For many women, hormonal fluctuations play a significant role in triggering migraine attacks. In a recent conversation with Michele, also known as The Migraine Nurse, we explored her journey with hormonal migraine, her experience with pregnancy and postpartum migraine management, and the tools she uses to find relief — including CEFALY.
Meet Michele: The Migraine Nurse
Michele is a well-known advocate in the migraine community, sharing tips, personal experiences, and insights into life with migraine. She has gone from experiencing chronic migraine to a more episodic pattern and now, as a new mom, is navigating the challenges of balancing motherhood and migraine management.
Here’s what Michele says about her story, her symptoms, and her go-to strategies for coping with hormonal migraine.
Hormonal migraine: When did it start?
Michele’s migraine journey began during puberty, a time when many women first experience hormonal migraine. She recalls:
“For as long as I can remember, hormones have played a role in my migraine journey. When I first started getting migraine attacks, my doctor reassured me that it was common for women to experience migraine around their period. It has always been a part of my life.”
Like Michele, many women notice an increase in migraine frequency and severity around their menstrual cycle. Hormonal fluctuations, particularly changes in estrogen levels, are a well-known trigger for migraine.
Symptoms of hormonal migraine
Michele describes her typical migraine symptoms:
- One-sided temple pain (which can switch sides)
- Sensitivity to light
- Nausea
- In the past, more severe symptoms including back-of-the-head pain and blurry vision
Over time, her migraine attacks have become less frequent and less intense, but she still experiences symptoms, especially around hormonal changes.
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Recognizing the early signs: Prodrome phase
The prodrome phase is the early warning stage before a migraine attack fully develops. Michele has learned to recognize her body’s subtle signals:
“Before my migraine attack fully starts, I usually get an overwhelming feeling of just, “Ugh,I don’t feel good.” Lights suddenly seem too bright—if I’m at work, my computer screen feels glaring, and at home, I’ll start turning off lights without realizing it. I’ll ask my husband, ‘Did you change the light bulbs?’ He says, ‘No, you’re probably getting a migraine.’”
Once she recognizes these early signs, Michele takes proactive steps:
- Hydration & Electrolytes – Drinking water with electrolytes helps her stay hydrated.
- Snacking – Eating a small meal if she hasn’t eaten in a while.
- Migraine Glasses – Wearing tinted glasses, especially while working.
- Using Her CEFALY Device – She makes sure her device is charged and ready to use.
How do hormonal changes and pregnancy impact migraine?
For Michele, migraine attacks worsen in the days leading up to her period and are sometimes triggered by ovulation. She explains:
“A few days before my period, my migraine attacks were harder to treat and less responsive to medication. During pregnancy, my first and second trimesters were rough, but by the third trimester, when hormones stabilized, I felt so much better.”
In the postpartum phase, Michele feared that her migraine symptoms would return full force, but she was surprised:
“I was expecting them to get worse again, but I’ve only been getting about one migraine a week, which feels like a win!”
Common misconceptions about hormonal migraine
Michele addresses a major misconception about hormonal migraine:
“People think it’s so normal to have migraines around your period. It’s a woman’s thing, there’s nothing you can do about it. I think that’s such a misconception. There’s a lot of things you can do to help make it more mild, more manageable, or even just have a game plan.”
Women’s health, in general, is often misunderstood, and migraine is no exception. Understanding the triggers and available treatments can help women take control of their migraine attacks rather than just suffering through them.
Michele’s migraine toolkit
Michele prefers to start with non-medication approaches before resorting to medication. Here’s what’s in her migraine relief toolkit:
- Electrolytes – Staying hydrated is key.
- Ginger – Used as a natural anti-inflammatory remedy.
- Cefaly – A neuromodulation device that helps soothe and prevent migraine attacks.
- Peppermint Oil – A roll-on stick for temple pain and nausea relief.
- Ice Packs – Always stocked in her freezer for quick relief.
- Weighted Sleep Mask – Especially helpful during pregnancy and for temple pain.
Michele emphasizes that these tools can be used together for maximum relief.
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Neuromodulation: A Lesser-Known Treatment Option
Many people still don’t know about CEFALY, a neuromodulation device designed for migraine relief. Michele first discovered it through social media and was skeptical at first.
“I had never heard of it, so I went on CEFALY’s website, read all the evidence-based articles. It’s just so transparent, which is so nice. That gave me confidence to try it.”
Her experience with CEFALY was overwhelmingly positive:
“It literally worked from day one, and I have absolutely loved it. When I got it, I went through a flare a month or two later. I was using it every single day, trying to get out of these rebound headaches — and it worked.”
With the introduction of the CEFALY Connected device and its integration with the CeCe Migraine Management app, users can now track their sessions, intensity levels, and migraine symptoms in real time. Michele loves that she can now:
- Track session times without losing count.
- Adjust intensity levels to a comfortable setting.
- Download her migraine data to share with her doctor.
Pregnancy and postpartum migraine management
Michele shares an honest perspective on pregnancy with migraine:
“I first knew I was pregnant because I had one of the worst migraines ever! During the first trimester, my migraines got really intense. It also doubled with morning sickness. So that was not fun at all. But once I reached the end of the second trimester and into the third, my migraines stabilized back to normal, they became super mild, and I got one a week. It just felt like such a breath of fresh air.”
In the postpartum phase, new triggers emerged:
- Sleep deprivation – Waking up every 2-3 hours affected her migraine frequency.
- Changes in eating habits – Not having time to prepare meals as before.
- Increased noise sensitivity – Crying and loud sounds can be overwhelming.
Despite these challenges, Michele has found ways to manage postpartum migraine:
- Relying on CEFALY – Her doctor approved CEFALY as a safe option for her.
- Taking breaks – Allowing herself time to rest when possible.
- Using simple solutions – Ice packs, hydration, and migraine glasses.
“If you’re on the fence about having kids because of migraine, know that the reward is worth it,” Michele says.
Struggling with hormonal migraine? There is hope.
Michele’s journey is a testament to the power of self-awareness and proactive migraine management. Through trial and error, she has built a toolkit that works for her, allowing her to enjoy life as a new mom while keeping migraine attacks at bay.
If you’re struggling with hormonal migraine, remember: you don’t have to suffer in silence. There are tools and strategies that can help, from tracking your symptoms to exploring neuromodulation devices like CEFALY. Discover how CEFALY can relieve your migraine pain and give you more good days: Try it risk-free for 90 days!
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