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[Night_Owl]

Sparkle, are you getting lots of meno symptoms - apart from the migraines - to make you feel that you'd like to try HRT.  If it is possible for you to take it, some low dose estrogen/prog may help your general well being.  I'm on 3/4 of lowest patch strength - Estraderm 25 and 6 weekly progesterone.

That's a good suggestion to email Dr C - and/or maybe then ask GP for a referral for specialist advice regarding possibility of HRT re: endometriosis.  Guess you'll get to find out from there if HRT is / isn't a possibility.

Thanks for asking, I've been migraine free since last week - in the meantime, while I'm researching migraine/homeopathy etc etc, I'm going to ask at GP appt (tomorrow) for a Triptan called Maxalt Melt Wafers - apparently some people use them by breaking into quarters - even at this low dose it can stop the mig in its tracks and not give too much of a zonked out side effect.

Can't imagine that your GP will mind you being proactive, getting advice from Dr C - mine is usually receptive to suggestions that I've researched.


J x

[Night_Owl]

Sparkle, you're feeling a bit better, that's good.  I so know what you mean about going round in circles, can relate to that.  Hopefully you'll enjoy more good days, headache free as your hormones settle.   

Wishing you well.

J x

[Night_Owl]

Fellow migraneurs - just bringing this thread back to life with this article:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3410299/Why-menopause-bring-migraine-misery-women-Hormone-changes-trigger-crippling-headaches-10-DAYS-month.html#comments

From the article:

"Simple treatments which adjust hormone levels - including oral contraceptives - could easily solve the problem, the researchers said."

Yeh right.  Sadly it's not always that simple, however for some women, it can be - this posted comment is informative:

"I started getting migraines when my oestrogen levels dropped. I started using the oestrogen gel and they went away completely. I saw a hormone specialist and a migraine specialist and both agreed that low oestrogen levels are the only cause of my migraines and I will have to use the gel for life. I am happy to take the very small risks because the health benefits I get are so enormous. I recommend the gel, it really is life changing."

***************************************

Ladies, how are you coping - improvements / worse? 

Mine seem to be getting worse, so I'm going to try upping my estrogen patch from 25 to 37.5 - still only take Utro 100mg x 12 nights every 6 weeks (due to progesterone intolerance) 6 monthly endo scans - the menopause clinic recommended this recently.  Although I have been on 50, 75 and 100 previously and still had migraines ... so we shall see.  You know how it is, round and round in circles.  Medium / higher dose doesn't necessarily eliminate migraine, some ladies still get them -guess the estrogen replacement is never going to be the same as what the body used to produced naturally.

Still worth a try though!  At different stages / ages of meno, the body may react differently.

Confused, as ever ...


J x

[Night_Owl]

Hi Sparkle, let's hope you've turned a corner and that things settle - more so when your periods stop altogether.  I've probably already said this upthread, most information about meno / migraines says that for the majority, they get better post-meno.

Sorry to hear that you had horrid ones in December, it really is the pits when it ruins occasions.  I too had one on Christmas Day evening and Boxing Day - brought on by drinking ONE small glass of Prosecco - what a lightweight I am!  OH and Dad had to cater for themselves on Boxing Day  - Dad got the hump!  Then a week or so back, another mega mig on top of a horrid cold, that was one of my worst ever, excruciating 3 day-er.

You probably know this - if the pain is so bad A&E can give a Triptan injection - as yet I haven't done this though as I can't bear the thought of waiting for hours when feeling beyond ghastly.

Recently I rang Jan de Vries Healthcare advice line (as recommended on this thread) and they're sending me some information about a homeopathic remedy for £15 - I may give it a try.

Also waiting for a referral to Kings College Hospital Neurology/Migraine Clinic.  I have been seen before at another hospital however this clinic is more migraine specific. 

Hope you keep well, S.

J x
 

[CLKD]

I simply wouldn't cope 

[Night_Owl]

CLKD, truth is, I don't cope at all, I'm a total wreck when having a migraine attack and OH has to help me, it's 100% debilitating.  On top of hideous meno, the migraine has totally ruined me - a great fear is being like my dear departed Mum and suffering as she did with migraine into my very old age, eurgghhhh!

