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

Mini pill. Game changer for my hormonal migraines, and bonus no periods either!

Op, I cannot empathise more with you as a previous hormonal migraine sufferer but please please have a look into this https://daith.co.uk/ xx

ah I hope you find something that works for you. I’ve had three failures - Topiramate, Amitryptiline and one other (also had acupuncture which didn’t help) so the neurologist suggested Emgality injections last year. For me, it’s been incredible in terms of reducing very severe migraines many times a month. Also he has transferred me from Triptans to Rimegepant which again I tolerate better. But you have to fail three other treatments I think to get Emgality. Hope this helps!

Now that I am too old for hormonal migraines, mine are mainly linked to stress, tiredness, bright lights and travel sickness. It is hard to avoid stress, but extra sleep, sunglasses and avoiding longer bus or car journeys helps.

I'm on the mini-pill (Cerelle), pregabalin, nortriptyline, monthly erenumab injections (having had no success with Botox and another injectable whose name I forget), sumatriptan as a rescue med, and wear a mouthguard every night. This combination just about keeps my migraines down to a dull roar - they were almost daily for many years until I got to this point. I had to fight for a neurology referral and was then booted around between several neurologists until I eventually got referred to the headache clinic rather than a general neuro, but once I got there they were fab.

The Migraine Trust has helpful advice on menstrual migraine including the recommended triptan for this situation (frovatriptan). My GP has just switched me to these and my HRT is also going to be adjusted to try and help manage them better.

https://migrainetrust.org/understand-migraine/types-of-migraine/menstrual-migraine/#page-section-6

Being medicated for high blood pressure.

Absolutely bizarre, I'd had migraines since my early 20s. Maybe it was just co-incidence.

Prior to that I had discovered that aspirin worked better for me than prescribed meds when I had an attack.

same for me. It's a joy to be free of them!

Also don't be disheartened if preventers aren't working for you. There are loads of them so likely there is one that will work for you, you just haven't found the right one.

You also have to have tried and failed on several before Neurology can offer you the newer specialised migraine meds.

Acupuncture timed around my period helped (I get them afterwards)

Hormonal contraception made mine worse
. Neurologist advised to cut out all caffeine and keep a food diary and get another appointment if they didn't improve. Ge said if they were hormonal he could give medication for before a period to help prevent

I was put on amitriptyline, which did stop them but also turned me into an anxiety riddled mess (apparently ND means you can be very sensitive to adrenaline and it isn't recommended for ppl with previous panic attacks, which my GP overlooked) so I came off it as for me the 4/5 days of pain vs personality shift into near panic attacks again wasn't worth it. I stick to sumatriptan but only take it on day 3 now so I am trying to use it less. I am already on HRT which did stop them going over 6 days but they were still taking up 4 or 5 days of my month.

Vit B6

Mine have actually settled since being on HRT. They were absolutely horrendous during menopause but now I'm post meno & on HRT they are a lot more under control. Everyone is so different.

Took me coming off of hrt to realise my migraines were hormone related. I now have sumatriptan to take at onset of migraine, works a treat.

I am now on atogepant and great improvement. Try sumatriptan and zolmitriptan as nasal sprays. Second cold cap from Amazon, plenty of water, and avoid low blood sugar. Wishing you all the best!

As PPs have said, mini pill or coil help with reducing the effects of your cycle (as you don't really have one), then amitriptyline at night. I found losing weight has helped no end too.

When I do feel one coming on, sometimes a very strong and sugary black coffee can also help head it off. When that doesn't work I have a zolmitriptan nasal spray which gets to work so much faster than the tablets.

Nothing much helpful to add, but sending empathy. Mine are similar, but don't sound as frequent. It's horrendous.

Have you been offered beta blockers? No idea of the side effects, but I was offered them but I wasn't quite chronic enough in the end, so it seemed too drastic for me. They're more of a consistent, preventative measure.

How about the Sumatriptan injections (do they have them for the next medication you mentioned?)? Have you tried them? I once was offered them, too. Apparently the only difference is that they work faster.

I think with this, you'll have to literally book an appointment with the doc every month until they find something that helps. I think we (as women, and as migraine sufferers), tend to underplay our pain and discomfort. But I think by being consistent in alerting the doctors to how your quality of life is declining, hopefully they'll put you through to a specialist that knows their stuff!

Sorry you're going through this, hope you find a solution. Hugs x

Pill didn’t do anything for my hormonal migraines. Stopping it didn’t either.
keeping my blood sugar stable has almost stopped them (less carbs, less snacks, less junk food, more protein - game changer).

You need to be really really careful with the combined pill, it increases stroke risk for those with migraines. The mini pill made a big difference for me. I have migraines with aura so cannot take the combined pill at all.

If they are strongly related to hormones, mini pill. Absolute joy, no periods and no migraine. Or at least not some of the migraines.

Honestly think this isn't recommended enough for women's migraine when your cycle is a predictable trigger.

Having babies stopped my hormone related migraines! Haven't had one since first pregnancy and I used to get them every other month from age 15 onwards! I also was on sumatriptan and it barely touched the sides. Nowadays absolutely nothing. So this is what normal period pains feel like rather than the debilitating migraines! Very refreshing.

HRT!

You probably can’t do this alone. You need a dietitian who is trained on the Royal Prince Alfred Allergy Unit Elimination diet.

Have a look through this website - it will give you the details of dietitian can help.

https://www.fedup.com.au/factsheets/factsheets-by-symptom/headaches-and-migraines

Progesterone.

The implant and then the mini pill. Absolute godsend, I don’t get hormonal migraines any more! Every so often something else will trigger one but the monthly ones aren’t a problem.