I have been having episodic migraines my whole life, but at age 31 they took a sharp turn. My 1-3 migraines per month became 2-3 per week, and my “non-migraine” days were filled with constant moderate-high pain as well. I no longer experienced any headache-free days. My life changed. While I struggled to retain any work or personal life, I continued cycling through a stream of doctor’s appointments, tests, and medications. Nothing even so much as reduced my daily pain.

The one helpful remedy I’d known of since childhood, however, was cold. Cold washcloths and ice packs had always provided my head with relief. I took to the internet in search of some sort of ice pack made specifically for headaches/migraine. I found a few options and purchased them, only to be disappointed in one way or another. Some were too bulky and could not comfortably be worn as a headband, some barely stayed cold past 5 minutes, and others were simply too cold to place right against my skin. I kept searching. Yet I simply could not find one comfortable, wearable ice band that was double-sided to allow for both medium and high cooling.

I created Pakopas to provide everything I could not find, and needed. With a little help from my mother, I learned to sew and began creating prototype after prototype, experimenting with different fabrics and styles. The result: an easily wearable, adjustable, and double-sided ice band.

My hope is that Pakopas provides relief to many others as it does me. With migraine being the third most common disease in the world, headache and migraine sufferers should not be overlooked in effective home treatment. Please share with family and friends whom you think could use some relief, too.

– Renée