Is HRT causing my migraine?

[Emmy]

Before starting HRT, the doctor told me if I got migraines it could make them more frequent and whatnot. I rarely got them, mostly the occasional headache instead and that was never too big a deal.

So I started HRT. None of that changed. My actual dosages haven't changed since after the first month and every follow up, I'm told my bloodwork looks great.
I always take my full dosage all at once at the same time everyday.

Its been around a year and 6 months since first starting HRT.
Never had any issues with migraines during this time. Never really had any issues with them throughout my life either.
I know that estrogen fluctuations can be the source of migraines, but nothing has changed about my estrogen levels in a long time.

Then just recently, I had a migraine attack. It isn't getting better. Its up to about 80 hours now. I'm kind of freaking out because I'm paranoid that HRT could be causing it and will end up leaving me completely stuck with it.

I just want relief. The constant pounding hurts so much.
Even though I haven't had a single problem like this since starting HRT a year and a half ago, could it be causing it?

[Kiwi4Ever]

Like you I never suffered from migraines...and after a short time on HRT I developed migraine to the point that I have to self inject with Sumatriptan.  This drug shrinks the blood vessels in my brain and thankfully isn't addictive.  I have injectors all over the place, in the car, and by my bed.  I haven't taken HRT in a number of years, but still get the migraines.  The worst is when they are in a cluster and it doesn't matter how many injections I use the pain won't go away.  It doesn't happen that often, but when it does, I have to get medical assistance as I become terribly sick and start to dehydrate because I am paralysed with pain.

[sandrauk]

Given what you said I doubt it's the HRT. Have you taken any meds to help with the migraine? Go see your pharmacist for advice or your doctor. Have you checked that it's not carbon monoxide? 

[RachelH]

I've never had migraines, even when extremely stressed.  Then I was  on HRT for nearly 11 months before I got a one.  The trigger was the stress of going full time on top of the HRT.  I've luckily not had on now in over 5 months, as I'm quite happy. So have you been increasingly stressed recently, it might just be enough to push you over and trigger one?

[Megan S]

There can be so many triggers for migraines. Considering there has not been a change in your HRT regimen, it is highly unlikely it would be the cause. As someone who works as a medical provider, my recommendation would be for you to keep a log or journal of the headaches- what time did they occur, the duration, the symptoms, any auras or other phenomenon before or during the headaches. You also should check your sleep (are you sleeping less or more), diet (caffeine, sugar, carbohydrates, are you eating enough), exercise or activity level, and stressors/anxiety, habits (tobacco, alcohol,etc). I think if you do this you may be able to find some links and potential causes, which you can then talk to your provider about. There are some simple pharmacological options you can do to "reset" the headaches which would be a more suitable option up front before looking at using daily medication, but if you find some relations in your journal or log, lifestyle changes can have a dramatic and positive impact. I hope you can find some relief.

[Emmy]

Thanks for the replies. Nearing 96 hours now. I've taken some meds but they didn't really help.
There has been some stress, but my real concern is why this isn't going away...

The week before getting this I was having frequent headaches but they went away with sleep, just rest, or medication. They occurred in the evening.
The first day in the evening with the current pain  was the worst.
Then yesterday I was feeling better but in the evening it started hurting a bunch again. And now its back to the "feeling better" part though it isn't clearing up.

I take the hormones every night at 7. Could this be relating.. :/

My doctor won't be availabe to reach until monday. I've been too afraid to drop the hormones to see if it clears up since then my estrogen levels would be changing which seems like itd make this worse

[eli77]

Migraines generally don't respond to standard pain meds. Caffeine can help sometimes, but often only before the attack starts. What you really need is a migraine specific med like Sumatriptan as mentioned above (that's what I also use). I, personally, would suggest going to emergency and getting sorted out--tell them you have a migraine and they'll hook you up with an IV med that should kill it quick. There is no guarantee that it will go away anytime soon otherwise. My aunt used to get migraines that would last up to 4 days.

Mine are generally only 5-8 hours, but, unfortunately, rather frequent and blindingly intense.

As for whether it is related to the hormones? Probably not. It's fluctuations that cause them, and you've been on hormones for a long time with no problems. My migraines got screwy when I started hormones, but were fine (or back to my regular 5-6 a month anyway) after my levels stabilized.

[Emmy]

Thank you for clearing that up.

I was planning on going to the ER soon. Don't think there's any other choice because its not going away

[vegie271]

I had constant migraines my entire life and HRT did not affect them either way, +/-  I had a neurologist help me treat mine

I regulate foods that cause them and take topiramate as a preventative, they are still caused by stress occasionally   

[eli77]

I regulate foods that cause them and take topiramate as a preventative, they are still caused by stress occasionally   

I regulate foods as well, for me it's yeast and sugar. That reduces the number I get by about a third. I haven't had much luck with preventatives due to my odd metabolism. I've actually been considering doing the trigger point surgery.

Stress is definitely my number one trigger. But even when I've been totally relaxed and on vacation I still get a couple a month. Dysfunctional brain. Sigh.

Thank you for clearing that up.

I was planning on going to the ER soon. Don't think there's any other choice because its not going away

No problem. Let us know how it goes. And I really hope you feel better soon. Migraines are a bitch.

