There was a time when Emmy and Tony award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth thought she might have to retire from the career she loved because of debilitating Chronic Migraines.
Thankfully, she was able to find a treatment plan with her doctor that worked for her, and she now shares her experience in hopes of helping others feel less alone.
Kristin Chenoweth Remembers When Her Migraines Started And Shares What Helped Her
Gian Andrea di Stefano for Intermediate Stages with Chronic Migraine
“It was the beginning of adulthood. I was 25 years old,” he told The Blast. “I was singing a solo concert with the Virginia Symphony and all of a sudden, I started getting this aura of flashing lights, and I couldn’t understand what was going on. “
He went on to explain that he suddenly felt nauseous during his performance and when it was intermission and the curtain closed, he ended up throwing up. He was sick for about three days after that.
“My mom had really bad headaches growing up, and I thought this must be what it was, but after a few years of dealing with it, and then finally being diagnosed by my doctor, I understood that it was a migraine,” she continued.
“I tried different drugs, different pills, I tried injections. The thing is, there is no prevention for me.”
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Then he tried BOTOX, which he said at least in his condition helped prevent migraines from happening. And for the bride-to-be getting married in a few weeks, making sure no migraines are in sight to derail her big day, as well as her daily life, is of the utmost importance.
“Once I found what really helped, it was like a new day for me. I am facing retirement. I don’t think I can continue. The night I won the Emmy, I left in an ambulance,” he told The Blast. “I’m getting married soon. We are very ready. There will be no migraines anywhere.”
Chenoweth says that coping with migraines is important. He does his treatments every 12 weeks, and can actually tell when that time is approaching. In addition to her BOTOX treatment, she has a treatment plan that also includes watching her salt and alcohol intake, and getting enough rest.
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Another thing she found helpful was being open and honest with people about what she was dealing with.
“One thing I’ve found that really helps me is that I share with the people I work with that hey, this could happen. And there is more understanding than not understanding,” he explained.
“I find that when you share your story and you tell people what you’re dealing with, it’s an invisible illness, so if I’m wearing an arm brace, you’ll know I’m hurt. Well, it’s a different thing but it’s inside.”
The actress also said it helps not to feel alone by sharing her story.
“You feel like you’re alone on an island for so long but when you start talking about it and sharing it, you find other people are experiencing it too,” she said. “And it makes you not feel bad, just like that.”
Dr. Larry Charleston Shares More About Chronic Migraines And BOTOX
Michigan State University
Dr. Larry Charleston, Director of Headache & Facial Pain, Director of Faculty Development at Michigan State University and Professor, shares more information about the use of BOTOX for those with Chronic Migraine.
“There are so many people with Chronic Migraine, about 3.3 million people,” he told The Blast. “One of the things that’s really important is that people have to start with a diagnosis first. Some people might think, oh, it’s just a headache, but a migraine is much more than that.
Dr. Charleston explained that the criteria for Chronic Migraine include 15 or more headache days per month with symptoms lasting more than four hours each time, for more than a three-month period.
“It affects people in their daily lives. It affects people with their lives. It may affect them in different ways. It might affect them socially, it might affect their work, it might affect the way they interact with people. It manifests itself in many ways,” he explained.
“We don’t have a cure, but we can be more in control with different tools and this comprehensive approach.”
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In addition to sharing her Chronic Migraine story, Chenoweth has also partnered with AbbVie on the “Center Stage with Chronic Migraine” program.
According to their website, the program “aims to help and empower others living with Chronic Migraine to talk to their doctors about how to manage their disease.”
The website also shared a statement given by Chenoweth. “I want to share what I’ve learned with others who may be struggling with Chronic Migraine to help give them encouragement and motivation to take control of this debilitating disease.”
For more information on BOTOX for Chronic Migraine and the “Central Level with Chronic Migraine” program, visit their website.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
