Linda’s journey: ‘I have a life worth living now’

After years of searching, Linda Phillips finally found a migraine treatment that gave her back her life…

Linda Phillips

I was first diagnosed with acute migraine in my mid-thirties and I’ve spent more than 20 years in pain. In that time, I estimate I’ve had more than 4,000 days with migraine.

But throughout this time, I’ve felt dismissed and misunderstood by those who think it’s ‘just a headache’. But it’s not – my entire life has been dominated by migraine. You can’t go out, you can’t plan anything, your social life is limited, and it affects every aspect of life. I can no longer fly or travel for any length of time without an attack – your life changes in ways you can’t imagine.

I can no longer work for a company, knowing that I would be calling in sick perhaps three to four days a week. So started working on my own as a fashion designer, just so that I could fit my life around migraine.

The attacks are bad, but it’s also the impact after an attack as it’s common to feel so fatigued. I try to live a healthy life, but migraine can be limiting. I used to run marathons, which I simply can’t consider now.

A few years ago, I told my husband that I couldn’t live like this anymore. While researching, we discovered anti-CGRP medication and I contacted the National Migraine Centre.

‘I have a life worth living now… I feel I have my life back.’

Anti-CGRP treatment has changed my life. I have a life worth living now. I might get three or four migraine days a month now, rather than that number in a week – and they’re much less severe too. I feel I have my life back.

But I couldn’t have relied on the NHS. I’ve been trying to get treatment for over two years now and I am still on a waiting list. It takes years before you get to know there are treatments available – and years more to access them.

Learn more about anti-CGRP medication from our factsheet.