Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: Sammas on January 29, 2020, 06:56:00 AM
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Just after some advice My headaches which I've had all my life are worse around my period. This started last Thursday and I've had a headache on and off since, so bad that I've been off work Although my period has about finished my boobs still ache and I keep getting tummy ache on and off. Headaches don't normally go on for this long. Any advice? Didn't know if some sort of headache preventative might be worth trying Thanks x
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Sam I call those headaches hormonal headaches they feel very different to the normal ones and tend to feel like they are just sitting and pressing down on your head.
I take 2 ibuprofen and 2 Panadol but sometimes you can still feel it slightly.🌷
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Thanks Penelope I have been taking Syndol for years on and off Even thought I might have rebound headaches but the pharmacist didn't think so x
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i (quite literally) feel your pain...not a headache-y person at all but in these last 18 months as I have got deeper into peri, they have been particularly bothersome...and one of my main reasons for trying HRT. They have subsided a little but maybe I'm looking for perfection and completely getting rid, which may not ever happen at this time!!
I think a lot of ladies have success with magnesium supplements, have you looked into that?
In my armoury I go for paracetamol and ibuprofen, alternately, but as Penelope says it sometimes just takes the edge off and it won't go completely. Also Tiger balm smeared on my forehead and temples (nice look ::)) or 4head can sometimes bring some relief.
xx
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Me too. No headaches then late Peri they start - either on one side or both - temples,, over eyes, ear area.
Steaming for me brings huge relief - hot water in the sink, bit of Vics (not too much). Do it 3 times a day if need be.
GP said that lying down sometimes makes it worse - get up and get outside, move around to get the blood flowing.
Also at night I am either completely flat in the bed or very propped up as if he neck is at a certain angle it seems to make it
worse.
I think Inflammation plays a large part in all of this.
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@Squeaker great tips - I might have to try the steaming as well. Interesting you say about your neck being at a certain position make it worse...well I have had a couple of osteopath visits and posture makes a huge difference. The further your neck is out of alignment the more strain you are putting on it, and the neck contains muscles and nerves which have a big impact on headaches. I have found that less pillows or a special neck support one is better than being propped up :)
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Thanks Mogster and Squeaker for your comments I will def try the steam. Someone I know mentioned an Optase mask from Boots you can heat in the microwave I used to go to an osteopath and still do the exercises sometimes Will def up the magnesium x
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Headaches are my biggest symptom. I've always had hormonal headaches which got worse in peri. Like squeaker says I found steam sometimes helped. They often felt like sinus headaches, but given the all clear on that front. I use olbas oil. It seems to help but not usre if that is a placebo. I can't lie down when they're bad but movement is also bad, so end up sitting upright as still as possible. No pain killers make any difference.
Recently the very bad headaches have improved (since HRT) but I was getting continuous low grade headaches particularly bad behind my eye (s). My dr suggested that I may have neck issues compounding the problem and problems with posture. I have changed my sleeping position, used to sleep on my stomach and raised the computer screen and I don't know if its a coincidence but Ive only had a couple of slight headaches in 2 weeks (daren't speak to soon) Its been great!
I really sympathise Sammas, they are so horrible and drs don't seem to know much about them.
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Hi Sammas,
I also sympathise. I always had migraines and they got worse after my first period and persisted until my last. I thought I would get rid of them after menopause, they have virtually disappeared, but now I have chronic daily headache and just mild symptoms migraine-related like high sensitivity to lights, smells and sounds, but one symptom has actually got worse, tinnitus. The suggestions given by the other ladies are really helpful. I try to release tension (whatever you like to do that relax you), avoid computer, TV, tablets, mobiles, eat bland meals, avoid too much caffeine (can't stop cold turkey or it can worsen the headache), drink plenty of water, avoid direct sunshine and strong scents, amongst a number of other details! It's tricky, because the brain is controlling everything else and when the brain suffers the whole body is affected, not the mention the mind!
Regarding preventative meds, I take cinarizine, prescribed off-licence by Neurologist, but only for a couple of months if headaches don't stop. Your headaches sound clearly hormonal so this might not really helpful.
I hope you can get it sorted out soon.
BeaR.
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Thanks Shropeshirelass and Bear for your advice I try and sleep on a thin pillow to prevent neck strain I am going to a menopausal day on Sat involving yoga, food tasting and advice from professionals so will let you know what I learn x
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I just watched a programme about how EMFs from electrical equipment, Wifi, microwaves, 5G ets can cause headaches and maybe a lot of other ailments. It's a bit like smoking, your gut feel is that having all these electrical fields in the air/your brain must have some sort of effect as we are all just a bag of charged, vibrating ions anyway! Only just beginning to study the potential health impacts of all this technology. Another thing to worry about....
