COLLAPSING when he got out of a chair and struggling to get through the day because of constant pain in his body David Bissett knew something was wrong.

But for years he struggled to understand the myriad of symptoms he would experience ranging from acute stomach pain to being unable to walk.

David, 51, from Billericay, was suffering from migraine, but it was just four years ago when he was finally diagnosed with the condition, despite suffering the symptoms for most of his adult life.

"By then I had got quite desperate," he says, "If you understand what's going on you can do something about it. But when you don't know it makes things worse.

"I was even treated for epilepsy at one stage. But that made it 10 times worse and added to the problems."

David researched his symptoms on the internet and came to the conclusion he was suffering migraine but his thoughts were dismissed by one doctor he visited.

However David persisted with his belief he was suffering from the neurological condition and after visiting his own GP was finally treated for the condition.

"I also asked to be referred to a neurologist at what was then Oldchurch Hospital," he explains, " as I was aware of the dangers of relying solely on self diagnosis."

At the hospital David was sent for a series of tests by a neurology professor and once the results were back David's own diagnosis was confirmed.

Migraine is a debilitating condition characterised by severe headaches and a range of other physical symptoms including loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, dislike of food, constipation or diarrhoea.

It affects approximately 10 per cent of the UK population.

It is a complex condition which affects sufferers in different ways and there is no cure, although medication is available to help treat the symptoms.

The exact reason why migraine occurs is unknown but research suggests that attacks are linked to chemical changes in the body and that blood vessels and certain nerve cells in the head are involved.

"It feels like a buzz from the head that goes right through your body and I have trouble walking and standing when it happens, " explains David.

He continues: "With the disease process it is common to have gastric problems at the same time and I often feel sick and have pains in my stomach that at times are so bad that they have left me crouched in the foetal position on the living room floor. It is so much more than just a headache."

The condition has affected David's life beyond just coping with his extremes of symptoms.

The former teacher who now works at South Essex Collage says "It has limited my progression at work, " he admits. "I have hesitated in going for promotions as I don't want to put myself in a position of not being able to handle it.

It can also have an impact on his social life as he recalls being wheeled out of a cinema after experiencing an attacked while watching a film which left him unable to walk.

Having been diagnosed David has now be able to gain a better understanding of his complaint and develop strategies to help him cope.

"I keep a diary everyday and have done for the last few years," he explains, "I rate my day on a nought to three scale. Nought being no migraine and three being really bad. I also make notes on how it has affected my day."

By logging his days David has been able to establish which triggers' make him more likely to suffer an attack.

"By keeping those triggers in check and ensuing I have the appropriate medication to hand in time I am able to take more control," he says.

Traditional triggers such as red wine and dark chocolate are included in David's list but other factors can also influence his condition.

"Stress has a very definite influence," David explains, " and stormy weather, just before thunder and lightening when the pressure is very heavy.

"Another thing that can affect it is if I have too much sleep. If I lie in I am much more likely to suffer than if I have not had enough sleep."

With the help of the Migraine Action Association, who run specialist patient events to help sufferers share tips on how to cope, David now feels his condition is manageable.

"I now feel in control rather than being controlled by migraine," he adds.

*Migraine Awareness week runs from September 2 to 8. For more information visit www.migraine.org.uk

Symptoms of migraine

If you have two or more of the following symptoms during an attack it is probable that you are suffering from migraine:

Intense throbbing headache, often on one side of the head only

Visual disturbances (blind spots, distorted vision, flashing lights or zigzag patterns) - these symptoms are often called aura

Nausea and/or vomiting and/or diarrhoea

Increased sensitivity to light (photophobia)

Increased sensitivity to sounds (phonophobia)

Increased sensitivity to smells (osmophobia)

You may also experience other neurological symptoms (also known as aura), including:

stiffness of the neck and shoulders

tingling or stiffness in the limbs

an inability to concentrate

difficulty in speaking

paralysis or loss of consciousness (in very rare cases)

A general rule of thumb is that if a headache and/or other associated symptoms prevent you from continuing with normal daily activities it could be a migraine.