Appointment is tomorrow. Filled out the questionnaire. Am looking forward to finally getting to see her - migraines have been awful, almost threw up on myself driving to work last week, and my whole weekend was ruined. I don't know whether changing my HRT from Evoril Contil to body identical will improve things but I need to try something. I would also like a hormone test, to see what is going on, and she offers three different kinds. Have not been offered one in 3 years of seeing NHS GPs. Also, be interested to see if she thinks I need Testosterone. Libido and energy levels have been non existent for a long time.
I have not heard from the NHS yet about my referral.
Sorry to hear about your migraines. Did you have these before starting Evorel conti and if so did they occur cyclically ie could you work out which phase of the cycle was worse? I got migraines on the conti part of this HRT patch during the first 3 months when starting HRT more than 12 years ago, and went on to bio-identcial products ( ie estradiol and progesterone) - through NHS (I am very lucky that my gynae specialist GP is very knowledgeable - not my regualr GP though!) and have been on these ever since. I do still get migraines sometimes but not that often.
I presume sumatriptan does not work for you? I find them magic but almost need to anticipate that the feeling I'm getting is going to turn into a migraine because if I leave it, the triptans don't work, but haven't wanted to take them unnecessarily every time I wake with that typical twinge starting!
All the best with your appt and do report back!
Hurdity x
Thank you for your post. I have suffered with them for around 20 years but they weren't that often and after a decent sleep, were gone. I am afraid I never kept a diary so have no idea if they were cyclical or not. But they ramped up just another level the same week my hot flushes started 3 years ago. They last 48 hours and are just awful. I last tried Triptans about 3 years ago, they didn't work because you couldn't take them too often and I was getting them for days at a time. They've given me Amitriptyline, Gabapentin, Topimirate...they seem convinced its nothing do with the menopause but surely they know migraines are linked to a drop in oestrogen?
Appointment went well today. She was very nice. She thinks my oestrogen levels are too low which could be causing the migraines (I'm on 50mcg Evoril Conti), she wants to up it but my blood pressure was too high for her to give it to me there and then. (I'm hoping because I couldn't find a parking spot and was panicking I'd miss the appt! She wants me to do a 24 hour blood pressure thingy and email her the results. So at the moment, she has prescribed me with 50mcg Evoril and 100mg Utrogestan capsules (1 a night). Also did a blood test to see what my hormone levels are, especially testosterone, as I told her my libido had been non existent for about 4 years, she will email me the results.
So great to just have someone really listening and telling me that one size does not fit all, migraines are complex, we may have to tweak a few things....etc etc......She definitely thinks body identical Gel is the way to go for me with the Oestrogen so I can control it. Not had one GP in 3 years do a hormone test or give me any other options apart from Evoril Conti and pain relief for migraines. Follow up appt in 3 months but will be in touch before that when I know my testosterone levels and when my blood pressure is back down so she can up the Oestrogen. At least I feel I am getting somewhere. Even if it is to eliminate things.
Not sure what I will do when I get the NHS referral through though. Not sure it will go down well if I go to the appointment and tell them I have already seen a private GP and she has prescribed me something. May get a bit confusing if they decide on a different course of action.