How to treat menstrual migraines

[snowbellsundersnow]

I’ve had migraines on and off since my early twenties however they’ve suddenly become much more frequent and I’ve had four in the last three months. I’m waiting for a GP appointment but there is a six week wait and my GP isn’t always that proactive so at the moment I’m trying to do my own research on how to help myself.

There is so much information out there that I’m finding it quite overwhelming! It seems there is a huge range of migraine symptoms and treatments so I’m trying to work out what would be best for my situation, which is:

• I think hormones are the trigger, as migraines almost always hit in the first week of my period
• I haven’t identified any foods as being a trigger and I don’t drink alcohol
• I do know that my iron levels are on the lower side, although not low enough to be officially classed as anaemia by the NHS
• I’m 37 and don’t have any other symptoms of perimenopause yet but I guess could be heading towards it!

In terms of the migraines themselves:

• The headache tends to be on one side of the head, behind one/both eyes and/or in my neck
• However the worst symptom is just an overall feeling of being extremely unwell, kind of like a hangover - I feel sick, shaky and sometimes dizzy. It really is completely unbearable, at one point DH had to leave work early to collect the kids from school as I physically couldn’t get there, if was impossible.
• On the worst days I also have vomiting and sometimes can’t keep down any food or water for an entire day
• The migraines usually last 2-3 days
• I’ve tried ibuprofen and paracetamol but they don’t seem to help

Has anyone had anything similar and did you find anything to help? I’ve just come out of a migraine now and am terrified for when the next one will strike.

If they are period related, I guess trying to stop the periods would help? So if you’re not planning any pregnancies I’d consider a mirena coil or the pill

I have these - awful. What has helped (although not eliminated them completely) is the following:

• HRT
• Candesartan (I take this anyway for high BP but at a higher dose it can prevent headaches)
• Zolmitriptan - more effective prescription pain relief for migraines. Doesn't get rid of the nausea/ hangover feeling but at least gets rid of the headache.

Obvs all of the above is in discussion with a GP and on prescription but i also find that the stronger kind of ibuprofen (ibuprofen lysine) which you can just buy without a prescription sometimes works better than normal ibuprofen/ paracetamol for me.

I hope you get an appointment soon.

Asprin 300mg worked for me.

Coil for me but you also need some better pain killers

My gp suggested high dose vitamin B supplements for hormonal migraines. Mine reduced drastically.
I take these - available on ebay.

I read about asprin working better than migraine medication less side affects.

So I use as the migraine starts.
It works well. I rarely need take the daily dose as I feel better quickly.

Herbal, try Feverfew. Painkillers, definitely try Sumatriptan. You can buy OTC. Works on my migraines in approx 20 minutes

I sympathise as I get hormonal migraines too, although yours sound more debilitating.

The mirena doesn't stop the hormone fluctuations that cause the headaches, you still ovulate but the hormone in the coil reduces bleeding and prevents implantation of a fertilised egg.

I still got the migraines when on the pill unless I took the packets back to back which gp's don't like you doing.

I guess the implant or injections would stop the periods....the problem is any kind of hormonal contraceptive can make migraines worse.

Has the gp suggested any stronger pain relief?

Apparently menstrual migraines can be the most severe and most resistant to treatment and I would agree with that statement!

Easy things to try- magnesium supplements taken daily, aspirin for the migraine (but to be honest aspirin barely took the edge off my menstrual migraines) & a prescription for a triptan (I take sumatriptan).

If these aren’t enough then I’d see the GP about a daily preventative. I was given propranolol- 10mg twice daily. I’ve gone from 2 debilitating migraines per month (ovulation and period), where I had to miss work and was incapable of looking after my young child, to a migraine maybe every 2 or 3 months that is easily stopped by standard painkillers. Good luck OP- I know how horrendous they can be!

I get migraines but they became less frequent after an eye test in my early 40s showed that I needed reading glasses. Initially a very mild prescription but made a big difference.
When I do get one (usually hormonal) the only thing that helps is lying down in a dark room!

Stopping the periods worked for me. Progesterone only pill.

Taking the pill back to back works for me.
If I stop for a break, they come back within 2 days- so I just don’t have any breaks.

The progesterone-only pill inhibits ovulation so should eliminate the hormone fluctuations that induce your migraines.

The combined pill should never be given to anyone who has migraines with any type of aura (visual, speech, motor), I’m really hoping the PPs who have been given it don’t have migraines with aura 🫣