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'I have exploding head syndrome'

How migraines are much more than a headache for comedian Rachel Creeger.

Migraines are so much more than a headache according to Rachel Creeger.

In a fascinating discussion with the comedian, we hear how her various identities impact on her – that’s being disabled, Jewish and a woman. But also, that the disabling form of migraine she has is also linked to her senses, speech and her ability to play musical instruments among other things.

Our reporter Emma Tracey caught up with Creeger back in the summer after her run at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Photo credit: Ruth Bloch

Email: ouch@bbc.co.uk or find us on Twitter @bbcouch

Rachel’s condition feels like one of those things which people probably sit at home frantically Googling about so here are some keywords from the podcast audio to help search engines find out more about this unusual collection of symptoms.

atypical hemiplegic migraine with prolonged aura, plucking hair, shot in head, stabbing pain, synesthesia, migraine, headache, words, trigger, sounds, smells, Myelin sheaths, genetic disorder, neurological, inherited migraine, MS, onomatopoeia.

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22 minutes

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