I have started keeping a log of when my migraines hit. I started having them about 5 months ago. They only occur when it is that time of the month. Nothing seems to cut the pain. The past 2 times I had to go into the er and they shot me up with demoral. This past time, it didn't cut the pain completely. My doctor said she was gonna set me up with a specialist and still hasn't done it! I had read somewhere that you could take estrogen supplements 2 to 3 days before your period. Is that something I would have to get a script for or can I buy it over the counter? Has anyone else had migraines triggered by hormones? What has helped for others?
I don't really have any help for you, but I definitely feel your pain. I had one two days ago (and I think it's still lingering). I debated going to the ER, but that would have required actually standing up and driving somewhere (plus, I don't even know where the hospital is because I just moved). It was so bad that I could hardly stand up, but it was like I couldn't lay down either. I ended up laying on the couch with the TV turned way low and I guess eventually I fell asleep. I'm asking my doctor about it next week. I'm already on topamax (a preventative).
But menstrual migraines are certainly not uncommon, and I definitely can sympathize with you.
That is how I was the other day. It was like someone was taking an ice pick to my head over and over. I couldn't get comfortable to fall asleep. My husband took me into the er. There is no way I could have driven myself. I couldn't even keep my eyes open. The pain would get worse when I would stand up. I really needed to be carried! lol! The demoral helped me fall asleep. Unfortunately, I was still in alot of pain. My head is still hurting!! I hate going to doctors. In the past 5 months I have seen so many doctors and they all act like it's not a big deal. They aren't the ones in pain though!! I would really like to sleep it off. That is really hard to do when you have kids! lol! Plus, the pain usually wakes me up anyway.
I hadn't seen anyone on here with menstrual migraines. I'm glad that there is at least someone other than me.
Sounds like you need to see a neurologist. If you have menstrual migraine, sometimes it's possible to take a preventative drug only for a short time approaching your period. Some people with menstrual migraine are helped by going on the contraceptive pill for their headaches. You shouldn't have to be in this much pain, the answer is some form of preventative action, which a neurologist can help you with.
You need to see a Neurologist that specializes in Headaches/Migraines. In your case a *FEMALE* Neurologist.
Check your Yellow Pages for Headache Clinics. This is where they almost always practice. Give them a call & request and/or ask if they have a FEMALE NEUROLOGIST on staff.
Or you can ask your Gynecologist for recommendations.
Personal opinion: Male doctors including male gynecologist don't know jack about menstrual problems including menstrual migraines.
Every month I know when I am about to start my period because the day before I will get a really bad migraine, I have been doing this for about 16 months, and when I was pregnant, the first 5 months I was having them about 3 times a week, which is bad because there isn't much you can take when your preg. I was given lortab, but it never helped. Now I take Imitrex if they are really bad and if I can feel it comming on I take Midrin which will sometimes stop them before they get to bad.
Here is some info I have found...........................
Blame it on hormones: Approximately 70 percent of all women who get migraines can predict the onset of a headache around their menstrual cycle, says Merle Diamond, MD, associate director of the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago. For some, it's the hardest headache to treat because it's longer and more severe than the headaches they get at other times of the month
Menstrual migraines are brought on by changing levels of estrogen--usually falling--that happens twice a month: with ovulation and with the menstrual cycle. While estrogen doesn't cause a migraine, it's one of the most powerful triggers for women, says Dr. Diamond. That may help explain why women are three times more likely to get migraine headaches than men.
As women reach their 30s and 40s, their headaches tend to get more frequent and more severe, in part because of stress, says Dr. Diamond (a migraineur herself).
Another reason: Hormonal fluctuations increase as women approach menopause. Keeping a diary of your menstrual cycle helps because you can predict when you're most at risk--typically the days immediately before and after the menstrual cycle--and use medications before the headache hits.
There is some good news. With the end of menopause, migraines stop or become significantly less frequent for 65 to 70 percent of women.
Hope this helps some................
Thank you! Looks like there is hope for a drug free future. Unfortunately, that will be a long time for me. I'm only 25 now. So, menopause will be quite awhile away! lol!! I was hoping that there was something I could do with out taking medication. I have an IUD right now. My doc wants to have it removed and put me on birth control pills. Problem is, I am satisfied with it and still have another 5 years left on it. She also said maybe the new iud with hormones. I just don't think it is natural to stop having periods. We are meant to have them. Why mess with a good thing? I know pills will help keep my hormones regulated. I just wonder if there is something to take a couple days or a week before my period. Imitrex hasn't done anything for me. I have tried nasal spray and the pills. No luck. I don't know if I could remember to take the pill daily. I don't like taking meds!! I have never had to for any amount of time. My doctor don't like giving anything for pain. She tells me to take naproxen. Well naproxen doesn't do anything. Neither does ibeprophen(sp). I went to another doctor. She wants to do sleeping tests on me. So far the only doctors that understand it is menstrual related is the er doctors. It is getting really irritating. These doctors are driving me insane. I am gonna try to get into my doctor again this week. That way, maybe I am ready for the next one. My periods are very regular. So, the timing won't be a problem at all. I knew when this one was gonna hit. My doctor just didn't seem to believe me. Or she doesn't think I am in as much pain as what I am. I think she just isn't hurting so maybe she don't know what it's like to feel the PAIN!! Oh, it is awful!!!
Well I had a migraine attack last night, and my menstruation started yesterday afternoon... But it could also be due to my exams because this entire week I've suffered exams stress and yesterday I had studied my maths for 13 hours after having been to school to do an exam so it's not weird that I got a migraine attack from that but it doesn't occur often with me so it might have been the combination of those things?
