Charity helped me stand up to chronic pain
Comedian can now cope after making three suicide bids
A COMIC left feeling helpless due to horrendous chronic pain tried to take her own life three times before finding support from a Scottish charity.
Adele Birkmyre, from Midlothian, struggled alone for over 30 years as she spent her life savings desperately trying to find a cure for the pain.
The 47-year-old suffered from back pain on and off from the age of 15, but worked tirelessly to build a career as a taxi driver in Edinburgh.
Adele enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the job until a car ran into the back of her cab in 2011, causing her symptoms to get worse.
She said: “The pain became much worse. It felt like 1000 needles in my back. I kept working, but my back was deteriorating. Sitting still was the worst thing for it. One day it was unbearable, I was in tears and knew that was it for my career.
“I tried to take my life three times. I’d simply had enough. That’s what chronic pain does to you.”
Adele has severe nerve damage in her back, legs and hips as well as arthritis in her spine.
Her life changed in 2019 after her kids bought her a place on a comedy course, but although this led to her doing stand-up at the Edinburgh Fringe, she was again dragged down by the pain.
“Everything came to a head on one particular night,” Adele said. “As soon as I got on stage, I couldn’t remember any of the jokes and my act fell apart. I couldn’t think straight due to excruciating pain, painkillers and sleep deprivation.
“I broke down in tears... I felt like I was having a mental breakdown.
“I had been trying to keep everything to myself about how I was feeling and how I was struggling to cope with the pain. I never wanted to do stand-up again. It was the lowest point of my life. I was suicidal, at rock bottom.”
Adele made an appointment with her GP and begged for help.
She then received support from Scottish charity the Thistle Foundation that helps people living with disabilities or long-term health conditions.
Although Adele still lives with chronic pain she says Thistle have helped her cope and she has since been advocating for GPs to refer people to the charity sooner.
Adele added: “I’ve no doubt that Thistle saved my life and without their support I wouldn’t be here today. I’ve gone from thinking I had lost everything – my career, my role within my family, my confidence – to being in a happy marriage, spending quality time with my family and doing the things I love.
“My wife said she’s fallen in love with me all over again.”