Jay's Story

Since he was a child, Jay suffered from ‘frighteningly painful' headaches. He had given up going to the doctors as there never seemed to be a diagnosis, but spent a lot of time outdoors, as this was the only thing that seemed to ease the headaches.

“I had three intense headaches a day, like having a nail drilled into your forehead, three months on, three months off, from the age of nine years-old. I couldn't see any chance of doing anything about them, so I just got on with it and made them a part of my life.”

After his family suffered a financial hardship, they were no longer able to fund his education and at 19 Jay dropped out of college and moved out of his family home.

Although hardworking, the intensity and regularity of the headaches always ended up affecting Jay's work, and therefore he moved from job to job.

“I wandered around for several years, but I never really settled anywhere. I never felt like I had a home.”

Jay estimates that he has spent around 20 of the last 40 years living ‘outside' as this seemed to ease his headaches.

It was when Jay was sleeping rough in the City of London that he came into contact with Liz, one of Broadway's Outreach Workers.

Liz arranged for a specialist doctor to visit Jay, who in turn recommended him to the Migraine Clinic.

Jay was eventually diagnosed with suffering from ‘Cluster Headaches,' (also known as ‘suicide headaches' from being what doctors describe as the most painful condition known to medical science). They believe they are a result of a lack of oxygen in the brain, which would explain why they eased when Jay was outdoors.

Jay is currently receiving treatment and now he is aware of the condition and how to ease it, he is in the process of moving into his own flat for the first time in 20 years. Broadway staff have helped him to find a flat that is up high, and has a balcony, so he constantly has a stream of fresh air, which helps to ease his headaches immensely.