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[CarryWarry]

   Hello all.  I am Mrs Happy!  I have just got back from a lovely hols in the South of France and it was the first holiday I've had in over two years, where I no longer had a daily headache.  I kept thinking 'it'll be back tomorrow' but it is no longer in my head due to Evorel patches and Oestrogen gel (along with the Mirena coil).  I am learning to trust that it won't come back now.  I think it's been about 4 weeks feeling good and the relief is so utterly immense I could cry!  I said to hubby on hols 'it's still gone, I haven't got a headache, this is bloody amazing'.  I feel like somebody has lifted a huge steamroller from my head.  I can't believe how long the journey was to find the right HRT and right balance of HRT but I'm over the moon now.  The patience we have to have while finding the right thing is immense isn't it?  Keep on trying those of you who are still lost, because there will be an answer I promise you.  I have felt so incredibly down at times over the last two years and even 2 neurologists and an ENT specialist NEVER pieced together that my daily headaches were the menopause (due to rock bottom oestrogen).  I am about to write to my specialist to tell her that we have finally found the answer.

It was amazing how quickly the gel kicked in on working - far faster than the patches alone.

I just need the coil to 'settle down' now.  'Settle down settle down, there's nothing to see here'....  I'm still so happy though - being headache free is an utter utter joy.  I will never ever underestimate the way people are thrown into depression with headaches again - the torment is agonising as well as the pain and the life it takes from you.  I will always try and help people with headaches now.

Lorra luv

Happy Carry Warry xx

[SueLW]

What a wonderful post 

I'm so happy for you.  I find headaches terribly debilitating.  But I only get them now and then.  How you coped I can't imagine.

Write to all the doctors you have seen about this and tell them.  They need to know.

What a lovely holiday.  The mirena will settle.  Mine took about 4 months when I had it for BC years ago.

[ali 61]

Thats such good news. I suffer from 2 migraines per week on average, plus the days getting over the migraine. I've had them for nearly 20 years. It destroys your life.
I have just been put on Evorel Conti patches (safer for migraine sufferers) So I'm praying it will help my meno symptoms and not worsen the migraines. So far so good, no increase in migraines and a reduction in hot sweats.
But only on 1/2 a patch at the moment due to horrendous stomach cramps.

But I'm so happy you enjoyed your holiday and can really appreciate how happy you must be feeling.
Brilliant news. x

[paisley]

Carrywarry
I haven't been in for a while but I just wanted to say how happy I am for you to have found the right combination xx

[CLKD]

   long may it continue CarryWarry

[Ladybt28]

CarryWarry - wow I am so pleased for you  - yes persistence pays off but oh the trauma we have to go through! Its really tremendous that feeling when something works - like winning the lottery (not that I have ever won) but you know what I mean!  On the other hand thinking about it - it is pretty sad that we can feel so euphoric about something which should be so simple - like living our daily lives without a headache!   Bet you feel you can take on the world - that's so good 

You have Everol patches and gel?  I'm fairly new here - how did that come about?  I'm still searching for the right combo.

[CarryWarry]

Thanks all.

Sue, yes you are right.  I will also write to the two neurologists I saw at the Nuffield.  One said 'You are a mystery' and the other said 'I would diagnose this as chronic daily headache'.  In hindsight, they should have recognised my age and suggested that perhaps my headaches could relate to the menopause, but this didn't even seem to cross their minds.  I have told a couple of doctors before I went on holiday (had a knee accident) but they never really seem to show any 'lightbulb' moments and indeed, one of them who I have seen latterly and told how well I felt after only 2 weeks of using the gel, barely recognised my comment and she was the one who put me on antibiotics for my sinuses over two years ago (when my headaches started).  The other doctor I also told how well my head was recently was the one who originally said (after I requested HRT over 2 years ago)  'No we can't put you on HRT when you have these headaches'.  Over two years I saw about 6 doctors from my practice and to be honest headaches come in so many shapes and forms I was given EVERYTHING over two years except the very thing I needed.  Thanks for your Mirena comment.  I had it for 17 years before the headaches and it was removed in case it was causing them, so when the new one went in I expected it to settle more quickly as it used to, however, I guess this is a different stage of my life now.  I will remain patient.  Still better than headaches!

Ali - I had a true migraine once during my daily headache period which was so frightening - I really feel for you.  I really do feel Estrogel/Estrodose has been key to my headache relief - I tried patches alone before and they didn't quite cut it, adding the gel is what's done it - although obviously I'm also on a higher oestrogen dose, I do feel that the gel suits my body type well and absorbs quickly.  See how you go on your Evorel Conti because you can add gel to this.  I am on 75mcg Evorel patch and now on 4 pumps of Estrogel (which is a very high dose, but I'm a tall larger lady and my oestrogen levels were crazy low).  Good luck to you trying to shift these ghastly days....

Ladybt28 - I tried different variations of HRT and found that transdermal HRT was best for me after brilliant advice on this site.  Headache sufferers can be helped by patches and gel as tablets (both oestrogen and progesterone) can often worsen headaches.  I won't bore you with my long story - and each of us has completely different needs in medication, but happily I seem to have found the answer after finding this fab site and getting more info than I ever have elsewhere!

Thanks Paisley and CLKD for your kind posts.

Happy Carry Warry x

[CLKD]

 

[Kathleen]

Hello CarryWarry.

Thanks for sharing your good news. You are on a hefty dose of oestrogen which is clearly right for you as it's doing the trick!

When  I asked my consultant about increasing my oestrogen dose  she told me that I couldn't expect to have the level of a twenty one year old and I thought, why not? Mind you I am post meno and nearly 62 so maybe she had point!

I  had daily headaches for six months when my meno journey started and I was convinced they were hormonal so I never had any investigations. I recall it being  tough going and of course I had no idea when they would stop, if ever. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the menopause is a hard row to hoe.

Take care.

K.

[ali 61]

Carry warry
May I just ask what you meant, as I am a bit confused and new to this.
You said I "could add gel to the Evorel patches". But I thought the Evorel Conti already contained both hormones, so why would I need the gel as well?
Thank you.