J x

[CLKD]

 

[Night_Owl]

Sparkle, I'll post about the outcome of visit to Kings - apparently the wait time for an appointment is about 3 months.  Migraine Action adviser said it's important to get a diagnosis of the actual type of migraine (mine have changed a lot over the years and from when I was a child/teen).  Think I would like to try the occipital nerve block injection (in the neck).

Poor Mum, yeh I feel so sad for her, she had so many serious health issues and then migraine on top of everything to bring her down further.  Mum's migs started in her late 50s and were of a different type to mine - they weren't as violent or long lasting. She only ever took paracetamol as she was on so many other types of strong medication.  We both had/have one similarity - very droopy right eye during an attack.  I remember she had one a few weeks before she passed away (at age 83), breaks my heart how much she suffered.

Sorry for the depressing post.

I'm never touching alcohol of any description again - gutted as I absolutely love a glass of fizz.  hey ho. argggggggggh!!!!

Keep well!

J x

[Night_Owl]

Yep, such a waste of life - days completely lost, weeping in agony with the curtains closed - then 'the hangover' days and struggle to recover - and often it happens on special occasions to spoil things for you and everybody else - and as discussed upthread, that awful feeling of lack of control, hopelessness.

Think there's a possibility I may have inherited the gene from Dad's side too as he suffered terribly with neck knots/headaches/vomiting when younger, although never diagnosed.

Thinking about having a daith piercing on the right ear or both maybe.  Have you heard of this, Sparkle.  Apparently some people have reported success with it or reductions in length of time / pain.

J x

[coldethyl]

You both have my deepest sympathy - I didn't know that what I suffered was migraines until I was pregnant and I went from just the nausea and headache of my teens and early twenties to migraine with aura. Thought I was having a stroke on several occasions and it was a few years post pregnancy before they abated and mostly went back to ones without aura. As I've hit peri the aura has started up again - seems to run in the family as mum has been diagnosed with opthalmic migraine and son had one at school in his sixth form when he went blind temporarily in one eye. As you say it's not only the debilitating nature of the attack itself, but the wondering if it's going to come on, and the washed out feeling afterwards. I've never found anything that helps other than a warm bath and giving into it and trying to sleep it off. I'm just glad I no longer vomit with them. X

[Night_Owl]

Coldethyl, sorry to read that you're another sufferer of this dreadful affliction, it really is the pits.  Do you ever take Triptan at the start of one - I find sometimes it works, other times not, I only take a half to start with though as it knocks me sideways.

Sparkle, I've got an appointment tomorrow at Kings College Neurology / Headache Services - it must be a cancellation, I rang to say I had been waiting for some time (GP had not attached a letter so the referral was not processed)  -  then I received the appointment promptly - so maybe I'll get a diagnosis of the type of migraine.

Migraine Action told me about this specialist, Professor Anne MacGregory who specialises in hormonal migraine - the website has some good information, including a link to a migraine App and some books:

http://www.annemacgregor.com/Anne_MacGregor/Welcome.html

Migraine Action also offer a service whereby you can speak to a Specialist Nurse for £30 I think.

Migraine Trust have just updated their website:

http://www.migrainetrust.org/

I also received the information from Jan de Vries Healthcare about the homeopathic remedy for migraines and headaches - it's called Migraine Echtroplex  imported from Germany, £15.02 for 50ml.  Apparently they've received good feedback from users.  It contains 10 different homeopathic ingredients, one of which is:

Strychnos nux-vomica dil D4 5ml - alleviates headaches, aching muscles, indigestion and vomiting.  Also eases irregular menstruation and associated hormonal upset.

I may try this, just thinking about it.  I could Procrastinate / Dither for England though when deciding what I should do next with both migraine and HRT treatment - and in general!

Guess we can live in hope that the migraines will eventually get less and less ...

Hope you're all keeping well.

J x

[Night_Owl]

Migraine: Menopause and Midlife

http://www.migrainetrust.org/about-migraine/trigger-factors/menopause-and-midlife/