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Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum and have joined desperate for help or information about peoples headaches and migraines during peri! Mostly, info on what has helped others with regards to HRT, as I've already tried everything else and not willing to try the really awful drugs offered from the neuro, because I'm positive it's hormonal!! Shropshirelass, I was very interested in your experience with HRT, love to know what type/combo you have had some relief with.
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Hya and welcome! I used to have dreadful hormonal headaches always just prior to a period and during first couple of days of my period and they could be really bad. During peri they got a bit more random and increased. I tried different drugs but nothing worked. HRT has reduced the intensity and type but Im often still getting regular background headaches. So although it seems like the HRT has probably helped. I'm, not sure whether the constant milder headache are a side effect, or not related to hormones at all. I'm currently on evorel sequi and I don't think the fluctuations in hormones help me, but if you are peri you would need a sequi regime. Sorry not to be more helpful.
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Oh thankyou so much for your response, Well, I did lots of research and have, as of Monday, started a continuous combined transdermal patch to help alleviate them and maybe not get a period so I don't have that horrible drop of oestrogen with my period and during ovulation. I must say though, my headaches have been constant every day for weeks and I am now waking with them too so this new type of headache is awful. Thinking my oestrogen is starting to become permanently low hence the constant headache at the moment (Ive also noticed I'm getting waves of heat during the night so makes sense). Anyhoo, I have great hope and am going to keep persisting until I get some sort of relief as they've been ruling my life (especially in the last 2 years and next level the last 6 months) and I want to be able to go away on holiday!
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Just after some advice My headaches which I've had all my life are worse around my period. This started last Thursday and I've had a headache on and off since, so bad that I've been off work Although my period has about finished my boobs still ache and I keep getting tummy ache on and off. Headaches don't normally go on for this long. Any advice? Didn't know if some sort of headache preventative might be worth trying Thanks x
Hi Sammas,
I meant to answer your question the other day when I first noticed the thread. I've tried lots of things that I've researched over the years to try and alleviate these hormone related headaches. Apparently they are the most tricky to try and treat. It could be worth trying, a few days before your period, a slow release anti inflammatory like Naprosyn. Apparently a dose of 500 in the morning and 500 at night. This is if you know when your period is due. It is supposed to help with the inflammation caused by the release of prostaglandins around your period. That is one of the things they think can cause the awful headaches. Also cleaning up diet if its high in sugars because prostaglandins thrive on the stuff. I tried this (with the approval of my doctor, who had actually heard of this treatment, shock horror) but unfortunately my headaches can't have been caused by these little devils. Mine tend to be the drop in oestrogen I've worked out, well I think, it's all a bit of trial and error and as you can see I'm still getting headaches and I'm 53. If you do some research and google the key words you will find out some more about it. You will also need the doctor to prescribe the Naprosyn for you. Cheers, hope this can give you another avenue to try, you never know, it may be just the thing for you. I do know that if I have been eating a really bad diet and way too much crap, my headaches would be worse. Cheers. :)
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Let us know how you get on Nattles. My headaches have really ramped up this week, knew it was to good to be true. Absolutely throbbing at the moment. I'd be interested if a continuous HRT suits you as I think I'm going to try that.
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Oh dear shropshirelass, how awful and I totally understand where you are coming from because some months would be ok and I'd start to think Id turned a corner, then they'd hit again and I'd be beside myself wondering where to turn and what to do. WELL, I started HRT on Monday...?.I'm almost too scared to tell you how I am in case I jinx it!!!! After three days my constant headaches had eased and I can honestly say I have been headache free. I can't quite believe it. After years of struggling I cant believe this has worked. I had tried sequential combined HRT before but I really don't think I gave it enough time but it also didn't work like this continuous combined transdermal has. I use the low dose Estalis patches. It is meant to even out the fluctuations, which is supposedly what causes the daily/cyclical headaches. I am in Australia and Im not sure of the equivalent in the UK. The dosage is 50/140. The breakdown of this is 50 of oestradiol and 140 of norethisterone acetate. I hope this helps to find something similar to try. I will keep you up to date as to how it is going. I had also tried a couple of BCPs but they did not work like this and I was worried about them having to go through the liver etc. This seemed the best for me I think, being 53 and still getting a period, albeit irregular. Feel free to ask any more questions and let me know how you are feeling because I can totally relate. X
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Thanks Nattles x. Hope you continue to feel well, keep in touch.
