First Name: Kelly
Age: 31
Location: Farmingdale, NY
Years with Migraines: 23
Occupation: Epic application specialist
How long have you had migraines?
I’ve had migraines since I was 8 years ago; they’re hereditary. My father had them, my grandmother, and my great grandmother had them too.
When do you usually get migraines?
Other than high stress prolonged situation, I haven’t found any other triggers. I used to be in theater quite frequently and after coming down the high of a show I would end up with a week-long migraine. Other than that, I haven’t found a trigger for my day-to-day migraines
What have you tried pre-Cefaly?
I went through the whole list of medications, all the triptans, nasal sprays, beta blockers… I had got a new Neurologist when I moved (the one that gave me the prescription for Cefaly) and he gave me a list and said that the ones that I didn’t check off were just sister medications of the ones that I did and wouldn’t help me. I also tried acupuncture. I tried chiropractic measures and eating differently but nothing really changed. I was about to go to neurotoxin injections but I really didn’t want to and that’s why I tried Cefaly first.
What does your migraine feel like?
It feels like I have hooks above my eyes that are pulling my skull forward and my head is in a vice, my heartbeat sounds like a Jet engine and a Javelin running from the back of my skull to my forehead. Any noise or movement will just make my head feel like it’s about to explode. Light hurts, heat makes everything worse.
How did you hear about Cefaly?
My mom did a lot of research when I was younger on tens units. At the time when she was doing it they weren’t allowing kids my age to be part of the trials. I think I saw Cefaly on some social media platform at some point and jumped at the chance the moment it was FDA Cleared/CE Marked
What’s your Cefaly experience like?
To say that It’s been completely life-changing is an understatement. I used to worry about if I had to call in to work, if I had to miss a family birthday, if I had to cancel a date, and I usually had to do it 20-minutes before something was supposed to happen because that’s just how my life was. It created an anxiety of letting people down, and being excluded because of not being able to participate, and a terror of never being accepted. I’ve been using Cefaly for about 4-years and I’ve gotten to the point that it’s rare for me to get a migraine, at least one that puts me down and out. It’s a completely different life now. I was getting anywhere from 12 migraines a month, of which probably two of them were ones that had me completely down, on a scale of 1 to 10 for pain I was like a 8 to a 10. And now, I might have one migraine a month, maybe two a month and of those, maybe one every 6-months leaves me down and out. I’ve been given a new lease on life.
What made you want to share your story?
I always use to say that I wouldn’t wish a Migraine on my worst enemies, and I would do anything I could to help someone who also experiences them. I’m part of a migraine reddit community and anytime that I see someone posting for help on that community I always share my experiences with Cefaly. It’s such a different way of approaching things. I hate taking medications, I’ve had such a terrible experience/side effects with some of the medications that some of my neurologists have put me on… I’ve had such an amazing experience with Cefaly and I know how terrible it is to have a migraine. I want everyone to know how different my life has been because of it, and how different their lives can be when they are no longer living in the fear of when the next attack with happen.
Want to share your story too? We’d love to hear from you! Please send an email to m DOT coder AT cefaly DOT us. Please include your name, contact information, and let us know where you’re located so we can set up a good time to talk.
If you’re wondering if Cefaly is right for you, click here for more information and, of course, check with your doctor.