Stopping migraine meds before TTC and telling mum!

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Hi! This is my first post...it’s weird and exciting to be here!!

We’re not even TTC yet, but plan to start over the next few months. I’m currently towards the end of tapering off my migraine preventative meds (keen to try being medication-free if I can).

My mum has noticed my migraines have started increasing, and today when she said “I wonder why they’re coming back” I had to lie and say “yeah, I should probably talk to the doctor”! I hate lying to her and part of me is desperate to tell her it’s a good thing, and it’s only happening because we want to start trying... however, it’s such a personal time between myself and my DP, and I don’t want her inevitable excitement/impatience to put and unnecessary pressure on either of us. I think if and when I get PG, I’ll tell her straight away - we’re very close and it would feel weird not.

I’m not particularly looking for advice, I just wanted to reach out and see if others have been in the same boat with stopping migraine meds. My DP has much more on his plate work-wise than normal this month, my bestie’s infertility means I don’t want to dump too much on her, and I can’t tell my mum as I said, so I decided it seemed like a good time to get on here and get it all out!

Ohh yeah, my migraine meds also made me sleep brilliantly every night for the first time in my life... so now I’m back to good old insomnia, hence the 2:00am post!

Which migraine meds are you on? I've been on amitriptyline 10mg daily for years, including through three pregnancies with no problems x

Also - I had much worse migraines than normal during the first trimester in each pregnancy - mine are hormonally triggered.

Good luck. But I really wouldn't have liked it if my Husband had told people we were trying for a baby. That's way to much pressure.

Have you spoken to your GP regarding your medications? There may be some suitable for use during pregnancy.

I take amitriptyline too, but 50mg. My GP advised I came off, and helped me plan how to come off them gradually.

I agree - I’m not going to tell her, it’s just a weird one because we’re always very open and supportive with each others’ health stuff.

I guess I want her to know I’m off my meds and that everything’s cool, but not why!!

Can the GP prescribe an alternative.
I didn't have margarines for years. Until I got pregnant. Then I was affected quite badly. Luckily post baby they did go again. But if you suffer anyway it may be good to have that safety net.

I stopped taking my migraine medication in September, I thought I’d be ok to take it while TTC but the doctor strongly advised to not take it while TTC. I was taking zolmitriptan and so far I haven’t had many migraines to deal with and have tried to use other ways of dealing with them!

You mentioned your best friend having infertility. It might be worth mentioning to her you are going to start trying (if you are comfortable doing that). As someone who is also infertile and been struggling for a few years, it's way way worse when someone close to you announces a pregnancy and it wasn't on your radar at all. The blindside part of it makes it harder.
Good luck with ttc and I hope you manage to get off your meds OK

Thanks Mseddy - we thought the same thing, we actually had them over for New Years and told them then. They really appreciated it and she said it’s much easier being equipped with a bit of prior knowledge. It was lovely to be able to raise a glass together to each of our 2020 plans.

If I were your mum I'd be hurt that you didn't tell me you were ttc, especially when I'd be worrying about your migraines and you being in pain. I'd find it hard to understand that your friend's needs came first, i.e. you told them but not me.

Have you ever tried acupuncture for migraine? I was having unpleasant side effects (aphasia and tingling in my hands and feet) and weaned off my meds while having acupuncture. I was clear for a good nine months with only headaches, rather than migraine. I need to go back actually as they’re starting to return.

I've taken amytriptline 50mg a night for the last 8 years. I stayed on this dose throughout all pregnancies - my gp was not concerned and thought coming off them and dealing with the migraines would be worse.
I also took sumatriptan when I had a migraind during pregnancy. Thankfully I suffered less migraines anyway when pregnant. When breastfeeding, I used to feed immediately before taking sumatriptan and then not feed till 6 hrs later (using pumped or formula in between.
I would see if you really need to come off the amitryptline as it is one of the forms they recommend for pregnancy / post birth. Wishing you well.

@MrsMozartMkII TTC is extremely private. It would be absolutely ridiculous to be upset over your child not telling you that they were frequently having sex. It's never any of a parents business.

OP do you see your mother that much? I would stop informing her of the migraines. Tell her they've stopped again. You're an adult now you don't need to update her constantly.

stilldoesntknowwhatshappening but they have told somebody else, so there appears to be degrees of privacy. I responded as to how I would feel if I were the mother in the situation. Not everyone considers ttc as being a wholly private matter.

Thanks everyone. I wasn’t really asking should I or shouldn’t I tell people, I was more wondering if others had been in a similar situation re. dealing with stopping medication (for anything) and symptoms being obvious, and how you’ve dealt with well meaning advice etc. I guess it’s similar to dealing with early pregnancy symptoms when you don’t want people to know yet! I know Mum won’t be at all offended about me telling my friend, particularly in the circumstances. I think I just need to learn to be a better white liar for a bit!! 😂