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Welcome to the Migraine Causes and Hormonal Changes in Women Forum

Looking forward to learning more tips on dealing with hormonal migraines!

My migraines began in peri-menpause and continue post-menopause. Anyone else have any experience with like that?

my migraine always rears its ugly head when i have my period….i am sensitive to sound (jump at the least noise) weakness down left side of my body, twitching body, ear pain, pressure in eye…

Hi ALl!! I’m new here, so Hi!! I’ve had migraines since I was six after a motor vehicle accident: pedestrian verses school bus. My little 6 yr old body was the pedestrian & it happened on Fri 13th! I had a few headaches after that in my teens & twenties but then NOTHING for 20 yrs until…perimenopause!!!! Now I have a migraine of varying intensity everyday!! I know it’s the hormonal changes in my body but 3 doctors have told me no. HELP! I need a better treatment plan for during a flare up when my usual standby’s don’t work. Sandy

Sandy, are you seeing a headache specialist for your Migraines?

I don’t know if this is the right category for this but… I am now 32 and have had migraines since the age of 8 and endometriosis since the age of 15 (fun combo!) Anyways the endometriosis has gotten really bad and after 4 laprascopic surgeries over 6 years the doctors are really pushing the hormonal drug lupron (although my neurologist has not been included in this discussion yet). I am terrified to go this route since I finally have a good migraine control plan (lamictal, beta-blocker & vitamin D & trigger avoidance). Has anyone ever taken Lupron? How did it impact your migraine disease? Complicating matters is the fact that I have angina and cannot take triptans! Any input is GREATLY appreciated!!!

Jamie

Jamie, Lupron is similar to a drug that I took called Zoladex (Goserelin). Lupron sadly, has more side effects, so you might ask about Zoladex as an option. These drugs allow you to “try before you buy” a hysterectomy. In your case they have not yet told you this is something you need to consider, so that is a good thing. It will deplete your body of reproductive hormones rather quickly, so if you’re going to have trouble with it, you’ll know fairly soon. The trouble with these drugs is that you’re stuck with them for at least a few weeks once you take them. That said, add back hormones can sometimes alleviate Migraine issues. This can sometimes be a good thing, sometimes not. If your Migraine trouble is because of fluctuating hormones, this will allow you to eliminate fluctuations, especially if your add back is in the form of a patch. If your Migraine issues are a result of low estrogen, then you might be in trouble. If they are a result of high estrogen, then you might be pretty well off. You just won’t know until you try it.

Like you, I can’t take DHE or Triptans, so good management for me is vital. I also had a precanerous condition as well as endometriosis and PCOS, so needed to take things very seriously.

For me, the Zoladex showed me that low estrogen was a big issue. I added back HRT and did a little better, but could never add back enough to make me feel good due to the other issues. I ended up w/ surgery anyway, but at least I knew up front what I needed and that I had tried everything I possibly could.

Eventually the hrt caused the Migraines (estrogen receptor downregulation) and now I can’t have any hrt. I’m only 47, post menopause for multiple years and suffering complications as a result of hormone depletions. The endometriosis is gone, but I’ve exchanged other trouble for it instead.

I don’t know how old you are, but they were pushing for surgery for my endometriosis from the time I was 20. I had a few before relenting to the zoladex and hysterectomy and was glad I held back for as long as possible. For me, this was the right route. An occasional endometrial ablation and removal of scar tissue and cysts was easy compared to being without hormones… for me. This is of course completely retrospective.

Have you considered trying Depo-Provera? This can also be very helpful for both endometriosis as well as Migraine for some patients and less harmful to the body. It too is reversible. Just a thought…

Thank you Ellen for your quick response! I have not heard about Zoladex…I will add that to my list of things to ask about.

I will be 33 this fall. (they have talked about a hysterectomy after 35, but I am not ready to go there yet unless I really have to).

