Migraine Question

I know at least three people who can not take the birth control pill because it gives them unbearable migraines. Try and find another birth control method and see if they don't go away. My sister, my mother and a friend of mine all can not take the pill ever again due to migraines. And there are countless other women out there who can't take the pill for this reason. It is a well-known fact that the pill, no matter what frequency, dosage, etc., causes migraines. Also, try Excedrin for Migraine for the pain and taking regular calcium-magnesium tablets to help stave off the migraines, but I really think you should drop the pill.

You have a hormone imbalance. Most likely, you have one or more of these as high: cortisol/prolactin/aldosterone/estrogen.

Hormones control a major amount of body functions, so much so, that people with low hormones( like addison's disease), can go into shock and die.

There are a handful of reasons for high hormones, a leading one is a tumor somewhere in the endocrine system/glands. Thsi causes the adrenals to pump out extra hormones.

Cortisol is the main hormone. It controls blood sugar, sleep patterns, immune system, stomach acid levels and mineral absorption. Also the health of the heart and kidneys, and your electrolytes.

High cortisol causes high blood sugar (diabetes,,ie: sugar cravings) ,extreme fatigue, a desire to sleep and nap during the day but it is unrefreshed...inability to sleep well or get to sleep at night....fretful dreams, night sweats, low magnesium (which causes migraines and PMS) Low potassium (with can cause high blood pressure, tingling extremities, muscle fatigue, nerve issues, )calcium and phosphorus deregulation which causes osteoporosis/osteopenia, blood clots and thick blood, broken cappilaries because of copper and zinc deregulation,breathing problems,anger issues, bad breath, brusing, stretch marks, dry skin, skin lesions and skin issues of all kinds, the immune system is suppressed (hence your low running fever). Eventually after many years in this state, you can get heart disease and valve failure, kidney disease, kidney stones,strokes, high blood pressure, inflammation, depression, thyroid issues, fungal infections, impotent/lack of sex drive due to low testosterone, higher estrogen, dizzyness/virtigo, throat clearing/phlem, high cellular sodium (swelling) ,ulcers, gerd, heartburn,alkalosis,shingles,cataracts and glaucoma, cancer.

Most doctors would not know how to look for these issues.They have been trained to treat symptoms not look for the root cause. Migraines are a symptom, the root cause is low magnesium from probably high cortisol/aldosterone. You need hormone testing: SALIVA cortisol test, aldosterone/renin blood test, estradiol, testosterone/growth hormones, DHEA, and probably more. These are not included on a blood panel. You need to ask for them specifically. Also ask for the diabetes test, A1c.
I will bet that you would show up as low vit D on your blood test also. But in general most people come out with flying colors on a blood test and can't understand why it looks so normal when they feel so crappy.Because basic CBC (blood panels) dont test hormones. It all comes down to a dysfunction with the HPA axis. Even endocrinologists that are suppose to specialists in this feild couldnt pour piss out of a boot. Look up cushings syndrome and conns syndrome.Do a search on 'magnesium's role in migraines and blood sugar'.

You can probably do well with 1500 - 2500 mg of magnesium daily , some Taurine, much less salt, much more potassium foods, (potato, nanas, etc)plus K-dur slow release potassium, Some b complex liquid under the tounge, Lugols iodine drops in water 6 a day, ...all this may help with the headaches.

If u cant get the doctor to do homrone testing (common), you can go to canaryclub.org and order a saliva cortisol panel.They are about 120 bucks. Put your samples in the freezer until you send them, mail back overnight air, and they will send you results.

Gail...12 yr medical researcher w/focus on endocrine disorders.

My son and I have been plagued by migraines. My daughter, thankfully, has never had them.

For us, fatigue is not a symptom other than when a full on migraine hits, we have to be in a dark room with no noise. Often, the migraines result in vomitting.

The best thing for you to do is keep a journal of what you eat and when so that you can possibly learn your "triggers". That will help your doctor figure out if that is a component.

Your headaches could also be caused by a fluctuation in your hormone levels. You may need to try a change in your birth control.

Fatigue could be a side effect of your headaches and not vice versa.

Like I said, start a journal. What time you go to sleep, what time you wake up. What time you eat, what you eat, and how much. Just write it all down.
You would be surprised how many things can trigger headaches. For me, hours under flourescent lights at work are a trigger so I am allowed to dim those directly in my area.

I did know a woman who claimed to have silent migraines, but it was diagnosed by her eye doctor due to visual problems.

Keep a journal. Make an eye appointment. Have info for your doctor to go on.

Best wishes.

I too have migraines, chronic migraines, up to 4 times a week. Kudos to you for not being suckered into the "it's all in your head" mentality. I got that from many doctors, all of them male, before I was finally diagnosed with migraines.

Migaines are very real, and can be set off by anything. While mine don't start off with fatigue or a fever like yours do, it's possible what you are experiencing is an "aura" An aura is a sensation of sort that migraine sufferers get anywhere from a few minutes to a day before a migraine hits. I often--not always--get an aura of sparkly lights in my peripheral vision about 20 minutes before mine start--just enough time to take my medicine and to get to a safe place to lie down.

