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Posted 5/20/2008 9:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi im 17 and i suffer from really bad period pain to the point where it makes me physicaly sick. I started my perioud when i was about 13 but it only really began causing me pain when i was 14-15. I had recently missed a period and thought i might be pregnant so i did a test and it came back possitive but then a couple days after doing he test i began to bleed alogn with emense pain i have never felt before. I was sick, i passed out, i could hardly walk i was in agoney. I just want some advise on what could be wrong really because i dont think im pregnant as i have come on since doing the test.
Posted 5/11/2009 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Yes. I've suffered Menstrual Migraines for years, I have experimented with many things to try to prevent the onset of them, but the only thing that has stopped them so far has been being pregnant! 9 months of a clear head - bliss!

I keep a blog regarding my migraines and the things which I have tried if you're interested: http://lousmenstrualmigraine.blogspot.com/
Posted 5/19/2009 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
I am not sure if anyone mentioned this...there are too many to read for me right now! Anyway, I get ALL kinds of headaches! Including menstraul migraines. I was put on the pill...its called Portia (generic for Nordette). I told my gyne I wanted something that would give me the least amount of headaches. What I do is take the active pills ofr 9 weeks straight ( you can go longer if you prefer). On the 10th week, I take the inactive pills along with Premarin. Premarin I guess is used for menopause. Anyway, this method has helped ALOT! If that is something you are interested in, talk to your doctor to see if you can do it! Stretching out my period so I don't have so many headaches has DEFINITELY helped! My doc also told me about the birth control you take all year long and never have a period...that's an option, too. Maybe some day I will do that.
Posted 5/29/2009 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Ugh. I am the exact same as you. I get them every month either on day 1 or two of my cycle. It never fails and as of right now, I don't take anything other than Aleve (which doesn't help much). I have tried some things in the past but they only gave me relief for an hour or so and then right back to the migraine pain. They are the worst and can last anywhere from 3 days to a week sometimes. I wish I could do something about my hormones so that I would not get these anymore. I am only 34 so I have a way to go until menopause. I had a baby last year and had no migraines during pregnancy or the following months until my period returned and then they came back with a vengence. I would love to know what helps everyone else. I am searching for answers. I also suffer from lyme disease, but I know these migraines are hormonal as they come at the same time every single month without fail. I am on day 1 right now of the pain and along with that comes the sickness. Not easy to handle with a little one running around. I hope they go away at some point.
Posted 5/29/2009 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
oh and being on the pill made my worse. Just check with your doctor. I am not allowed to be on them now due to my migraines. The only thing so far that worked for me too was pregnancy. What a way to find some relief.
Posted 5/30/2009 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
I was nearly headache free when I was pregnant also!!! What a trade off?! ha ha
Posted 2/5/2010 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
I'm new to this forum and found it by Google searching Menstrual Migraines and Nuvaring. I really enjoy reading the feedback from others that have had this problem as well. I have suffered from menstrual migraines for most of my menstrual life. I'm 41 now and waiting patiently, or not so patiently, for menopause. For my early years of my headaches I just took tylenol and/or advil. Even combined them many times. I finally went to a headache expert who did lots of tests and determined I was getting rebound headaches along with the menstrual migraines. I was taken off all Tylenol/Advil, which produced a hellish couple of months but finally solved the rebounds. My headaches now are extremely cyclical, I can predict them as well as my periods. The only weird ones occur mid-cycle, but that's not every month. The headaches doctor put me on Pamelor as a preventative and Maxalt when I have the headaches. I don't think the Pamelor does anything and I plan to wean myself off it, per my general doctors ok. The Maxalt works well, but I often have to take a third and even a fourth pill, even though I know I'm not supposed to. But what do you do when you've had a migraine for 8 hours and you know that one pill will finally break it. My migraines come at the end of my cycle on day four or five. I had a previous Gyno put me on Micronor for the headaches, but I'm not sure they did anything. I took them everyday, never taking a week off. No real changes happened to my periods and although the headaches were less consistent they eventually went right back to doing what they did.

I recently started on the Nuvaring (after being off Micronor for three months) and am weary of the outcome. I'd love to hear that it works great and there are no problems. Most of the reading I've done on the Nuvaring side effects is by people who have had problems. The ones who like it and have no troubles don't bother posting. I've only been on it for five days and so far only had a headache for one day, which is an improvement. I know I have to wait a lot longer to really see results. My problem is I'm not sure I can wait. I developed a rash on my inner thighs and suspect it's from the hormones. The only other time I've had a rash like this is when a holistic doctor put me on progesterone cream for the headaches. I thought the rash was from the cream itself, but now that is has returned I strongly suspect it's the hormone. So I will keep reading of others experiences, hold out for the Nuvaring to work and the rash to go away, and continue to dream of an early menopause. I even asked my doctor if there was anyway to speed up menopause as I have read it is a cure for menstrual migraines.
Oh well, keeping my fingers crossed!
Kawgirl
Posted 5/31/2012 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there everyone, I know this post is old but I have been suffering from migraines for about 24 years. It all started when I was about 13, for a combination of reasons, for one I inherited this terrible problem from my mother, secondly I was deficient in some v&m's so I was put on manganese and multi vitamin & mineral supplements. This helped a bit, however they did return after about 3-4 years.

