Period Migraine

[QuietBatPeople1]

I turned 40 this year...over the last two years I have been more ‘aware’ of the changes both emotional and biological that takes place pre and post period as they are becoming quite difficult to miss. One thing which has increased in frequency is migraines-

I get them either 1/2 days before the flow starts
Or 1/2 days into the flow

Some months I get a day of migraine a week after the bleeding stops. The other months I don’t

I get my period like clockwork so that’s not an issue but some of the other symptoms (excluding the bog standard tender breaststroke, bloating etc) are

Feeling of ‘doom’
Anxious
Acid reflux
Light headedness

Are these common? I struggle with anxiety so trying hard not to google as the first thought occurred to me was ‘brain tumour’.

It’s common. It’s to do with prostaglandin hormone. I’ve found taking Ibuprofen Lysine makes them totally go away.

I get period linked migraines. I get 3-4 days before flow starts (and lasts until it starts) it’s awful then one at the end for a couple
Of days. I know ones coming because I get unbelievably tired, feel ill, sickness, dizziness, anxiety increases and that feeling of doom

I’m now on medication to help from the dr but they did say they’re really common

@Marblerunfun sending a virtual (sanitised) hand hold!
Hopefully someone will be able to shed some light..I’m trying really really hard to beat my anxiety and don’t want this to pull me back

Yes. Hideous, and paracetamol and ibuprofen barely even take the edge off. I rang the doctor when I'd established a pattern in line with my menstrual cycle, and they prescribed me stronger medicine (triptans) which has helped a lot. I've also just been told by a friend about a thing called seed cycling- I'm about as far from being into natural remedies as you can imagine but for the sake of a handful of seeds in my morning smoothie I'm willing to give it a go! Am on phone so can't link but google if you're interested.

Me too OP. The migraine is about a week after the period but I get the sense of doom, anxiety, gut issues, light-headedness in the run up to my period. I put it down to peri-menopause.

Forgot to add - I get the light headedness/slight dizziness too, and nausea. I'm 44 too.

Happens to me fairly regularly, I think a day or so before what would be my period. It's the only indication I actually get these days that a period is occurring.

Oh, and I forgot to say, I usually take paracetamol and/or ibuprofen as soon as the aura starts and that makes them less awful.

Same here, have been wiped out all weekend by it, migraleve does help, but I’d rather take supplements to prevent it if I am honest. Not seen doctor about it yet, I am 48, and had them for a year or so now.

I hear you! I’m 42, and the period migraines have been getting worse for the parts few years. My doctor gives me a prescription for sumatriptan, and sometimes that help, but increasingly not. For several days a month I swear I am rattling from all the tablets I take to try to continue at work.

I was getting migraines every month and these lasted 2/3 days. I did try and get through them with strong painkillers but when I visited my doctor, he prescribed me triptans. These massively improved my life, I only needed one at the start of migraine and it would go away very quick. There is no need to suffer from period migraines when there is medication that can help. As soon as I entered the menopause, my migraines stopped for good.

Thank god. I was beginning to think it was a blood clot.

OP I'm so glad to find this today.

I have an awful headache which started this morning and has steadily been getting worse all day. I also feel lightheaded and nauseous.

I'm 46 and started on hrt and January and find I get these the first week I take progesterone. I've also been experiencing the dreaded feeling of doom which I had thought might be linked.

I've spoken to the gp this week to see about changing my medication.

You have my sympathy

So my sociopathic and murderous feelings are just hormonal?

Well well well. Puts down knife...

Huge sympathy for you...migraine is no joke.

Have a chat with your doctor ASAP and ask for tables to help you function better with an attack. I have something called sumatriptan and it really helps.

Anxiety can be a trigger too I believe so maybe there is something they can do to help with that side of things too?

I've always had this

I keep it under reasonable control by staying on the mini pill (you take it every day so hormones are reasonably consistent at all times) and taking amitryptyline daily - both as a preventative measure. Then i have zolmatriptan on stand by whenever one does break through.

Agree a chat with your doctor is really what you need.

Definitely worth seeing your doctor. I get chronic migraines (I get 2 types of migraines), hormonal migraines are a bastard to deal with. I get one around the time I ovulate, one about a day or two before my period, one about a day into my period, & sometimes another of a different type, 2 days after that.

Mine are/have been getting worse as I get older. I'm 40 & it's become really noticeable over the last 4 years how much worse.

Magnesium supplements can help - take them in the evening as they can apparently make some people drowsy.
Vitamin B2 supplements can also help, my neurologist said I need to be on 400mg per day, which isn't cheap.
I tried COQ10 but they're quite expensive & I didn't feel they offered sufficient improvement to justify the cost.
I didn't personally get any improved from feverfew.

Information regarding supplements etc from the Migraine Trust website here.

Also, it's worth looking at all your potential triggers. Stress, sleep, food, smells/airborne things. There's a long list of food I can't eat at all, or have to severely limit, because it triggers an attack. And some common triggers I'm fine with.

I have had period migraines for the last 10 years and prevent it successfully by taking Candarstan (atacand) every day. If a migraine manages to appear I treat it with Sumatriptan which usually works a treat (makes me dizzy, i just sleep it off for an hour then usually all okay)

I was prescribed frovatriptan for menopause migraines, take them at the start of my period for 7 days.
I don't know if it is always the case but I had to go via neurology for this. I have been on various migraine medication over the years and the GP had run out of prescribing options.
Another good thing that came out of the consultation was injectable Sumatriptan, that has been a real game changer.