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[Night_Owl]

I experienced a hideous return of migraine when my periods stopped at 44 - 11 years on and the migraines are as bad as ever - but recently I experienced a new low ...

Usually I get palpitations during a severe migraine attack - however the other day I had the most scariest experience - the migraine head pain was intense - the palpitations were stronger than I've ever experienced, heart racing, jumping out of my chest, *thumping up both sides of my neck and my back*, whole head vibrating/pulsing, couldn't breath properly - it felt like a heart attack - happened twice and lasted about 45 mins each time.

Has anybody experienced similar?

Wondering if this could this be Tachycardia or PoTs. 

With thanks for any comments on this.

[Mary G]

Night_Owl, I'm really sorry to hear that, it sounds terrifying.  It's such a pity that Elizabethrose has left MM because she was so knowledgeable about migraines.

My knowledge of migraines is limited but I do know they can change over time.  Mine are silent and for some reason I thought yours were too but I must have confused you with someone else. 

Where were in your cycle?  You mention that you take Utrogestan every 6 weeks, was this attack either during or just after the progesterone phase?

Have you ever tried SSRIs?  4meSons takes one (can't remember the name now) and she said her migraines have virtually disappeared. 

It might be worth a consultation with Professor Anne MacGregor, she is brilliant and knows everything there is is know about migraines.  I'm afraid she is not cheap, about £300 but that includes support via email after the consultation.  She does telephone consultations if that helps.

[Night_Owl]

Hi Mary G - thanks for your reply - I've definitely found migraines have changed over time, unfortunately for the worst in severity, frequency and scariness. 

It was during Utro withdrawal and for some reason I had a heavier bleed than usual - maybe estrogen has dropped down that much lower - but I can't up the estrogen.   I had another monster mig a week or so before when I was on estro only, so I can't really blame the Utro - my triggers seem to be multiple and unfathomable, as well as the obvious stress - I am struggling to 'distance care' for my elderly widowed father.

As you know, I find Utro use more difficult than ever these days as I age - psychological side effects stronger and withdrawal PMT off the charts. 

The Clinic prescribed Sertraline - I'm too scared to try them though due to medication sensitivity -  tried Prozac, Citalopram, Venlafaxine and some others in the past and couldn't tolerate them, all turned me into a glassy eyed zombie.  Apparently for some Amitriptaline works. 

Will have a think about Prof MacGregor - thanks for this.  Today I'm off to have an ECG.

How are you Mary- are you still on the Utro alternative - sorry can't remember the name, Benzo?

[Mary G]

'How are you Mary- are you still on the Utro alternative - sorry can't remember the name, Benzo?'

Night_Owl, I've sent you a PM!

[Ruby10]

HI night owl
I used to suffer from bad migraines until I was given Amytriptaline by the doctor but this was originally for pain as I have got fibromyalgia . My migraines stopped straight away which was great. I suffer from palpitations as I have ectopic heartbeat for a while now and have been bad since starting the perimenopause stage. I am on HRT patches and this is helping ease them now, I still get them if I have over done it as I suffer from CFS too but they are not as bad.

Ruby

[Annika]

That sounds so scary NightOwl hope that passes for you and you don't have yo go through it again. My family have migraines but my daughter started having them when she was in High school and they were awful as she couldn't speak properly to call me and tell me to come get her from school. She lost her sight and would walk into furniture and she says her hands and mouth were all tingles...then as it progressed she would get the pain. Now she is on meds that take effect fast before it gets out of hand but she deals with it the best she can. I asked her about her heart racing and she said yes but she feels its more out of fear that one is coming so I guess anxiety is very high before going into it.  Her doctor recommended getting Caffeine into her system as quick as possible when she feels it as it can really help either a cup of coffee pr medication containing caffeine. Hope all this helps and you can get sorted out sooner than later.

[Hurdity]

Hi Night_Owl

Sorry to hear you are still suffering form these dreadful migraines after all these years. You know, I can't remember if you take utrogestan orally or vaginally - I presume the latter, and I am thinking this too in view of our conversations a few years back? What seems to really help me is blasting my vagina with local oestrogen in the week leading up to starting the utro and keeping it up while I am on the course - I am sure it helps limit systemic absorption and the prog withdrawal symptoms, although I know you get these pretty badly.

I know you have had many specialised appointments re your migraines and with neurologists, but how worrying for you for them to be getting worse. Do let us know the outcome and hope that you manage to get some sort of answer this time as to why your symptoms were so bad.

Hurdity xx

[Night_Owl]

Thanks All for useful replies.

So I had an ECG and blood tests which all came back normal, sometimes you just want something not to be normal as an explanation!  Saw a vague GP who wasn't interested in hearing about palps etc as my results raised no concerns.   I do have ectopic beats too, diagnosed in 2014.

Ruby, I have thought about Amitriptyline as the migs seem (amongst many other triggers) to be connected  to serotonin / hormonal imbalance triggered by early-ish meno at 44 - maybe will give that a try if things get much worse.

Annika, my experience of migs as a child was the same, with right sided weakness - often I've looked at meds with caffeine and thought about trying ...

Hurdity, I use Utro v-route, thanks for the reminder about VF re-load, I always forget that - will give it a try.  My biochemistry seems to be getting more med sensitive with ageing, liver (filtering estrogen) overload maybe, who knows.

Stress doesn't help and that has been through the roof for quite a few years now with trying to 'distance care' for my elderly widowed father.  Hey ho.  Such is life, we all have stress don't we, it's just how to manage it - just live in hope that I don't get another really scary mig like that.

Thanks for listening.

J x