AAARGH.. hormones

Every few weeks what little life I have comes to a screeching halt and I effectively have to go into hibernation. To make it even worse, my bloomin' period turned up early this time, which I hope isn't going to become a permanent fixture.

Everything I read about hormonal migraines doesn't fit mine. There has been a lot of talk about the sudden drop in oestrogen causing them, but when I look at hormone charts and track when my worst migraines normally fall, it fits more around it being a low amount of progesterone that is the cause, rather than a dip in oestrogen. I can't take hormones though - they send me loopy.

Sick of thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis. Sorry for the ranty rant.

oh love...think we are all a having a tricky time by the sound of it..makes you wonder what weird cosmic joke is happening out there to set us off like this.

Am just coming out of a 3 day hell which literally brought me to my knees..I am have been putting it down to the air pressure going up and down but if I am honest I have been extremely stressed out too.

I just hope you feel better soon..I have to say hormones don't seem to have much bearing on my attacks either..just goes to show how varied we are with the beastie and it's attacks.

Gentle huggies

Jane
xxx

BIG GENTLE HUGS Ladies

I am so sorry your having a bad time - seems to be alot of people having big ones at the monent - weather is not good.

Sarah have you ever seen Anne McGregor at the London pain clinic - I do not know her - but I have heard she is really good on hormone migs?

Sorry to hear you've had a bad spell, Jane.

I haven't seen Anne McGregor, but from what I've heard she wouldn't classify mine as hormonal, and is concerned about the oestrogen dip etc. Mine really don't seem to fit into that category, as the pre-period migraines don't tend to be anything like as bad as the ones whilst I am 'on'. Plus, if it's progesterone that I need, I really don't need a progesterone tablet - took those years ago for endometriosis and I went loopy/felt suicidal. I vowed never to take any synthetic hormone meds ever again, as it scared me that much.

I'm currently trying to reduce my exposure to xenoestrogens, which I'll start a thread on at some point when I can get my head together. It's a minefield, but we can reduce our exposure a little. I have all the signs of 'oestrogen dominance'.

There is no easy answer, I'm sure. Just needed to have a moan yesterday!

That's what the forum is here for SArah so if it helps go for it.

At least you know you are not quite as alone now? I wish I could help more but in the meantime I am thinking healing vibes and really hope you have a good run soon.

Take care
xxx

OH poor ladies I feel sooooo sorry for you both I am so glad this is not something I dont have to worry about anymore they took out all my bits when I was 34 but left my ovaries!! so I should still get the change!!! But dont seem to get any "monthly" signs anymore which confuses me! I dont think I could cope with knowing I would get a migraine on a regular basis like that, hope they all clear up quick and sarah I know about the murdering suicidal affects of HRT they tried them on me they had the same affect!!!!
Big Big Hugs
Sheena x

To be honest, if I thought it would cure everything, I'd have the whole lot whipped out (especially since I have fibroids, and just had another operation for endometriosis). But, from what I've read, and what the gynaecologist said, it could go either way - some women actually get more migraines after full hysterectomy. That might actually finish me off!!

In my case I think it would have to be the full hysterectomy, as the endometriosis I get is always around my ovaries.

Anyway, must stop moaning on. It does help to be able to share on here, so thanks everyone x

Oh Sarah sweetie Its such a damn tough trigger that - its not like you can avoid it I do feel for you.

I have read (wish I could remember where) that it is not necessarily the dip in estrogen but the change in the amount that can act as a trigger. So the trigger could be an increase or decrease in hormone.

That's interesting, thanks. I'm just on my period at the moment, and it's as bad as ever.

Hi All, I am playing catch up so I have only just read these posts. Oh my goodness I am just beginning to put 2 and 2 to make 4! I am emerging from the worst Migraone so far,soooooo painful that I cried and had to retire to a dark room and pray for the pain to leave-3 days of this and I now have throbbing and numbness but bearable. looking at my migraine diary and dates of periods-all over the place at the moment I have seen my GP and requested a referral to the Gynae for help. Due to medication and clotting disorder I cannot take HRT etc and GP suspects I may have started early menopause. But the revelation is maybe some of my Migraine are hormonal based-the dates fit. Thanks guys!

Has anyone found a useful remedy/therapy that has helped them through it?

Thought I would resurrect this thread, as there has been a development.

Basically, I found some iron that my stomach would handle, which has really helped my migraines on days 2 to 6. However, instead I then get hideous ones on days 7 and 8! I am just out of bed after a two day stint.

It's baffling. They cover such a pattern, and yet there is no way a migraine on day 7 would be called a menstrual migraine.

hmmm Have you tried Evening Primrose Oil?

I had a long chat with Dr M yesterday as my pattern is now showing a spike 2 days before and during my period.......... with the Botox and magnisusm I am a nice 2/3 the rest of the month (If I avoid the triggers) so he has suggested I take a new drug (which I have forgot the name of) Have to wait for the letter - and to take this 2 days before the period along with a Frova triptan - twice a day as a preventative not an abortive!.... and take evening primrose the whole month........ I have to wait for the letter for the details - but this is the first time we are going to try sort the spikes out.........

Oh which brand of Iron have you found to work?

The iron is Iron Protein Succinylate (just had to copy and paste!) The reason I'm OK with it is because it bypasses the stomach and goes into the intestines for absorption.

