Martine McCutcheon has discussed the “migraines from hell” that she experiences because of Lyme disease and fibromyalgia flareups.
The 45-year-old star shared a selfie on Instagram alongside a comment which details a recent episode that left her feeling like she’d been “hit on the head with a mallet.”
“Sunshine! Hurrah!” McCutcheon wrote on Wednesday. “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.”
Replying to a fan who suggested using a gua sha facial massage tool, McCutcheon shared how she manages her health issues, saying: “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 a condition that causes extreme tiredness among other symptoms.
She was later diagnosed with Lyme disease, an infectious bacterial condition passed on from being bitten by an infected tick. The fibromyalgia she experiences causes pain all over the body.
Speaking about how chronic fatigue syndrome forced her to stop working, McCutcheon said on Loose Women in 2016: “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."
She added: "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.
For more information on ME and support with a diagnosis you can speak with The ME Association.
