What helped manage frequent migraines, especially those linked to hormones?

Yeah I would, I use sumatriptan for an acute attack during the month but you take the frovatriptan as like a preventative for menstrual period as it is longer acting so supposed to take a day or so before period then for a couple of days. I was doing that but when they settled a bit I now take them only if I feel it coming on.

Mine started when I hit menopause, this was unlikely enough to light a fire under the NHS. I had scans and referrals. I tried changing what I ate. I drew the line at cold water swimming much beloved at that time as a suggestion for migraine.
I ended up at a major hospital seeing neurology and then I met the most fabulous nurse consultant. After a lot of discussions she pretty much said " You cant mindful your way out of this shit, its genetic". That took a lot of the pressure off, as I had thought it was somehow my fault.
I started taking atogepant after that and my migraines went from almost daily to once every 2 months. I do still have them during seasonal changes and if there is really low air pressure. Magic pill for me though atogepant.

Apart from the pill, when I was younger, which was what caused my migraines to start, I’ve found a couple of other triggers over the years too - things like gloss paint, anything “fumey”, and weirdly very overripe bananas/banana skins. Not eating them, just whatever it is that overripe banana skins give off. So triggers can be a bit unusual. I know things like paint etc are pretty common triggers though.

As I said there, I've recently started getting them again, pretty severe and frequent, I’m assuming it’s my age and my hormones. Anything hormonal messes with me (I was only ever ok with a mirina coil), I’ve been taking sumiptrin (sp?) when they start, but if they continue would you recommend what you’re taking now? I do take a lot of meds for various things and don’t want anything else that’ll make me feel whacked. Thanks.

My daughter’s (twice a month on average, loosely linked to her period) migraines have stopped for the last 2.5 months since she started taking magnesium citrate. She is under a paediatric consultant who has also recommended high strength riboflavin and prescribed melatonin. I’m really hoping this keeps helping her as she has been so anxious about them.

Another thing that really helped me was identifying what triggered mine.

Fluorescent lighting turned out to be one of them. I used to get them far more frequently in the winter than in the summer, and it eventually dawned on me that the office lights were on a lot more in the winter. Work gave me a desk lamp and I kept the lights above my desk off, and I got far fewer migraines afterwards.

Acupuncture helped mine, in fact it got rid of them completely. It’s expensive though

Pregnancy also stopped them completely although I appreciate this isn’t a long term solution!

Slynd contraceptive pop pill every day - no break or dummy pills, ever. Was already on hrt from age 39 but changed off of cyclical onto continuous after 2 years, despite still having a cycle. (If bleeding 10 days, twice a month counts).
Went private and changed hrt -now have a patch on all the time giving oestrogen and progesterone in the same amount all month, plus slynd which has shut down my crazy cycles. After 4mths of battling breakthrough bleeding, I stopped ovulating. NHS were ok to cover the prescription from there. I’m 43 now and still cycle (sort of) if not on slynd. I’ve gone from 15 migraines a month to 2 in the last year! So happy! Mood also the same every day which is an extra benefit, as pmt was getting worse. The two migraines I’ve had, both started after forgetting to change patch or take the pill. I think some women are very sensitive to wildly fluctuating estrogen, which often happens in perimenopause. I’m sure it’s not the same for everyone but steady levels and quite high progesterone seem to suit me well. A real relief as I feel I tried lots of things with migraines and hormones, and was giving up hope. Was very reluctant to try the pop pill so wasn’t expecting much. Now I can hold down a full time job without fear of being sacked, and manage family life! Hormones shouldn’t be a one size fits all approach.

I suffered from migraines from early 20’s. I’m now 44 and usually only have 1-2 per year now.
When I was 38, I changed my diet. No upf’s. Cut down drastically on sugar. I have always been slim.
I also got Botox. Had it 3 times and haven’t needed it since. I had it in my forehead and behind my ears. I only got Botox to help with migraines, I didn’t appreciate having a smooth forehead, and am fully wrinkly now 😅
Hope this helps. I would say the Botox made a huge instant impact, the better diet also helped.

Dehydration causes a lot of my migraines, so remembering to drink enough before I start feeling thirsty helps to ward them off, also adding rehydration tablets to my drinks. Tiredness and stress also causes them but dehydration is the biggest trigger for me.

The only thing that worked for me was Topiramate. Changed my life!

HRT has made a massive difference for me - they got much worse, which was main symptom of perimenopause starting, but now 5 months in to HRT it has really improved. No difference on pill for me, they disappeared during pregnancy and were much less frequent while I was breastfeeding.

Mirena has stopped mine

Mirena coil and Propranolol. Both which I did not to take but has been amazing for hormonal migraines. Hope you find something that helps as it is so awful and debilitating.

So sad to see the hoops women are going through to try and live normal lives with debilitating migraines. No straight forward treatment and seems to be trial and error for everyone. I used to have hormonal ones or sometimes other triggers that would come on suddenly. Only cure for me was to take OTC ibuprofen, coke and sleep it off . So many more options now. Beta blockers and the nasal spray worked. Staying hydrated, avoiding bright or flickering lights , and getting enough sleep seems to have eased them off.

Sympathy. I've had them monthly since 25, im now 56. Tteg stopped during pregnancy... I find frivotriptain excellent, reducing work stress, and no alcohol helps. They are alot better now...

I started taking HRT and that vastly reduced mine.

Second this. Hormones totally fuck up my migraines. Not been on pill since my 20s and no way in hell anyone is implanting hormones in me that are hard to get back out.
I take a long acting triptan called frovatriptan twice daily during my periods if migraines are striking. I also take daily high dose magnesium as recommended by neurologist which helped reduce migraine frequency. I've tried allsorts of preventatives, propranolol, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, topiramate, they all make me feel like a zombie. I had to scrape myself out of bed in the morning and could fall asleep at drop of a hat.

Botox + Ajovy.

Acupuncture reduced the frequency of my migraines massively.

Identifying triggers really helped too. Mine included fluorescent lighting, some smells, eg certain paints and synthetic lemon scent, going too long without eating and stress.

I think hormones must have played a part, too, as I rarely get them now I'm post menopause.

Acupuncture

Im on mini pill and take back to back to no periods. Only really get migraines when im very overly tired now.

HRT and Sumatriptan

My husband is on month 9 of daily migraine now. You have my sympathy. Nothing has worked. NHS has been a nightmare. Rimegepant is looking promising though.

Have you tried anti-CGRP medication? It’s a miracle for some sufferers.