I grew up rarely thinking about migraines. A true migraine was a rare event – maybe once a year. But in 2020, after recovering from COVID-19, everything changed. What used to be occasional headaches turned into frequent, debilitating migraine attacks. By the end of that year, I was experiencing them multiple times a week, sometimes nearly every day. It felt like a switch had flipped in my brain, and migraine had taken over my life.
Navigating the Medical Maze: Doctors and Insurance
Seeking relief, I first turned to my primary care doctor, only to be dismissed with explanations like “stress from the pandemic” or “too much screen time.” I was told to “stretch more,” and I left feeling frustrated and unheard.
As my migraine attacks worsened, I sought a neurologist’s help after weeks on a waitlist. He took me seriously, ordered an MRI, and recommended new treatments — but then insurance fought us every step of the way.
This process was exhausting and expensive. I spent hours on the phone and watched co-pays pile up, all while enduring constant pain. I kept asking myself: Should getting help be this hard?
Losing Myself to Chronic Migraine
Chronic migraine didn’t just hurt — it consumed my life. Beyond the piercing head pain and nausea, I lived in constant brain fog and dizziness. I was anxious all the time, always bracing for the next attack.
The hardest part was feeling like I was losing the person I used to be. Not long before, I had been an energetic grad student balancing school and a full-time job, planning my wedding, and caring for my sick parent. Now, I could barely get through a workday or class without retreating to a dark room. I felt like a fragile, unreliable version of myself — and that broke my heart.
I grieved the “old me” who could do it all. Now I was missing out on adventures and canceling plans despite my best efforts. I felt like I was letting everyone down. Many nights I cried into my pillow, wondering if I’d ever get my life back.
Reaching My Breaking Point – and Finding Hope
My breaking point finally came after a very expensive year of trying every treatment available. In a moment of clarity, I had a “come to Jesus” talk with myself. I realized I’d been fighting against my reality and mourning the life I had lost. It wasn’t working, and something had to change.
I decided that, while I couldn’t control having migraine disease, I could control how I dealt with it. Instead of chasing my old normal, I began focusing on what I needed to feel okay now. I prioritized my mental health, learned to manage stress, and gave myself permission to rest without guilt. While the mindset shift didn’t cure my migraines, it was the first step toward healing and acceptance.
Building My Migraine Recovery Toolkit
With a new mindset, I slowly assembled a toolkit of therapies and habits that helped me cope and improve. Some of the key things that made a difference for me include:
- Neurofeedback – I started neurofeedback therapy at The Neurovation Center to train my brain. It helped lower my anxiety and brain fog, which then eased my migraine symptoms.
- Consistent sleep routine – I became very strict about sleep. I keep the same bedtime and wake time every day. Since poor sleep is a huge trigger for me, this routine was crucial and helped reduce my morning headaches.
- Daily CEFALY sessions – In 2022 I took a new job at CEFALY, a medical device maker, and I began using a CEFALY device every day. It’s a wearable device that sends gentle electrical pulses to calm my overactive nerves. Using it for 20 minutes daily gradually reduced my migraine frequency, and because it’s drug-free I don’t have the anxiety of side effects.
- Book club & social time – I started a monthly book club with friends (sometimes over Zoom) to fight isolation. It gave me something to look forward to and reminded me I’m more than my illness.
- Curable app (mind-body therapy) – I used an app called Curable for guided meditation and pain management exercises. It taught me how to calm my nervous system and not let fear amplify my pain, which helped me feel more in control.
- Pilates – Pilates helped me rebuild strength in a gentle way. It’s low-impact and helped me ease back into exercise without triggering headaches. It ended up being a true game-changer for me.
All of these tools made a big difference, but Pilates in particular had a profound impact on me and even became a new passion.
Reconnecting Mind and Body Through Pilates
Chronic pain made me feel like my body was my enemy. Pilates changed that for me. I vividly remember finishing a Pilates session without a headache and feeling tears of relief — it was the first time I felt strong and in control of my body, rather than victimized by it.
Pilates became a sort of moving meditation. Focusing on my breath and posture gave my mind a break from worrying about pain. I started to see my body as an ally in healing. That shift from fear of movement to joy in movement was huge for me.
It made such an impact that I’m now training to become a Pilates instructor (through Balanced Body certification) and plan to open a small studio to teach gentle Pilates to others with chronic illness. Turning my pain into purpose has been incredibly healing.
Learn how pilates can help with chronic pain.
The Next Phase: Migraine and Pregnancy Plans
After years of trial and error, I finally found a system that works for managing migraine — Nurtec, Botox, CEFALY, Pilates, and neurofeedback have all become essential to my daily life. But when my husband and I decided we were ready to start a family, I had to face the harsh reality that some of my go-to medications weren’t considered safe during pregnancy, or even during the two-week wait.
The anxiety that comes from knowing my options for relief are limited — and that I might face debilitating attacks without my usual medications — weighs on me constantly. Then there is always the lingering fear: What if pregnancy makes my migraine attacks worse?
The unpredictability of hormones is hard enough. Layering migraine on top of it feels impossible sometimes. But finding tools that don’t rely on medication has made this process feel more manageable. Even though there are months when we’ve had to take a break from trying because of my migraine attacks, I’m learning to trust that this is a process. I don’t know how pregnancy will affect my migraine — some women see improvement, others don’t — but knowing I have options that are safe and effective makes me feel a little more prepared.
This whole journey has forced me to let go of a lot of control — over my body, my health, and even the timing of starting a family. That’s hard for someone like me, who thrives on structure and planning. But learning to work with my body, instead of feeling like I’m fighting against it, has helped me feel stronger, even on the hard days.
The Power of Community and Support
If this journey has taught me anything, it’s that I can’t do it alone. My mom has been amazing — whether driving me to appointments or just keeping me company on my worst days. My friends never make me feel guilty when I have to cancel plans. Knowing they get it makes me feel less alone.
My husband has been my rock. He’s always ready to spring into action, even when my middle-of-the-night attacks come, to get me an ice pack and my CEFALY. He is always adjusting the lights and noise at home, and he’s always ready to leave an event early if I feel a migraine coming on. He never complains. He truly lives “in sickness and in health,” and his unwavering support has carried me through the darkest moments.
Migraine can take so much from us, but it also reveals our strength and the kindness of those around us. My life now doesn’t look how I imagined; it’s slower and takes more planning, but it’s still my life — and there’s beauty in it. If you’re living with migraine, know that you are not alone. It may not be the life you planned, but you can still find joy and meaning. With time and support, you will find a new normal — and it can be beautiful.
Pregnant with headaches or migraine? Join the CEFALY Pregnancy registry.
Migraine in pregnancy can be hard — and people don’t always understand that.
You can help researchers learn more by filling out a series of online surveys. And you can get compensated up to $200.00!
You may be eligible if you…
- Are currently pregnant with a single baby
- Are between 18 and 44 years old
- And have headaches or migraine
0 Comments