Martine McCutcheon has opened up about the 'migraines from hell' she experiences as a result of Lyme disease and fibromyalgia flare-ups. The 45-year-old actress shared a selfie on Instagram on Wednesday, describing a recent episode that left her feeling as though she had been 'hit on the head with a mallet'.
'Sunshine! Hurrah!' she wrote. 'We are having a little drive as I’ve been having a flareup of the fibro and Lyme today and I feel like I’ve been hit on the head by a mallet! I get migraines from hell! I’ve managed to rest a bit and I wanted some fresh air and a little trip out.'
Responding to a fan's suggestion to use a gua sha facial massage tool, McCutcheon explained how she manages her health issues. 'I use ice – it’s really effective, isn’t it? I have a cold shower everyday too and that’s not easy but it’s been a game changer along with my @pureiscbd [CBD food supplement]. It’s so great when you find things that help but I will check out the gua sha - thank you!'
McCutcheon was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) in 2011, a chronic condition causing extreme tiredness. She later received a diagnosis of Lyme disease, an infectious bacterial illness from tick bites, and fibromyalgia, which causes widespread pain. Speaking on Loose Women in 2016 about how chronic fatigue syndrome forced her to stop working, she said: 'I got really ill, but I kept pushing. The ME stopped me. I got viruses and infections and it just kept going and going, in the end nothing else would have stopped me. It was horrible stopping. I wouldn’t want to do it all over again. I’ve learned from it.'
Anyone living with Lyme disease can access help and support from Lyme Disease UK, while The ME Association offers support for those with ME.
