Premenstrual Headaches

Before I got pregnant (I am currently 6 months along), almost every month I was hit with blinding migraines that coincided with my period. About 3-4 days before my cycle started, and sometimes I couldn't even get out of bed my head hurt so badly. My doctor told me I could go onto anti-depressants to regulate my hormones, but I didn't want to do that, so would just suffer through. The other option is to change your birth control pill if you are taking one. That will also affect your hormone levels. If that doesn't sound appealing to you either, then unfortunately there is nothing you can do except rest. Real easy to say, right?

apparently there is a term for this 'catamenial migraine' or 'premenstral headache / migraine'. my husband treats this kind of problem with progesterone, and or magnesium / b-6 / vit D/ & evening primrose oil. use the progesterone for two weeks before your cycle, one pump before bed. you could also try to find a doctor or PA or ANP that has had hormone training, or a IFM doctor that has had hormone training. As far as another pregnancy, progesterone might make you more fertile and ensure against miscarriage if you are low on progesterone. And vitamins are not harmful. I hope that is helpful. good luck!

I get random and premenstrual migraines. What you might want to try, two or three days before your cycle starts, is to take magnesium and vitamin B supplements (one of each pill), each day up to and at the beginning of your cycle. This was recommended to me by my general practioner and my friend's neurologist recommended the same thing to her. I'm sorry you have the headaches - I can totally understand how disabling they can be!

I get this type of headache a few times a year. They are very PMS in nature but they can be debilitating. I am glad you are going in to see your doctor. I think that is a great place to start. Is there any chance that you have access to a naturopath in your community? I love my naturopathic doctor because she can find solutions for things that will support my whole body. You mentioned you are wanting to get pregnant- so a solution to these headaches that is natural and not harmful to a potential pregnancy seems like the best option. These headaches for me are triggered by hormones but always seem to be tension related. I have found over the years that if I can take some time to rest and really work on relaxation when I have them that they do not last as long. I know this can be easier said than done with small children. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Yes, I get them, too, particularly if the hormones shift quickly. I have found that a bed buddy to the forehead (hot pack filled with rice) helps. Also, drink some milk. I am finding that milk eases the hormone-switch discomfort of my periods. I also have a narcotic painkiller due to some other health problems, which helps some, too. Just so you know, if you are hoping to get pregnant, I also get a massive hormone headache when I get pregnant at first. I can almost tell when the pregnancy hormones switch on. But any medicine you take the first few weeks of pregnancy doesn't really affect the baby at all, because the egg isn't getting nourishment from your blood system, yet. If you are still concerned, but the headaches are grueling, ask your OB for oxycodone. It's a narcotic that is completely safe during pregnancy (the one they always give to pregnant women because it doesn't harm the pregnancy or the fetus). It won't get rid of the headache completely, but it will take the edge off so you can still function. Painkiller or no, the heat pack and milk are still the best things I've found for relief, besides going to bed.

Hi T.! You ought to try something called Luminex...it's
worked great on my PMS and my headaches. Sarah's got more
info for you to read up on it...try
____@____.com
Hope you like the info!
:>) J.

what kind of headaches are they? Where are they located? I've always gotten them each month. Mine start at the back of my neck and wrap around so over my eyes and nose are hurting too. It almost feels like my neck is swollen and the headached can last for days. They are often coupled with nausea.

I get these every month also......MIGRAINES.....sometimes around that time of the month other times after.....Your diet and medication all will help with them. Eating a well balance diet (find out about food trigers) and staying away from stress sometimes do the trick. When that doesn't work get a perscription from the DR. Mine gave me a perscription for percocet (?) but it doesn't always work for me....so when I get those bad ones I usually go to urgent care and they give me a shot of something to help. She has also put me on Prozac.....and said it should help too....so far not much luck....but both of those drugs are safe to take while prego...and breastfeeding (as long as you don't take the percocet allll the time). I hope that helped a little. I feel for ya, headaches are no fun and I also get them every month! Good luck!! :)

I used to get these ALL THE TIME when I was younger before and during my menses. I can't point to a single thing that worked but I did work to identify other triggers such as food which I also craved at this time hard cheeses, red wine and chocolate to name the biggies. I stopped giving in to the cravings and switched up my diet to more organic, less cow's milk(source of hormones!)oh yes and Yoga! I had tons and tons of muscular tension in my spine and I have had 1-2 few in like 8 years. I attribute it to starting down a more naturopathic-type lifestyle but I encourage you to try and journal and identify your triggers it may not just be your menses!

Ive struggled with monthly migraines for about 10 years. Ive tried everything they could give me as far as meds went and most the time they either just barely took the edge off or they made me so violently ill that I forgot about the headache for a while but I still suffer from them every month and about 2 times a year I end up in the hospital for them. Not fun.

Some things that have helped me - avoid caffiene if you can. I cut down on my intake and it took a week of withdrawl headaches but Im not getting the PMS ones at the same intensity as I used to.