Could be. I don't understand why all of a sudden I started having them. I have had them the past 4 or 5 months now. I am 25 yrs old. I guess that's not too young to have health problems. Why would they start out of the blue like that?
The very first one I had, I had it for a week or sok. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore! I went to my doctor. I was just losing my mind all around. I think anyone would with their head pounding for a week. Anyway, my doc put me on effexor and xanax. She told me to call her in a couple days if my head hadn't eased up. So, in a couple days, I call her again. She called in a script of tylenol #3 and flexeril. Took those. I did start to feel better. My nerves had calmed down and my head didn't seem to hurt as bad. It was still hurting though. Did more testing on me. I quit taking the effexor and my head quit. Completely. Then a couple weeks go by and bam. It hits all over again. It lasts for about 2 weeks and then goes away for about 2 weeks. It just sucks!
Okay, happened again!!! Argggg!! I am getting so tired of this!! Went into another er. I picked a different one that I have never been to. This doctor did 2 different types of cat scans and bloodwork. He also gave me a referral to a neurologist and a different family doctor. Everything had came back looking good. The past couple times I had went into the er, I still left with pain. They had given me a shot of demerol in my rear end. This time the doc gave me diluadid in my iv. Instantly, it was gone! I have never even heard of that. It kicked my butt! I am not complaining because the pain is still gone! I feel like I have a little bit of muscle pain but that is it. I just hope it stays gone. At least through the weekend until I get into the neuro. Hopefully, it's not wishfull thinking! Just figured I'd give an update! Talk to everyone later.
Went to the neuro on Friday. He has no clue what is wrong with me. He prescribed topamax. Which is fine. I'll give it a try. The problem is my insurance won't pay for it and it is pretty expensive. Is there anything that is like it? The pharmacy couldn't get hold of the doctor's office and are supposed to get back to me on Monday. I was hoping someone else could kinda give me a heads up before Monday. Any info would be nice.
young momma, actually there is a place I can lead you to online on where to get Topamax for free. However, due to this forums procedures, I will be banned *again*.
"No free advertising.
Posting any kind of information for any reason on how to find websites, products, services, businesses, commercial sites, message boards, or chats is cause to be banned."
Well, I guess thank you for your help. Even though you can't help a bunch! I will try to find it. I don't understand why the doctors of pharmacies can't just help out. They always have free samples and hold on to them.
Well, I guess thank you for your help. Even though you can't help a bunch! I will try to find it. I don't understand why the doctors of pharmacies can't just help out. They always have free samples and hold on to them.
I'll try to look. Again, thank you!
Do a *search*. Just click on my name.
Look for my post dated: 10-26-2005, 02:08 PM
I would have sent you a PM, but you do not have that option enabled.
Well, they gave me something else that my insurance will cover. Gabapentin-Neurontin 300mgs. I don't know much about these preventative meds. I don't know if the topamax is better or not or just different. I guess we'll see. My doc said it could be 3 weeks til I notice a difference. My head is still pounding and it's been a little over a week. It usually lasts for about 2. Hopefully this stuff works. I hope that when my next period rolls around, I don't have this problem. The neuro at first was trying to tell me I was having rebound headaches. I told him though, I have even went 4 or 5 weeks without taking anything. He wondered why. If your hurting that bad, why wouldn't you take anything. Well, because I know that anything I can get over the counter isn't gonna work anyway. So, why even take it when you know it doesn't work! lol! It's just weird to all of a sudden start this crap. I have one uncle that has migraines and besides that, NOBODY! I hate taking pills!! I wish that I could just wake up one day and it never come back! Wishful thinking! lol!
Yes. It started gradually most months when I was mid thirties. I didn't know it was migraine at first. By early forties I was getting sick/headaches/dizzy/weak/light phobia for anything up to 16 days every twenty nine. Mostly lasted about a week with the headache and nausea the longest lasting and most severe.
Suddenly it improved. It was connected with sugar consumption. Not easy to spot as I could eat something sugary several days before the migraine started. Eventually I found I could sometimes eat cake for example during the first half of the cycle without triggering the migraine but if I ate sweet stuff within ten days of the month end, wham headache/vomiting/sickness would occur about four days before the due date.
Has anyone tried the new drug, Frova? My doctor gave me several samples yesterday and said they work especially well for menstrual migraines. Supposedly, if you take it at the first sign of a migraine around "that time of the month", it will work, even to prevent migraines, for up to three days! I haven't had the opportunity to try it yet, but I'm wondering if it really works?! Has anyone tried it?
Has anyone tried the new drug, Frova? My doctor gave me several samples yesterday and said they work especially well for menstrual migraines. Supposedly, if you take it at the first sign of a migraine around "that time of the month", it will work, even to prevent migraines, for up to three days! I haven't had the opportunity to try it yet, but I'm wondering if it really works?! Has anyone tried it?
Frova is not "new". Been around for awhile. I use to take it years ago. Yes, it works ONLY if you take it at the first signs of a menstrual migraine.
Frova does not work for "bad" migraines.
Bad=Knock out, cuss everybody out, don't talk to me, lay in bed all day in pitch black room with no sound, if you look at me I'll kill you type migraine.
I get them! Didn't use to but started about a year or so ago and I've been tracking for the last 6 months and sure enough the symptoms start a week before my period and linger a few days after.
My neurologist suggested that since I know when they come to try taking the preventative medication at the same time (instead of all the time) thus avoiding taking the drugs if I don't have to. Haven't tried it yet but he said it works for some people. I use Amitrypiline (sp).