I was actually on depo-provera for years prior to my first surgery. My Ob/Gyn was insistant my symptoms were not due to endometriosis because the depo should have been controlling it. Finally when everything else failed she did the laproscopy and was very surprised to see that much endo in someone that young (I was 24. Oopps! I was wrong I have had 4 laps in 9 years now..not 6). It is believed that the endo was non-responsive to the depo-provera.

I did have a slight increase in headaches with the depo-provera…and I had worse auras while I was on it.

I am thinking my migraines are more the result of low estrogen…since while I was pregnant I did not have even ONE. However, I had a lot of other issues during my pregnancy due to extremely high hormone levels.

Thank you for your input…I have more to consider now.

You’re welcome Jamie I have had a run of doctor trouble in my life, but I really lucked out with an incredible GYN who specializes in endometriosis and was very well known in his field of expertise. He sits, listens and talks and thinks outside of the box. If you come up with other questions, just ask…

I started having migraines during my childbearing years. I would always a migraine at the end of my period most every time it would be the last day of my period. Due to excessive bleeding and after exhausting all other measures, I had to have a hysterectomy when I was 40. I did keep my ovaries. Immediately following my hysterectomy I began having 2-3 migraines a week. After about 6 mos when it seemed my hormones had settled from the surgery – I fell back in to my old pattern of once a month migraines. Therefore, even though I do not have a “period” anymore I am assuming because I have my ovaries and I am still ovulating that my migraines are still hormone related. I have Raynaud’s so I can no longer take the triptans. This so disappointing because Maxalt worked perfectly before my surgery now when I take it it causes severe chest pain. I take fiorecet once a month when I get the migraine but it really does not stop the migraine or migraine headache it just sedates me. Anti inflammotories do seem to work on some level. Any ideas or suggestions?

June, I don’t see anything here mentioned about prevention – are you seeing a headache specialist who can help you work with preventative medications or other tricks to help you get better management of your Migraines? For example, some of the things I’ve written about earlier in this thread may be helpful for you and your doctor to consider and discuss.

The fact is, you still have your ovaries and they are producing the hormones that are potentially triggering your attacks. I’m not saying to get rid of your ovaries – frankly, that rarely is effective and often is destructive. It may be that something simple as controlling your cycle may be enough to cut your attacks down to one every 4 months or so. This may require the guidance of a headache literate GYN.

Your hormones cycle throughout the day and the month. The fact that you are getting them as your body prepares to cycle again is a clue to your doctors what might be triggering them. Looking at your hormones when you are at that point in your cycle, and comparing them to your levels when you are Migraine free may be a good place to start.

I use to have Epilepsy. When I had them I had an aura in my stomach. I had brain surgery in February 2000. After my brain surgery it flip flopped to menstrual cramps. I went 6 years with no other head issue. Then in February 2006 I had a 5 day migraine right after I finished my period. I went for 2 years with just a major headache, no other symptoms. Then in September 2008 I litterly got sick to my stomach from the migraine. Ever since then I feel sick to my stomach from the migraine. I get migraines every single month around my period time.

Sarah, because Migraine is actually a neurological disease it can result in strange symptoms that can seem to be in unrelated parts of the body. Gastric stasis, nausea and vomiting is a frequent part of this process.

It does seem like it is very possible that a change in estrogen or progesterone levels may be a big trigger for you. Have you discussed these issues with your gynecologist? There may be a way to stabilize those levels enough to minimize it’s triggering effects. Because of the timing you describe, I would guess that it may be that your actual trigger is an increase in estrogen which begins to climb after your period. It might be that a blocker may be helpful IF the attacks are severe enough to warrant this type of fairly extreme treatment. It is good to remember too that blocking your hormones for a month may even help your doctor diagnose your trigger. This can sometimes be helpful because your gynecologist may have other ideas once he can identify the actual problem.

Have you talked to your doctors about this yet? Do you think this information may be helpful to begin a conversation with them?

I sometimes get the migraines right before my period and during also, but most of the I get the migraines right afterwards. I kind of talked with my gynecologist, but not thoroughly. Since I prefer female doctor I think I can talk to her about my migraines.