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I'm at the end of my rope with headaches :( :( :(
It doesn't seem to matter what HRT I take, they are still getting me!! In a last ditch effort my new GP moved me on to patches this month, but I am evidently between strengths as 50 patches leave me wired and 25s are ok until I add my progesterone in and then I am floored with fatigue.
Does anyone get any relief from a supplement? Magnesium? Feverfew? I am fed up with taking paracetamol and scared that I'm going to get to the stage where I'm getting rebound headaches because I can't go without. The headaches come out of nowhere, and some days even OTC doesn't shift them completely.
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Mogster71 I had the same with patches and found sticking to my 25 and now adding 1/2 or 1 pump of oestrogel to see if I can find a balance again. I use a magnesium spray and found it helped a with the headaches and a little with the endless anxiety, but got lazy using it and boy oh boy do I regret that now, so am back on it and have set my phone alarm to remind me x
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Countrygirl!!
Thank you for answering my question my lovely, what a relief! I had the same thought, hopefully my GP will be on board with it when I talk about that tomorrow. I am going to ask to go on my tablets again which are low dose, but just up the oestrogen with a smear of gel :) The dydrogesterone is a bit kinder on me than the utro. How do you get on with the utro?
Sorry to be dumb but the magnesium spray - is this the external one? I have got one and when I used it on my neck and shoulders at the time I had tension there, I itched like crazy! It does say you might on the packaging though. Where do you apply?? I have got some high dose magnesium glycinate supplements which I can take if need be.
I have ordered myself some Better You Multivitamin spray which arrived today, that's full of B vits and other stuff.
Hope you're having a good day x
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I've got a menopause clinic appoitment tomorrow and I am specifically going to ask about options re headaches. I'm not convinced I'll get any real answers. I'll let you know if they make any recommendations
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Hi
I'm also suffering with headaches. I'm getting migraines (without aura) regularly and I'm at the end of my tether! They last 3-4 days🙄and it's above my right eye like a throbbing/stabbing pain. I take aspirin along with paracetamol and if I'm desperate I take prescription medication zolmatriptan which I have to limit. I cannot take hrt so really don't know what more I can do. I'm also suffering with insomnia which doesn't help matters and sometimes dizziness and hot flushes. Damn menopause is driving me crazy!
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Shropshirelass, good luck with your meno specialist!! Be interesting to hear what they say about headaches :)
Hi Catlover, sorry to hear you're suffering too. Do they tend to come in a pattern for you? Mine tend to settle over the left eye or behind both. I'll let you know if the magnesium spray does any good. I have heard that the preventatives for migraine can knock you out a bit. Dizziness is awful and does tend to go hand in hand with the headaches for me as well. You're right, it does drive you insane!! x
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Hi Mogster
I'm finding I get them sort of around the same time of the month which makes me think it's hormonal. I've been feeling crap for about 3 years now and I do feel slightly better in the last 6 months but still suffering on and off with symptoms. I've got mirena coil so don't have periods so no idea if post menopausal or still in peri. I do take magnesium tablet every night,be interesting to see if the spray works.
Shropshirelass I shall be interested to hear the outcome of your visit to the clinic,let's hope a miracle cure is out there😀
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Hi Catlover
Similar here - and my headaches are worse in the "period" week. Flipping hormones, I'm being paid back big time for having an easy ride in my teens I reckon!!
Well I slept very soundly last night, I had to take the socks off at bedtime because my feet were literally roasting..which is unusual for me as they are generally ice cold! Other than feeling a bit tacky I didn't notice anything much except this morning the soles of my feet are tingly.
SL you are building a headache posse here who are right with you today!! All the best x
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Well I had another rubbish nights sleep🙄another symptom I'm plagued with! It's like a vicious circle,I'm so tired during the day then go to bed early and awake half the night. I might take half a sleeping tablet later which at least gives me 5 hours most times. I'm also taking anti-histamine when needed but they don't always help. Touch wood no headache today but that could change as off to work later which can be stressful so hoping I stay headache free!
