SUICIDE DISEASE – I wrote a lot of health stories during my years as a journo but I have to admit, this was a new one on me.
And for that I’m truly grateful as it’s just as horrific as it sounds.
Kyle Ayers is an established American comic making his Fringe debut after a run of packed-out shows in the States detailing living with this brain disease, known to the medical profession as trigeminal neuralgia.
A debilitating pain disorder – Kyle describes his permanent pain as being like “an electrical cable lashing about, electrocuting my head” – is more frequently known as Suicide Disease because, well, it has the highest suicide rate among those diagnosed with it of any known ailment.
The thing is, because it’s one of those “hidden conditions”, Kyle’s most common reaction to revealing his ailment is, “Well, you don’t LOOK like you have a brain disease”!
This show deals with some pretty dark stuff. Kyle has tried injections, pills, gamma knife radiation treatment, Botox (yup) and even major brain surgery but nothing worked, so now he’s using stand-up to help him deal with his daily pain.
I’ll be honest, when Kyle detailed the recurrence of his pain five months after surgery, five months of pain-free bliss, it felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room.
Don’t fear, though, Kyle is helluva funny and hands an audience member a slide whistle to blow just in case things get too dark.
For us, that came just as he was about to address his own suicidal thoughts.
Did I mention he was really funny?!
Hearing him describe the unexpected Charles Monson-esque scar his surgery left him with was worth the admission alone.
You want to see something truly uplifting at this year’s Fringe? This is the show for you.
Kyle Ayers presents: Hard to Say, 19.25 Just the Tonic, Until August 25
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/kyle-ayers-presents-hard-to-say
