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[Shoshanna50]

Hi,
it's been a while since I was last here as my menopause symptoms have pretty much been under control.
What is bothering me is this.
From the age of about 30 (when I first had one) to summer lat year ( I am now 52) I have probably had about 8 migraines with auras. However last autumn I had 3 migraine in one day. That was followed by nothing more until about a month ago when I had 3 or 4 over a period of 3 days then again a couple of weeks another one.
Early hours of today about 5am I woke with a migraine aura and usual headache, managed to drift back to sleep then woke at 7am having another one. never had one during sleep before.
I have been on HRT patches since January 2012, started on Evorel conti but was changed to Evorel sequi about 8 months ago' ish.
I am wondering if it is the HRT causing migraine or just menopausal/hormonal or just plain bad luck. Any ideas Ladies ?
Should I possibly see my GP about this, maybe I should stop the HRT ?

[Taz2]

Hi Shoshanna - how long do your migraines last?  When I have had ones which start with the aura they have lasted around twelve hours so I am confused as to the fact that you had one at 5 and then another one at 7 - wasn't it the same one?

I feel you should get these checked out - I recently went to my doc having had an aura all morning but no headache - the last migraine I had was over thirty years ago - and he sent me straight to the eye clinic at the hospital to make sure that everything was ok. I had a range of blood tests, drops in the eyes, blood pressure taken etc. and I was found to have a swelling on the retina (I think it was the retina) which was causing the aura. The opthalmologist explained to me that I had not had a silent migraine (aura with no pain) at all and that new symptoms of auras should always be followed up as many things can cause them. I was on HRT but he said not to stop taking it.

Do you get a lot of pain with yours?

Taz x

[Limpy]

Hi Shoshanna,
I have had migraine issues for years - started a bit at 5, worsened at 18.
Stayed  bad till 52, however didn't have to come off pill or HRT, my BP was/is ok. Migraines happening less now.
Given yours appear to have worsened, it might be good to speak to your GP.
See what they say about migraines generally, and HRT

[Shoshanna50]

Hi Taz,
I woke with an aura at 5 managed to get back to sleep, then was awoken at 7 with another aura.
My auras last about 25 mins from when first appearing to when they move to outer vision and disappear.
Saw my GP yesterday, he thinks they are due to how stressful my life is at moment and I tend to agree with him on reflection. We did discuss my HRT and I am having trial without it for couple months just to see if it is that causing them, though he thinks not related. Gone 6 days without one at moment so fingers crossed.

[confused kate]

Hi Shoshanna, it would be a good idea to see your GP.  After having a migraine aura on hrt I had lengthy chats with two different GPs, both of whom frightened me enough to stop immediately.  I'm now having each symptom dealt with as and when it crops up individually.  Good luck.  Kate

[Taz2]

The eye specialist I saw said that an aura attributable to migraine never lasts for longer than thirty minutes so it sounds as if this is what you are experiencing. I would push to be referred to an eye specialist to be honest - just to check that everything within the eye is normal.

Taz x

[Trey]

If I have an upsurge in estrogen I seem to trigger a visual migraine.  Like Taz suggested I had it checked out. Once I had one and my right arm went numb.  Sure that I was having a stroke I went to ER, had a CT scan, negative and later read a numb arm can happen when the trigeminal nerve is involved and that it is not rare.  I had a MRI to be sure nothing sinister.  Mine are always followed by feeling pressure in my head, not pain.  The pressure lasts a couple hours sometimes.  The auras last from twelve to thirty minutes.  The one that sent me to the ER lasted 45 minutes.  I've had two in one day and four in one week, but usually I have one every six months. They can be terrifying, especially when I can see only half a face.  Usually I can't see a full word and get lightening bolts or such.

I've heard the Alice in Wonderland was written by the author during aura episodes and that makes perfect sense to me.

[lesley998]

I was on low dose for three months, then high dose prempak c for three months and had my first visual aura.  White diamond kaleidoscope.  Went to optician same day, lots of tests, everything ok with eyes but GP took me straight off the HRT. 

[Shoshanna50]

Well I know it's not the HRT causing migraine now. Been off patches for a month and still getting them
Add to that feeling totally yak for being off patches, hot flushes galore and as for crying...just can't seem to stop and real nasty panic attack in middle of night and not had one as bad as that for months.
Not in a good place right now.

[Taz2]

What a miserable time. Does this mean you can now start the HRT again though? Is it a full blown migraine or just more short-lived like before?

Taz x