[Emmy]

I went to the ER yesterday. I was given some options and the most simple was taking percocets.
The doctor seemed pretty confident that they'd clear up my headache.

they didn't do a thing apart from give me the worst pains in my stomach I've ever felt several hours after taking them.

Other than that, I didn't even feel them.

heads still pounding. Don't really know what to do. No medicine is curing this.

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

Did the hospital run any tests?  There are so many things that can cause a migraine.

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

I would return and state that you still have it and they need to see why

[Kiwi4Ever]

I remember the torture I experienced in the U.S. (when visiting) in the 90's.  My migraines were real and they hurt.  From memory Cafergot Suppositories were no longer being used (but they worked - and then you had to recover from them usually this took a whole day) So I would trot off to an emergency room and it took me a while to realise I was being treated like a drug addict who was looking for pain relief!  I couldn't deal with that or the monotonous procedure of lights in my eyes.  I just wanted the pain to go away   The thing is I didn't want a narcotic (they only worked temporarily) and the pain would be back again!  Sumatriptan injections usually work well without the overbearing side effects.

I have had all manner of beta blockers and preventatives, cat scans and visits to neurologists...All they can tell me is what I already know.  These are migraines.  Most of the time I wake up with them.  Usually this means I have eaten something (the night before?) which has set it off.  I cannot drink red wine (don't really drink anyway) because of the tannin.  Cheese will set me off as will some citrus fruit, the smell of perfumes, petrol, and wheat products.

I'm certain HRT was causing me my migraines way back when I was quite young.  An interesting aside...constant yawning (though I am not tired) is an indication I'm in trouble

[eli77]

I went to the ER yesterday. I was given some options and the most simple was taking percocets.
The doctor seemed pretty confident that they'd clear up my headache.

they didn't do a thing apart from give me the worst pains in my stomach I've ever felt several hours after taking them.

Other than that, I didn't even feel them.

heads still pounding. Don't really know what to do. No medicine is curing this.

Seriously? Percocet is an entirely inappropriate drug for migraines. It's a straight pain killer. It's not going to do ->-bleeped-<-. That's incredibly frustrating and I'm really sorry to hear. Can you see your doctor tomorrow and get them to give you something more helpful?

Did the hospital run any tests?  There are so many things that can cause a migraine.

Actually, migraines are a quite specific medical condition. There are many things that can cause very bad headaches that should be ruled out in case it isn't actually a migraine. But a migraine is a migraine. A chronic neurological disorder that causes severe headaches and a number of sensory distortions.

It's unfortunate that sometimes people use "migraine" to mean "bad headache" as it tends to create more difficulties in diagnosis and treatment. Like doctors prescribing a opiate for a condition that is extremely resistant to that form of treatment. Asprin would be a better choice than Percocet for goodness sake.

[Just Shelly]

I have recently just seen a doctor for the same reasons....in the back of my head I also feared maybe it was caused by my HRT. Like you I had never had any problems with migraines before.

I have had sinus headaches along with the migraines,,,,I also get floaters in my eyes when I have the migraines. I have had a ct scan done but haven't received results back yet.

[Emmy]

Seriously? Percocet is an entirely inappropriate drug for migraines. It's a straight pain killer. It's not going to do ->-bleeped-<-.

What can cure it? The injections? They also were talking about some sort of injection they could do.

I think they might of went with the percocets because the doctor was saying it seemed much more like a headache than migraine due to where it is and everything.
I don't really know what it is. all I know is nothing is curing it!!

That's incredibly frustrating and I'm really sorry to hear. Can you see your doctor tomorrow and get them to give you something more helpful?

I don't have an actual family doctor. I can't afford it.

The only doctor of mine is my HRT one and I don't know if he'll prescribe me something. I was going to call him to see what he thought about headaches in relations to HRT. even if the odds of estradiol giving me this headache might not be too high, I still want to know what he thinks


and no. they didn't run any tests. all they did was ask me questions and look in my eyes+ears T_T
I guess I should probably head back there tomorrow.

I feel like I'm going to be stuck with this pain forever

[vegie271]

I went to the ER yesterday. I was given some options and the most simple was taking percocets.
The doctor seemed pretty confident that they'd clear up my headache.

they didn't do a thing apart from give me the worst pains in my stomach I've ever felt several hours after taking them.

Other than that, I didn't even feel them.

heads still pounding. Don't really know what to do. No medicine is curing this.

Percocet? no! that won't do it! they always give me Stadol it is injected! or you can get a version which is used nasally 

[Kiwi4Ever]

Gosh...we are all sounding like Dr's on here.  But seriously, I too was given those awful percocets (a narcotic?) white tablet.  Just made me high, and I'm sure they are a drug of addiction.  I feel so much for you...You MIGHT be able to smash the migraine by drinking heaps of water.  Although it would hurt, I would sometimes run, through the pain and when my heart got back to normal it would be gone.

[vegie271]

Gosh...we are all sounding like Dr's on here.  But seriously, I too was given those awful percocets (a narcotic?) white tablet.  Just made me high, and I'm sure they are a drug of addiction.  I feel so much for you...You MIGHT be able to smash the migraine by drinking heaps of water.  Although it would hurt, I would sometimes run, through the pain and when my heart got back to normal it would be gone.

Percocet is another name for Oxycodone, (Oxycontin) I never talk about dosages or anything like that I am not a doctor but I have been on a lot of medicine  for a lot of conditions. It is an opiate.