Daily Headaches- perimenopause??

[nadine6301]

Wondering if anyone can offer advice on this as I'm so throughly fed up! Since Christmas ish I've not been feeling myself at all. Mainly daily headaches which start within an hour or so of getting up and then get progressively worse. They are always on my left hand side neck area and come up over my ear towards my temple. I also seem to have a persistant dry tickly cough which I think is caused by a reflux issue I also have! Unfortunately this cough makes my temple thud and I have to hold my head to stop the pain. I'm 44 and I do have a lot of insomnia, anxiety, gastric issues, dry eyes, sore mouth lips etc plus mood swings irritability...but it's the blasted headaches ( or are they migraines? ) that are driving me to distraction. Paracetamol/ ibrofen take the edge of but never fully clear it. I try very hard not to take many as I know it's causes rebound. Tiger balm eases it temporarily too.
My question is does anyone else or have you suffered to this extent and if its perimenopause would HRT help? I've got a GP appointment soon to discuss further. Would really love some input from anyone who has any experience or advice. Even considering gluten intolarance??? Thank you for reading!

Funnily enough I was just thinking this evening, 'I wonder if these daily headaches that have started more or less out of the blue are perimenopause symptoms....?" I'm almost 46yo, and suffered from headaches when I was younger, mainly linked to my period but in recent years, especially in that past 10 years since having the kids, not so much. Except in the last few days when I've been getting them every day... I wondered if it was the hot weather, but it's the first time that will have caused it.

I went from not being a headachy person to getting them all the time during peri menopause. GP wouldn't give me HRT (grrr) but put me on the mini pill which definitely helped quite quickly. Things were ticking along well for a while then I got loads of other symptoms and did eventually get HRT which was miraculous, but I'd definitely say it's a possibility that it's hormonal.

@flipflopson5thavenuethat was me too, I've never suffered from hormonal headaches during my cycle then out the blue after Christmas I got a headache and it's still here!?! Incredibly frustrating! I hope you manage to resolve yours.
@OliviaOyl, that's interesting thank you. Can I ask, did both the mini pill and HRT get rid of the headaches quite quickly? I guess I'm asking, was it quite obvious they were hormone related if your symptoms dissipated? How are you doing now?

My headaches cleared up quite quickly on the pill. That hadn't been my first choice but that GP wasn't keen on HRT. The headaches never really came back and then about 2 years later I was getting terrible night sweats and my sleep was dreadful and different GP gave me HRT. The effect of that was astonishing- night sweats stopped within about 3 days and I now sleep like a baby again.

The hormonal headaches used to last about a week and be so bad I just wanted to keep my eyes closed and I'd come home from work and lie in the dark.

@OliviaOyl yes the headaches are so debilitating, mine are basically daily but it's the severity that differs. I've only recently started watching the pattern and they appear worse on the lead up to my period and then whilst on it. Lessens off after but always just there, like a low level headache. I'm throughly sick of them but your positive outcome gives me hope. I'm not sure the pill would be an option for me, I've just had a laperascopy where I've had extensive endometriosis removed although surgeon mentioned having a coil fitted to help endo. This would also act as the progesterone part should I wish to trial HRT. Lots to think about but HRT is definitely looking like a great option.. 👍

Yep. First symptom I experienced. Get yourself to a decent GP. I can't recommend Sumatriptan enough for the headaches/migraines.

Good luck Nadine. It's life sapping. Really hope you find something that helps.

@TurkishClouds thanks, that's good to know. I don't know anything about headache/migraine relief other than OTC stuff. Is Sumatriptan something that's taken as a prevention rather than a painkiller? I'm thinking my GP may offer alternatives/options if they are against HRT and looking for a bit of info on what may be offered before I see them next week.
Are you still using Sumatriptan or have you chosen HRT or can it be taken alongside ? Feeling rather daunted by it all.
@OliviaOyl thanks so much, yes it really is !