Good luck at the clinic Shropshirelass😀
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Hya, hope you're headache free today,
Sorry no miracle cures. Infact I think they don't know much about headaches! The only thing she said was that conti regimes sometimes worked better as you avoid the highs and lows, but if you're not menopausal that's not an option. She was relucanat to give me conti as she felt I may not be menopausal yet due to my pattern of bleeding, even though I'm 57 (I had regular periods before starting HRT 18 months ago). I'm now just hoping I can get some evorel conti as soon as it's available. The dr wanted me to go on gel and utrogesten as she says its easy to adapt according to symptoms, but after reading stories on here, including yours I think Mogster, I am really relucant to try utrogesten orally and can't face doing it vaginally every day. Also, I thought people with headaches shouldn't have oral preps but she was really advocating it. The only alternatives she suggested were estrogen patch and provera (which she said had more side effects) or increasing patch to 1.5 which she didn't recommend as more likely to get more side effects with increased progesterone. She kept saying utrogesten is the bio identical and most people get on really well with it. I can always try that if there's no improvement with evorel conti or alternatively try weaning myself off HRT. What I don't understand is how come you can have any number of pumps of gel and utrogesten but you can't increase estrogen patch without increasing the progesterone. I don't get it.
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Hi SL
Sadly worst headache for a month today :( I've been wondering how you got on! Hmmm no further forward for you then? I think if you can find the balance oestrogen wise then you may be ok with the utro - we do all absorb things differently. I guess it depends on how far you want to go. I can safely say that the patches have not reduced things for me headache-wise but it is very early days and I am only in month 1 of course. I tolerated the Femiston pretty well and knew immediately. Gel you can tweak a bit easier than patches but if you start cutting patches up or portions of a pump then it may not be 100% scientific. It does your brain in, doesn't it? Why can't they develop a progesterone only patch?
I read something interesting yesterday, about HRT versus the combined pill. It has helped me get my head around it a bit. Probably old news to you all, I didn't realise that the combined pill actually switches off your own oestr/progest cycle, so the amounts in the pill are the amounts on the packet. With HRT, it supplements your own cycle, which means when you have some activity of your own left, supplementing can sometimes be too much. I think this could be where I am. Maybe I don't quite need it yet? I have no idea what my own cycle is doing as my last period on my own was April last year. I've mucked about with hormones since July on and off.
Do you feel otherwise well on the HRT? xx
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Sorry about your headache Mogster, hope it lifts soon. Headaches are my worst symptom but still get other things, but definately improved since starting HRT. None of my symptoms were typical, (stomach issues, nausea, dizziness) but there again not many people are as late to menopause as me, so I'm just plain weird!
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Thank you - me too :) It's earlier in the month than usual but then whatever's normal now??
I have had the same symptoms too rather than the flushes etc. Acid reflux started in my early 40s, dizziness has been awful. I use prochlorperazine if it gets really bad with nausea.
I think you've probably just confirmed that it doesn't matter which regime you're on, headaches aren't helped much by HRT! You're not weird at all ;) x
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Thanks Shropshirelass for the update. No miracle cure for headaches then. I cannot take hrt so cannot judge if my headaches would improve taking it. For some reason in the last week I've suffered from migraines,hot flushes and boy my insomnia it terrible🙄wtf is going on🤔I just feel so tired all the time and that then causes me to have a headache so it's a vicious circle. A few of my friends that are going through menopause aren't getting headaches or half the symptoms I'm getting. Oh well never mind rant over lol. Mogster how are you feeling?
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I am in hell...shoot me now :'( :'( headache since Monday and OTC are not cutting it for very long. Alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen, having to take prochlorperazine for nausea. Stomach is upset, I'm itchy, (plus bitchy!), period cramps. I've done 7 days of utrogestan now and I cannot do any more. Waiting for a phone consultation with my GP since Monday, hopefully will be today.
Back to the drawing board - or possibly Femiston or nothing!!
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Sorry you're not feeling better Mogster. You have my sympathies. My head's bad today too, started yesterday and kept me awake. The pain killers haven't touched it, but fortunately I haven't got the accompanying stomach issues. I've been bleeding for 7 days so goodness knows what's going on with my hormones. It's so depressing when you don't know if there's an end in sight. Hope they come up with something to try x
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Hi SL
Thank you for your kind wishes :) 3rd lot of painkillers and a generous smearing of 4head has seen it off for now! Sorry you're having a bad day as well, nothing worse if it keeps you awake because being tired will just magnify everything. I did ask the Dr about painkillers and she suggested aspirin was good. I haven't taken aspirin since the Junior version haha. Worth a whirl?
The doctor did luckily call me at lunchtime and we had a chat through the options. She was not happy for me to have taken only 7 days of progesterone so I'm going to do 7 more of femiston and then go back on with that. She actually mentioned the Mirena to me, but I'm not sure it's a good thing if I seem to be so intolerant to progesterone! I'm seeing my own doc on 25th in person so I can talk to him in more depth.
