1 year on Cefaly: stats

[lorente]

March 21, 2015, marked exactly one year since I started using the Cefaly headband. I use it almost every day, whether I have a mig or not (as recommended). I've missed a couple of days here and there, mostly because I was out of town those times (although I always take it with me). I think I missed four days in a row once, but never usually more than one day.

In this past year, I have been keeping notes about my migs for my doctor, which I have to give to her next week. Thought you might be interested in my stats:

In the 4 weeks before starting Cefaly, I had 11 migs (2 to 3/week) and had to take meds at least 10 times (one was an optical mig w/o pain). (I probably took more meds than that, because I had two bouts of migs that lasted 4 days each, and I was taking meds round the clock.)

In the 4 weeks after starting Cefaly, I had 6 migs (1 to 2/week) and had to take meds for only 1 migraine because most of the migs I had were much less painful, and/or because Cefaly knocked out most of them and I didn't need the meds.

In 1 year since starting Cefaly, I've had a total of 38 migs (1 was optical w/o pain)--so I'm down to about 3/month on average. Most of the migs I'm having now are much less painful than before, and the Cefaly knocks out most of them, so I had to take meds for only 11 migs during the entire year. (Also, note, sometimes I would have to use Cefaly twice per mig. A couple of times, the Cefaly would knock it out, but the mig would return later, and I'd have to use it again and/or take meds.)

These migs for the most part are nowhere near the pain I've been having for 44 years. I can function almost every day of my life now. Sometimes I can even function when I have a mig, which I have never been able to do before. This has given me my life back. I can't put it any other way.

Note: I apologize if any of these stats are different from those I've posted previously. (I don't know that they are; I haven't checked.) I had been keeping notes in my phone and in my computer, and today was the day I had to put it all together in one place. Also, most doctors say you suffer less from migs as you get older, but I am 63, and my migs became so much worse in the past 10 years, and in the past 4 years, I have had month-long bouts with little let-up two to three times/year. So far, I've gotten through this Feb-March--always the worst of them--with only 3 migs so far. I pray this all continues.

ETA: edited to change to "for only 1 migraine" in 4th paragraph

[Valkyriepam]

I'm being followed by a board certified headache specialist from Mount Sinai in NYC. I received the Cefaly on Saturday, tonight is my 3rd use. I started to get a migraine today, and after reading blogs I tried it as an abortive and it helped. The headache did not resolve completely, but relieved it enough that I didn't require Maxalt. I will use it again tonight. I've always been prone to headaches, but developed daily migraine/ice pick headaches s/p weaning off long term, high dose steroid use for what was thought to be temporal arteritis. It's been a nightmare ever since. I'm so pleased to read Cefaly has helped. As you know, there is so much conflicting information and much negativity. I was also started on Atacand, titrating up to 16 mg/day. I've been evaluated by a nutritionist, had extensive lab work and I'm following recommendations to avoid foods that labs indicated I'm "intolerant" to. I'd appreciate any information shared regarding ice pick headaches... what has worked for you. Thank you so much, everyone. I'm glad to be here for the support.

[Migrainegirl]

Lorentz,

That is so awesome!! I think we all get disillusioned when so many things don't work for us. This just shows you have to keep trying everything, and sometimes we finally find something that does. The alternative is to give up and that is no way to live. Good for you for sticking with it. Very happy for you!

[lorente]

Valyriepam, I'm so glad it helped resolve that migraine for you, even if only enough to avoid the Maxalt (which is a big deal, too). And after only 3 uses, too. I've read it takes a week or two of use to get to that point. Just remember to use it every day, mig or not, and that you can use it more than once/day if it doesn't work the first time, or if you develop a mig after you've already used it for the day. I truly hope it continues to work for all of us. Please let us know how it goes for you.

[Cathy]

I just did a search on Cefaly on here. I've been printing out the online info and was going to make an appt with my doctor. Yours was the first post to come up and I'm so glad to read the good news. That's it, I'm calling and getting an appointment and hopefully my doc will write the prescription. He really does want me to be out of pain but I've run the gamut and even tried for the neurostimulator but my insurance turned me down. Here's hoping.....

--Cathy

[lorente]

Cathy, I've heard some insurance companies won't cover it. But according to the Cefaly web site, if you're in the US, Cefaly will refund your money within 60 days if it doesn't seem to be working for you. See this link, under "Refund Policy": http://www.cefaly.us/en/questions

I believe the Cefaly inserts say you can tell within the first two weeks if it is helping (if you use it every day). So, money-back guarantee. I sincerely hope it works for you. Best of luck.

[Migrainegirl]

Get your doctor to write you a prescription even if he does not think it will work. Mine was pretty skeptical but I persuaded him I wanted to give it a try anyway. And I definitely think it helped.

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