I've started getting menstrual migraines. They usually start the day my period starts. I'll get them every afternoon for a couple of days. I can treat them with NSAIDS, but find that sleep is the best medicine. My period usually last 4 days.
I've been reading up on these and see that they are due to hormone fluctuations...the estrogen to progesterone ratios basically get messed up.
Before I call my GYN, I figured I'd ask other moms what has worked for them....if you get headaches like mine, what have you done? What did your doctor prescribe?
ETA: I forgot to mention...I don't take or use any hormonal birth control...so that can be ruled out. :-) (Yay, vasectomy!!!)
Thanks!
I have an appointment in a couple of hours...I'll let you all know how it goes! <3
So I went to my appointment and my doctor prescribed me a low-dose hormonal birth control. I've taken it all month and when my next period arrived, I didn't get any headaches.
Until the last two days.
So obviously the drop in hormones during the "sugar pill" week causes the headaches. Luckily I had the other pills she prescribed me...some benzo/tylenol/caffiene pills for the headaches, which dulled the pain a bit.
Sigh.
I take Naproxen in the morning before work, and then come home later and get in my jammies and go to sleep. Sometimes I get my husband to stroke my head. Sometimes I put a cool washcloth on my forehead. I lie down and stay in a darkened room. I seek total silence. I breathe deeply and slowly. I drink a lot of water. I do all of these things.
The only thing that works for my headaches like that is the advil liquid gels. (the generic works also of the same kind) I take one as soon as I feel it coming on. My headache always starts the day before my period. I had breast cancer and went thru surgery, chemo etc so my period is not regular anymore I can go for months without one and then bam slammin headache and period like I just had a baby. lasts for a couple hours and then gone. the headache lasts longer than the period sigh.... but get the advil it works
I have found that getting adjusted by my chiropractor has helped my headaches alot. I used to get a terrible migraine the day before my period would start.
I suffer, have not found anything other than sleep that consistently relieves my PMS migraine
I get "ocular migraines" the week before my period. This is where the vision whites out and then I get a dull headache. I can also get slurred speech and everything.
Nothing is terribly effective, but I usually don't take medications. When I feel it coming on, I run and drink something with lots of caffeine, because this helps to constrict the vessels. I also try to close my eyes for about 15 min. Scary when driving! I have to pull over.
By the way, a GYN won't really be much of an expert on this subject. Where I live, there are "headache" centers which specialize in this type of thing.
I have to sleep it off if i get one. If i have been gettign enough sleep all along it seems to hold them off, but i know if i've been up too late i'll more than likely end up iwth one.
Tylenol never helped, Excedrine does.
Do you think you need to talk to your gyno about early menopause? I don't know just a suggestion.
Yes, I used to have to sleep them off,too.. Then they started happening more and more often as I got older. Now I am on a beta blocker. It has change my life. Very low dosage. Ask your doctor.
Excedrin Migraine (or the store brand of same)! They have saved me many headaches. I have bottles everywhere, purse, home, car. At the start of one, I can take one or two and usually it's gone with 15 minutes. For me, it's my life saver!
I used to get them for 7 full days at a time. Switching to a lower dose pill helped, initially. Then I'd only get them for 2 days at a time.
None of the migraine meds ever helped me, prescription or OTC.
I discovered through a lot of trial/error that my headaches responded best to Aspirin. Plain old aspirin. I'd take 3 at a time, and that usually did the trick.
Aleve works the same for me. It's the anti-inflamatory effect that I need.
And when it's really, really bad, I've got a stash of Vicodin. :)
I have gotten mentrual migraines for years too. I can't sleep though...my head just throbs if I lay down. I take a prescription pain reliever for them and it helps. A hot shower will help sometimes too. I hope you find a cure!!
I have one right now! I typically get them a couple days before my period starts. I just use over the counter stuff and it works most of the time. I do have a prescription for Imetrex but it made me really dizzy so I am trying to stay away from it if I can.