Other than the Femiston, it's pretty limited options-wise if utro does this to me.
Hope you feel better soon too x
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Glad you're feeling a bit better, I'm still not good, but just about copable. My dr wanted me to have the mirena but no way am I risking it, if it made things worse I'd have to wait to have it taken out and I'm too big a wimp to have it fitted in any case! I didn't think they were particularly recommended for headaches, but I guess it would give a consistent dose of progesterone. I know they suit a lot of people. Have you tried evorel sequi, that's suppossed to be available again very shortly (finers crossed)?
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Hi SL
I'm with you on the mirena - none of my local surgeries do it here so it would mean going via family planning clinic or equivalent (or private) and if I react badly I would want it out quick too!! The only positive is no pills and that the progesterone is levenorgestrel which was in the birth control pill i took in my 20s/30s without issue. No guarantee it will be the same now though is there!? The target is always moving...
I wish I could take Evorel Sequi but norethisterone was a nightmare for me so I would not want to have that again.
Hopefully you can rest and relax now it's home time :)
I don't know what the doctors are like in your area but we have about 2/3 week wait to see a GP unless you are lucky enough to get through to the surgery and on the list for a same day. I'm just not sure I've got the tolerance at the moment to keep back and forth trying things out, just so tired of it all. I'll probably feel differently once I'm over this little blip!!xx
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I'm hoping to try femseven when they come back into stock at the end of the year, hopefully, as I've heard good things about them. It's a shame with the mirena that there isn't something with that drug in you could try before committing to it. So few options. My GP's pretty good, it's hard to get an appointment but he asks me to book appointments in advance (4-6 weeks) depending how I am, so I've usually got one in the pipeline, though I still have to ring early in the morning to get an appointment for two weeks ahead.
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Morning SL
Well...the headache has finally "jogged on" - it's so lovely not to wake up with a thick head. Possibly coincidental that no utrogestan last night. I took a Femiston at bedtime, not before noticing a little pink tinge to the loo paper though (sorry TMI). So it could have been my own hormones having a little circus early!! I'm going to carry on with the Femiston for the remaining 6 days though and then just start again on the next pack.
I don't think there is anything with levenorgestrel other than BC pills. Its a great idea to book appointments in advance, now I have the on line booking system I think I will do the same and at least I can cancel if all is well.. Nightmare eh?
Femseven is the patch the doctor first tried to source for me too. Maybe I'll try something else when the shortage situation improves, for now, stable is the aim.
Hope you're feeling brighter too x thanks for all your support this week and sorry for whining!! :thankyou:
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So glad you're feeling better Mogster, I'm really struggling. Head is so bad, worst its been in months. Ive had ibprofen, paracetamol, sudafed and olbas and nothing has touched it. Just had a hot bath and immersing myself in hot water gave temporary relief. Feeling so fed up. VA seems be having a flare up too. Nightmare.
Hopefully, with your cycle kicking in you will have some relief for a while. I just don't know what's going on with me atm. Thanks for being there, it's really nice to have someone to talk to who understands x
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Shropshirelass Sorry to hear your headache is back with a vengeance. it's so debilitating when you getting them constantly. Can you take aspirin as I find this along side paracetamol can work a treat sometimes I've got mirena coil and I've had no issues with it. I cannot take hrt as it made me feel so ill though the progesterone in the coil doesn't seem to give me any issues. I had yet another headache today though not migraine. I'm finding that I can wake up headache free and as the day goes on bang one comes along. it's so annoying as I've got to make sure I've always got plenty of tablets with me. Honestly it's like Boots the chemist in my handbag😂 I'm really hoping I get away suffering with VA,can't be doing with that as well as all the other bloody symptoms!
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Morning SL
Oh no, how are you feeling today? Have you managed to get some rest and out of pain yet? Sorry to hear about the VA too. (lol I nearly typed VAT there, hazard of the job haha). I had one pain free day and yet woke up with another headache this morning. No messing about 2 paracetamol down the hatch at 4.30 am. I do think that this may be partially down to the low barometric pressure though. Possibly. It's at bay for now but you're always on edge waiting for the next twinge.
My natural cycle is having a bit of a party now. Not a full period but enough to need a liner. I'm now wondering whether I need to carry on with the progesterone for 5 more days if my lining is going. I know how fed up you are SL, I'm sick of this taking over my life. Hopefully today is a better day for you and you can relax at home.