I didnt have them until my first born either - I think we are forever changed after having children.

Now all I can do for mine is take 2 tylenol PM once the kids are in bed, let it take the edge off and then it knocks me out into a deep enough sleep that I actually can rest and feel a bit better in the morning.

I believe its definately hormones - just wish I knew what to tell you - because I havent found a solution yet either :(

I get the same thing-headaches really bad and excedrin, Advil doesnt help. its the worst. And i've never really gotten headaches before. My son is three and I am also trying to have another baby. I have thought about going to the doctor for these headaches- but I havent yet. I would be interested to see what your OB/GYN says. Good luck. (-: C.

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T., I would encourage you to find a copy of Dr. Sherrill Sellman's book, Hormone Heresy.
The headaches are something I went through along with extremely heavy bleeding and cramping. Within two weeks of getting on a whole food supplement, I was having normal periods and no more headaches. I would be glad to talk to you about what I did.

Exposure to electro-pollution plays a very big role in hormone imbalances. Cell phones, computers, vacuum cleaners, hair dryers, etc. all give off fields which are alien to our bodies and because we are living in an environment where it is ever increasing with the new technologies we are seeing much more effect on health. Dr. Sellman's book is a great resource and she has another book called What Mother's Must Teach Their Daughters about Breast Cancer, also full of important information. I can send you an article from Total Health magazine written by Dr. Sellman which explains the effects on hormones if you are interested.
In health,
C.
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Does pain medication work for these headaches? My doctor put me on sinus meds and ibuprofin for years for my headaches and they did nothing. Finally, a smarter doctor asked me to try migrain meds and that definatly did the trick. Try to decide where they are located and if it is just one side or the other.

I get the headaches too. I saw my dr and even went as far as an MRI to rule out anything horrible. His end solution. Start taking Advil a day or two before you'll get the headaches and through the time you know you'll have them. Advil takes time to build up in your system so you need to start in advance and take as directed every 4-6 hours without fail. I was told I could take up to 4 tablet at a time, but you better check with your doctor. I didn't have them while I was pregnant (no hormone fluctuations)

You mention that you are contemplating trying to have another child. My question would be, are you currently, or have you in the past few years, been on birth control pills? If so, that can be a fairly serious condition that can cause you to have a stroke, and you need to get off of them and use alternative methods.

If not, it does sound like migraine medications may be your best bet for the headaches, but that may cause problems with pregnancy.

Luminex is a great product, but is NOT to be taken during pregnancy or breast feeding (contains both St. John's Wort and Griffonia seeds). A product by the same company, Pain-A-Trate has been used by many for headaches in a topical manner by applying to the area just behind your ears and slightly lower at the top of the spine. I don't know if that works for hormonally induced headaches.

One bit of good news -- 60-80% of women who experience migraines see relief when they *are* pregnant. (From Timothy R. Smith, MD, RPh. Smith is the director of the Ryan Headache Center in St. Louis, Missouri.)

There's a good article on pregnancy and migraines here: http://headaches.about.com/od/medsarticlesandinfo/a/pregn...

Good luck to you!

Angel :)

I have been dealing with menstrual migrains for over 30 years. In the 90s new drugs were developed that were not pain killers, but, instead worked on the blood vessels (purveyors of migraines). Drugs like Imitrex have helped a lot. You MUST talk to your doctor about this, but I was able to take Immitrex while I was nursing. It IS NOT a hormone, so should not affect your ability to conceive...but PLEASE VERIFY with your doc.
I have found little to prevent these migraines other than a religious adherence to healthy diet (greens, lo-fat, no caffine, limited sugar/chocolate), exercise and sleep -- admittedly not things easily attainable when you've got young children. I am in menopause now and they have reduced but have not disappeared completely.
NOTE: Imitrex is a very expensive drug, so health insurance that covers prescriptions is essential.
Hope this helps.

I would recommend trying acupuncture. I have had two loved ones go to acupuncture for menstrual issues (headaches for one, cramps for the other), and they both had success. It might also be worth it to be seen by a naturopathic doctor. (I see Dr. Tanya Hudson: ###-###-####, ____@____.com ) What I like about both of these approaches is that they will deal with whatever the underlying problem is, not just the symptom. And it won't interfere with your getting pregnant later; in fact, it might help. Good luck to you! I hope your headaches go far, far away. :)

T.,
All I can say is that I have suffered with migraines since 1994 when I got pregnant. They are few and far between but when they hit it's straight to the ER for me and the only thing that kicks them is Morphine and Dilaudid and even then it typically take at least two doses! The meds to control the migraine are VERY STRONG but have a short half life in the body. My doctor knows they are related to my monthly hormone enhancement of a mentral cycle. I recently underwent something they call an endometrial ablation. It helped with the HEAVY flowing and the crazy hormones. I have not had a migraine since December which is when I had the procedure. I feel better, less flow, no anemia and energy that is through the roof! I don't know if any of this will help you but I know what has worked for me in the past. I hope you get relief in the future. J. B