Can't get rid of this headache

Posted , 13 users are following.

Hello there . Does anyone else on here suffer from bad headaches or migraines ? Mine have have been progressively getting worse before and during a period . I am on at the moment and this month I have been suffering with a bad head , verging on a migraine for over a week now . No tablets are working . It's causing visual disturbance and intermittent dizziness and nausea . Should I be worried ? I must add that I also weaning myself off citalopram , an antidepressant , at the moment . I have currently dropped from 10mg to 5 in the past 3 weeks and I don't know if this isn't helping . Any advice would be greatly appreciated . Thank you Jane x

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Posted

    Yes, for maybe the past five years, I would get a headache turning into a migraine by the evening a few days before and during the first day of my period. As I never get headaches otherwise, I was able to predict when I was about to come on. This has stopped now but other peri symptoms have appeared (such as spotting) and also went through maybe six months of night sweats which were really bad, during the worst 2 nights of each period. These have now stopped too. I didn't even know these were peri symptoms until recently.

    ?I hope you get it sorted soon. This peri stuff is scaring me.

  • Posted

    You poor thing!! I was like this for years.Nothing touched it at all!! Same pattern.I was on citalapram also (still am) 20mg for two days then 10mg .I wasn't reducing at that time but still had the bad heads and migraine.Iam surgical meno now.When I saw my gynae before hysterectomy and I explained what I was like(same as you) he said I shouldn't have suffered and should have gone to see him.i got the impression a low hormone treatment he would have given me. Getting past the Drs who were only willing to dish out  naproxen ,cocodamol ,

    to help with any inflammation was hard.Huge fibroid got the ball rolling to see the consultant.

    if I had my time again I would insist on seeing a consultant and not tolerate it.It ruins your life , time off work .etc.. plus u feel naff for days after like you have flu. may be the very low dose may not be helping as there will be side effects of nausea, dizziness & visual disturbances. 5mg is low.If you are working through it with the gp I would mention it all.I suppose it's a bit difficult which is causing what effect. Good luck you can ask to be referred to a consultant. I feel for you.Those heads are awful! 

    .

  • Posted

    Hi Jane... So sorry you feel awful.

    I have suffered with migraines since I was about 10. I am 52 now. They have varied over the years. I would get if I didnt eat or slept too much or different smells, like diesel fumes or some perfumes. I noticed they would get bad just before my period. I would have the same symptoms you are experiencing-vision auras, nauseous to the point of not being able to move and pounding pounding pain in my head.

    There are various causes of migraines: Eating foods high in nitrates, cheeses, chocolate, high sodium foods or snacks. Noxious fumes, perfumes, wearing hair ties or clips, muscle tension or jaw clenching, eye strain, changes in altitude and definitely hormones. I have read that a quick drop in hormone levels can bring on a migraine and this is what occurs when we menstruate. I do know that you have to take something for it as soon as you get a symptom of a migraine.  If not, it gets excruciating, nausia, sensitive to light and sound and movement.

    Keeping a log of when your migraines occur, what you are doing or eating and where they occur could help pinpoint triggers. I hope you find this helpful. Feel better ☯️

    • Posted

      I agree with Lisa about triggers. I am 58 in postmenopause and have had migraines since I was 16. I take 300 mg. of topamax a day to help me keep them calm. But, the weather pressure, stress, etc. triggers them. I found out recently peppermint oil (essential oil) helps. Alittle drop on the back of my neck. I have learned and still learning what hormones can do for. I am on HRT. I am thankful for this site and the ladies here.
  • Edited

    I started getting these too! Just before and during my periods. They are horrible! My blood pressure goes high every time and I just have to kept saying to myself it'll pass. I'm just taking BP medicine nothing else.

    • Posted

      I started getting very bad headaches at the top of my head. It comes and goes. I'm in perimenopause, its one thing after another. It also raises my BP. I'm on meds. Today its been a very bad day with this headache.

  • Posted

    Yes..   I get this headaches and it was around my period.   It seems like I get them for months then it stops for awhile.  When I did have them I would take sinus meds cuz I didn't know if it was a sinus headache or not.  They would last for about 2 days.  My friend has terrible headaches as well and went on some type of cream from her neuropath Dr and the headaches have lessened for her.  Good luck-- I know they are terrible and make it so much harder..  It's horrible to try and work with these headaches.

  • Posted

    After the birth of my baby and my periods resumed I started having migraines monthly it's hormonal they went away when I hit menopause Excedrin Works beautifully for migraines make sure you're not too sensitive to caffeine two tablets is equivalent of one cup of coffee but again it works beautifully for migraines Tylenol my migraines would laugh at Tylenol.

  • Posted

    Hi Jane, I have also suffered from migraines from hormones and now I also get them from trapped nerves in my neck. Probably 5 year ago I finally found a doctor who actually believed I was having migraines and prescribed maxalt wafers and they've saved my life. They take an hour to work and get rid of the pain and the nausea. Two weeks ago I had a run of migraines for 8 days and only missed one off work due to the maxalt. They can make me tired but I'll take that any day over a migraine.

    Rosemary.

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