Catlover it's funny you mention aspirin, as this is what the GP suggested to me, also interesting about the mirena and that you tolerate the progesterone ok! Which HRTs did you try which affected you? Do you still take oestrogen to accompany the Mirena? Yes, headache/migraine can come on so fast, my handbag is also laden with 2 x painkillers, anti nausea meds, magnesium and a 4head stick to smear on my head. Tiger balm is also good and similar, if you've not tried that.
It sometimes makes you wonder if it's all worth it, trying to balance everything. It's almost like I've got FOMO about being on HRT now, because I'm terrified of getting osteoporosis. I hope the theory is right, that the symptoms get worse the nearer you get to actual menopause. I'm not sure I will do very well if the other stuff now starts coming in, hot sweats and everything on top of this.
Love to you all x
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Hi both, head is a bit better, kept me awake again but has eased off a bit now, so isn't pounding. VA is quite bad though. Seems too much of a coincidence so I guess its all related. I will try asprin, anything is worth a try and like you two, my handbag, workbag etc are stuffed full of pills and snacks to stave off nausea! I'm not sure about symptoms easing off at menopause. I should be menopausal and I seem to be getting worse, though it's hard to say where I am. I've read the body can have a last attempt before finally going into menopause proper so maybe that's what it is. Not only is eveyone different, but it also seems to be a bit random individually (for me at least).
Hope your headaches improve as the day progresses. Wishing you both well, can't even go for a walk with storm Dennis!
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Hey SL
Glad you're even the slightest bit better. Mine is still niggling off and on, made myself feel a bit sick by having a latte :( Just tidied out my medicine cupboard to see what I've got. Enough paracetamol to bring down a rhino, some long lasting ibuprofen, anti nausea meds and a pack of soluble aspirin. Maybe something topical for the VA?
I'm guessing due to your user name you are a lot further west than me (E Anglia) so Dennis is probably in full swing there. It was breezy but dry and mild first thing so I took myself out for a walk early doors and I'm glad I did. 5000 steps by 8am! Wind has definitely picked up here and showers on and off.
A nice day to curl up indoors with a book and a cat or two :)
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Hi there - all of you mentioning hormonal headaches. Do you know if they are migraines? I suffered with the hormonal headaches - sometimes lasting 3 days - for years but very late on I discovered they were in fact migraines. After an even longer time later and relatively recently someone suggested sumpatriptan and these really are magic pills - i have not suffered since I now get these on repeat. Over the years I have got to know when I'm getting one of these migraines as the night before I don't sleep and keep waking either with a slight headache or a characteristic fuzzy or tight head. Since having the triptans if I take one in the night or early in the morning (when I get these heads) it will often prevent the headache developing - sometimes need to take another one the next morning and perhaps some paracetamol at night but they have changed my life!! From experience - if I've left the headache and just eg taken a paracetamol or two in the morning thinking it might not develop into the migraine - it almost always has done by which time the triptans are less effective although I still take them - but sometimes you get a bit of a rebound so it goes into a fourth day. Last time I just took half a tab two mornings running and it really stopped it! Learn to get to know your headaches and their pattern - how they develop and fade and you might be able to do the same. I had the nausea and all of that with the migraines and the horrible persistent needling headache which often ends with intense painful sensitivity on one sdie of my scalp/head. Also light and sound sensitivity. Do consider trips if you think yours might be migraines. I can't believe these were not suggested to me by the docs years ago as I have mentioned my headaches on several occasions over the years. Ibuprofen gives me horrible nausea so can't really take those.
I hope this helps someone get relief from these beasts!
Hurdity x
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Thanks Hurdity, I'll mention it to my dr, but I don't think he thinks they are real migraines. They feel like sinus headaches. My sinuses have been investigated, no problems there. The headaches are always at the back of my eyes, sometimes local to one but more often across both. They last a long time, days on end. I also often have accompanying stomach issues, light doesn't make them worse but noise does and movement. Had been less cyclic since starting HRT and less severe, but seemed to have ramped up recenly. I also occasionally get visual migraines, (aura without the accompanying headache or very mild headache). Luckily not too ofetn as although not painful, they are really disconcerting.
Yes Mogster, I am in Shropshire, managed to go for a quick walk around the block but its getting pretty stormy here now.
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Hi Hurdity
Thank you for stopping by and for your kind suggestions. Triptans had come up on my preventative search, and I am going to talk to my doctor about this when I see him next. I had already been prescribed (but not taken) propanolol beta blocker but with an already low blood pressure I was not happy to take something which could slow me down even more! Do the triptans knock you out? I run my own business so I need my wits about me!
