Anyone out there suffer from menstrual migraine? My migraine can occur any time during my period. The usual pattern is a dull headache just before or at the begining of my period this will build up to a migraine. I then take Zolmitriptin my migraine medication and over the next few hours my migraine improves until I'm left with a dull headache . I then wake up the next morning with the exact same pattern and start again. This pattern will continue until the end of my period. I am almost 45 and I am hoping these migraines improve with the menopause. They say the migraines are caused by the drop in hormones, does anyone know of any replacement therapy for this problem. I have suffered from this problem from the age of 14 and as you can imagine getting pretty fed up! I would be grateful for any ideas or miracle cures. Kind regards Janet
Hi Janet,
Sorry to hear you have to put up with this every month. I can't speak much to the migraine issue, but I know what it's like to have pain every month, and to know that there was nothing I could do about it, and that it would continue every month until menopause. It was menstrual pain, not a migraine, but it was 10 on the 10 point scale, every month, for 3 to 5 days. I can't tell you how destructive that was to my life. I was by some great grace, granted menopause at the age of 45, but it was far too late to try to build a life at that point. (I'm 47 now.) By having such uncontrolled pain, for so long, my body became unable to handle any pain of any kind. Now, even though the monthly pains are over, I have constant pain throughout my entire body. So you can see that I really, really, know how badly you want some relief. I'm just glad that you can prevent the full blown migraine. And, based on my experience, I would say that you will definitely stop having them when you reach menopause. Do you ever have them when you're not in your moon? If they are caused by the shifting hormone levels, there must be some types of birth control pills that will prevent the fluctuations. You know that birth control pills don't all work the same way, don't you? Well, I don't remember the details, but some of them prevent pregnancy by preventing the drop in hormone levels that follow ovulation. Some of them work by preventing the rise in hormones to begin with, (thus preventing pregnancy--no egg, no preg!!) and others have other ways of working. I imagine they each come with their own risk factors, but you would have to discuss that with a Dr. Have you ever consulted a pain management specialist? Some of them specialize in headaches. I could post links to some websites of organizations that support patients, and research, etc. of headaches of all kinds. Also, I would think that a knowledgeable gyno could offer an opinion on whether birth control pills might help. They have some really low dose ones these days. It's not like it was when you and I were coming of age, the pills had such an outrageous dose that you probably remember the early stories of how they were thought to cause cancer? It's not like that any more. They work with much lower doses now. And you never hear the cancer-causing stories any more. Anyway, I guess that's about all I can say. I think you have a good chance with the pills, though. Let me know if you want me to post those links. Good luck.
Sorry to hear you have to put up with this every month. I can't speak much to the migraine issue, but I know what it's like to have pain every month, and to know that there was nothing I could do about it, and that it would continue every month until menopause. It was menstrual pain, not a migraine, but it was 10 on the 10 point scale, every month, for 3 to 5 days. I can't tell you how destructive that was to my life. I was by some great grace, granted menopause at the age of 45, but it was far too late to try to build a life at that point. (I'm 47 now.) By having such uncontrolled pain, for so long, my body became unable to handle any pain of any kind. Now, even though the monthly pains are over, I have constant pain throughout my entire body. So you can see that I really, really, know how badly you want some relief. I'm just glad that you can prevent the full blown migraine. And, based on my experience, I would say that you will definitely stop having them when you reach menopause. Do you ever have them when you're not in your moon? If they are caused by the shifting hormone levels, there must be some types of birth control pills that will prevent the fluctuations. You know that birth control pills don't all work the same way, don't you? Well, I don't remember the details, but some of them prevent pregnancy by preventing the drop in hormone levels that follow ovulation. Some of them work by preventing the rise in hormones to begin with, (thus preventing pregnancy--no egg, no preg!!) and others have other ways of working. I imagine they each come with their own risk factors, but you would have to discuss that with a Dr. Have you ever consulted a pain management specialist? Some of them specialize in headaches. I could post links to some websites of organizations that support patients, and research, etc. of headaches of all kinds. Also, I would think that a knowledgeable gyno could offer an opinion on whether birth control pills might help. They have some really low dose ones these days. It's not like it was when you and I were coming of age, the pills had such an outrageous dose that you probably remember the early stories of how they were thought to cause cancer? It's not like that any more. They work with much lower doses now. And you never hear the cancer-causing stories any more. Anyway, I guess that's about all I can say. I think you have a good chance with the pills, though. Let me know if you want me to post those links. Good luck.
