Menopause?? or something else? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

raeanna74 · 01-18-2009, 01:17 PM

I've looked up a good bit of information on the process and all. I'm just not sure what is going on and atm I can't get in to see my Dr, at least for a few weeks. So, here I am for any ideas, suggestions, advice, or just to hear of any similar experiences...

Last time Aunt flo was scheduled to visit she barely stopped in for a weekend. This time she's been completely AWOL. My tubes are tied but I'm on BC because the hormonal fluctuations give me migranes and this way I can control the frequency and timing of the migranes. My normal BC schedule is 9 weeks on, 1 week off. This week was my off week. I took my last pill lst SUNDAY and here it is Sunday again and no period. The other issues that make me wonder if my time is coming is that I've had hot flashes almost every day this week. It hasn't been too out of the ordinary to have a hot flash or nightsweat or two almost every week. Back in November I was having multiple hot flashes every day for a few weeks there. I have also had two migranes show up this week. I've managed to stave them off but at $11/pill.
I'm 6 weeks away from turning 35. My mother started pre-menopause at 35. Her most frequent symptoms were hot flashes, irregular periods, and migranes.

I don't think it's the BC that's causing this as I've been on this particular formula for over a year and it's worked well for me. I have not started any new meds in the last 3-4 months. I did start a new job but it's been low pressure and not overly demanding physically. Stress hasn't been much of an issue, even with the move in August. Besides I had no changes with my period in August - October.

So, what's the verdict/suspicion/suggestions? Am I starting Menopause? should I be watching for any other symptoms to tell me Dr when I do manage to get in?

ngdawg · 01-18-2009, 02:35 PM

At 35, you should probably stop the BC and find another way to control the migraines as you are probably in peri-menopause, based on your mother's experience. That can take up to 10 years to get through.
If your Dr is anything like mine, you will probably be told that it will have to take 6 months to a year for a definitive call of menopause, barring other causes.
In the meantime, there are OTC things you can take to alleviate the symptoms, but since you are on a hormone therapy, ask first. The pharmacist should know if those would compromise or screw up the meds you currently take.

raeanna74 · 01-19-2009, 05:06 PM

I DO take stuff for the migranes. I take Imitrex and Aleve and they work well in combination. The newest migrane treatment prescription is just that even - a combo of Imitrex and Aleve. I have tried Maxalt as well - it works the same as Imitrex but is more expensive. The BC pills cost me $10/mo while the Imitrex costs a minimum of $10 a pill. I have to take the 100mg pills and if you go to the wrong pharmacy they can cost upwards of $25/pill. I take 1-2 Imitrex as well as 3 Aleve for each migrane which, when I'm not on BC can be as often as 2-3 times a week. This was the same kind of problem for my mother...

My Dr, a few years ago, tried me on a daily 3 tablets of Aleve each morning. It did seem to temper the migranes when I did get them but gave me some pretty bad heartburn and indigestion. So we crossed that of the list of what to try. I went for over a year without the BC but I just couldn't take the frequent migranes. They didn't even always coincide with my period. But with BC I have no more than 1-2 migranes every 2 1/2 months.

Any other ideas for meds for migranes? I don't know what else to try.

ngdawg · 01-19-2009, 05:24 PM

Only your dr can tell you what to take. Mixing meds is not for forum discussion-too many variables.
What are your triggers? Are you willing to do alternative therapies, like Chiropractics or Biofeedback or Accupuncture?
The OTC was regarding menopause relief, not migraine-sorry if that was unclear. Some contain soy, which is said to be a natural estrogen.
Your symptoms sound like perimenopause; the only way to know if it's really coming is to wait it out and see how the periods come, if at all.

raeanna74 · 01-20-2009, 05:49 AM

Ic, makes sense. I will have to look into that sort of thing for helping with perimenopause. I know I will need any help I can get.
I know from my mother's experience that they hesitate to do anything to interfere with the perimenopause. I have no intention of going through what my mother went though. She started it at 35 but she had not gotten through it until around 48 or 49 yrs old. I cannot imagine dealing with the migranes for that long. The hot flashes I can deal with - so far anyway. The irregular periods are ok too. The prospect of having migranes for 10+ years on a monthly if not possibly weekly basis - it's terrifying. I can't imagine stopping the BC.

