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