Hi everyone!

Please help me on this one............. For years I used to get a left temple headache a day or two before my period. My period would come and the headache would go away. Well now, I'm 44 and for the past 3 or 4 months I don't get the left temple headache, I get a full blown, horrible headache the day I get my period. This headache lasts for 3-4 days. Ibu, tylenol, Excedrin and a prescription for migrane's do not take it away. It might take the edge off slightly but it won't go away. I'm mean to everyone and I only feel better if I lay down and don't talk to anyone. It seems to stem from the top of my neck to the top of my head. It also hurts at time behind my eyes and my jaw back near my ears. I know this might sound crazy, but can this be peri? It's horrible and I hate it so bad that I don't want my period to come the next month because of it. I feel like I'm in la la land when I have these headaches too. Any thoughts or concerns, please let me know.

Thanks!

Hi Tclark,

I am 42, and developed migraines for the first time when I was 37. At first they were any time, now they are often period related which suggests hormones to me. Mine also last for days.

I found the herb feverfew helped me in the past when I was getting them almost constantly - they did go away completely for about a year. Also I have just started taking magnesium for palpitations (my worst peri-symptom right now) and have also read this can help migraines too so you might like to consider that.

Somewhere on this site I read If it spasms take Magnesium....

Hope this helps!

Hi Tclark,

I can completely understand what you are going through. I've had a migraine headache ever day since April 14, 2006. I've been through 4 medications and I'm seeing a specialist in New York City. Over the counter stuff doesn't help. Fortunately I'm not in excruciating pain. I believe mine are related to hormone changes. The specialist told me it's something I might have to deal with until I go through my changes. At least he acknowledeged perimenopause and this is probably what triggered this headache for me. I hope we get through this process quickly as it is totally unnerving and hard to deal with. I'm around if you need to chat.

Karen

Hi tclark, I have had period related headaches for years they used to have a paten about the 5th day of my period they would start and last for about 5 days but the last few monthe they are all over the place like every other symptom, I get them in my temples face, jaw ,ears, eyes and when really bad I cant stand light or bright colours, they are definately hormone related, I used to get migrains once a month regular through both my pregnancies really bad that took me off my feet for a few days and then when breast feeding with no periods every month like clockwork, then they stopped when the periods returned after breast feeding but after finding this site a few months ago I realsied I have been having peri syptoms for at least 10 years i am 49 now, and the headches , face aches and ears and eyes I really believe are hormonal, its awful.
Nice to see you back on the boards squiggle Im geting to know names now slowley, hope you had a good time in Devon and didnt get the torential rain that we have had in my part of the UK over the past week.

Hi Squiggle,

Your post is almost identical to one I wrote a while back. I am certain these are peri/hormone related. I can totally relate to the neck...jaw...eye...color & light sensitivity. Like you, I had previously only had "normal" headaches pre-menstrually. Since hitting peri, these "migraine" type hormone headaches have been horrible. The pain is so intense, sometimes unbearable. Nothing I've tried has helped. Mine generally last 2-3 days and show up near the end of my period. This has without a doubt been THE worst symptom for me.

I know what you mean when you say you are in la la land. After the headache subsides, I feel "washed out". No energy, bad brain fog and LOTS of anxiety.

I was on the PS site reading the message boards looking for posts by anyone who had found ANYTHING that would help for these headaches just a few days ago. I read another thread that said Kudzu is supposed to help with these. I researched it and found it to be pretty safe. However, it should not be taken by anyone who has low blood pressure. I personally run 98/63 most of the time, so I can't take it. It is supposed to help with some other peri related symptoms, too.

If you try it let me know. If it works well for you, I may try to find out if I can take it even though my blood pressure runs on the low side.

Hugs,
Susan

I'm on weeks 3 with headaches.
Started a BC 2 month therapy and don't know if it is contributing to it because I have no idea what is going on with my cycle.
I don't know if it is a stress/hormone or just one of the other.
Grab a Tennis ball and put it between your back and a wall and try and gently roll around to see if you have a stress point, ie top of shoulder blade. Perhaps you could treat yourself to a couple of massages or try an acupuncture needle. I had that done twice by my GP and it really loosened the muscles and eleviated the headaches if only temporarily.
I can't offer much advise but can say you are not alone.
Peri is not fun.

Hi Ladies,

I'm know how you all feel. I suffer from pre and post headaches as well. This past period was awful, had migraine for one day, followed with a week of head pressure, dizziness and I am on bioidentical hormones.

I also get the pressure on the back of my skull, ears and eyes. The tinnitus is constant but tolerable.

Plumeria

Thank you all so much. At least I'm not alone with this. Well this is day 4 and my headache is finally going away but the strange feeling is now coming on strong. You know, like you're hungover or something and i'm sure it's something to do with the headache kinda going away. I've taken everything and when nothing helps you start to think you might have a brain tumor or something else. holy smoly, i'm gonna go nuts i think. i dread next month coming.....and to top it all off, i got my period on august 7th and 21 days later i got it again. i've had every test to see what's going on and they found a polyp but i go on friday to have it rechecked. i have no idea what's up other than these horrible headaches that i can't take anymore.

thanks for listening.
tina

Plumeria,

I have the horrid tinnitus, too. It is constant, but seems louder/worse when the head/neck pain kicks in.

When oh when will this all end????

I don't know about you ladies, but I have had ENOUGH ALREADY!

Sorry just had to vent. These headaches are a sore subject, no pun intended.

Hugs,
Susan

I just realized that I wrote my first reply to Squiggle, and it should have been to TClark417. Darn brain fog.

Susan