Hi Katherine
After reading Katherine's post, I had the same reaction. Ah, hormonal ups and downs. The older I get (and I guess I have to admit that I'm in peri-menopause, too) the worse the headaches are, especially the ones near my period. Katherine, if Midrin helps you, you really need to get an Rx. That's such a simple drug and has so few side effects. If you can get away with just Midrin, you are extremely lucky. To dianose migraines they don't do any scary tests. Family history and a description of symptoms, plus your known reaction to Midrin, should be enough to convince most doctors. Question for the list: Does anyone else get crashing depression just before a migraine hits? I've noticed this and I think it has to do with the serotonin dip. I am not depressed normally, just suddenly and dramatically before headaches. L.
, and welcome to the group. This is a fine forum for exchanging personal experiences, voicing support and encouragement, and sometimes just plain yelling and venting to anyone willing to listen. We won't judge you here! Like you, I suffer my headaches monthly, like clockwork, with an occasional h/a from over-exertion, heat, or long periods of bright sunlight. I've never been to a neurologist or had any special tests performed on my head. I simply mentioned my monthly migraines to my GYN last year, and he prescribed me 30 Imitrex tabs with 9 refills - very few questions asked! The tabs usually work for me, however, if it's a really big h/a, it comes back in about 12 hours. Sometimes I can take a double- headache-powder, and IF I keep it down, and IF I can lay down and doze off for a while, sometimes it works like a charm. My 12-yr-old son has a migraine once a week, and we're still on a search for -something- that works for him. I'm trying to hold off on putting him on a daily preventative. Last summer he tried a daily SSRI, Luvox, and it made him very short-tempered and irritable and he'd fly off the handle over the simplest of things. Everybody's reaction to meds is so different, as you'll see on this group. But you should do something....don't waste any time suffering in silence! Find some relief if you can. Looking forward to your input, ....Tina (and son Danny) "Never place a period where God has placed a comma."
Lynn: About the depression before the migraine. I have a term for the way I feel. I call it "Snail Belly Low". That's D-O-W-N! It's like I'm under a very heavy blanket and nothing moves. I hate it! Sandie