Please help!

[puffyface]

I have suffered from menstrual migraines since my early 20s. They used to start on about day 3. I believe that they started when I started to take the contraceptive pill. I stopped almost immediately, but the migraines didn’t.

Luckily, after having children I had a break ffrom them for many years, but, at 49 they are back...and much worse. This month I was in bed for 2 days just before it started and then again for another 2 days a week later when the blood flow stopped.

I get incredibly heavy periods and take tranexamic acid for 3 days. I also have a few autoimmune diseases and the symptoms flare just before a period and I feel dreadful.

I am really scared of this now. My life is quite difficult anyway with the autoimmune stuff, but the migraines are terrifying and I’m having to block out time in my diary when I know I’ll have to be in bed.

Does anyone have any suggestions of someone who could help? I’ve looked at Marion Gluck and bio identical hormones...but am really not sure. I couldn’t cope with them getting worse! Acupuncture? I will try anything to help.

Thank you 🙏🏻

[BadHare Ambassador]

Acupuncture is amazing, but not a quick fix for your symptoms. If you opt for this, make sure to see a real Acupuncturist with qualifications, & not a physio with 15 hours training!

It might be an idea to post your query on the forums for the autoimmune diseases you suffer from. As you have autoimmune disease, it might be an idea to try changing your diet & excluding gluten, dairy, or other possible triggers. I'm on the Thyroid UK forum, & read that a lot of people have relief from Hashimoto's thyroiditis & Graves disease by doing this, though be aware that it takes at least 3 months to get rid of gluten antibodies if even a crumb is consumed. It seems common that women with autoimmune disorders have worse women's issues, so treating those disorders may help. Also make sure you have sufficient iron intake!

I developed migraine in my mid-thirties, so understand how debilitating it is. As yours are hormonal, & possibly triggered by synthetic hormone contraception, you might find relief from bio-identical HRT. I've been on HRT for 5 years, & I'm sorry I waited so long! However, having tried a recommended synthetic version of HRT before bio-identical, I was surprised I preferred the former & swapped back again. One friend had symptoms like yours from uterine fibroids, but with constant bleeding. She had a Mirena coil fitted, which was problematic for a few months (constant PMT symptoms) before the hormones settled down & did their job. Someone else I know had debilitating monthly migraines until her ovaries were removed, despite being told they weren't hormone related. There are many types of HRT available, so see a good female GP or gynaecologist who will be understanding of your symptoms & investigate if there are any other causes that need attention.

[puffyface in reply to BadHare]

Thank you very much for your reply. I do have hashis and lupus/Sjögrens overlap...and bad migraines feel like a step more than I can handle. I am mostly gluten free...but I didn’t realise the 3 month thing...and will be stricter. I had thought about bio identical hormones and read abut Marion Gluck. However, I have now seen the reviews and I don’t want to throw more money at the problem unless I can see someone properly qualified. Can you recommend anyone? My gynaecologist is lovely but he’s about 70 and I don’t think he appreciates how bad it is, my Endo is good for thyroid but says that hormonal migraine is almost impossible to get rid of. Do you have any ideas...or an acupuncturist?

I will post on thyroid site.

Thank you again!

[BadHare Ambassador in reply to puffyface]

You’re very welcome!

Try going completely gluten free for at leat 3 months for your autoimmune issues, & see how your body reacts. There’s a lot of posts on TUK about this as it’s such a common problem with a straightforward fix. Make sure your micronutrient intake is optimal, too. There’s also a migraine forum. I think I posted something there recently re new medication, so I’ll check when I’m on my computer. You might consider change your thyroid meds if T4 isntworking for you. I self-medicate for hypothyroidism with NDT & T3 which help tremendously, so I’m not at the vagaries of an endocrinologist, though my GP & endocrinologist know what & how much I take.

Do you have to pay for medication? Perhaps seeing a GP for HRT could be cheaper. Thy synthetic type I prefer was on the recommendation of my friend’s sister who is a gynaecologist, so I asked my GP. Some women on the forum use wild yam cream with success, though it’s very weak compared to prescribed medication.

Look up local Acupuncturists on the internet. We have BAcC in the UK. Some places have multibed clinics that are cheaper, see ACMAC’s website. It’s expensive, & not a quick fix, so make sure you’re comfortable with the practitioner, & they know what they’re doing.

You could try some acupressure on yourself first. It’s free & easy. Look up Sara Calabro or Acutake’s acupressure pages. Use your fingers or a rubber ended pencil & press Spleen 6, Liver 3 & use a small ball to massage Kidney 1 if you can’t reach the soles of your feet. Large intestine 4 is good for any head pain.

[BadHare Ambassador]

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