To be so annoyed with bloody paternalistic NHS

I was told this, too.

Well I can assume you’re intelligent enough that you know the undertones of your post … they were hardly coming from a place of being helpful. Anyway… I’m not here to police what you say … it just annoyed me tbh but I’ll deal with it

Well you know it’s not so…

Yes because of her migraines, are you daft? Or just asking questions like this because you’re a wannabe lawyer!

Why don’t you consider a long acting contraception like a more a coil ?

Doctors are very cautious as they quite rightly fear litigation.

Did you see that case of the girl with spinabifida suing the GP because they didn’t tell them to take folic acid ?

I've tried so many medications for migraine including topimerate, proponalol, canderstarten, gabapentin and anti CGRP injections - i havent been on birth control at all for any of this so it's definitely possible. I would ask for a neurology referral and get under a specialist

I agree with you, it's a similar thing to not being allowed to take your kids on holiday during term time. Just nanny state blanket guidelines implying that we are all too stupid to make sensible decisions for ourselves!

On another note, have you been checked for chiari malformation (a brain scan would pick it up) just woth you saying you've had long term migraines which are getting worse xx

This. Medical misogyny is far too common. Women aren't walking incubators.

That is ridiculous. I've been on various migraine medications since 2012 when I was 23.

I've been told at least twice I can't have children if I'm on those meds. Every doctor has just made it clear not to get pregnant.

I have never been refused medication (any, not just for migraine) on the basis I may get pregnant and am not on contraception

Although if you can't find a better option OP you could see if the Dr will prescribe the meds along with the mini pill, and then just not take the pill. The Dr has no way of knowing if you don't take it.

The flip side is if a child is born due to contraception failure with birth defects the parents will be sueing the nhs for prescribing, it happens.

we had to fight for dsds meds similar reasons but hospital consultant could authorise

I'm with you here. I have been told not to attempt pregnancy as it would be too dangerous for me but in the next breath I am told I cannot be sterilised because I am too young and may want to have children! It's an absolute joke.

Hi op have you seen a neurologist? I would suggest this as first point of call ask gp to refer you on nhs.

FWIW, topiramate worked incredibly well for my migraines and made all the difference in the world to my life. I know that it is Marmite and patients need to work with a neurologist to get it right. I am sorry it didn’t work for you, but we have no idea what OP’s experience would be.

I started it while on the coil in another country. OP’s situation sounds crazy, whether the concern is topiramate or something else.

I did have a hard time getting a migraine review with a neurologist upon moving to the UK. Finally after a period of degeneration I was under Neurology for a few years. Before then I had Neurology reviews every year or two and any problems were nipped in the bud.

OP, is your GP trying to manage your migraines? Perhaps a neurologist would take a more reasonable attitude? I don’t think asking for a Neurology referral to get around the contraceptive Catch 22 is good tactics, but perhaps you could ask on the grounds that your life is being badly disrupted. I haven’t looked nut I suspect there are online forums for British migraine sufferers that would give you some tips on how to get a referral.

Best wishes

If it’s topiramate or sodium valproate then you need to be on a pregnancy prevention programme - your husband having a vasectomy doesn’t count.

www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/topiramate-topamax-introduction-of-new-safety-measures-including-a-pregnancy-prevention-programme

A lot of people find the mini pill makes their migraine worse even with a good preventative in place. I can't use it due to this reason although it doesn't have the same risk as oral oestrogen.

If it’s topiramate or sodium valproate then you need to be on a pregnancy prevention programme - your husband having a vasectomy doesn’t count.

www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/topiramate-topamax-introduction-of-new-safety-measures-including-a-pregnancy-prevention-programme

So what? If OP or anyone else has an unwanted pregnancy they can just get an abortion, it's not 1950.

Have you considered HRT? If your migraines are getting worse due to menopause, this could help.

Then you aren't trying very hard to understand. It really isn't difficult. OP wants to be appreciated by the medical profession as an intelligent woman who is able to make her own decisions and understand her own circumstances.

Also, you simply cannot just go in and order a hysterectomy. The NHS just doesn't work that way and there are many hoops that you normally have to jump through. Removal of fibroids, ablation, mirena coil, other long term medications too. Hysterectomy is seen as the final resort, and I am not saying that I agree with that because I don't necessarily.

I understand you OP. It is the patriarchy patronising women. They think we are all too stupid to know what is good for us, or what we need, or whether or not we know how to keep safe from getting pregnant (a successful vasectomy is extremely safe).

Ridiculous. Would you get a different answer if you had the means to go private? Do you have access to medical insurance that might cover it? Some doctors will see you privately and once a diagnosis or agreement is reached might then transfer you to their NHS clinics for ongoing prescriptions and check-ups.

Is this that your GP won't prescribe the combined pill? Because if so, they are right- age and migraine history are against you.

You can have the progesterone only pill and if your migraine is cyclical it can be helpful in eliminating these.

If your GP isn't prescribing any migraine prevention that is very odd as there are so many of them.

If you have migraine with aura you can't get the combined pill OP, but you can get the mini pill (unless you have other risk factors you haven't mentioned).

Good luck! 🙂