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Original poster

Bad period headaches

41 replies

sazzerbear · 19/02/2010 09:31

Have been having really bad headaches either pre, during or post period. It's like a tight band feeling around my head. This can go on for 4-5 days and no painkillers seem to help. It makes me feel like crap, anyone else experiencing the same and any ideas? TIA

OP posts:

Guttersnipe · 19/02/2010 10:51

Yes, I have started having these. Mine also make me feel sort of nauseous in my head too iyswim, though I am fine eating. Sometimes nurofen works, mostly nothing does. Sometimes, they go on for 4-5 days like yours, sometimes I only get them for 1-2. It's miserable, isn't it? I haven't got any clever remedies but I do find that if I make myself go out and get on with life, rather than curling up in a ball in bed which is what I would prefer to do, that can sometimes make them go away for a while.

My understanding from reading about it online is that these are hormonally produced headaches, and that taking something herbal like agnus castus, or whatever it is called, will help but I have not given it a go.

Original poster

sazzerbear · 19/02/2010 10:54

Thanks GS, mine are exactly the same with feelings of nausea. Also I find the headache seems to go then suddenly come backs! Will have to go down the herbal route as hard core painkillers don't seem to do the trick!

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sugartits · 19/02/2010 10:55

Me too, just as you both describe. I've only just noticed the pattern, so I'm not entirely sure how long it's been going on for. I'll probably mention it to the Dr next time I'm there for something. No remedies that I've come across I'm afraid.

PrettyCandles · 19/02/2010 10:58

Before I had children, and when I was still living with my parents, I used to get period headaches - but only if my period began on in the 24h from Thursday evening to Friday evening. My PMT was also worse if my period began early in the working week, ie if the weekend fell right before the period began.

I realised that it was the combination of period hormones and being at home with my parents, rather than at work. When I moved out of home, the PMT improved, and the headaches disappeared.

Can you see any pattern that might link the headaches with something outside of you? If so, and if stress or inter-personal relationships are having an effect on the headaches, then possibly some form of relaxation therapy could help as a preventative.

Syndol is apparently very good for these sort of headaches.

cyteen · 19/02/2010 11:04

There is such a thing as menstrual migraine, so it's worth having a chat with your GP about - if it is menstrual migraine, you should be able to get some more specific migraine pain relief.

pieceofme · 19/02/2010 11:04

Are you on the combined pill by any chance? I used to get dreadful headaches during my pill-free week... I finally found a doctor who took the issue seriously and immediately changed me to a different pill (progesterone only). Haven't had them since.

Original poster

sazzerbear · 19/02/2010 11:12

Thanks ladies, not on any pill at the moment. Will try Syndol and talk to doc I think..

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Guttersnipe · 19/02/2010 11:19

Good luck talking to the doctor. Even though I chose a woman GP (or maybe because I did?) I was told it was something I just had to get on with. Is Syndol available OTT?

herbietea · 19/02/2010 11:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

bellissima · 19/02/2010 17:00

I get them in my pill free week - but also if I'm not on the pill around the time of my period. Its the effect of hormone changes (decline in oestrogen most likely, although I also got stonking headaches in early pregnancy when presumably oestrogen on the way up). Anyway my GP prescribed Zomig - take one and admittedly feel orrible nausea for about half an hour but headache completely disappears.

When I first got them GP suggested coming off combined pill but minipill caused non-stop bleeding. apparently if you don't have an 'aura' with the headache ie flashing lights it's not so bad.

janeite · 19/02/2010 17:04

I get them for about four to five days, most months. Syndol is the only thing that comes close to working on them but it makes me very drowsy.

ShowOfHands · 19/02/2010 17:07

I get them too. Also when I ovulate. Regular as clockwork. No shifting them and they're not like other headaches. My Mum had menstrual migraines and couldn't get out of bed for the duration.

Dispersible aspirin is the only thing that sometimes works.

bellissima · 19/02/2010 17:07

Guttersnipe - that's terrible! My GP is a bloke and he took me seriously. As I say, Zomig does make me feel sick for a while but whereas nurofen etc would only work for about an hour with period headaches, Zomig (and probably other migraine ones) zaps it dead.

foxinsocks · 19/02/2010 17:12

I had menstrual migraines so bad I couldn't function for 10 days a month.

