- Hemicrania Continua
- Interviews
Terry Eustace's interview
How did all start?
Not a 100% sure on this, All I remember is being about 5 and started getting headaches being very sick. It just got worse and worse every time.
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
Yes I was diagnosed in November 2016. it took 21 months from first being referred to the Sid Watkins Centre, Walton in Liverpool. But my doctors took over 26yrs to refer me, kept going through food diary's and being told it's just a migraine.
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
I tired all different migraine tablets, paracetamol, ibuprofen, beta blockers and aspirins.
During my diagnosis stage indomethacin was helping me the best reducing the throbbing pain but I suffered from kidney pain and gastro problems. My best tablets that allows me to function in an anti-sickness pill called metoclopramide, this stop the nausea and allows me to concentrate on getting my head better.
What has been the most useful thing for you so far?
Sleep, dark room and cold compress.
What have been your biggest difficulties?
Being in work trying to get through a 12hr shift.
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
I have a great family that know what I'm living with, they support me a lot. But I feel disappointed in myself for the times I've been ill and they've missed out on days out and or activities.
What things have you stopped doing?
I've been lucky, I've not had to stop anything (that I can think of) I had kept a dairy of what I've eaten or doing and there's no single thing that has been found to trigger my headaches.
What do you think about the future?
I hope that one day I can lead a normal headache free life. I look forward to the day I feel nothing.
So far, which years have been the best years in your life? What have you done during them?
Early on in my life before the ill started was my best years, but I think the last 10yrs of my life have been great (married, children and diagnosis).
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
Anything, if I have a headache free day I do house repairs, go on family days out or race Go- Karts.
If you had to describe your life in a sentence, what would it be?
right now I feel like a yo yo, up and down with these stupid head problems.
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
Try every medication or procedure the doctors give you.
