My Honest Migraine Story: What I’ve Tried, What’s Helped, and How CEFALY Changed My Routine
June is Migraine & Headache Awareness Month—a time to shine a light on a disease that so many quietly struggle with every single day. As someone who has lived with migraine (and vestibular migraine specifically), this month means a lot to me because it reminds me why I share my story: to make invisible illness visible.
For those who don’t know, I’ve battled migraines for most of my life. But it wasn’t until 2021 that I was officially diagnosed with chronic migraine, and not until 2022 that I learned I also have vestibular migraine and dysautonomia. Like so many others, I spent years brushing off the pain, thinking it was "just headaches" or that I was being dramatic. Spoiler: I wasn’t.
Living with migraine has been a steep learning curve—not only figuring out what treatments and tools help me function but also how to advocate for myself in a healthcare system that doesn’t always listen the first time (or the second, or third).
What I’ve Tried (and What Didn’t Quite Work)
If you live with migraine, you probably know the exhausting trial-and-error game well. I’ve tried:
Oral medications like Ubrelvy and Qulipta
Botox injections
Infusions
CGRP injections like Emgality
While some of these treatments helped in small ways (the CGRP injections gave me the most relief out of these options), none of them completely managed my migraines.
That’s because I live with status migrainosus—a rare, severe form of migraine that can last for weeks, months, or even years without fully breaking. It’s as exhausting as it sounds. Some days I can work, drive, and live my life; other days I have to cancel everything and lay in the dark for hours.
And honestly? The emotional toll of feeling like nothing was working started to weigh heavier than the migraine itself.
Finding CEFALY: The Drug-Free Device That Made a Difference
I first heard about CEFALY in 2022 on social media. Someone I followed was using it to ease their migraine pain, and I was curious—but cautious. As a childhood cancer survivor, I’ve learned to be really mindful about what I put into my body, so I like to explore drug-free or holistic methods alongside traditional medicine.
CEFALY immediately caught my attention because it’s an External Trigeminal Nerve Stimulator (eTNS)—basically a fancy way of saying it gently stimulates the nerve associated with migraine without any medication involved. It reminded me of the TENS unit I used growing up, so I felt familiar with the concept and how it might work.
When I finally decided to invest in the CEFALY Enhanced device, I was honestly surprised at how simple and gentle it felt. No pain, no weird side effects—just this soothing tingling sensation that actually felt like it was lifting weight off my head. I let out an audible sigh of relief the first time I used it.
For someone who rarely finds any immediate relief, this moment was huge.
And the best part? It’s portable, easy to use, and I don’t have to worry about constant charging or maintenance. It’s become part of my daily routine—something reliable that I can fall back on without fear of side effects or complications.
👉 Curious to try CEFALY for yourself? Shop the CEFALY device [here] and see how it could become part of your own migraine management toolkit.
I Shared My Full Story on CEFALY’s Podcast
Recently, I had the honor of joining CEFALY’s Migraine Circle Podcast to share my full chronic illness journey—how migraines have shaped my life and why CEFALY became such an important part of my care plan.
In the episode, I talk about:
What it was like growing up with undiagnosed migraine symptoms
Why I waited so long to seek help (and how self-doubt played a role)
How I discovered vestibular migraine and dysautonomia after years of confusion
My honest first impressions when I tried CEFALY
Encouragement for anyone who feels stuck, frustrated, or dismissed by the medical system
This conversation was such a full-circle moment for me—to go from silently suffering to sharing my story on a platform dedicated to migraine awareness.
Why This Matters (And Why Awareness Month is So Important)
Migraine is not “just a headache.”
It’s a full-body, life-disrupting neurological disease that changes how you move through the world. It deserves more research, more funding, and way more compassion from doctors, friends, workplaces—everyone.
I hope that this month, whether you personally struggle with migraine or not, you’ll take a minute to learn, share, or support someone who does.
If you’re a fellow migraine warrior, I want you to know:
You are not alone.
Your pain is real.
And even when nothing seems to be working—there are tools, treatments, and gentle options like CEFALY that might help you reclaim little pockets of peace.
I’m still figuring it all out, just like you. But I’ve built a toolkit that works for me, piece by piece. And that toolkit gives me hope.