The migranes are primarily triggered by changes in my hormones. Stress, alcohol, coffee, sleep - none of those seem to have much effect on the migranes. I've left alcohol alone for long periods of time, stopped drinking coffee or only drank decaf, and I get 8 hrs of sleep almost every night. As far as even my Dr can tell, he migranes are related to my hormones almost completely.

hunnychile · 01-23-2009, 03:38 PM

A very good friend of mine has migraines and is your age (& perimenopausal) ...she's now using Treximet for the migraines and it seems to help quite a bit. I used accupuncture & herbs, when I livied in California and that helped me immensely. Two roads - both work depending on the doctor you consult. But do consult a Dr. and if they aren't helping find another.

Good luck....we are hoping you find the right help and I'm glad you're sharing with us here. tfp has some valuable posts and it's nice when one or more find relief.

raeanna74 · 01-26-2009, 08:13 PM

I've looked into Treximet. I probably won't bother with it because I take exactly what's in it without paying $25/pill (at least that's what my local pharmacy charges). It is basically the equivalant of Imitrex and 3 Aleve. For that I pay only $11 or so.

I've seen several mentions of acupuncture for both migrane and peri-menopause. Here and on other sites. How much can that run, at least for the migrane treatments?

I am going to go the herbal route. It won't hurt even at the very beginning of perimenopause and hopefully it will ease the whole process. Maybe I can go HRT free, if they work well enough for me. I'm read up on Chaste Berry, and about 5 other herbs. Also my mother used a Dr who worked in alternative medicine and had her on herbs only when she was in perimenopause. She still has all her papers and knows what she took, so can help advise me.

Once I get it all figured out, maybe I will come back and post here what has worked for me. Thanks for the input.

01-18-2009, 01:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	Menopause?? or something else? I've looked up a good bit of information on the process and all. I'm just not sure what is going on and atm I can't get in to see my Dr, at least for a few weeks. So, here I am for any ideas, suggestions, advice, or just to hear of any similar experiences... Last time Aunt flo was scheduled to visit she barely stopped in for a weekend. This time she's been completely AWOL. My tubes are tied but I'm on BC because the hormonal fluctuations give me migranes and this way I can control the frequency and timing of the migranes. My normal BC schedule is 9 weeks on, 1 week off. This week was my off week. I took my last pill lst SUNDAY and here it is Sunday again and no period. The other issues that make me wonder if my time is coming is that I've had hot flashes almost every day this week. It hasn't been too out of the ordinary to have a hot flash or nightsweat or two almost every week. Back in November I was having multiple hot flashes every day for a few weeks there. I have also had two migranes show up this week. I've managed to stave them off but at $11/pill. I'm 6 weeks away from turning 35. My mother started pre-menopause at 35. Her most frequent symptoms were hot flashes, irregular periods, and migranes. I don't think it's the BC that's causing this as I've been on this particular formula for over a year and it's worked well for me. I have not started any new meds in the last 3-4 months. I did start a new job but it's been low pressure and not overly demanding physically. Stress hasn't been much of an issue, even with the move in August. Besides I had no changes with my period in August - October. So, what's the verdict/suspicion/suggestions? Am I starting Menopause? should I be watching for any other symptoms to tell me Dr when I do manage to get in? __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

01-18-2009, 02:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
ngdawg peekaboo Location: on the back, bitch	At 35, you should probably stop the BC and find another way to control the migraines as you are probably in peri-menopause, based on your mother's experience. That can take up to 10 years to get through. If your Dr is anything like mine, you will probably be told that it will have to take 6 months to a year for a definitive call of menopause, barring other causes. In the meantime, there are OTC things you can take to alleviate the symptoms, but since you are on a hormone therapy, ask first. The pharmacist should know if those would compromise or screw up the meds you currently take. __________________ Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.

