Posted on 07/30/2004 7:52:44 PM PDT by neverdem
VITAL SIGNS
Many women who suffer migraines tell their doctors that their headaches are related to the onset of menstruation. Two studies released yesterday lend support to that link and to the idea of timing medication to the menstrual cycle as a preventive measure.
Both studies were published in the journal Neurology.
The lead author of one of the studies, Dr. E. Anne MacGregor of the City of London Migraine Clinic, said that in general about half of women with migraines say their headaches come on more often and with greater severity just before menstruation. Earlier studies had not found evidence of the connection, Dr. MacGregor said, because women with migraines connected to the menstrual cycle and women whose migraines were not connected canceled each other out.
The new study overcame that difficulty by comparing the onset and severity of attacks within a group of 155 women who all had suspected menstrual migraines, she said.
Entries in diaries the women were asked to keep showed that they were more than twice as likely to suffer migraines during the first three days of menstruation as they were on other days, and that the menstrual migraines were more than three times as likely to be severe as those at other times.
The second study found that fewer than half the women who took an anti-migraine drug, frovatriptan, before and during the onset of menstruation suffered headaches, compared with two-thirds of women given a placebo.
Dr. MacGregor said women suffering migraines should use diaries to discern patterns in attacks, and a fertility monitor if they are uncertain about predicting menstruation. Even without preventive medicine, "women in our study reported that this helped them to feel more in control of their migraine," she said.
I get them pretty often and have been to so many drs. Never had a pain-killer that can get rid of them.
I had an earache once.
I had migraines for all kinds of reasons, but they tended to cluster around my period. I had a hysterectomy 2 years ago and am on Estrogen. Still getting the migraines.
Cheese will set them off and who knows what else. Excedrin works most of the time, THANK GOD!
Ice can help, hot baths can help as well. A small amount of Peppermint oil on the forehead sometimes works, too. But once in a while, I still get ones that just won't go away.
Had one today, but had a Chiropractor appointment. After he cracked my neck, VOILA, it disappeared. Sigh. Wish I could avoid them entirely.
I suffered with the worst migraines two days before onset of cycle then two years ago they just stopped that caused me more concern than having them so I went to see my DR. found out Iam peri-menopausal.I didnt realize what a crank I had been:)but being headache free has really made my life wonderful again!!
Which blood pressure medicine? What was the cause of your migraines? My dad gets terrible headaches if he has any garlic (You can't believe how many foods -even mustard- that it's in.) I wish he could find something to get rid of them if he accidentally ingests some...
I've suffered horrible headaches since I was five years old, but Butabitol, which is actually fioricette, will knock them out pretty well. It seems that the longer I have taken fioricette, the less often I need it.
"I get them pretty often and have been to so many drs. Never had a pain-killer that can get rid of them."
Have you tried neurontin? I know a few folks who found that that one worked when the others didn't. Also, a shot of toradol can do wonders, although it can only be a once in a while thing since it can go to town on your liver. And, finally, botox injections are helping quite a few people with intractable migraine these days. You get btwn. 20-40 little shots at particular points on your scalp. Drawbacks are the cost, the fact that it can wear off after 4-6 months, and that few doctors know exactly where to inject, which is crucial. It's still considered experimental, but several studies are now confirming that it works.
Btw, have you ever been tested for lyme disease? I know tons of lyme people who have had horrid problems with headaches, myself included.
Interesting. For the person I know with bad migraines, caffeine induces migraines. ...As does food or drink with high ascorbic acid content...cheeses...spicy sausages...foods with a lot of nitrates.
I did successfully get one migraine to go away by giving them an "indian burn" on their ankle. I suspect that was just the inverse of "thinking about your migraine just makes it worse".
I take Toprol XL - a beta blocker. I had thought maybe my headaches were from HBP, but it seems that betablockers help lots of migraines.
Re: Migraines, I sympathize with you - I had a period of time when my children were both small when I used to get a headache every Friday and throw up all day. The allergist had me give up cola, tea and chocolate. That cured the problem but I sure was sad about not being able to have any of those things. Apparently,the common ingredient in these foods is tannin which can trigger migraines in some people. Coffee was still OK for me.
My dad gets terrible headaches if he has any garlic.... I wish he could find something to get rid of them if he accidentally ingests some...
My mother-in-law had a brother who had some severe food allergies and she said he was told by his doctor that Alka-Seltzer Gold would help to neutralize the things in your system. You might want to suggest that he check with a doctor first if he has any health problems or is on medication, but maybe it would help your dad, too. Good luck.
LOL Thanks, I'll pass it on :)
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