Interesting to hear of your experiences, Tee. What day during your period are you normally at your worst? My worst days used to be days 3 and 6, but the iron really helps with the during period days - my day 3 this time was virtually pain-free!

I've heard of Frovatriptan being used that way before. I still take that, although it's losing effectiveness for me a bit. For me my migraine days aren't quite predictable enough to use it that way yet.

I've never been able to take evening primrose oil - makes me feel sick! I've used starflower oil instead, but I've never found it helped anything.

For me, despite the title of this thread, I actually still feel with me it is more about the mineral balance rather than my hormones, and the interaction between the different minerals. There is no other reason as to why the iron should cause this change. I'll keep trying stuff (I have the whole vitamin D thing to try to take next, after my test results) and report back!

Will be interested to hear how you get on, Tee.

I have now spoken to my consultants and GP and we have agreed to try the following:

Starting 3 days before my period I have to take 2 x Naproxen and 2 x Domperidone for up to 6 days.... we are going to give this a 3 mth trail and then add in a triptan as a preventative......... I am nervous about that as I get the racing heart with them........

It looks like I am worse about 2 days before and 2 days after (I am only ever on for 3 days)... so the plan is to start on 3 days before and try to get the levels down.... This is a great time to do this as the Botox and Magnsium combo is managing to help on most of the month, but this blip is enough to make me hit the 7/8s.... and they think I will get worse as I hit the menopause - so if I can something to help during these few days it will help, as I have been told I will not be allowed to take any hormones.

But I am with you Sarah - as I look back over what has helped - its a lot of minerals............ do you know if you can have mineral levels checked - I may have asked this before... but cannot find it....

Oh I am also going to start adding Evening Primrose and been told to watch the tummy and I have the anti sickness tablets to take if that is a problem - although to be honest I took one on Saturday and I still ended up with my head in a bucket............

Oh while I think about it - is Evening Primrose in tablet form the only option - I did wonder if the creams are as good?

Ooh how interesting. This all sounds so similar to my experience, although my period is longer, but it's usually the two days after that I'm worst for - so weird.

If you feel sick on the evening primrose, I'd try starflower oil. It's got higher levels of GLA anyway, and it didn't make me feel sick, whereas the EPO really does.

For mineral testing, it's really hard to get a decent test done. As I understand it (in a very limited way), it's to do with the serum levels and cell levels being different. The usual blood tests measure the serum levels, and you have to be extremely deficient (possibly nearly dead) to show up as low in the serum levels. This is especially true of magnesium.

I'm in bed with a horrible jaw type head on Day 1 of my period at the moment. But, I can tell by the numbers of triptans I've taken that I've had a much better couple of months. The thing that is making the main difference to me at the moment is the iron. I've only just started the vitamin D, so it isn't likely to be that (and my vitamin D levels must still be really low).

Well now, that'll teach me... woke up this morning on day 2 of my period feeling like I'd been stabbed in the head!!! AAARGH.

Oh no

I am stuffing the pain killers at the moment - went to the dentist yesterday and god knows what she has done - but my wisdom tooth has kicked off and bottom jaw is so painful ............. 30+ kids for a party tomorrow.........

Hope you feel better soon x

Oh blimey... gulp! Good luck for tomorrow!! Hopefully they'll entertain themselves.

I'm stepping up the vitamin D from today to 4000 iu. Hope I'll be OK on it!

Sick of this. So, my period is long over but my migraines have been awful.

Days 1 and 2 were bad, then pretty much OK (which is what the iron seems to help) till days 6, 7 and 8. I'm now on day 9 and still bad. Ridiculous.

Oh no .... do you think all yours are hormonal?

BTW The doc has just put one of the twins on Zinc!

Sarah - Have you seen this report? (I have not read it all yet)


Incidence of migraine relative tomenstrual cycle phases of rising andfalling estrogen
E.A. MacGregor, MFFP; A. Frith, MSc; J. Ellis, PhD; L. Aspinall, BSc(Hons); and A. Hackshaw, MSc

Abstract—
Objective:
To investigate the association between urinary hormone levels and migraine, with particularreference to rising and falling levels of estrogen across the menstrual cycle in women with menstrual and menstruallyrelated migraine.

Methods:
Women with regular menstrual cycles, who were not using hormonal contraception or treat-ments and who experienced between one and four migraine attacks per month, one of which regularly occurred on orbetween days 1

2 of menstruation, were studied for three cycles. Women used a fertility monitor to identify ovulation,conducting a test each day as requested by the monitor, using a sample of early morning urine. Urine samples werecollected daily for assay of estrone-3-glucuronide, pregnanediol 3-glucuronide, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteiniz-ing hormone. All women kept a daily migraine diary and continued their usual treatment for migraine.

Results:
Of 40women recruited, data from 38 women were available for analysis. Compared with the expected number of attacks, therewas a significantly higher number of migraine attacks during the late luteal/early follicular phase of falling estrogen andlower number of attacks during rising phases of estrogen.

Conclusion:
These findings confirm a relationship between migraine and changing levels of estrogen, supporting the hypothesis of perimenstrual but not postovulatory estrogen“withdrawal” migraine. In addition, rising levels of estrogen appear to offer some protection against migraine

http://www.scribd.com/doc/93504042/Incidence-of-Migraine-Relative-to-Menstrual-Cycle-Phases-of-Rising-and-Falling-Estrogren