Headaches and AF « Hellobee Boards

Headaches and AF

By periwinklebee Mar 22, 2019

Does anyone else get a splitting headache right before AF starts, that lasts for a couple of days? This used to happen to me when I started the placebo bcp too; I'm pretty sure it's related to the drop in hormones that signals AF. It was so nice to have a break during pregnancy and postpartum. Advil and Tylenol make me puke, so my main treatment approach is green tea (caffeine), magnesium spray, and self-massage (which both help with tension, which I think interacts too).

Anyone else have this happen? Ideas of ways to make it better? Thank you!

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16 comments

bhbee
cantaloupe / 6086 posts

Mar 22, 2019

I definitely get hormonal headaches. My mom likes to mention that hers finally got better with menopause ...

Can you tolerate excedrin? I know it has Tylenol but not sure if dose may be different since it’s a combo. That’s my best headache killer.

Also don’t know if you have seasonal allergies but I really have to stay on top of that because it piles on to hormonal issues and makes it worse. Maybe not an issue up north yet!
Becky
persimmon / 1390 posts

Mar 22, 2019

Me. No advice for dealing with it aside from increasing physical activity and making sure you drink enough water.
graceandjoy
pear / 1565 posts

Mar 22, 2019

Yes, I do. I already get other headaches (mostly sinus I think), but the ones I get right before my period are "different". It's sooo annoying.
periwinklebee
grapefruit / 4466 posts

Mar 22, 2019

@graceandjoy: It's so uncomfortable. I also get super nauseous when I have headaches, blech...

@Becky: Interesting that physical activity helps!

@bhbee: Seriously, bring on the menopause My mom didn't have it though until she was over sixty, so there may be a lot of headaches in the meantime... going to check the dose on excedrin, thanks!
foodiebee
kiwi / 662 posts

Mar 22, 2019

I get a migraine with auras the day I start my period, every time. My nurse said to try Excedrin migraine, but I got pregnant before I got to try it. I had zero remedies that worked for me, unfortunately. It was just a part of my cycle I had to live through.
Anagram
eggplant / 11716 posts

Mar 22, 2019

Yes...me! And mine last so long--a full 2-3 days sometimes. I feel like I take so many pain relievers. But it's really, really miserable if I don't.
periwinklebee
grapefruit / 4466 posts

Mar 22, 2019

@Anagram: yeah, mine last 2 or sometimes 3 days too, yuck...I think somehow the hormonal changes signal all my muscles to tighten up because it feels like a tension headache, but is very tightly linked to my cycle...

@foodiebee: maybe I should try Excedrin. I feel on the verge of puking when I have a headache so find it hard to keep any medicine down, but haven't tried this...
MamaBear87
nectarine / 2288 posts

Mar 22, 2019

Have you tried peppermint oil? Along your temples and where ever it hurts. Sounds insane and very hippy but it worked great for me early first trimester when I was getting wicked tension headaches and couldn't take Ibuprofen
psw27
pomelo / 5220 posts

Mar 22, 2019

I do get a headache, but I can tolerate Tylenol or Advil. I would suggest exercise and a lot of water as well!
Foodnerd81
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts

Mar 22, 2019

@periwinklebee: have you ever tried taking BCP continuously? Or the one where you only get a period every 3 months?

I also had good results from acupuncture for my headaches, but mine weren’t as closely tied to periods, just randomly and all the time.
bhbee
cantaloupe / 6086 posts

Mar 22, 2019

@periwinklebee: I’d be so mad if menopause didn’t show up until after 60. Since we’re done ttc I’m ready right now!
Kaohinani
grapefruit / 4144 posts

Mar 22, 2019

@periwinklebee: OMG, YES! I have migraine disorder (along with 3 Autoimmune Disorders) and Epilepsy. Many of my issues are brought on by stress, lack of sleep, and hormones (Fibro flares are HUGE during OV and AF and besides my body hurting, I have mass headaches). For treatment of migraines and seizures, I WAS on Topiramate AND Vimpat (* both work for seizures and/or migraines) but had to go off both as I am TCC (* Topiramate can cause birth defects, and not many studies have been done for Vimpat BUT I was on it while pregnant with DS and he had a high palate and hypospadias which are side effects of many anti-convulsant drugs used for migraine). I am now on a keto diet and use my TENS machine for flares, as well as, Norco if the pain is too much (* Tylenol is fine TCC and low levels of Hydrocodone are fine until one is at 36 weeks due to the fact the baby could be born addicted if it is used frequently afterwards.). I am a certified personal trainer (with a BA in exercise science and a NASM cert) so I will state that exercise BEFORE and AFTER a SERIOUS headache (or migraine) is beneficial to keep them at bay because, circulation is paramount, as well as, Excedrin DURING (which I was told NOT to use while TCC).
maddyz
persimmon / 1270 posts

Mar 22, 2019

Yeah, they such. Caffeine helps some. I take advil.
periwinklebee
grapefruit / 4466 posts

Mar 22, 2019

Sorry so many people deal with these, yuck

@MamaBear87: I had totally forgotten about essential oils. I just could not be productive at work - kept dry heaving and getting searing pain to look at my screen, so I came home an hour early, and tried lavender essential oil, together with dousing myself in magnesium oil and laying on my acupressure mat (that thing is awesome!) and it really helped. I'm going to keep an essential oil roller at my office for future use.

@psw27: I think more exercise would be good for me in general. I fell off the bandwagon with the winter weather + never ending illness and need to get back on.

@Foodnerd81: I have an accupressure mat, which is not as good as actual acupuncture but I think helps. I love acupuncture for fertility. There's no way with my schedule to make it during the week but this is making me want to have DH watch LO so I can get in a session on the weekends. I think it would be really good for mental health too...

@bhbee: Hah hah, I know! and from everything I've heard AF only gets worse as you approach menopause, when you are well beyond the point of being fertile anyways.

@Kaohinani: I'm so sorry - this sounds really rough That's really good to know about exercise. I've experimented with various diet stuff but never quite found a trigger, if there is one for me. Do you know why excedrin is not recommended while TTC? Because they are assuming you might be pregnant (not a concern during AF:-( or does it screw something else up? Thank you so much for taking the time to share, this is super helpful!
Kaohinani
grapefruit / 4144 posts

Mar 23, 2019

@periwinklebee: From what I have been told from 3 specialists (neurologist, OBGYN, and RE), there are two reasons why physicians dissuade a woman who is TTC from using Excedrin, Advil, and Alleve is that (1) It may cause a slight deterioration in egg quality (* there are a number of studies that state frequent use of any of them will do this ... it can also decrease sperm quality), OR that (2) a woman may become pregnant [unbeknownst to her or her partner] and said medications (with exception to Tylenol and aspirin for medicinal use in some reproductive disorders) can cause problems for a developing fetus. In any case, I steer clear of them. The caffeine in Excedrin is helpful but, one could simply pop extra strength Tylenol along with a cup of coffee (or other stimulant such as soda, dark chocolate, or a No-doz.) Keep in mind, a single cup of coffee or 2 is GENERALLY fine while TTC and pregnant; however, more than that is discouraged. If I drink my high octane cup in the morning and still find I need more to quell my headache, I opt for a half-caff brew (since even decaf coffee contains "some level of caffeine."). Good luck finding something to ameliorate your migraine woes.
periwinklebee
grapefruit / 4466 posts

Mar 23, 2019

@Kaohinani: Thank you! This is really helpful! I had no idea Advil could cause a deterioration in egg quality, I guess it's a good thing that I don't tolerate it well, as I don't think my egg quality is great to start with.