A DETERMINED Lakes School student walked away from school last week with a stunning nine A* and two A grade GCSEs even though her study has been constantly interrupted by agonising migraines, writes Jennie Dennett.

Janine John, of Troutbeck Bridge, bagged the top grades despite missing around a quarter of her lessons because she suffers from what doctors have called a `migraine-type phenomenon'.

The 16-year-old has spent the last nine years of her life struggling with the condition that causes nausea, vomiting and what Janine describes as a "fluey feeling all over".

The phenomenon has so far defied all the treatments offered by a battalion of specialist doctors.

"When you first get the feeling it's something you have dreaded and it's very upsetting.

First of all you get a slight headache.

If you wanted to do something or you have arranged something it's very difficult.

Then you start to feel sick, it kind of builds up and gets to a point where you are sick and it goes on and on and on," said Janine.

But the motivated teenager got on with her GCSEs in every spare moment between the episodes of her illness, which leave her incapacitated for around two days a week.

During an attack she cannot go out and is regularly doubled up with nausea.

"I don't want it to get in the way of me doing what I want to do," said Janine, who now plans to go on to the Lakes School sixth form and eventually university.

"We're terrifically proud of what she has achieved," said her mum Sandra John.

"Janine said at the beginning of the course she was going to work towards A*.

She knew she had this problem so she spent an awful lot of time doing the course work to a very high standard which was very sensible - round about exam time she wasn't able to do the revision because she was ill."

Janine, Mrs John and father Tony John offered heartfelt thanks to teachers at the Lakes School for their support throughout school.

"They have done a fantastic job in helping her," said Mrs John.

Mrs John hoped that Janine' s story would help improve people's understanding of migraines as part of Migraine Awareness Week, which runs from this coming Sunday.

" A lot of people that say they have a migraine ...they wouldn't have a clue.

With a real migraine you are totally incapacitated."

The condition is caused by a fall in levels of the brain chemical Serotonin, which makes the brain's blood vessels contract triggering intense pain and other neurological effects like pins and needles, nausea and sensitivity to light and noise.

Janine is currently waiting for the results of nutrition tests to see if they can give any clues to the cause of her own attacks.

Her and her family are hoping she will recover from an attack which has persisted since GCSE results day and meant they haven't been able to go out to celebrate.

Migraine sufferers in need of support or advice on treatments can call the Migraine Action Association on 01536-461333.

Janine will be delivering leaflets about action week to Windermere Library.