Headaches and periods- PLEASE HELP

[Hedgehoghouse1]

When I was around the age of starting puberty (11) I started getting excruciating headaches. I had never had them before and would get them every couple of days- they would start towards the end of the school day and by dinner would be unbearable. The only thing that got rid of them was going for a decent sleep of at least 5 hours. Painkillers rarely helped and on particularly bad occasions I vomited with how sore it was. I still get them now over 15 years later. My eyes have been checked several times and are fine. The pain has always in the exact same place- directly behind my right eye and around my right eyebrow and temple area. I’ve never had a headache anywhere else. Doctors said there’s nothing wrong with me and it’s just migraines

but recently I’ve been wondering if this is linked. My period is extremely irregular- by that I mean it is usually very light and often skips several periods at a time. I probably average at 5 periods a year. It’s random and doesn’t follow any pattern or cycle. I started it at 12 and it has always been like this- I was told it would regulate but it never did. Doctors said my blood tests are fine so to count myself lucky not to have periods every month

but I’ve linked the headaches and periods and realised that even though I get headaches outside of my period, I get the worst headache ever when my period is starting. I don’t get any period cramps but the extreme headache is a giveaway it will start. Given that I only started getting the headaches around puberty when my period was getting ready to start, is it likely they could be linked or am I putting 2 and 2 together and making 5?

I’ve had blood tests and hormone blood tests and they ruled out PCOS or any other problems

does anyone know anymore about this? Thank you

Go to your doctors and get some medication to stop the migraines. Tell them how terrible they are and how the affect your life. They might give you Sumatriptan to try and head them off so they don’t develop into full blown migraines.
Good luck!

My friend got this later on (30s) after having her children. This does sound hormonal. She found acupuncture helped, but would agree you need to go back to GP and ask for stronger medication and more help. I would insist on a female doctor and hope they are sympathetic!

I get migraines and take Sumatriptan if Ifeel one coming on, which is usually every couple of weeks - often hormonal. It really works for me. I also take amitriptyline every night. It makes you feel like a zombie for a couple of weeks but now I feel fine. I used to get aura as well but haven't got that since I went on amitriptyline.

Look up hormonal migraines. It’s a regular thing.

Ive been getting them all my life. Mine are with aura so I knew they were migraines from the beginning.

Im post menopausal, but I used to get them a day or two before a period, and sometimes midway (ovulating). I also got terrible migraines when I tried Hrt.

I didnt always get them every period, but the hormones made them very likely to happen. So missing a meal, not enough sleep, doing too much, being stressed would take me over the edge.

I tried a lot of medications from the doctors, but they didn’t work for me. But I think that was unusual, and as time goes on more drugs come out.

I was recommended soluble solpadeine to take at the first sign. I also go to bed, but take cold packs and a cold wet flannel to put on my face/head.

It is almost certainly linked to hormone levels. I used to get terrible headaches pre-period, especially during the time I was on the pill. Soluble co-codamol was the best painkiller for me, but it still didn't actually stop the pain, just lessened it.

So not a super helpful reply I know, except in hopefully reassuring you there is a link and it's not a tumour. If you use any hormonal contraception, you should stop- no one who gets migraines should be on the pill as it greatly increases the likelihood of blood clots. I was never told this and ended up in hospital with blood clots in both lungs. Would not recommend!

I also had period migraines for years. It's not uncommon.

Have your blood pressure checked too. When I was put on blood pressure meds a few years ago, my migraines just stopped. Worth a try. Good luck .