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[sueregional]

Good morning,

I started having migraines at the age of 11 when I started my first  period and have continued to have them at least twice a month throughout my adult life, although they were diagnosed as "sick headaches  " due to hormonal changes on a monthly basis back in the 1990.
At the age of 50 I started to have irregular periods and at the age of 52 was told I was going into the menopause. I lasted for about 12 months with terrible hot flushes and anxiety issues before going to my GP and saying " I need help ! " so she prescribed a combination HRT tablet and my symptoms disappeared ! Hoorah I thought, but my headaches still continued.
I had a polyp removed in June 2017 and the Consultant I was under advised me to use patches rather than tablets,Evorel 75 and Utrogestan 100mg but I have suffered terribly with crippling headaches and such sore breasts,  I have struggled to sleep properly.
I am now in a position where I have come off the HRT all together and do not know which way to go now, other than just suffer the menopause symptoms or endure the headaches etc.
Has anyone else gone through the same thing ?  I take Sumatriptan for my headaches .
Thanks for reading.
Sue

[Hurdity]

Hi sueregional

Had you gone 12 months without a period before starting the continuous combined HRT? If not then you were not yet post-menopausal and should have started on a cyclical preparation that gives a monthly bleed. However in your case the doc might have tried you on a conti type if you were late peri - because it avoids the ups and downs of the progestogen part of HRT which can sometimes cause more migraines.

Some women find hormonal headaches/migraines induced by the menstrual cycle, do diminsh once menopause has been reached. However in your case the continuation of your headaches could be due to the progestogen - taken on a continuous basis - that is causing these.  If you are taking utrogestan every day then this could well be the reason. I take mine on a long cycle ( every 6-8  weeks) to avoid any progestogenic side effects. Sore breasts could also result from the progesterone - mine are always affected in the 12 days I take the utrogestan.

The other thing is you could try taking it vaginally - there are fewer side effects when taken this way - but most women would not want to take it continuously. I do get migraines too but now rarely when taking or stopping the progesterone although the heavy foggy head and fatigue tends to build up over the 12 days.

Taken cyclically the dose is 200 mg x 12 days and its effectiveness is dependent on the dose of oestrogen, and although research shows more is probably absorbed to the uterus where it is needed, when used vaginally - it is better to start with the licensed dose and see what sort of bleeds you get if you can cope with having these again! I'm still having them in my 60's.

How often are your migraines now? I also take Sumatriptan for mine but often it gives me a rebound for a day when I stop which I juist have to work through.

Hope this helps

Hurdity x

[sueregional]

Hi Hurdity,

Thanks so much for replying !
My Consultant advised me to take the progesterone, twice daily for 12 days then to stop, which was fine for the first month but after that my breasts were beyond uncomfortable in fact the pain actually caused tears and I am no shrinking violet !
I have seen various Migraine specialists to try and determine if it is the progesterone or oestrogen that actually causes the headaches but no one really seems to know, the only factor that is reasonably constant is that they happen mid cycle and at the end so day 14 and 28 .

I would like to just take the oestrogen and no progesterone but think that this is ill advised, but just trying to find some peace.

In answer to your question I had stopped my periods for over 12 months when I first saw my GP but when I went on the HRT my bleeding was intense, hence the discovery of the Polyp.

So I will go back to my GP and discuss progesterone being applied vaginally, but I suppose I am hoping that my previous menopause symptoms are reducing just because of time, I am 54 now, but that might be hope over reality !

Sue
xxx

[Mary G]

Sue, if you got on well with the combination tablets, why don't you just go back to them?   

It sounds like nothing was broken and therefore didn't need fixing.   It's difficult to find the right HRT regime so if you find something that works well, stick with it.

What was your previous HRT regime?

[sueregional]

Hi Mary, thanks for replying.

I was first prescribed a continuous HRT tablet but had terrible bleeding hence the discovery of the polyp, I  was then advised by my Consultant to go onto patches etc.
I will chat with my GP when I go back about perhaps going back to the continuous tablet .

Thanks

Sue
x