I have identified that they tend to appear either in the lead up to a period or in the pill free week whilst on HRT. I had a couple of months last autumn where I had a break from HRT and they were still present. I have been keeping a diary since last July. I've just read it all again and my last period on my own before this one was August, so if this was definitely a home-grown one then 6 months ago ??? I expect I am very late peri now at 48 and a half.
I am interested to find out about the triptans as it sounds like they have been very effective for you, although like SL I am not sure if they are true migraines x
SL we are very similar with our eye pain. I have had my eyes checked on a number of occasions but I was diagnosed in late October with narrow angle glaucoma (caused by a build up of pressure in the eye). I even put myself through a private procedure on it in the hope that it would solve my headache issue, but sadly it didn't. I've also seen an osteopath in case it was a neck problem, several "Death Becomes Her" sessions and I know now that I have to watch my posture.
You'll be pleased to know that 2 x dispersable aspirin did the trick pretty quickly today :)
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Hi all
I also take zolmatriptan which is the same family as sumatriptan. Like Hurdity I find these really good but need to take early on or it may not be as effective. Mogster I was also prescribed propanalol but like you could not bring myself to take them. I find when I take the triptan I do feel a bit drowsy but not knock you out drowsy iyswm.
Regarding the hrt Mogster I had the coil fitted 18 months ago to take oestrogen along side. I tried a patch which gave me a migraine,horrendous dizziness,breathing difficulties and I generally felt awful on those. So I then tried oestrogel for 3 months which was even worse! I just felt so ill had dark thoughts and again really unwell so last February I stopped that and haven't taken any since. I thought I would feel awful after weaning off but the last year I've not been too bad other than these headaches,hot flushes and insomnia. Hrt can be really helpful to a lot of women but unfortunately not for me.
Hope you are headache free as I have been today thankgod! I'm sure when I'm back to work Monday bang I?ll get one🙄xx
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Hi Catlover!
Interesting about the triptans, thank you for your input there. I do know what you mean about not being completely zonked out by them. Definitely worth a chat with the doctor about it when I go. You sound very similar to me in your experience regarding the patch, literally straight away I felt wired, anxious and jittery, I managed a week before cutting them in half but I had to go back up to full strength again when I started utro as it just floored me. I've had more headaches this month than any other but obviously in peri it's much harder to work out why you're getting them, when your own cycle is mucking about as well.
Do you mean you also had your Mirena coil taken out?
Ladies if you have ever had any success with acupressure then I just saw this (and bought) a gizmo called Aculief. I'm pretty sure that you might get the same results from a clothes peg but clearly a bit of a talking point at work haha. It's a little gadget that you slide on to your hand between thumb and forefinger, applying pressure to a particular point that brings headache/migraine relief. I will report back :) You can just press on it with your opposite hand of course, if you want to see if it works for you at home next time.
Regarding headache free yesterday, sadly not, ended up with 2 more paracetamol at around 5.30 pm and then yesterday evening I flaked out, slept through till 5.30 this morning. (I have cats and this is a good lie-in!! ;D). I'm sure you can relate x
Stay safe everyone, this storm is still really strong this morning and those in the west country now have red weather warnings in place. No walking out today!!
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Just to say re the triptans that they have the exact opposite effect on me. My migraines start with intense pressure - never had aura - mine are classic migraines, and foggy head, and progress to exhaustion etc. The most amazing thing about taking the triptans if I feel like this in the morning (after a restless night knowing one is probably coming on) - and I take one, is that my head completely CLEARS and I feel alert and awake and normal. I think they are fantastic! Like I said I have to be careful to take them very sparingly - not really as a preventative in the sense that you don't take them all the time. However I think I said if I take them daily during a migraine (just one first thing in the morning) I tend to get a rebound extra day when my head feels more pressure so it's a matter of tweaking....
I'm not sure what a real migraine is - like I said mine are classic ( which I had never heard of until doc told me my headaches that I'd had for years were migraines!). I always thought migraines meant auras, but the signs of light sensitivity and extreme sound aversion when one is coming on and during first part is absolutely characteristic. I also get carb cravings for some reason too.
Sorry your carried on Mogster71 - I hope some of you at least might benefit from asking for the triptans. Thing is my doctor never suggested them when I went about the headaches so I had several more years of putting up with them and trying paracetamol, aspirin etc including during the night as the heads would always wake me - but a friend suggested these so the doc prescribed them without hesitation and put them on repeat!
