Migraines? They have blighted my whole life
TURNING 50 is a milestone birthday worthy of a celebration.
But Helen McDougall couldn’t go to her own party for the same reason she has missed so many other events in her life.
The Edinburgh mum-of-two’s life has been blighted by painful migraines – which are so bad, she has to spend days lying in a dark room.
“When it strikes, it’s all you can think of. You can’t see a way through it. That’s all your life is,” she says.
Now, as part of Migraine Awareness Week, she’s backing calls for better training for doctors.
Her experiences mirror claims that many medics are ill-equipped to diagnose and manage the condition.
Helen recalls the day it all started...
She was 23 and on a train back to her then home in London when she suddenly “just felt rubbish”.
She said: “I had no idea what it was. I only knew I was so ill I spent the next three days in bed.”
It was just the beginning of a nightmare that has continued for more than a quarter of a century.
She was given the diagnosis of “migraine”, but says that her experiences with the medical profession have not been positive.
“I was told by one GP in London that he’d be able to explain if he could spare me more than two minutes,” said Helen, who has two sons, Rory, 18, and Finlay, 16, with husband James.
“I very quickly lost faith in that GP. To be honest, and from what I understand, it seems most doctors only get limited training on it.”
Helen moved to the Scottish capital 20 years ago and the only time she has had any relief from the condition came during her two pregnancies. “I have what’s called menstrual migraine,” explained nursery worker Helen.
“When I was pregnant, I had nine wonderfully pain-free months, but it soon came back after the boys were born.”
Helen has tried numerous medications and pain-relief options over the years but she says the suffering is still going on.
“When I’m out and about, I have to try to get home as fast as possible or else I’m going to be sick in public.
“I can be in bed for five days, unable to eat or do anything. Even after that I’m not right, just well enough to be able to function,” she said.
Helen has battled into her work on many occasions but at other times, she recognises that colleagues have had to step in at the last minute.
“It has had such a massive impact on so much of my life. I just think of all the people I’ve let down,” she said.
“I really can’t make plans. Even now if someone says, ‘I’ll see you next Friday night’ I sit here worrying that I might not be able to make it if I have a migraine.
“And I could never have managed without James who works close by and has been able to dash home so many times to save the day.
“I just wish that more money could go into researching the condition to find a cure.
“It seems migraine just isn’t sexy enough for studying.”