Hormonal migraines

[Sara]

My migraines are getting worse. I used to get them once every few months and now get them 2 or 3 times every month. They are very predictable now, I get one or two a few days after I ovulate, then more as my cycle gets closer. You would think birth control pills would help, but they make it worse.

Does anyone have any tips on something I can do other than excedrin which only dulls the pain?

[wyattsmama]

no suggestions, only sympathy. i only had those in the few weeks after having westley and they were unbelievably miserable (i've neve had headaches or migraines before) and literally all i could do was lay in my bed with nothing to do and it simply made it more tolerable.

[howardvm]

:( No advice here other than maybe have a talk with your doctor and see if they can suggest something? Hope it gets better! :hug

[HeatherK]

So sorry! I used to get migraines too. They stopped when I stopped taking the pill.

[Lynette]

I'd talk to the doctor too, migraines are miserable. They have perscription stuff you can take when you get one but obviously solving the problem and not getting them at all is ideal. Did you get them when you were pregnant at all? I remember a doctor telling me once that the pill tricks your body into thinking you are pregnant while the shot makes it think you are in menopause.

[Lorah]

Sara :hug

I totally know what you are talking about! I get migraine on and off the pill, when I am and when I am not pregnant. IT SUCKS!

A few things that I have done to help are:

1. Elimination diets for Migraine sufferers. Food that are huge triggers:
*Cheese (except cottage, farmer's, ricotta and cream)
*Alcohol (red wine is the worst)
*Caffeine (especially suddenly raising or lowering your intake)
*Chocolate
*Aged and non-fresh meats and liver (ie cold cuts), -(also watch out for products with meat and hydrolyzed protein, such as gravy and soup mixes),
*Soy beans
*Italian green beans
*Broad bean pods
*MSG
*Nuts (especially peanuts)
*Yeast (especially in homemade bread and sourdough)
*Sauerkraut (and other aged foods)
*Nitrites
*Nitrates
*tyramine (Tyramine is a compound known as an amine found in many foods, produced from the natural breakdown of the amino acid, tyrasine. Examples: pepperoni, salami and liverwurst; Aged cheese; Fava or broad beans, sauerkraut, pickles, olives. Any fermented soy products (ie miso, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce); All nuts; All alcoholic and fermented beverages.
*Bananas

2. Take something before it starts to even really bug you! I actually take Advil (800mg sometimes) BEFORE I barely feel it coming on, and it helps keep it was getting too bad most of the time.

3. Drink extra water.

4. Take vitamins and minerals.

I haven't looked into it much because I'm still breastfeeding, but I know a few women who have recently started taking blood pressure meds to control their migraines! At first I thought it was crazy, but it is really working for them! One of the ladies I know well gets her migraines from hormonal shifts and she wasn't sure if it would work, but she rarely gets them now that she's on the meds. So maybe look into that?

Sorry. I really know how hard it is!

[tggrr2]

I agree with Lorah. I take 800 mg of Motrin several nights before my period starts. If its during the day I take Advil Migraine which helps. Usually the night before I will take an Imitrex that helps with the pain. I would try to avoid the Excedrin as it has the caffeine. If I have to I take the Excedrin Migraine. I will also sip on a Coke or Dr. Pepper with my migraines.