MIGRAINES are hard to deal with, but when they bring on paralysis they have devastating consequences.
Prison Officer Cheryl Evans, 39, dedicated 13 years to HMP Gloucester until she was struck down with rare sporadic hemiplegic migraines (SHM) in November. The condition causes symptoms similar to a stroke and can strike at any time.
Just weeks later Cheryl heard the prison was set to close.
"I came off a night shift and woke up with what I thought was a stroke," she said. "I was in hospital for five days, but not diagnosed for three weeks. I have daily attacks that hit the left side of my body.
"My face will drop, I lose the power of speech and my left arm and leg become paralysed. That can go on for hours. It was always going to be difficult to go back to my job."
Cheryl, who lives in Longhope with husband Steve, 54, a photographer, said her condition was caused by extreme stress and tiredness from working shifts.
The illness has taken her independence, as well as her career and driving licence she relies on help from family and carers.
"Having a condition like this is hard on the family," said Cheryl, who has six children.
"In the early months, it was very hard. I had some very dark moments. I despaired when the prison closed.
"Lives are turned upside down by this condition overnight. There is no cure.
"I can get a quality of life through treatment, but it is finding the right combination of medication."
Cheryl has bravely decided to invest £5,000 of her savings into a support group for sufferers of SHM after finding a lack of help and information on the condition.
"I found was there was no coordinated support specifically for SHM sufferers," said Cheryl. "Many just live in silence with their families, in some cases they really struggle to cope. I have met sufferers who have been driven to thoughts of suicide or self harm."
For more on the illness, email hemiplegicmigraine society@gmail.com.
