“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 went paralyzed. I couldn’t speak anymore. Even crying hurt me. The ER doctors first thought I was having a stroke. Then I saw a neurologist, who explained to me that if I had very often intense headaches since I was little, I had just experienced my first migraine with aura.
Suffering from endometriosis, I had done two IVF a few months earlier. I suspect the hormonal changes put me in the migraines with aura camp. Since then, my migraines are always 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 waiting for this to pass. It is a more violent crisis than the others, in Madagascar, which served as a trigger. I vomited for 24 hours, I was really scared. I was then HRD of a big company, I suffered 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 lives of other patients. In particular, we allow them to easily find the expert caregiver for their pathology, thanks to the recommendations of other patients.
How I regained control
Being at the head of my own business allowed me, paradoxically, to listen to myself more, and therefore, to better manage my migraines. I’m working from home, 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 crisis – I force myself to stop, to take my afternoon. I also do physical therapy sessions at regular intervals. The therapist, by putting pressure on my skull, soothes my pain.
To reduce the frequency of my crises, and their intensity, I also have an irreproachable lifestyle. I eat healthy, I sleep 9-10 hours a night. Life with my disease is not easy, of course. I did major studies (Essec, CentraleSupélec …), but today, I do not see myself taking up a post of general manager in a company of the CAC 40. Not with these migraines.
I tried background treatments, antidepressants and antiepileptics, but the side effects were too disabling. For example, I had severe dizziness. I had to stop everything. I just take ibuprofen, even though it’s not ideal. I am aware that consuming it regularly destroys my intestine. But I am very happy with the new treatments that are coming to market. I am hopeful to find the one that will suit me perfectly, and will finally silence my migraines. I know that my disease increases my risk to have a stroke one day. Living with this sword of Damocles over my head, paradoxically, is what makes me enjoy life much more today. I am in the here and now. Intensely.”
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