Mom, 51, locks herself in the dark for SIX WEEKS because of ‘terrible’ migraines

A mother had to lock herself in a dark room away from her young children for weeks because of her debilitating migraines.

Kerry Spalding, 51, has suffered from debilitating migraines for 31 years and sometimes has bouts of terrible headaches left them bedridden for six weeks at a time.

When she suffers from migraines, she loses her vision, experiences nausea and suffers from photophobia – an extreme fear of light.

Ms Spalding has been forced to spend days in the dark without anyone speaking to her, including her children – Harvey, 17, and Amelia, six – and her husband Richard, 52, an engineer.

Ms Spalding is now being treated with anti-CGRP, an antibody drug, and receiving estrogen and nerve-blocking injections, which has reduced her migraine attacks from 25 days a month to five.

Kerry Spalding, 51, has suffered from debilitating migraines for 31 years and has recurring bouts of terrible headaches

Ms Spalding has been forced to spend days in the dark without anyone speaking to her, including her children Harvey, 17, and Amelia, six, and her husband Richard

Ms Spalding, a hairdresser from Hinckley in Leicestershire, said: “I suffer from extreme photophobia.” I spent three days in the dark without anyone speaking to me.

“When someone talks, it’s like a piercing needle going through my head.”

‘It’s terrible. I finally got out of a really long fight and my kids had a 3 inch dress. It’s very depressing and isolating.

“You can’t even sit in the garden.” It’s not just a headache. I know it will end.’

Ms Spalding, a hairdresser from Hinckley in Leicestershire, said during her bouts: “I suffer from extreme photophobia.”

She suffered her first migraine at age 21 when she collapsed while taking step and had to be carried

Ms Spalding was seen by a doctor and immediately diagnosed with chronic migraines, meaning she spent more than eight days a month with symptoms

Ms Spalding first suffered a seizure at age 21 in a step class, during which she collapsed and had to be carried.

“I had no idea what was going on. I felt a terrible pain in my head like I was upside down on a roller coaster.’

Ms Spalding was seen by a doctor and immediately diagnosed with chronic migraines – a condition in which one person experiences headaches at least 15 days a month and eight of those with migraine symptoms.

Ms. Spalding suffered from menstrual migraines that coincided with her cycle, as well as vestibular migraines that triggered dizziness and caused her to feel dizzy and nauseated.

Ms. Spalding suffered from menstrual migraines that coincided with her cycle and vestibular migraines that caused dizziness

She also suffers from abdominal migraines that lead to vomiting.

Due to her symptoms, she had to give up her hair salon and can now only work as a stylist once a week.

She said, “They can last up to six weeks.” I have severe dizziness every day. Just walking can be difficult.

“Now if I lose my sight, it’s not total blindness.” “My vision is like looking through a mirror.”

Ms Spalding says there are three phases to a migraine attack: the early warning phase, when she feels cravings for carbohydrates, sugar, and fatty foods, the attack phase, when she feels all the symptoms, and the hangover phase.

She said, “The hangover phase is the most frustrating.”

“It’s mild pain and you’re housebound.” “Everything’s still going to be a big trigger, so you need to rest to ease the symptoms.”

Over the past two years, Ms. Spalding has finally been able to find treatments that relieve her seizures.

She “begged” to get anti-CGRP, a common migraine medication, which reduced her attacks from 25 days a month to 10 bedridden days.

Due to her symptoms, she had to give up her hair salon and can now only work as a stylist once a week

Ms Spalding said she feels “blessed” to have the support of her family and her husband, who is also her foster partner and hopes to run in the London Marathon next year

With a combination of estrogen and nerve block injections, Ms Spalding’s migraine attacks have reduced to five days a month and her dizziness symptoms have stopped, allowing her to get more outside exercise.

She said, “After 31 years, I feel great.”

Ms Spalding said she feels “blessed” to have the support of her family and her husband, who is also her caring partner.

Next year she hopes to be well enough to run the London Marathon for the Migraine Trust, a charity that supports those affected by my migraines.

Ms Spalding said: “I wouldn’t be here without her.”