I started to look into this problem myself, as Doctors had no clue, and found out that part of the problem is what we think. Thoughts play a huge part in the way we feel, healthwise I mean. I know it sounds weird and all, but trust me, after much research I now also believe in the power of your mind/thoughts.

For menstrual migraines I also found that it is all to do with low estrogen levels causing migraines when you are young, possible endometriosis in your 20's/30's and then menstrual migraines when you are 30+... I suffered all these things!!! Please note I am NOT a doctor, and everyone is different, I am just describing my findings...

I had endometriosis at 21, and after 2 successful surgeries I had a baby (apparently my chances were very slim of conceiving) - During the pregnancy with my baby BOY I did not have 1 headache - at all. After the birth my migraines resumed with the addition of terrible MENSTRUAL MIGRAINES. Oddly enough during my second pregnancy with my baby GIRL I still got migraines all the time (different hormonal levels maybe??) Anyway, my migraines would last about 2-3 days per episode, and happen 3 times per month, meaning I was in bed most of the times, could not eat or drink a thing, just vomit until bile came out YELLOW and then GREEN! (Sorry guys I know this sounds terrible) During the mestrual migraines I had the same symptoms as all of you have described, minus the painful periods, my pain is limited to tender breasts, pain in the pelvic bone (as if someone kicks me there) and slight cramps. The migraines however are shocking. Desperate and with nothing to lose I went to see my chiropractor who told me to try a new cure... (please do not laugh) He told me to repeat "Joy Pleasure" all day long, especially when something good happens in my life (ie: I make a sale, I am happy about something etc). That is it. And it has worked wonders. He said it may be hard at first to remember repeating this all day long but it wasn't.... I was SO desperate and determined to get these migraines out of my life that I "Joy Pleasured" all day long, with extra attention to those happy things that would happen in my lilfe every now and again. Needless to say my migraines have gone, except for the menstrual migraine, which does come but it is now light and short-lived.

This is what happens now: about 10 days before I get my period I get tender breasts. This is my cue to watch out! Then I notice I get cravings to eat junk... or anything really.. chocolate, cookies, take-away etc.. this is also a red alert signal. When the migraine hits (normally 1-2 days into the period), I get the nausea, sore head bones, and stiff neck. Migraine and everything feels blurry - I cannot function properly.

THIS IS HOW I COPE. Of course I take painkillers. If my tummy is upside down I only take the Panadol suppositories, as I am going to vomit anything I take orally anyway! (I get Tachipirina 1000 paracetamol sent to me from Italy as it is fantastic), if my stomach is not involved then I take 1 Nurofen Zavance (if you are outside of Australia, then you need Ibuprofen) PLUS 1 Panadol Rapid (Paracetamol) - they are light medicines, nothing strong, but I suggest you EAT something as Ibuprofen isn't too gentle on the stomach. I use one of each so that the stomach does not get a hit of Ibuprofen, plus my Doctor said it is perfectly safe. Then, believe it or not, I have a strong espresso coffee, with no or hardly any sugar... as it has to be bitter. THEN I get a good grain/lavender seed heatpack - get one from the pharmacy, a good quality one, and I heat it up (I like it very hot) and lie down and put it on my stomach (if my stomach is not playing up i will put it somewhere else, like stiff shoulders or back) , then I get another heat pack, (again I like it pretty hot) and put it on the top of my head (that is right, the top of my head!), then after a few minutes when it is less hot so that I do not burn, I put it over my eyes, and press it lightly so it actually touches my eyelids. I repeat in my mind the "Joy Pleasure" and "I surrender to my power" which is a new one my chiro told me to repeat, and within 40 minutes it is like I have nothing at all. Sometimes, if I do not tackle the problem immediately it takes longer to heal but to me this works wonders.

With the heatpack please test the temperature before putting it anywhere on your body, I find that really hot helps me better but you must not use it if you feel it is so hot that it will burn you!!

Hope this helps.. for any more info please message me!

Romina

Post Edited (shopsellonline) : 5/31/2012 10:25:39 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/3/2012 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Brooke.  I am new to this forum.  I hope this message gets to women suffering from menstrual migraines.  I have had a really bad time with this pretty much every month.  It took me a while to realize it was related to my menstrual cycle because I would get the migraines days before my period.  I learned that the drops in hormones caused the headaches.  I tried something that seems to be helping.  I bought a product called "Progesta-Care" from the vitamin shoppe.  It comes in a cream.  I message the cream into my temples and forehead days before my period starts and continue applying it to my forehead every day during my period.  I also ordered a pain reliever that was kept in the medicine cabinet of one of my employers.  It's called "PainAway".  It's not in stores but you can google it and buy it online.  I bought mine on amazon.com.  It contains the following ingredients:  Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Salicylamide, and Caffeine.  The combination of the cream and the PainAway tablets seems to be working for me (try to take the PainAways at the first sign of the headache).  It diminished the pain tremendously for me.  I only had minimal pain one or two days, not enough to keep me in bed.  I hope this helps. :-)
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