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Original poster

Migraine increase and perimenopause

28 replies

CinnamonRedwing · 14/01/2024 15:04

Just wondering if anyone has noticed a link between migraine with visual disturbance & peri/menopause?

I have suffered for years with migraines (both with and without aura). The ones without the aura I can cope with. My medication is pretty good & does the job. My issue is with the ones with aura.

Since adulthood, I've averaged about 1 every 3 years. I hate them because the visual disturbance is so debilitating, but I can deal with only getting them relatively rarely.

In the last 3 months, however, I have had 2 per month & suspect they are hormone related. They are absolutely cracking me up & I'm so stressed about it all.

My GP wasn't the best when I suggested I thought it was maybe perimenopause related...She increased my preventative meds but I've had another 2 since then.

Any advice appreciated!

OP posts:
Original poster
CinnamonRedwing · 16/01/2024 20:49

jennylamb1 · 16/01/2024 20:23

The mini pill being progesterone only and the combined pill having both oestrogen and progesterone perhaps is the difference. My experience was that at 44 I was getting migraines more and more despite beta blockers. It got to a point where I was having. 2-3 a week regularly. As you'll know it's not just having the migraine and the after effects which is pretty horrible but it's the lack of control over your life because you never know when you will have to put everything on hold and just go to bed. Honestly, the Cerelle mini pill gave me my life back, I haven't had a migraine for about 3 years and have completely forgotten about them. I kept a migraine diary and noticed that I was getting more on a monthly basis and when I went to the GP I showed them this and said that I wanted to go on the mini pill because it has worked for me before pregnancy.

It's so disruptive as you say - I feel like a ticking time bomb just waiting for one & it's totally putting me off making plans. I'm very anxious about getting one at work or when I'm out on my own with the kids.

With your migraine diary, can you remember if it was at a certain point in your cycle? I think I can pin mine down to some point during my period & just after ovulation. But there's a rogue migraine in there that doesn't particularly fit...

OP posts:
jennylamb1 · 16/01/2024 21:56

Well I think a migraine diary would show clusters however the odd one here or there outside the pattern. I think going to a GP with an idea of what you want is a good idea since they have so little time for appointments and unless there are contraindications I would suggest to them the minipill to even out your hormones.

Boomboomshakeshaketheroom · 16/01/2024 22:01

In my mid-late 40s my migraines were like clockwork, coming in the days before my period. (Not every month, but most.) With the added mid-cycle one thown in for good measure if I was super tired or run down.

I tried the Pill for awhile to help with that and period irregularity but it didn't fix either.

Now menopausal and don't think I've had a real migraine since. I've headed off a couple that were coming on (again, lack of sleep/stress related) but they didn't take hold.

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