Hormonal migraines anyone beaten these? - National Migraine...

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Hormonal migraines anyone beaten these?

Jeffner profile image
16 Replies

Hi,

I suffer from hormonal migraines I get them just before and during my period ( 10/12 days worth) and also get them for 1-3 days when ovulating. I take feverfew, b2 and magnesium and am currently on my 2nd round of Botox which has helped with the rebound migraines so has reduced them a bit. Has anyone tried hormonal methods or anything else to get rid of them? I am 39 so have a long time till menopause, fingers crossed they will stop then. I have also tried cefaly, cbd oil, acupuncture, amiltriptyline, osteopath, diet changes and yoga.

Thanks!

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Jeffner
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16 Replies
Gambit62 profile image
Gambit62

I empathise - mine were twice monthly - I managed to control them with rizatriptan for a while but didn't find any natural remedies that helped - even tried the pill but that also didn't help - probably because it was triggered by changes in both sets of hormones. They did get worse in the few years before B12 absorption problem was discovered.

About the only non-drug thing that really helped was running (jogging - or double shuffle as a friend refers to it). Could even be helpful early on in an attack (though not much use if I'd got to the 'stand-up-throw-up phase). I'm now post menopausal - it does take a while for hormones to settle down though so still suffering at the moment but if family history is anything to go by they should stop in a couple of years.

Hope you find something that works for you.

Jeffner profile image
Jeffner in reply to Gambit62

Thank you for your reply, very helpful. Fingers crossed you will be migraine free soon.

jaynie35uk profile image
jaynie35uk

Hi, I suffer from hormonal migrains, get them mid cycle for a few days then at the end of my period for a few days..I'm on sumatriptan and they work brilliantly, if you take them right at the start of the migrains, totally stops them, unfortunately nothing else had worked but Dr did suggest going in the pill to stop my periods but as my mum had breast cancer I didn't want to go on that..one good thing is that during my pregnancy s I didn't get migrains at all...

Jeffner profile image
Jeffner in reply to jaynie35uk

Thanks so much for your reply. I take Frovatriptan, which usually works really well but can only take it 8 days a month and I get more migraines than that. Aspirin sometimes works too. Pregnancy and breastfeeding worked for me too, but it does have its long lasting side effects 😂 Thanks again!

jaynie35uk profile image
jaynie35uk in reply to Jeffner

Lol yes it does...I get 12 tablets a month and find taking paracetamol and ibuprofen with them help and sometimes just take half a sumatriptan and it works...also I heard about a new trail they are testing it's a nasal spray that cools blood vessels in the head so thought I wonder if drinking ice water would have the same effect and it does help...large glass of water with lots of ice cubes in and take a few large gulps, and repeat, you can get a brain freeze but found it does work, so maybe give that a try. Also in winter when it's freezing outside, inhale through your nose deeply a few times seems to work too..xx

lookingforwardcgrp profile image
lookingforwardcgrp in reply to jaynie35uk

Dear Jaynie, smart choice to not go on the pill......they made my migraines significantly more intense! Like you, the only time in my life that i was relieved from horrible migraines was in 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy. It was like heaven....lol..........

One thing that I can suggest, is take two aleve (sodium naproxen) two days prior to your period starting. This and drinking plenty of water seemed to help me. Good luck and keep searching. God bless

Wolfiesmom08 profile image
Wolfiesmom08

ugh, I wrote a long response and then it did not post! Anyways I thought when I first read this that maybe I had posted it in my sleep (I'm almost the same age/sypmtoms . . .I'm in the US). I have bad hormonal migraines and occipital neuralgia. I've tried a lot of types of drugs and botox. The botox seems to be starting to help. The book I read and re-read is drsusanhutchinson.com/books/

It's a specific Hormonal Migraine book. Also I am trying Amovig soon. Here is some research in regards to hormones: mdedge.com/neurologyreviews...

Keep in touch! Take one day at a time. I love Fovratriptan!!! I only take it on hormonal migraine days and use Maxalt on other migraine days.

Jeffner profile image
Jeffner in reply to Wolfiesmom08

Thanks so much for your reply and sorry your original message didn’t send. Happens to me all the time.

I am really interested in how the amovig works out, still have my fingers crossed it will be made available here (uk) soon. Fingers crossed it works for you too, the research you sent was very interesting too. How many Botox treatments have you had? I am on my 2nd and it’s definitely helping but not hugely.

Sorry if this message is full of mistakes, written with a post drome head.

Thanks again and good luck!

Wolfiesmom08 profile image
Wolfiesmom08 in reply to Jeffner

Ha ha no worries I totally understand having a post drome yesterday I had a post drone pretty bad and left the house but forgot to even shut the front door. My husband came home for hours later thank God no one had even entered the house but the door was still wide open. Susan Hutchinson has a lot of good info on her headache clinic website too. I think it's called orange county migraine center

Dear Jeffner, try taking 2 aleve, (sodium naproxen) two days before you are due to start your period. And drink plenty of water, i found this to help my daughter who, like myself have had menstrual migraines. good luck and keep searching.....God bless

lewmax profile image
lewmax

I am 73 years old have had a migraine for many years, pm time and during the period and other times in the month, I'm still having the same migraines at the same time, because I still have the same symptoms. Doctors do not believe I have all the same aches and pains that I had when I was younger when I had my period! So no mine have not gone away I have migraines with aura. Good luck to you.

1stgls profile image
1stgls in reply to lewmax

Strangely, I'm with you !!!! I get hot flushes and migraine once a month .and I no longer have periods, Whew, glad im not the only one.

paininmyhea profile image
paininmyhea

Hi Jeffner! Did you find that the CBD oil helped at all? I have seen so many people promoting it- but of course they are just trying to make a sale and have never personally known anyone who has used it and had migraines.

Thanks!

Jeffner profile image
Jeffner in reply to paininmyhea

Hi, it didn’t really help me apart from helping me sleep (not something I have a problem with though). I can see that it might work for some people though so it’s worth giving it a shot, my husband had started using it for teeth grinding and it has really helped. So I think if your migraines are related to this or other tension or sleep disturbances it could help. But could also help for other reasons too, it’s worth trying. I have been having Botox for the last 6 months and that has helped to give me a few days with a clear head, and I now bounce back quicker from the migraines I do have. It’s very pricey though so not sure how long I will be able to afford it. Hope you feel better soon :-)

1stgls profile image
1stgls

I had to have a Mirena (?spelling) coil put in for other reasons and my menstrual migraine virtually disappeared ----- it may be the hormones in the coil. Could be an option to discuss with your GP.

CINDY471 profile image
CINDY471

I was diagnosed with hormonal migraines and was put on all types of medication, including birth control with no break. Nothing helped. My OB said I was 8 years of going thru the chsnge of life, so within 2 more years, my period should stop and my migraines should stop too.

Almost 2 years ago, I decided to go plant based (gave up dairy, animals and 95% of all processed foods). 11 days later, my 27 year battle finally came to a stop.

But, my monthly cycle came back with vengeance. Ironically, my migraines never came back.

I have since cheated and within 10 minutes of having dairy, I would get a migraine.

I reported it to my OB gyne and he said its because I'm eating healthy.

I reported my break-thru to my neurologist, and she congratulated me for figuring out that dairy was my trigger. I had asked why she never told me, and she said dairy is a huge trigger for lots of people, but not for everyone.

I've since done lots of research and it's TRUE. Dairy is a trigger for lots of people suffering, but doctors would rather treat the symptoms vs curing you by telling you the truth.

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