Icepick headaches post menopause

[LushLemonTart]

I'm a couple of years post menopause. I did have hrt for a while but didn't feel too good so went without. I get white coat syndrome so when I wanted to try another the GP said no as my bp goes up in the surgery.So I've tried natural alternatives. Vitamins etc. Latest is soy isoflavones. I'm not sure if these are suitable as today I've had 4 episodes of ice pick headaches.They could be unrelated but I'm feeling hot. Also felt faint on a walk yesterday but hadn't eaten enough. Eaten plenty today. I'm at work but have managed to ignore the headaches so far.Anyone else? Amy advice appreciated.I have done an econsult at the drs. They'll probably ring Monday?

I had these for a while during perimenopause, before I went on HRT. They were so bad I ended up being referred for an MRI - which was thankfully fine. The headaches gradually stopped after that.

In my case I think they were stress related, to be honest. Is that possible for you?

The only time I've ever had ice pick headaches was when I was on a variety of hormonal contraception that didn't agree with me.
It stopped as soon as I stopped the contraception... But I'll never forget how awful they were.
So for me or was as hormone related headache.

Perhaps you could have a telephone consultation with a Dr to discuss in the first instance. I did that then a plan was made for which tests etc, maybe you could mention the white coat syndrome while you're at it, my dad did that and they gave him a heart rate thingy to eat at home for 24 hours and took the reading from that instead.

Thanks both of you for answering. I posted in aibu too.

I don't think it's stress. I was having hot flushes each time so am sure it's hormones.

I've stopped the soy isoflavones now so am hoping they caused it?

I've read melatonin can possibly help but I don't think it's prescribed in the UK?

I tried soy isoflavones twice (few months apart) and each time i got dull painful headaches on one side of my head within a couple of days of starting. I also began bleeding (more like spotting) too but both these things stopped when i stopped the supplement. The isoflavones obviously do something to me hormonally but whether they would have helped with night sweats or not i dont know as i gave up on them soon as these issues started.

Thanks for posting @Gemma5678 . I think they may be stronger than we think? Perhaps if I carried on it'd settle but I don't fancy taking the risk. It may not be them though?

Hi Lush,

i came to the same conclusion that for some people, they may be too strong. I hadn't changed anything else re supplements / diet etc so could only have been the soy supplements. It scared me a bit with the spotting so i stopped a day after that started and it all calmed down again. Also i was beginning to feel quite bloated, like holding water weight which i really didnt want either :-). So, 2nd time trying - same result and i've thrown them away now - it's a minefield 😊

It definitely is a minefield. I have some Omega-3 capsules but have only had a couple. I might try them regularly though?

I get white coat syndrome so when I wanted to try another the GP said no as my bp goes up in the surgery.

This is a bit unreasonable of your GP.

Usually, they do 3 readings once you've calmed down a bit or ask you to do the readings at home- they can lend you a monitor or you could buy your own (they're only around £20 and useful to have anyway.)

And most HRT now doesn't even affect BP- it was the older types of estrogen that were the issue. I think some GPs equate HRT with the Pill where BP is more of an issue.

I don't know what an 'icepick' headache is- but as a life long migraine sufferer, is that it?

I don't think the headaches are from over the counter isoflavones unless there is some other ingredient you're sensitive to. The jury is out on whether they work at all and they're very weak.

Which symptoms are you trying to improve? Omega 3 is more for heart health and if you eat oily fish and certain foods, you don't need supplements of it anyway.

No one should be using estrogen without a prescribed progesterone (if they have a womb). The cream type you're mentioning is not effective and no dr in the UK would suggest it was used. It can't be absorbed by the body. Seriously - applying estrogen cream (if it even is that!) without a properly prescribed progesterone is dangerous. Could you link to the info about the estrogen content in the cream?

It is effective, it sorted out my night sweats and i feel great using it. My doctor is aware and all i have prescribed now is estring. I'm really happy with the product and after the nightmare of trialling numerous HRT products, i've finally found something that works for me.

Are you saying that your GP has seen the products you're using?

A dime size amount delivers approximately 1 mg of estriol USP and 0.25 mg of estradiol USP.

If this was true, it's more than 2 pumps of estrogen gel.

And it would need to be offset by prescribed progesterone. Progesterone creams like Serenity do not work- there is plenty of scientific research on this and no reputable dr would recommend it.

.

yes i am saying that, i've spoken to my GP & during a video interview with a menopause specialist about it. The set doses by the menopause specialist & GP just would not work for me - this cream does. It's a low dose but is effective. For info, i started using half a pump of Estrogel every other day and it made me feel awful.

But the dose on their advert is more than a dose of gel.
1 pump of gel is 0.75mgs estradiol. Your cream says a 'dime' is 1mgs.

Is the menopause specialist a consultant gynaecologist? (Not all are.)

All i know is that i need the smallest dose to make a difference. You're prob right in that the cream, despite what it says, is still much weaker than Estrogel (or Lenzetto that i also tried). I take the mini pill too as well as the progesterone cream. My GP & the specialist didnt advocate taking it but said it was likely fine. We'd exhausted all other options for my situation.

BTW 1mg of the cream is .25mg of estradiol so much less than 1pump of Estrogel.

Well this thread took a turn 😳

I agree @JinglingSpringbells the GP was unfair. Prescribed bp meds. I didn't take them.

My head is quite congested today so am hoping that's the cause and not soy isoflavones?

I use blissel vaginal gel but apart from that nothing else. Well vitamin D and magnesium when i remember. I was taking an effervescent multi vitamin but don't now.

Sorry- yes my error there. It has 1mg of estriol per 'dime' of cream. I don't know how big a dime is. I wasn't aware you were taking the mini pill too. That may be working as the progesterone part of what you're doing.