GP didn't want to do anything and when I said the migraine medication they had prescribed didn't work she suggested I might be depressed ffs

anyway, I went to see a gynae. There is LOTS that can be done. I tried a number of things but in the end, what works for me, is taking a pill (yasmin) back to back for 6 months at a time. I take it for 6 months, then let myself have a period (and suffer) but then only have to have 2 periods a year so it's more manageable.

Don't be fobbed off. There are lots of things that can be tried for this.

foxinsocks · 19/02/2010 17:20

I have found the best thing to do with the GPs is ask if anyone has a speciality. For example, I found one doctor in our surgery who has a keen interest in skin disorders so when we have skin flare ups, I ask for him.

When I saw the gynae, he checked who was my GP and he said 'oh in this practice, there's Dr X who I trained and has a special interest in women's health' and I now ask for her with gynae issues and she is brilliant.

It works well. I'm not implying that other GPs wouldn't have been so good but in a big London practice, it was certainly worth asking this as some doctors like to see special cases iyswim!

Original poster

sazzerbear · 19/02/2010 18:30

Brilliant advice, thanks all, I will be seeing the doc armed with info!!!

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bellissima · 19/02/2010 18:34

foxinsocks - if I remember you correctly from a different thread on this I owe you thanks. After going round the houses on this one (pill- headaches, no pill -headaches, mini pill - constant bleeding, mirena - er no thanks!) GP has also agreed we could try extended periods on pill as alternative to pill + zomig.

Guttersnipe · 19/02/2010 20:42

Can anyone help me with my question re whether syndol is available over the counter or do you need a prescription?

The GP I saw was not unsympathetic per se, but she definitely left me with the impression that this was something I would have to get on with, that it was within the realms of normal (which was actually quite reassuring) and there was no suggestion of any medication. I am not personally in favour of taking hormonal medication but I am assuming syndol is just some sort of pain relief?

That said, having suffered virtually every month for about 2 years, I have noticed things getting better lately. I suppose it is possible to just "outgrow" the condition.

janeite · 19/02/2010 20:43

No prescription needed.

Guttersnipe · 19/02/2010 20:46

Thanks. I don't recall seeing it on the shelf. Is it one of those things you have to ask the pharmacist for?

Re it making you drowsy, this is a bit of a concern for me as another symptom I get is extreme fatigue a la pregnancy fatigue.

janeite · 19/02/2010 21:05

It is on the shelf in Boots - you take a tagged thing up to the counter and they exchange it for the tablets iirc. I usually start with one tablet and then have a second if needed: less drowsy with one. Having said that, drowsy but not feeling ready to be sick is better than fully awake and ready to vomit, I guess.

foxinsocks · 19/02/2010 21:14

ah bellissima, thanks. If it was me, and I do recall a conversation along those lines, great, I hope it works for you!

I find Syndol so powerful it literally knocks me for six

I couldn't cope with it tbh. When I wasn't working it was one thing but I would have had to take about 2 weeks off a month unless I'd sorted something out.

Don't sit back and believe we have to suffer. I do think women are lead to believe they have to get on with it far too often!

(I believe it's an oversensitivity to hormones. Mine developed (the migraines) after having the mirena grr).

foxinsocks · 19/02/2010 21:18

(ps I have a break every 6 months otherwise I find I get cramps every now and then. If I let myself have that period after 6 months, it keeps those at bay. Otherwise, I could theoretically just carry on taking it!)

PrettyCandles · 20/02/2010 08:26

Since I've had children my periods have been vastly less miserable, and virtually no period headaches (tho that could of course be because I no longer live with my parents ). But at the time I could not cope with a period without taking Feminax. It's no longer available, but had similar constituents to Syndol tho didn't make you drowsy.

Have a look at this thread for possible DIY alternative to Syndol.

Original poster

sazzerbear · 12/03/2010 21:15

Hello all, I went to the docs and she has prescribed Imigran - any "users" out there?

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