Head banging?

Hi everyone, will try to keep this as brief as possible.

I have Hashimotos, and have been on thyroxine since the beginning of June this year.

I've had migraine almost all my life, although it has become a lot less since the menopause. Quite often I've woken up with one - the usual ghastly sick feeling with head like it would explode. Staying in bed would make things worse.

While the actual migraine attacks are very rare now, and not nearly as bad as before, I sometimes wake up what seems like a stronger than usual hot flush (I've had them for years), a dry throat, and sometimes the memory of a vivid dream. Also, when I sit up, the blood is pounding in my ears, and I sometimes have a stiff neck. On getting up and moving around this decreases and I usually feel OK within a few minutes.

This morning I woke up like this, and the pounding was worse than usual. I have high blood pressure, though quite well controlled when checked a few months ago, and high cholesterol, not so well controlled, especially when hypothyroid symptoms started to become worse before treatment.

Both my parents died of strokes, (father aged 78, mother, who also had high blood pressure, at 84), I am 70 and rather overweight, though not obese.

As we are waking up, our temperature and blood pressure do naturally rise, preparing for action. As near as I can tell, it seems like an extreme version of that.

This doesn't happen every morning, so even a 24 hour BP monitoring (which for some reason means an overnight stay in hospital these days!) might not pick it up.

I don't worry much about my health, though like to investigate the details out of interest, but am getting rather concerned.

Any thoughts about the likely cause, and what can be done? Might it be related to hypothyroidism? Sleep apnea? Other hormone problems? A problem with temperature regulation???

[Hidden]

Just to add, it was not a panic attack, no breathlessness or feeling of fear, just the pressure, heat and the sound of pulsing blood in my ears

[greygoose]

I would say it most certainly could be related to thyroid, as could high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Sounds to me like you're under-medicated.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

I just hope the doctor agrees! Waiting for the results of a recent blood test - may be there by tomorrow. I've felt the need of another increase for about 3 weeks but waited nearly till the "Official" time limit of 8 weeks because there was no early appointment available last week. Next time will see if they can give me an earlier one

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Yes, it would be better if you can get it after six weeks.

[Lovecake]

Hi jnetti, I suffer with migraines. (53, forced hysterectomy at 43, so on HRT patches). I also get that pounding in my ears. It is definitely worse when I have a migraine (or about to, and I take an Imigran). Also worse when I lay down. I put it down to the thyroid issue, with maybe the inflammation around my thyroid causing swelling that causes the pounding. (I could be wrong). Whenever I mention it to a GP, they look in my ears, say nothing is wrong and dismiss it. So I will just have to keep an eye (or ear) on it myself I suppose.

I’ll read the answers you get. But if you find anything really helpful, could you add it so I can read it too? Many thanks, lovecake.

[Hidden in reply to Lovecake]

Not many replies so far, but will try to remember to post you.

The only migraine medication that ever worked for me was Migril, and even that didn't always, but ordinary painkillers usually do the job these days.

But I don't think there could be a straightforward connection with thyroid function because I had it from a child, and only had hypothyroid symptoms these last few years.

But I seem to remember reading a while ago that migraine is now thought to be caused by a fault in the hypothalamus, so there may possibly be a connection in some people, as that can be true of thyroid problems as well

[Lovecake in reply to Hidden]

Yes, all very complicated and we all have subtle differences. I have found that I cannot retain vitamin D. (NHS endo tested). But also, when my vitD levels are over 80nmol then my migraines are less severe and less frequent. I was told (by a GP) that my migraines would probably not go until I came of the HRT patches (tablets made me ill at least 4 days a week). But he neglected to tell me my TSH at the time was 5 and there were other thyroid hinting issues going on.

So, I do think in some people the migraines are our way of knowing something is out of kilter in our body. When my hormone levels are spot on, I feel great and don’t get a migraine (or even a hint of one). But that hasn’t been a period of longer than 14 days in a row (twice) since starting T3. And only one other occasion in 8 and half years since my hysterectomy and going on HRT. (Not coming off it, tried that, unpleasant to say the least).

Paracetamol puts me into a migraine, soluble aspirin doesn’t help and gives me tummy ache. But since being on T3, sometimes ibuprofen can be enough.

My mum had migraines (up to about age 55), my daughter and son get them too if they are over tired. (Big factor with me).

But things are a fair bit better, so I’m ok with that and hoping for more improvement in the future.