It took me awhile for me to make the connection between the aura and migraine because I was a teen when they started, and I had never been through something like that before. Finally, when I saw a neurologist, he made the connection and told me what was going on. Now, the aura is gone as soon as the pain hits, so not very long.

Be sure to document everything so you have it all in writing before you go to the doctor. I've found this very helpful, otherwise I forget the questions I want to ask and the thing I want to talk about.

You can PM me if you want to talk further about this...I'd be happy to talk if would help you!

Good luck.

ETA: The suggestions that Shane made are good ideas. I forgot to mention to do a food journal because there are foods that can cause migraines. I have to stay away from soy sauce, blue cheese and red wine for this very reason.

Also want to thank Gail...that is GREAT insight for me as well as I suffer bad headaches myself and did when I was off my birth control pill during those 7 day water pills.

Something to also consider....high blood pressure. I realized most if not ALL my headaches were due to my high blood pressure i have had since 19 or earlier. I just associated it with my birth control i was on. Now that I am fully aware of my symptoms of when my blood pressure is through the roof, I know what to look for and solve the problem, well not completely.

With Gail's information she gave to you has given me a new direction to go in to help me solve my problem (hopefully) where I do not have to take blood pressure pills. As I do not believe in taking pills to solve the problem. Need a solution to find the root of it, as Gail stated. Doctors are always quick to prescribe pills! No thanks.

Do a process of elimination and do not take NO for an answer. Demand more results if you are not satisfied and avoid having to take more pills, as they cause other problems then solve the one you have.

Good luck!

Hi B.,
I have several friends that used to get headaches a lot. They are caused for many reasons. I am glad you are going to a doctor to make sure there is nothing serious before you go in another direction. They can be triggered by toxins in your system, dehydration, poor diet, not enough sleep, or protein or even from not enough support from your pillow or not enough nutrition and or out of adjustment. When your body is balanced the symptoms go away.

If you would like some tips that I share with others that have the same symptoms email me and I will help you find a natural solution.

Happy Holidays,

N. Marie
____@____.com

I used to get migraines monthly. Mine were tied to hormones...took me awhile to figure that out until I started tracking on a calendar. They'd last for 7 days. I had no visible triggers (auras, sleepiness, blurred vision...) you're lucky that you seem to have discovered yours coming on.

2 things:
1. Try aspirin to treat it, rather than motrin or tylenol. Aspirin is anti-inflammatory, and many migraine meds have it as a central component.

2. Consider changing your pill. For me, moving to a low dose pill made them disappear almost completely. Your body chemistry naturally changes every 3-4 yrs, and the hormones you take will affect you differently every time.

I get hormonal migraines and had to go off the pill completely. I also want to add my normal doctor and OBGYN was not very helpful in the area of my migraines. They are not bad doctors but this is not there area of expertise. You are best of to go and see a neurologist as they are experts who for you particular symptom will know where to go looking for the most likely culprit may it be a hormone imbalance or a magnesium deficiency etc. I am now on a daily regiment of increased calcium, magnesium as well as migraine prevention medication. It has helped tremendously. Good luck.

I get menstrual migraines 2 days before my period and then 5 days after. My doctor said that the 5 days after is because my estrogen levels are slow to rise. I was taking excedrin menstrual complete which made all pain go away but they took excedrin off the market due to a recall. The only other thing that helps is Coke. Before my migraines start, my head feels really funny but I couldn't describe that feeling. I also had a doctor say to try Ibuprofen every 6 hours 2 days before my period and then do every 4 while on it till I was in the clear. I was put on Topamax but had a lot of pain for most of the month and by the time i felt completly back to normal, it ws time to start my period again so I stopped taking it. I've tried playing Pac man in my head to take the pain away and it used to work but now does not.
MSG or Natural Flavoring in foods causes my husband to get migraines to the point that he usually vomits.
Keep a food journal like the other ladies stated and see what happens. Don't listen to the doctors who say its all in your head.

I've had migraine disorder ever since I was a child, and this does sound like it could be migraines. I would meet with a Neurologist.

Another alternative is acupuncture. It has been a blessing for the headaches that used to hit me monthly.

I get menstrual migraines, so the fatigue, irritability, and cravings would most likely be caused by premenstrual symptoms and not the headache. If I wake up with a headache and it's near or during my period, I know it's a migraine and will only get worse if I don't treat it right away. I try Advil first and if that doesn't take care of it I go for something stronger. Usually I take left-over Hydrocodone. That often works, and I can avoid a horrible migraine most of the time now. If I ignore my symptoms and forget that it's not a normal tension headache or from forgetting to eat or drink enough water, I get the nausea and horrendous pain from the migraine. After a bad migraine I feel very fatigued, my mind is fuzzy and my upper body is weak. In fact I have often worried that I've just had a stroke. I know I haven't, but it sure is a scary feeling when you are weak and you know you just had so much pain and pressure in your head.

It's nice to finally know what causes mine now and that I just have to treat them early with drugs rather than worrying about food triggers, etc. Since mine are hormonal, not much I can do about that. Good luck! Migraines can be debilitating.

In addition to getting your hormones checked and in balance you should consider Chiropractic care. It has tremendous success with eliminating Migraine headaches.