Rhianna Rahman, 25, struggled for over a decade before she received a diagnosis that explained her debilitating symptoms
A 25-year-old woman who says she can’t remember going a day without experiencing a headache or migraine has opened up about her agonising condition. Rhianna Rahman from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, has struggled with stroke-like symptoms, including slurred speech, dizziness and numbness, for nearly 15 years.
Rhianna, who works in health and social care, told NeedToKnow: “It’s become my ‘normal’ now to be in agony.” Her painful symptoms started when she was just 11 years old.
“I first began to get headaches while I was in my last year of primary school. It did not progress into migraines until I reached high school. Then, I experienced my first severe migraine attack and since I cannot remember a day where I haven’t had a headache or migraine,” Rhianna explained.
“I have a painful headache every day,” she revealed. “If it progresses, then I can’t get out of bed. I lose my vision completely and my jaw can lock – preventing me from talking, and can even get slurred speech. I get very frustrated with myself as there is nothing that helps. I can’t have one day or one moment where I can do an activity without pain.”
Growing up, the youngster saw countless doctors, seeking an explanation for her pain. “I went to the doctors every time the headaches got worse. I would tell them I have stroke-like symptoms and I still didn’t get a diagnosis.”
Rhianna was prescribed tablets and adopted lifestyle changes, such as cutting out caffeine, and she was sent for MRI and CT scans, but to no avail. She said: “After trying everything they could prescribe I was referred to the migraine clinic run by the NHS, where I was to be tested to see what type of migraines I get.
“While at the clinic I was placed on two medications. However, they started to not work as well as they did in the beginning. So my GP began the process of a referral to neurology. This referral took over a year.”
Finally, at age 23, Rhianna received a diagnosis: Chronic Migraine Syndrome. According to the NHS, ‘Chronic migraine is a disabling neurologic condition that affects 2% of the population’. Unfortunately, Rhianna’s pain persists.
“I lose vision in both eyes, I get numbness and a pins and needle type feeling in the left side of my face. Sometimes, I vomit. I am very sensitive to light and sound, I have no appetite and I feel very sickly all the time – the smell of food makes me feel nauseous,” Rhianna shared. “I have now been referred back to neurology and I am awaiting another appointment.”
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Rhianna’s harrowing experience has also impacted her mental health. She said: “Even to this day it affects me but no one understands what it takes for me to go through my day. I get depressed and become angry. All I want is one day or even one hour where I have no pain.”
If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or visit their site to find your local branch.