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[Sammas]

Thanks for the intetesting comments My health food shop mentioned having 30ml nano magnesium water each fay A .months supply is above £50 though

[Nellendra]

Hi all
re: the below info
I read all this with great interest as I have been suffering with headaches since Jan when my peri symptoms skyrocketed to the MAX! I have basically had a headache since then, always there, and sometimes its much worse. Was on evorel sequi, that didn't suit me, tried femoston 1/10 and when on the progesterone bit I was really poorly - off sick from work poorly and in bed all day and night. I am about to start oestrogel and utogestran on Friday and praying it works. 
has anyone had any experience of migraine/headache improvement from this type of progesterone? (is it synthetic?)
I'll be on 2 pumps of gel per day and 200mg for 12 days of utogestran.
I do have a head mri booked for tomorrow due to the headaches.

thanks ladies. xxx
 






Re: headaches&migraine s

« Reply #3 on: April 20, 2016, 06:27:39 PM »

ReplyQuote



Sammas, it took me a long time to work out why I suddenly started getting silent migraines (migraine aura without headache) but I got there in the end.

Basically, synthetic progesterone and low oestrogen are the cause in my case.  During my reproductive years, I never had migraines (despite being on the pill for years) but as soon as my hormone levels starting to drop, the migraines started.  When the first migraine struck, I had a Mirena coil for contraception purposes and while I was still having periods, they always came a few days before the period started and when my oestrogen was low.  Once the periods stopped, they were random.  I consulted migraine specialist Professor MacGregor and hormone specialist Professor John Studd and apparently while I was reproductive, my own hormones overrode the synthetic ones hence the absence of migraines but once my hormone levels dropped, the synthetic ones become dominant and caused the migraines.  Synthetic progesterone changes the way the brain receptors work. 

Therefore, I have to keep my oestrogen levels fairly high, avoid synthetic progesterone completely and seriously limit the amount of Utrogestan (micronised progesterone) that I take and not allow it to become dominant. 

[Mary G]

Nellendra, that is my post that you quoted!

Oestrogel/Utrogestan (micronised NOT synthetic progesterone) is the best option if you suffer with migraines and this is the regime I use.  I use 2 pumps of Oestrogel everyday, a small bead of testosterone everyday and I use only 7 x 100mg (vaginally) every 5 weeks.  This regime works very well for me and better than anything else I have tried by a very long way. 

I would strongly urge you not to use Utrogestan orally unless you absolutely cannot avoid it because it does mean more side effects.  Utrogestan is far more effective when used vaginally and you should get very good clearance/thinning - make sure you place the capsule next to the cervix.  If you take it orally, 50% can get lost in your digestive system so it is not as effective.

I would not be able to take anything like the amount of Utrogestan that you have been prescribed and if I did, I would have guaranteed migraines.  I was prescribed 100mg Utrogestan for 7 days each month but even that was too much so now I stretch the cycle to 5 weeks.  I do have regular scans to check the womb lining and even though I haven't taken anything like as much Utrogestan as I should, my lining is a regularly 2mm post bleed.

If it would help, you might want to tell you doctor about my case and how I have to seriously limit the amount of Utrogestan I take because it causes migraines in high doses.  You could also mention the point about using it vaginally because it works better and you can take a lower dose and get the same result.

If you are a migraine sufferer, you should be able to take the lower dose of Utrogestan and have regular scans on the NHS.

One other thought, I would try to have a good long run on the Oestrogel only to get the feelgood factor back and to see how your migraines improve.  That way, you will know much impact the Utrogestan has on your migraines. 

Good luck and please come back if you have more questions.

[Michelle46]

Hi Mary
That was a very interesting post. I use the gel and utrogestan tablets. I have just changed to using the tablets vaginally. I felt very sick and headachy(I assume this is the utrogestan) My doctor told me to take utrogestan for 12 to 14 days of the month. It's trial and error really. I am currently using just under 2 pumps of gel. I still feel slightly wired inside. I'm wondering if it's enough estriogel? When it's the days of not taking the utrogestan do you use exactly the same amount of gel? My doctor isn't too helpful really. I've changed from evorel patches to the gel 7 weeks ago. I don't think the patches did much x

[Mary G]

Michelle46, if you feel wired, try splitting the Oestrogel dose to 1 pump every 12 hours.  This also helps to keep your oestrogen levels stable.

Some women increase their gel dose to 3 pumps while on the Utrogestan phase so that might help but I don't bother because I take so little Utrogestan, I doubt it would make much difference.

It might take you a while to find the right dose of each product but keep persevering, you will get there in the end.  Do you feel better overall since switching to the gel?  It sounds like you had the same problem as me with the patches.

[Michelle46]

Yes I'm sure there is an improvement. The patches didn't do much really. When I upped to a bigger patch it slightly started lifting on the corners. I've just got to get the balance right now. Do you use the gel 12 hours apart? X

[Mary G]

Yes, I use 1 pump at night on my upper, outer arms and shoulders and the other 12 hours later on my inner thighs which I have found helps the slight VA/dryness problem I had - this is still in the experimental stage but so far, it is working very well. 

[Hurdity]

It's what sent me running to the GP in December Hurdity as an emergency!  It was very frightening - to be honest I thought I was on the verge of a stroke.  It's not happened since thank goodness, in fact the migraines have calmed down, the last one being over Christmas which was a bit unfortunate!  The last two periods I've had a headache but not what I would call a full blown migraine, sort of back to what I've always had pre-menstrually although annoyingly it seems to start up again at the end of a period now, not just the build-up to it.  Thank you!  Do let us know how you get on at the GP, it will be interesting to hear what he/she says.

S x

As this thread has been revived I see I didn't respond to you sparkle!

In fact my GP just said - my headaches sound like migraines and as I've been having them for some time then I don't need to worry. It's the first time I've had a migraine diagnosis - and I've been getting them for 10 years or more - but have mentioned headaches in the past to doctors who have just said they are common around menopause and post-menopause - and variously have been told they have been caused by low oestrogen or low testosterone - since I'm on HRT and also take testosterone I have no idea why I get them and the doctors aren't much help either. Fortunately the actual headache part is not very severe - just persistent and it's the other symptoms that interfere with normal life to some extent as the headaches usually last for around 3 days when I get them.

Never had any tests suggested....

So all in all no change - but probably nothing to worry about!

Hurdity x

[Annidav]

morning all - I have one of these horrible headaches again - behind my left eye; had it since yesterday morning; been taking 400mg Ibruprofen but it just won't shift - having to work and use laptop so obviously that isn't helping - does anyone take anything different?
 

[bramble]

I found the best thing was co-codamol 30/500, dissolvable. Chemist only sells 8/500 so 30/500 prescription only. But you normally get 100 so worth it.