A path forward
Ivy had a plan for her future, but Chronic Migraine forced her to rethink everything. Then, she found a treatment.
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Ivy:
Chronic Migraine puts the brakes on my life.
I had this trajectory, I had this idea of what I was going to do, and it completely halted it.
I’m here today to share my story about my experience with BOTOX® Chronic Migraine.
I’m Ivylis Rivera and I’m a BOTOX® for Chronic Migraine patient.
On Screen:
Ivylis is an actual BOTOX® patient who was on prescribed therapy when she provided her testimonial. Changes in therapy status may have occurred since that time. Ivylis was compensated by AbbVie for sharing her story.
Ivy:
When I was growing up, I was very healthy. I mean, I never even got a cold.
But then out of nowhere, I got a migraine attack about a year into being active-duty Air Force. I wasn’t able to just text my supervisor and lay in bed in the dark room.
The protocol was go to the Emergency Department, where they make the call whether you are too sick to work. Having these people make decisions for me and say that I am sick enough, that I am impaired enough, made me question my reality. Like, am I really feeling this? Is it really that bad?
The most hurtful aspect of all of this is not being believed.
I completely stopped using the word “headache” because it does not do what I’m feeling justice.
I was always so excited to be around people, but it kind of made me a hermit. Migraine attacks, they’re random. You know, I can’t plan around it.
I was a person looking to be diagnosed. I wanted to know what was wrong with me because I was afraid that it was a tumor. I was afraid that it was a cyst.
I had all these very scary things in my mind. I had to wait ‘till I was at my permanent duty station to finally see a specialist.
The neurologist came in, took one look at me and was like, “You have Chronic Migraine.”
So I kind of found myself at a fork in the road. Do I keep putting myself in these situations, or do I seek out treatment options for my migraine attacks? I had appointments with neurologist after neurologist, CT scans, MRIs, blood work.
I had so many medications thrown at me. It took me about 4 years to find a neurologist that I was comfortable with. The first appointment, he walked in, he was smiling, he looked at me, and he was like, “Well, have you heard of BOTOX® for Chronic Migraine?”
On Screen:
BOTOX® prevents headaches in adults with Chronic Migraine, 15 or more headache days a month, each lasting 4 or more hours. It is not approved for 14 or fewer headache days a month.
Ivy:
I definitely heard of it, but I had this idea of what BOTOX® was in my head, and I just felt like maybe that wasn’t for me. But he sat me down and he explained that he would give me 31 injections in your head and your neck, and it would take about 10 minutes.
On Screen:
BOTOX® treatments are 31 small, shallow injections into 7 muscle groups in the head and neck areas that may be associated with Chronic Migraine.
Ivy:
The first treatment, it’s not as scary as you think. It was tiny little pinches.
On Screen:
BOTOX® CM Patient Message Optimization Final Report.
Ivy:
My doctor told me that sometimes it takes a couple of treatments to start to kick in…
On Screen:
BOTOX® starts with 2 treatments, 12 weeks apart, then 12 weeks thereafter in a doctor’s office.
Ivy:
…but in my case, it started working after the first treatment…
On Screen:
Some patients may feel results after 4 weeks. The full benefit of BOTOX® is measured at week 24.
Ivy:
…and now I have fewer days with headaches. So be patient and stick with it, because it’s worth it…
On Screen:
BOTOX® prevents, on average, 8 to 9 headache days and migraine/probable migraine days a month (vs 6 to 7 for placebo) at 24 weeks.
Ivy:
I get this done every 3 months, 4 times a year.
On Screen:
BOTOX® injections are given every 12 weeks in a doctor’s office.
Ivy:
It’s like going to the grocery store, or going to the gym. It has just been so ingrained in my routine.
This whole experience has taught me to advocate for myself. Nobody cares about you more than you care about you, and especially being a Chronic Migraine patient, you are the one going home with the headache pain. So if you are suffering, I know how you feel right now. I know how discouraging it can be. Talk to your doctor. Advocate for yourself.
BOTOX® has made a real difference in my life. I can't tell you how grateful I am.
