The following are comments made by patients either in letters to Dr. Cowan or to others in reference to the care they received from him and the clinics he has directed over the years.

just wanted to send you an email to tell you that I’m doing great!

I’m off the ****** completely (and have been for a couple months now) and I’d say I’ve only had ~2 migraines in the past month reaching a 7 max pain.  But the real victory is that I’ve been working HARD and have had so many pain free days!

I spent my week off work re-landscaping our front and back yard with my mom.  We planted countless plants, put in a new sprinkler system, took down trees…  I was outside from about 8-4 for 4 days straight and no pain – NONE!  I went walking, running even a bit, and I’m doing great.

Anyway, thank you both for everything you’ve done for me.  A year ago I had no life and now I’m loving it!

Thanks!
- L.K.

The following are comments made by patients either in letters to Dr. Cowan or to others in reference to the care they received from him and the clinics he has directed over the years.

I’m really relating to the book because he is really relating to me. Everything is what I’ve been through and tried and am taking…he really needs to add his book to the ones National Headache Foundation recommends because his is the best. I know a few things in the book will help me and that makes me very happy. – M.L.

“Doctor, No more headaches! You make my life happier!”
- Somchai B.

“Dear Dr. Cowan, Thank you for helping me get through this very hard time. You were my advocate and I’m grateful for that. I also want you to know something I have learned through this experience. Of course, I’ve known I’m not alone in suffering migraines, but I guess I had never really believed that any other person has felt what that kind of headache is like until that night. Your understanding of my pain, your empathy, was and continues to be both comforting and enlightening, and you taught me a good lesson. For that and for everything, I thank you.”
- Katie V.

“Dear Dr. Cowan, My cousin told me she thinks you are the most compassionate doctor she has known. And it has been my good fortune to learn firsthand how right she is!

“Your respect for me as a patient was evident immediately and reinforced by the fact that you attributed some of your expertise to your patients. Do you know how rare that is?

“I know that some of your compassion comes from your own suffering with migraine. But I suspect it also comes from your apparent desire to do something good for the world, for your migraine daughter and also for a stranger like me. Is is one thing to experience pain, to relate to it, and quite another to be able to do anything about it. You, thank God, are driven to know more, to study the literature, to do research, even listen to patients!

“As I told you, I envy you that your life’s work is something of such value. I am also grateful for that, for your dedication to research, and for your helping me individually. I appreciate your giving me so much of your valuable time on a Saturday and all of your ideas and advice. You validated my theories, solved some mysteries, and above all, gave mehope. I thank you.”
- Kathrine C.

“(The Clinic) has been very helpful to me. The staff have all been so knowledgeable, helpful and caring. I have really appreciated all the help I have received. I have been headache free for the whole month of May, and have not had to take any Imitrex. I am very happy!"
- Mary M.

“I want to thank you…for helping me to manage my headaches. For the longest time, I thought I would just have to live with regular headaches. My headaches have seriously impacted my quality of life. While the severity of my headaches have (sic) been reduced, I think the greatest benefit of my treatment …is renewed hope for a better life.”
- Steve H.

“On behalf of my husband…I would like to thank you for the care he (has) received… After more than a year of trying to find the cause ofhis headaches and different treatments he was getting quite discouraged. That changed after our first trip to…see you. When we left the first time, he felt like there was a chance that something might be accomplished for him. After meeting with Dr. Cowan and hearing someone give him a name for the problem (even though he couldn’t pronounce it) gave him a sense of encouragement. The medication has helped him tremendously and with all of his other health problems, the headaches have taken a “back seat” and are manageable.”
- Sarelee B.

“I received great value from Dr. Cowan’s expertise and help with appropriate medication and education, not only through excellent consultation with him… but also through the many …strategies beyond medication.

“Dr. Cowan’s medical expertise has been extremely helpful to me, as he specializes specifically in headache treatment. (His) approach which encourages patient responsibility combined with offering education in many approaches to treatment, including non-pharmacological ones, such as physical therapy, emotional support groups, yoga, neurofeedback, and nutrition have been very beneficial.”
- Margaret P.

“I just want to take a stab at what seems like an impossible task: expressing the depth of my gratitude. I am a 27 year old womand and I’ve been suffering from migraines since I was the age of 12…Through my teen and college years I saw a myriad of specialists and was prescribed every “miracle” drug available with the same effect – nothing. (My headaches) became so severe in their frequency that I could no longer work, drive or really leave my home for the very real fear that I would be stranded in my condition.

“Then the tide turned…From the moment I called (Dr. Cowan’s clinic) I felt like I was going to get better. It felt different. After so many doctors who don’t understand migraine, the symptoms, even the social stigma, it was amazing to feel understood for the first time in my life. …Dr. Cowan came up with an aggressive battle plan to do just that. I double-teamed by doing neurofeedback…and began taking a daily preventative medicine. I haven’t had a migraine since September 5th, 2004. I can’t even begin to tell you what that means to me. Please know your gift has made a world of difference in my life. You truly gave me my life back and for that I could never thank you enough. God Bless.”
- Katie K.

“Dear Dr. Cowan, Thank you for all your good help and skill in treating me. I am feeling considerably better than when I first became one of your patients. I am beginning to reduce my pain medication and my energy level has improved. Many good wishes.”
- Frances D.

“Dear Dr. Cowan, Thank you for helping me lead a better life through medication. It is my hope that someday I may get of the meds, but… at least my migraines are kept away. I do believe that I would have been miserable; with your kindness and knowledge, you have given me by life back.”
- Rhonda H

“Dear Dr. Cowan, (You are) the most kindest, brilliant, caring neurologist. You have generously given me your best effort with your incredible, never-ending knowledge to help treat my migraines. When I think back on the last four and one half years of desperation, misery and depression with migraines that I went through and I look where I am today, I have only you to thank for that. You have even kept me humored most of the time. You will probably remember me most as your migraine patient who checked herself out of the hospital AMA,…oh well. Thanks again, Dr. C. your (sic) truly an exceptional doctor and I have really appreciated everything your have done for me.”
- Andrea K

“Dear Dr. Cowan, I find myself trying to come up with the words to thank you. I can assure you that you have some “pull” with Dr. ______. She speaks very highly of you and worked me in right away. She is wonderful. It is such a comfort to have a doctor here that maes me feel as well cared for as when I was under your treatment. I think I have found the two best doctors in the world! I am still fighting this cycle but am improving. Everytime I get depressed and down I remember you telling me to not let the headaches run your life. I am trying! I keep praying that everytime I get one, it is the last one! Thanks again, Dr. Cowan for all your support.”
- Sharon B.

“Dr. C. I can’t thank you enough for your help (with my headaches). No one has ever helped me this much. I will always think a lot of you for that.”
- Janice F.