related to my clot, which my sister and daughter also have. - Colleen Miller, Kent Island, MD
Grateful Reader
Brain & Life has been beneficial reading for me, as I have family members with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. I also am a retired registered nurse, and I have found many interesting articles to read. - Bettye Clark, Nashville, TN
Disorders Information
Do you have any articles or books on Chiari malformation or absence seizures? I was found to have Chiari malformation two years ago at age 53, and I had one decompression surgery then. Two months ago I was diagnosed with absence seizures. I am still struggling to function, and I've lost my job. - Joann Chalmers, Wichita, KS
Trigeminal neuralgia was so painful to me that I would scream and scream before it was brought under control. I would very much like to see articles on it and temporal arteritis, which I am now dealing with. My neuro-ophthalmologist told me that it can cause blindness under certain conditions. - Esther Corley, Chula Vista, CA
THE EDITOR RESPONDS: We have written about both Chiari malformation and trigeminal neuralgia. Search for your condition on our site to read our archival material.
My understanding is that functional dystonia is by far the largest percentage of cases seen in movement disorder clinics. I would love to see some articles on functional dystonia, which seems to be the catchall term for dystonia of unknown origin or cause. - Christopher Saleh, Mountain View, CA
Orthostatic tremor is a chronic condition that affects mostly women and appears to have a high prevalence in the United States and the United Kingdom. It has no known cause or cure and is commonly misdiagnosed. Many neurologists have never treated a patient with this disorder (which I call "shaky leg") and assume it to be a form of essential tremor. I'm sure your readers would appreciate reading about it. - Susan Pearce, San Clemente, CA
Your magazine may want to add dysgeusia—a taste and sense of smell disorder, which I recently developed—to your disorders list and maybe even have an article on it, as it is somewhat prevalent in seniors and can have neurologic components. - Robert Lewicki, Las Vegas
THE EDITOR RESPONDS: Thank you for your good ideas for future stories. We will keep these in mind as we plan the rest of 2020.
