“I was 27. I had just finished my vacation, I was on the plane home. Everything was fine, when suddenly the right side of my face froze. I couldn’t speak anymore. Even crying hurt me. The emergency room doctors thought I was having a stroke at first. Then I saw a neurologist, who explained to me that although I had severe headaches very often since I was little, I had just experienced my first migraine with aura.
Suffering from endometriosis, I had had two IVFs a few months earlier. I suspect the hormonal changes have tipped me over to migraine headache camp with aura. Since then, my migraines have always been preceded by the vision of lightning. I can no longer express myself, and I have no choice but to put myself in a dark room while waiting for this to pass. It was a crisis more violent than the others, in Madagascar, which served as a trigger. I threw up for 24 hours, I was really scared. I was then HRD of a large company, I was subjected to the rhythm, the stress was intense.
It was becoming completely incompatible with my migraines. I resigned to found my company, Mapatho, whose mission is to simplify the daily life of other patients. In particular, we allow them to easily find the expert caregiver in their pathology, thanks to the recommendations of other patients.
How I took back control
Paradoxically, being at the head of my own business allowed me to listen to myself more, and therefore, to better manage my migraines. I am teleworking, so I no longer have to take the metro, which is so aggressive for a migraine sufferer. When I’m tired – which can trigger a seizure – I force myself to stop, to take my afternoon. I also do physiotherapy sessions at regular intervals. The therapist, putting pressure on my head, soothes my pain.
To reduce the frequency of my seizures, and their intensity, I also have an irreproachable lifestyle. I eat healthy, I sleep 9-10 hours a night. Life with my illness is not easy, of course. I had major studies (Essec, CentraleSupélec …), but today, I do not see myself taking up a position of general manager in a CAC 40 company. Not with these headaches.
I tried the DMARDs, antidepressants and antiepileptics, but the side effects were too debilitating. For example, I had great dizziness. I had to stop everything. I just take ibuprofen, although it’s not ideal. I am aware that consuming it regularly destroys my gut. But I am very happy with the new treatments coming to the market. I’m hopeful that I’ll find the perfect fit for me, and finally silence my migraines. I know my illness increases my risk to have a stroke one day. Living with that sword of Damocles hanging over my head, paradoxically, is what makes me enjoy life a lot more today. I am in the here and now. Intensely. “
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