Cefaly Anti-migraine Device
Before I spend $400+ for this item, I would like to know if it really works. I suspect the reviews I see on different websites may not be accurate. Has anyone tried this device? I'm starting the second day of a migraine, and I'd really like to try something that would prevent or abort these bothersome painful episodes.
Penny - our advocate Teri Robert has said she tried the device as an abortive only and didn't have any response to it. It is now being suggested that it can be used for prevention, and as yet I know nobody who has tried it for that. It is very new here in the US, so it's up to you, but you might want to hang onto your money until someone you trust has the chance to tell you about their experience very specifically.
Additionally, don't forget that it may work on one patient, and not on another. There are no cookbook methods for us finding things to help our Migraines. Like you, I hope that this will be at least partially successful for patients and I'd love to give it a go myself and let you know what it was like, but like you, I don't currently have the cash to hand them for something that may or may not work for me.
I guess that option is always there to purchase it and, if it doesn't work, resell it and let someone else have a try at it. Just a thought.My experience with it, for what it's worth...
I'm in the US, and I bought the 3-setting model with the help of a friend in the UK. I bought it through the Amazon UK Web site, had it shipped to her, then she sent it to me and I reimbursed her shipping cost. If I knew someone in Canada it probably would have been cheaper, but I don't.
It didn't work for me. In fact, in at least one instance it gave me a migraine. In short, it was a waste of a lot of money. Details...
- I can't tolerate the full strength on any setting - I have to abort the escalation after about 5 minutes. The one time I didn't it gave me a dreadful migraine.
- The "relaxation" setting puts me to sleep, which might be a nice cure for insomnia except it beeps loudly when it's done, waking me up.
- The treatment setting does not take away my migraines. The alternate stimulation distracts me while it's happening, but when it's done, I still have a migraine and need my meds.
- The prevention setting does not prevent my migraines. Perhaps it's because I have to stop the escalation after 5 minutes or it gives me a migraine. (This was so even after several weeks - I could not get used to it.)
I wanted this to work for me very badly, but it didn't.
Today is Day 4 of a migraine. I've been able to make it go away for a while with meds, but it comes back. I'm sick of it. I had been taking various preventatives (Magnesium+Calcium, Vitamin B2+other Bs, Butterbur+Feverfew, Topomax), and I slacked off. It's not good to take Fiorinal with Codeine and Imitrex every day. I've only needed this once a day in the morning, but it's still too much.
Has any one else been successful in ordering through Costco.ca and shipping through "canadianaddress.ca" to the US? I am about to try this method that Don recommended in November but wondering if the shipping company is reliable. Also I see that costco canada requires a phone number. Did those of you who used this method provide your own US phone number? I'm waiting for a response from "canadianaddress.ca" with a phone number I can use that is linked to their office in Quebec.
What is this device?
I'm in the US, and I bought the 3-setting model with the help of a friend in the UK. I bought it through the Amazon UK Web site, had it shipped to her, then she sent it to me and I reimbursed her shipping cost. If I knew someone in Canada it probably would have been cheaper, but I don't.
It didn't work for me. In fact, in at least one instance it gave me a migraine. In short, it was a waste of a lot of money. Details...
- I can't tolerate the full strength on any setting - I have to abort the escalation after about 5 minutes. The one time I didn't it gave me a dreadful migraine.
- The "relaxation" setting puts me to sleep, which might be a nice cure for insomnia except it beeps loudly when it's done, waking me up.
- The treatment setting does not take away my migraines. The alternate stimulation distracts me while it's happening, but when it's done, I still have a migraine and need my meds.
- The prevention setting does not prevent my migraines. Perhaps it's because I have to stop the escalation after 5 minutes or it gives me a migraine. (This was so even after several weeks - I could not get used to it.)
I wanted this to work for me very badly, but it didn't.
Today is Day 4 of a migraine. I've been able to make it go away for a while with meds, but it comes back. I'm sick of it. I had been taking various preventatives (Magnesium+Calcium, Vitamin B2+other Bs, Butterbur+Feverfew, Topomax), and I slacked off. It's not good to take Fiorinal with Codeine and Imitrex every day. I've only needed this once a day in the morning, but it's still too much.
I'm in the US, and I bought the 3-setting model with the help of a friend in the UK. I bought it through the Amazon UK Web site, had it shipped to her, then she sent it to me and I reimbursed her shipping cost. If I knew someone in Canada it probably would have been cheaper, but I don't.
It didn't work for me. In fact, in at least one instance it gave me a migraine. In short, it was a waste of a lot of money. Details...
- I can't tolerate the full strength on any setting - I have to abort the escalation after about 5 minutes. The one time I didn't it gave me a dreadful migraine.
- The "relaxation" setting puts me to sleep, which might be a nice cure for insomnia except it beeps loudly when it's done, waking me up.
- The treatment setting does not take away my migraines. The alternate stimulation distracts me while it's happening, but when it's done, I still have a migraine and need my meds.
- The prevention setting does not prevent my migraines. Perhaps it's because I have to stop the escalation after 5 minutes or it gives me a migraine. (This was so even after several weeks - I could not get used to it.)
I wanted this to work for me very badly, but it didn't.
Today is Day 4 of a migraine. I've been able to make it go away for a while with meds, but it comes back. I'm sick of it. I had been taking various preventatives (Magnesium+Calcium, Vitamin B2+other Bs, Butterbur+Feverfew, Topomax), and I slacked off. It's not good to take Fiorinal with Codeine and Imitrex every day. I've only needed this once a day in the morning, but it's still too much.
Teania - The Cefaly device delivers electrostimulation to branches of the supraorbital trigeminal nerves. These are nerves that are above the eyebrows etc. Right now it is awaiting FDA approval and it is unknown if it will be OTC or prescription, however my gut feeling is that it will be prescription, as there is another somewhat similar device called the Alphastim that is available here in the US but only under prescription. I am working on posts about each of these, but research is tedious, so it might be a while before I am able to publish anything helpful. I want to be sure I really understand how it works before starting an in-depth conversation about it.
STOP! DO NOT BUY THIS DEVICE! I spent $400 and it was totally useless. I looked like Wonder Woman wearing it, but I believe that it made my migraines EVEN worse. It is approved for use in Canada and to get it we had to have it transhipped (long strory). But it is a hoax or worse. Maybe it helps some folks but it was a total disaster.
Oh, yes, it is safe, but still useless. If anyone would like to try it, I have it in its original packaging and would charge just a nominal fee for it. But do NOT spend the $400 for snake oil.I'll buy it from you. How do I arrange that? I can't figure out how to send private messages to people in this forum.