Also I seem to have a problem with my neck too - doing sit-ups and Pilates etc now brings them on so I've stopped doing that and get them less frequently - I get them at other times though when the trips really come in handy :)
Hope everyone is headache free today.
Hurdity x
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Hi all, Unfortunately my headache has continued, pills have taken the edge off but it's still there. Ive got a drs appointment on Wednesday so am defintely going to ask about the triptans, thanks again Hurdity. My dr thinks my headaches may be aggravated by neck issues. I spend hours on end at a desk (I'm a mature student who has to work hard to keep up!) so am planning on making a physio / osteopath appointment, though a bit nervous about going as don't have any local recommendations. Worth a try I guess.
The wind is pretty strong here, hoping it improves a bit so I can get out and try and clear my head, though yesterday the movement made it worse. So fed up of it now.
We generally have our bedroom door closed at night as our cat has no sense of the time to get up! Hope the headache clears Mogster and you continue headache free CL.
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Ha ha Mogster I've got four cats and it's like having kids😻they stay downstairs at night or they would all be padding on the bed wanting breakfast😂I love them to bits and wish I could have more but my other half would not have any of it! I'm always threatening to smuggle another one in😀
I have still kept the coil in as the doc said it may help even without oestrogen. I seem to tolerate the progesterone so much better this way than when I was having patches. I was so intolerant to the oestrogen for some reason and when I was on the progesterone patch that made me ill as well. Suppose I'm just not suited to hrt.
Shropshirelass and Mogster hope your headaches ease off today,it's crap when it's never ending🙄I shall look at that Aculief and try it as anything to help with these damn headaches!
Mogster I'm in the West Country and yes the weather is awful though was worse yesterday,fed up with that now as well🌧
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Oh poor you SL...you just feel there's no let up sometimes. Definitely, 100% recommend an osteopath. I am not a gambler but I bet they find something jammed or unbalanced. I was amazed how it made an improvement.
If you're a Facebook user, do you have any local community groups? They are often a good place to ask for local recommendations. If not, I expect you can look on national osteopathy members website, then Google the reviews that way.
Catlover, I always say that my retirement job will be running a 5 star luxury cat hotel ;) I would have a house full too as I adore their quirkiness. (Massive dog fan too, in fact prefer animals to many humans!!)
My little mini-period continues, who knows what that means, could just be me tinkering about. I settled v quickly on femiston and I'm hoping I will again.
Love to you all, if you've not got a wheat bag that's a great thing to try around your shoulders. Mine is lavender-filled so smells amazing too and good for headaches xxx
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I haven't felt so bad for ages. Yesterday along with the pounding headache I started with the most intense nausea, couldn't move all afternoon and evening and spent the time on the sofa watching The chase and movies! I couldn't get up today and stomach has been really rough, a bit improved now and also the nausea isn't so acute but the headache is ongoing. What is going on? I don't know what to do, I just can't function. Have a presentation to prepare for Wednesday morning and I just don't know how I'm going to do it. Sorry for moaning, hope things are ok for you x
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Hi Shropshire Lass, just checking up on you and wondering how you have been? Alas, I haven't been absent due to feeling better, just absent because sick to death of getting nowhere. So, I think last time I mentioned Id started continuous transdermal combined hrt, I was positive at first, but I think it was just my normal hormones going through a good patch (wow a whole 7 days headache free in about 4 months, lucky me). Which does happen occasionally, your own hormones still continue on with transdermal hrt so they aren't over ridden. Well, I think mine need to be over ridden because I feel dreadful. They're still up and down and all over the place causing my usual migraines, migraines with aura and awful sinus headaches in the early hours. Did you know sinus headaches are one of the main types of headaches complained of during menopause. Also most severe sinus headaches (with no underlying sinus issues) are actually migraines?? Anyhoo, going to have to try something different next, not sure what. I could still try OCP because I actually still get a period it just worries me a little because what would be a real drag is to have a stroke and then still get migraines, lol, but then not be able to tell anyone I have a migraine. Eeeek, I know Im being a little dramatic, but I'm perimenopausal so it's my prerogative. Ha! Anyhoo, let me know how you are getting on. Cheers.
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I had a dreadful month, but the last 10 days have been better, not fantastic but nowhere near as bad. I started physio for my neck and I don't know if its a coincidence but my headaches are much better. The physio said my posture was terrible and there were issues with the vertebrates in my neck. For me Ive always had hormonal headaches which were always cyclic so I'm hoping that the more continuous ones are related to my neck. I know I will still have hormonal ones, but being nearly 58 hoping the stability of conti will help.
I hope you get some relief soon Nattles