Hormonal migraines getting worst and too many triptans

[Flamingos]

I have suffered from menstrual migraines all my life, with an increase in regularity and intensity when I turned 40. I would normally have an attack before my period,2 days after my period and sometimes during ovulation. I always treated them successfully with frovatriptan. I would never take more than 4 per month.
In the last few months the attacks have become more severe and despite the pain improving with the triptan, it always comes back the following day and I have to take another tablet. In the last 6 days I had to take 5 tablets, this has never happened before. I am scared to end up having rebound migraines,a family friend had them and it was really horrible. I must add that I am pretty sure I am peri menopausal, my periods are shorter and I have put quite a bit of weight on my stomach which was always flat even when I put on weight in the past ( all my weight goes on my hips), so I assume this might be the reason. My question is, how many triptans is realistically too many and for how long? Last month I had to take 8. And if you suffered from worsening menstrual migraines,did you do/take anything that helped. I am feeling so down at the moment, I feel I have a window of a week in a whole month when I can arrange to see people/do things as I am unwell the rest of the time. I am scared I won’t be able to manage them anymore and end up feeling awful all the time.

I think this is a question you have to take to your GP. I don't think it's a good idea to ask people on Mumsnet, I'm afraid.

I'm sorry to hear you're suffering though. I only ever suffered from migraines during my first pregnancy, and I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy!

if you go back to the GP, they might be able to try you on something preventative that you take every day so please don't give up hope! mine have recently returned and it's miserable. I also worry because I have to travel for my job and even with taking a triptan, I cannot travel on the day I get the migraine because I feel so sick yet I can't be 100% sure when they are coming.

please go back and tell them you need more treatment as you can't live like this

I moved from the coil to the mini pill. My migraines are worse during ovulation so the stronger levels of hormones help. Definitely go to your gp though, hrt of some description could really help.

I haven't taken triptans for a while (ibuprofen, caffeine and sugar early enough helps me most times) but I did find they sometimes delayed the migraine rather than getting rid of all together.

Thank you for your replies. I have a dr appointment booked in a few weeks to discuss going on a low oestrogen pill for 3 months as advised by the national migraine centre. I have struggled with my dr surgery in the past as they don't seem very knowledgeable about migraines treatments, their advise has always been: take ibuprofen, sleep well and cut out stress, I wish it was that easy! I am just reluctant to go on the pill as I have tried it in the past and it never agreed with me. I was hoping to have some other ideas/ suggestions of things that worked for others to discuss with the doctor. I am finding dealing with my migraines a very lonely experience as no one seems to understand how bad they are unless they suffer from them.

I would try a menopause clinic to get properly checked out for peri-menopause. I had cyclical migraines forever in a really predictable cycle (ovulation, 24h before period). They were largely manageable but got both worse and unpredictable when I was 44/45. HRT trans-dermally (ie patches) has completely stabilized them. Still get a migrainy headache pre-period, but very mild.

Also, the best treatment I found (recommended by a neurologist) was a large single dose of aspirin when you feel one coming on, washed down with a very cold fizzy drink.

I second aspirin. Imo it works better for hormonal headaches than the strong stuff. Codeine etc.

There are daily tablets you can take as preventative but check the side effects. I went back onto the mini pill even though I'm sterilised as my periods were every 21 days and very heavy and was using triptans more than I'd like. It has helped a lot. I still get one at least once a month but I take one tablet now instead of the whole pack of 6

Also agree with pps that my GP said I could take 3x aspirin

@LuubyLuu that's exactly what I used to be like: predictable migraines that I was managing well with the triptans, until a few months back when they became harder to treat. Very interesting about the hrt, I will try a menopause clinic, I just thought that with just worsening migraines and weight gain as symptoms it would be too soon for HRT, good to hear it's not the case!

@Dippydinosaurus thank you for your suggestions, I will give the aspirin a go and it's interesting that on the pill your migraine improved. I am not looking for them to disappear ( I'd obviously love to!) but I will be happy with attacks that are manageable.