Chronic migraine

[natwatson84]

Hi. Just wondering if anyone suffered from permanent migraine before getting hypothyroid treatment? I have only just started meds but have no idea if it will help my migraines. I hope it does help. My migraines are ruining my life xx

[JS33]

oh yes.

[Congirl]

Hi natwatson84, I suffer chronic migraines for which I am prescribed zolmitripan, since I have self medicated and feel I am near the correct levels I have hardly had any migraines. I also take vitamins and minerals.

[natwatson84 in reply to Congirl]

I've had triptan for years. It's only now they have tried to find the cause rather than just hiding the pain. I've always just coped with it but it's really starting to beat me. If the thyroid medication doesnt help i dont think I'd cope much longer. I'd have to cancel my education and become housebound probably.

[Congirl in reply to natwatson84]

I was on 50mcg levo prescribed by the doctor for a few years but did not feel any better. I joined this forum and decided to have a Blue Horizon blood test it showed my FT3 was low in the range so I decided to self medicate with NDT as I thought I wasn't converting the T4 from the levo and my GP had refused to up my dose. I have taken the NDT for 7 months and symptoms have started to improve. I also take magnesium citrate at night which may help.

I am sure you will be more able to cope when you are on the correct medication. Joining this forum was the start of my better health.

[gizmomonster]

yes, you have to get to the right hormonal levels, but you also have to give time for the nerves to heal. I'm also finding I was deficient in Taurine. Taurine and Glycine have helped tremendously with the migraines, tinnitus and paresthesia. Yes, I have all 3 together, paresthesias drive me crazy The neurologist gave me nortriptylane and sumitriptan but neither really do much. B2 plus magnesium, and Taurine/Glycine have done wonders for me. I can get several hours of peace with the taurine and glycine.

[Needanswersnw]

It has brought my migraines down significantly

[Asarahjohnson]

Have you been tested for coeliac? I have read that 70% of chronic recurrent migraine is due to gluten intolerance and you can be gluten intolerant even if coeliac tests are negative

[msglutenfreeuk in reply to Asarahjohnson]

Agree with this one. I would definitely try excluding gluten for a few days to see if that's the cause. I saw someone for a massage for my headaches/neck pain/shoulder pain after GP just told me to take 24 painkillers a day. The massaeuse sugggested gluten intolerance, I gave it up for 3 days and felt like a new woman. When I introduced, headaches returned. It's also recommended to go gluten free if you have thyroid issues generally

[Asarahjohnson in reply to msglutenfreeuk]

It took 6 weeks of gluten exclusion before my migraines stopped.

My gp wasn't great either

[pussycatwillow]

Yes... I have them and was prescribed Rizatriptan, the only medication that helps.

Mine are hormonally linked as I used to suffer every month and they would last for 3 days. Since menopause they have decreased in frequency.

Perhaps yours are linked to hormones?

[E_lizab8 in reply to pussycatwillow]

I had same for years and years, after hypothyroid diagnosis still continued to get the migraines until 3 years later when I found out that its best to be GF when you have Hypothyroid, three days later felt better than in previous 20 years and migraines disappeared, now 5 years on not had a migraine since then.

[natwatson84]

My migraines are definitely hormonal. I always know in advance how bad / what stage my migraine will be at on any day according to where I'll be in my cycle. I get 3-5 days migraine free during ovulation. Thats all i get. If these thyroid tablets work for the migraines it will be better than winning the lottery for me.

[E_lizab8 in reply to natwatson84]

Read my post just above, mine were definitely hormonal same as "pussycatwillow" lasted 3 days usually and then needed another week to get over the feeling that someone had been playing football with my head! Getting rid of them gave me my life back even though I have to be strict gluten free its soooo worth it.

[natwatson84]

I think I'll have to try this GF thing. 5 years without a migrain? . I can only imagine! Xx

[dina7]

GF hasn't helped my migraines. But just started taking taurine, so maybe that will help. But I've just read this wilsonssyndrome.com/thyroid... which says it's down to low body temperature which I certainly have. I don't feel very confident about taking T3 only though, has anyone else tried this?

[blondpalomino]

Hi,

I'm so sorry that your migraines are ruining your life.That's exactly how I felt for a large part of my life.I tried everything the doctor could give me, any other treatments like acupuncture,herbs,reflexology,homeopathic but nothing worked.The only relief I could get was with the tryptans,there are various different ones,tried them all! The trouble is with them it would help for a few hours and then come back again, so I was taking them every day,it was a vicious circle.I had my thyroid removed 15 years ago due to hashimoto's, thought that maybe that was causing them,but unfortunately they just got worse afterwards . I had to give up my job eventually as I couldn't cope any longer, I think maybe stress was playing a part as well.The only thing that really helped was HRT, as I knew it was hormonal related,and the HRT evened out the hormone fluctuations.I am now off the HRT and still getting hot flushes, but the migraines are a lot better.I get the occasional one, but it is not so severe,and I take codeine/paracetomol which helps. I also take magnesium every day which is supposed to help as well.I hope you find an answer,I really do.

[natwatson84]

Blondpalomino I'm sorry to hear that. Migraines are rarely taken seriously. Most GPs I've seen have been a joke. They are so disabling. I am only prescribed 12 triptans per month so i have to ration them. Plus, it takes them half a day to even take effect. Then the next morning it all starts again. Sometimes the pain is so bad i actually think i will not survive the day. I can't believe all the years I've been suffering without anyone trying to help find the cause. Now I'm worried because they are mentioning a hysterectomy. I'm only 32 and the thought of that is frightening. I'm worried incase it will make them worse and they'll be no turning back. I'm so desperate for the thyroid meds to work.