“You have to stop getting it for a simple headache” defends the 32 -year -old young woman.
Far from a simple headache, migraine is a complex neurological disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) class as the second most disabling pathology in the world. “In France, around 10 million people are affected with variable levels of gravity”specifies the association La Voix des Migraineux. The disease manifests itself by recurring crises which deeply alter the quality of life. Marie-Victoria, 32, has lived with this diagnosis since her 18 years. She gives us her testimony.
“From early childhood, up to my 10/12 years, I had crises but only a few hours.” At that time, the concept of child migraine was still little known and no diagnosis was made. Everything changes to the young woman’s 18th anniversary. “Over the next day, going to work, I had dizziness and a little headache. But I told myself that I was tired and that it was going to pass.” Symptoms are intensifying for three days. “I came to work without noticing that I was not walking straight. My chief asked me to call my father because she knew he was working in the hospital. I was received in the emergency room by a neurologist who made me pass the first exams, and who immediately made the diagnosis of migraine.” For many, this diagnosis can wait for years. “I am one of the lucky ones.”
“It starts with a feeling of fatigue”
“I can stay whole weeks with migraine, Continue Marie-Victoria. For me, it starts with a feeling of fatigue. I yawn and blink with my eyes permanently. And then little by little, pain goes up along the neck. Then I react to light and noise. And the pain begins to have the effect of a stab in the head and the eye. She can be so strong that I think that hitting my head against the wall will relieve me. And all accompanied by nausea. Sometimes I have to work with sunglasses to reduce the lights, I have the impression that I am screaming in the ears when it is an ordinary conversation. “ Daily is then paused. “It has an impact on personal life because at the time of the crises we only have two things to do: take your medication and go to bed. We cannot plan anything, as soon as I go somewhere I know that I will pay it afterwards. A simple shift in habits can start a crisis.”
“I took antidepressants who resulted in a very large weight gain”
From its diagnosis, the treatments offered are drugs diverted from their original use. “I tested antidepressants, beta -blockers, antiepileptics.” Not without side effects: “It can be the dry mouth, a huge fatigue, hypertension. When I took beta -blockers, I was making nightmares, I ended up sleeping anymore, which causes crises. And I had a very big weight gain with antidepressants. I lived it very badly, so I decided to undergo bariatric surgery.” Today, its protocol has evolved. It injections of Botox to paralyze the peptide involved in migraine, and oxygen therapy for more comfort. “I have oxygen bottles delivered home.”
Marie-Victoria’s message is clear : “You have to stop trivializing the migraine and passing it for a simple headache that can pass with a glass of water. It is a very disabling pathology.” She also denounces the difficulties to treat herself: “Some treatments exist such as anti-CFRPs, without side effects, but for lack of reimbursement, we cannot pay them. If these treatments were reimbursed, this would change the lives of many people.”
Thanks to Marie-Victoria for her testimony. Interview on September 30, 2025.