Hi Brynn,
Thank you so so much for your kind reply and your empathy as you do know the curse of mensrual pain. Even though I am pleased you are rid of your monthly pain I am so sorry you now have chronic pain. Could I ask what type of pain you now have? You have given me some hope in the leads you have mentioned especially concerning the contraception pill. I was told by my GP that I was unable to take the combined pill as this would increase my migraine, although I wonder if she realised that it was my hormones which were causing these headaches. I also wondered if the marina coil would be of benefit as this releases hormones which results in no period! I would be so grateful if you could post those links. I feel so embarressed working as a staff nurse in theatre recovery and never thinking of asking one of the anaetheatist about my migraine, sadly we have no gynae surgery in our hospital. Brynn you have given me some excellent leads which I will follow up. Keep in touch and hopfully I will be able to gather some information concerning your pain. Take care Janet
Thank you so so much for your kind reply and your empathy as you do know the curse of mensrual pain. Even though I am pleased you are rid of your monthly pain I am so sorry you now have chronic pain. Could I ask what type of pain you now have? You have given me some hope in the leads you have mentioned especially concerning the contraception pill. I was told by my GP that I was unable to take the combined pill as this would increase my migraine, although I wonder if she realised that it was my hormones which were causing these headaches. I also wondered if the marina coil would be of benefit as this releases hormones which results in no period! I would be so grateful if you could post those links. I feel so embarressed working as a staff nurse in theatre recovery and never thinking of asking one of the anaetheatist about my migraine, sadly we have no gynae surgery in our hospital. Brynn you have given me some excellent leads which I will follow up. Keep in touch and hopfully I will be able to gather some information concerning your pain. Take care Janet
Hey Brooke. Don't post much here, usually in anxiety/panic forum.
I feel for you, I too have experienced horrible m's with p cycle. I would take Zomig and it would help. My m's are alot better now, not on the pill anymore and basically I learned to deal with the pain. Alot of my m's were rebound from taking so many advil/tylenols. Even now I am careful how much I take. Before my m even hits me just before my p, I take an advil. my therapist says as long as you stay ahead of the pain it is easier to manage. I do find taking one advil, drinking lots of water and doing Yoga really helps. Sleep too and try not to worry and stress about things. I don't know if I have helped you, but just wanted to let you know I understand what you are feeling! It's tough to be a woman eh? Wonder how well men (sorry men, don't mean to offend! lol just kidding around!) would handle menstralcycles eh?
Red09
Hi Red
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. What a thought, men with periods wouldn't it be good for them to experience all the joys of periods and the whole package that goes with them for just one month, I would predict a lot of sickies!!
Janet
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. What a thought, men with periods wouldn't it be good for them to experience all the joys of periods and the whole package that goes with them for just one month, I would predict a lot of sickies!!
Janet
Janet
Your experience is almost exactly like mine. I've been getting these dibilitating migraines since I was 12 years old. I've tried just about every drug available including some that are under clinical trial.
My boss happens to be a Neurosurgeon at Stanford and am therefore fortunate to have a clinical advisor, of sorts. Unfortunately, he can't eliminate them for good. My GYN recommended wearing a Nuvaring to eliminate my monthly menstrual cycle hoping to minimize the spike and severe drop in estrogen which is believed to be the trigger of our type of migraines. We'll see if that works. So far, no luck this month but I'm holding out hope that my body just needs a few months to adjust to having no periods. I'll report back in another month or two.
Also, my current drug of choice is Imitrex 100mg but I'm wary of the side effects and long term effects this drug may have on my heart and/or liver. I try not take the drug unless I'm in so much pain even an ice pick buried in my skull sounds like it'd bring relief...then and only then will I take the Imitrex. I sure would like to find something natural and even holistic so if anyone knows of anything, I'm willing to try.
KHG
Last Edited : 2/4/2004 1:47:55 AM GMT