The power of the patient

In the last issue of HeadWay I mentioned the above book, because I think it has some excellent guidance when it comes to understanding headache related symptoms.  One story in particular demonstrates the power of the patient, and particularly the group of patients (like us) to solve problems.

Anyone who has poked around this site knows that I believe doctors and other medical professionals serve an important purpose.  But when it comes to really solving the problem, the patient can play a key role.  The story goes like this:

In 1993 a strange bleeding lung disease broke out in a certain area of the USA.  The State health departments got involved, experts at a university, the federal government…and for weeks the investigation went on while more people died.  No answers were being found.

But since the disease had hit the Navajo people hard, someone had the bright idea of asking the Navajo themselves for their opinion.  These were just ordinary people – but ordinary people that had noticed some things about the disease in the past.

The Navajo had noticed a connection between rainfall, mice, and the mysterious disease.  In fact, they had even predicted outbreaks.  We now know the disease as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).  The book concludes:  The moral of the story is talk to everyone, scrutinize everything, and keep an open mind!

Ordinary people, like you and I, may notice things that a doctor won’t.  Keep searching, keep trying, and never give up!