01-19-2009, 05:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	I DO take stuff for the migranes. I take Imitrex and Aleve and they work well in combination. The newest migrane treatment prescription is just that even - a combo of Imitrex and Aleve. I have tried Maxalt as well - it works the same as Imitrex but is more expensive. The BC pills cost me $10/mo while the Imitrex costs a minimum of $10 a pill. I have to take the 100mg pills and if you go to the wrong pharmacy they can cost upwards of $25/pill. I take 1-2 Imitrex as well as 3 Aleve for each migrane which, when I'm not on BC can be as often as 2-3 times a week. This was the same kind of problem for my mother... My Dr, a few years ago, tried me on a daily 3 tablets of Aleve each morning. It did seem to temper the migranes when I did get them but gave me some pretty bad heartburn and indigestion. So we crossed that of the list of what to try. I went for over a year without the BC but I just couldn't take the frequent migranes. They didn't even always coincide with my period. But with BC I have no more than 1-2 migranes every 2 1/2 months. Any other ideas for meds for migranes? I don't know what else to try. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

01-19-2009, 05:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
ngdawg peekaboo Location: on the back, bitch	Only your dr can tell you what to take. Mixing meds is not for forum discussion-too many variables. What are your triggers? Are you willing to do alternative therapies, like Chiropractics or Biofeedback or Accupuncture? The OTC was regarding menopause relief, not migraine-sorry if that was unclear. Some contain soy, which is said to be a natural estrogen. Your symptoms sound like perimenopause; the only way to know if it's really coming is to wait it out and see how the periods come, if at all. __________________ Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.

01-20-2009, 05:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	Ic, makes sense. I will have to look into that sort of thing for helping with perimenopause. I know I will need any help I can get. I know from my mother's experience that they hesitate to do anything to interfere with the perimenopause. I have no intention of going through what my mother went though. She started it at 35 but she had not gotten through it until around 48 or 49 yrs old. I cannot imagine dealing with the migranes for that long. The hot flashes I can deal with - so far anyway. The irregular periods are ok too. The prospect of having migranes for 10+ years on a monthly if not possibly weekly basis - it's terrifying. I can't imagine stopping the BC. The migranes are primarily triggered by changes in my hormones. Stress, alcohol, coffee, sleep - none of those seem to have much effect on the migranes. I've left alcohol alone for long periods of time, stopped drinking coffee or only drank decaf, and I get 8 hrs of sleep almost every night. As far as even my Dr can tell, he migranes are related to my hormones almost completely. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma. Last edited by raeanna74; 01-20-2009 at 05:53 AM..

01-23-2009, 03:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
hunnychile Alien Anthropologist Location: Between Boredom and Nirvana	A very good friend of mine has migraines and is your age (& perimenopausal) ...she's now using Treximet for the migraines and it seems to help quite a bit. I used accupuncture & herbs, when I livied in California and that helped me immensely. Two roads - both work depending on the doctor you consult. But do consult a Dr. and if they aren't helping find another. Good luck....we are hoping you find the right help and I'm glad you're sharing with us here. tfp has some valuable posts and it's nice when one or more find relief. __________________ "I need compassion, understanding and chocolate." - NJB

01-26-2009, 08:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	I've looked into Treximet. I probably won't bother with it because I take exactly what's in it without paying $25/pill (at least that's what my local pharmacy charges). It is basically the equivalant of Imitrex and 3 Aleve. For that I pay only $11 or so. I've seen several mentions of acupuncture for both migrane and peri-menopause. Here and on other sites. How much can that run, at least for the migrane treatments? I am going to go the herbal route. It won't hurt even at the very beginning of perimenopause and hopefully it will ease the whole process. Maybe I can go HRT free, if they work well enough for me. I'm read up on Chaste Berry, and about 5 other herbs. Also my mother used a Dr who worked in alternative medicine and had her on herbs only when she was in perimenopause. She still has all her papers and knows what she took, so can help advise me. Once I get it all figured out, maybe I will come back and post here what has worked for me. Thanks for the input. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.