The puzzle of the pounding in our ears would be good to solve though.

🙂🦋

[Hidden in reply to Lovecake]

I've never had HRT, and the menopause was rather late (age 57), but I'd been having hot flushes for several years then, and ever since (I'm now 70).

So maybe flushes really are linked too? The ones I've been getting lately don't seem to feel quite the same as the usual ones.

I find the whole "Investigation" fascinating!!!

[Foxtrot89]

I am certainly no expert and don’t even know whether migraines have different causes, presumably they do. However when my mum used to suffer with them I looked into some herbal remedies and feverfew worked very well for her.

With regard to the high blood pressure L-theanine is quite a gentle remedy (I know you didn’t mention any anxiety or stress but as a bonus it is also calming).

The high cholesterol, as mentioned above, can be a hypo symptom so may need looking at medication adjustment to ensure you’re getting the right dose. As a natural remedy I’ve found that pantethine (active vitamin B5) worked to lower my cholesterol in just a couple of months. Pantothenic acid (also Vitamin B5) does not do this.

[Hidden in reply to Foxtrot89]

Thanks, interesting. I'm not really stressed (happily retired, but have plenty I want to do - if thyroid levels will allow)

At my recent blood test the nurse told me with great confidence that I didn't need vitamin D tested because the ferritin and folate levels were OK, and that thyroid has no connection with cholesterol levels! Pointless trying to argue.

Edit, also forgot to include you Lovecake

[Foxtrot89 in reply to Hidden]

How would good levels of ferritin and folate mean your Vitamin D is ok? Not something I’ve ever heard of!

Cholesterol is definitely tied in with thyroid. I think back in the day raised cholesterol was even a warning sign that thyroid levels should be checked. Mine was raised despite good diet and exercise.

You don’t need B5 levels testing before supplementing, none of the B vitamins do, you can just start and see how you get on. Only thing to bear in mind is that it’s ideal to take a B Complex when taking any individual B vitamins as one taken in insolation could cause imbalances.

[Hidden in reply to Foxtrot89]

"How would good levels of ferritin and folate mean your Vitamin D is ok? Not something I’ve ever heard of!"

Nor me

[Hidden in reply to Foxtrot89]

Lovecake "pantethine (active vitamin B5) worked to lower my cholesterol in just a couple of months. Pantothenic acid (also Vitamin B5) does not do this"

Don't the levels need testing first?

[Lovecake in reply to Hidden]

Foxtrot89 thinks not. I’m very interested in this. One of the other ladies said about B complex to keep in balance. Think it needs to be on my shopping list.

[m7-cola]

I too had migraine for many years before being no treated for hypothyroidism. I am now 77 and they petered out about 7 years ago. I now believe there may be a connection. Migraines are awful to experience and I do hope you can find some help for yourself and your children.

[Lovecake in reply to m7-cola]

Thank you. Think my son will be ok. I worry about my daughter though, she has a busy job and wants a family fairly soon. I just hope that GPs get more up to date info and stop messing us about so much when we do have thyroid issues. If only they could listen to the wise ones on here, they might learn something. 😊

[Hidden]

Lovecake and everyone! I just did the obvious thing - a search for the link between migraine and hypothyroidism!

Lots of articles came up - haven't read any yet but most look pretty reliable. It seems there really is a link!

I've had a different kind of headache (not quite like a tension headache, mostly a funny feeling at the back of the head) that seems to be connected with being hypo. But sometimes one that seems to be leading into a true migraine.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Here's one of the articles about connection between hypo and migraine. It doesn't seem to be direct cause and effect but they are linked:

blog.themigrainereliefcente...

[m7-cola in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for this link, Jnetti. I wish I’d made this connection and paid more attention to my thyroid medication years ago.

[Lovecake in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Jnetti. I knew I wasn’t going mad. (Well maybe just a little crazy 😝) Will keep learning, especially from this forum and all the lovely people on here. I’m determined to feel ok and be able to live my life. I’m nervous of doing many things without careful planning because of migraines and running out of energy. But it is improving and also need to get my lost confidence back too. Shame I don’t live round the corner, we could put the world to right over a cuppa.

[Hidden]

It seems that people with frequent ordinary headaches have a greater chance of becoming hypothyroid, (30 something % greater risk), and those with migraine over 40% greater risk, compared with people who don't often get headaches at all

Here's another link that seems very good:

migraine.com/blog/migraine-...