Migraine

Hello everyone! My name is Ally (29) and I have been a migraine sufferer for almost 4 years now. I seemed to think that there might be a connection between my being on orthotricyclen lo and getting these severe migraines. No one in my family has ever had migraine problems before. I didn't get them either until I started a few months into my birth control and now, four yrs later, they have only gotten worse to the point that I have to take Maxalt (I go through 9 pills each month, which the doctor doesn't think is bad). I am hoping that when my husband and I try to start a family in the next year, and I am off the pill, that they will get better or go away. Has anyone else ever had this experience before?? Thanks for your help and I am glad I found a place that understands

First and foremost, let me welcome you to our family! I don't have experience with birth control currently (tubes are tied) but I can offer some links for you to review. I hope you find them helpful!

Is your doc a migraine specialist? What about MOH? Anyway, I am sure a moderator will be along to offer better information than I can but let me get you started.

This is a GREAT place for us, full of support and information!!

Patient Recommended Doctor’s by state: http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/headache-specialists.html

Medication Overuse (Rebound): http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/medications-32544-5.html

Preventative, Abortive and Rescue Medications: http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/medications-29469-5.html

I hope this helps even though it doesn't address your BC question.

Again, welcome!!

Hi Ally!

Welcome to the forum! I'm sure the moderators will be along to give you links and important info, but I can share my experiences for now: I found that my migraines were pretty severe when taking the pill. I know I've read stories from many others here who notice hormonal links between their periods, their birth control pills, and their migraines. Only your doctor can tell you for sure if the pill might be a contributing factor for you, though!

Hmmm...You don't take a preventative medicine (one to keep you from having the migraines in the first place?)? Every doctor is different, but I know mine would say that if you need 9 Maxalt a month you may also need a preventative regimen! (You might want to bring this up with your own doctor...)

Anyway, those are just a few of my thoughts!

It's nice to meet you! I hope you find this place very helpful--we have lots of terrific members with TONS of info to share!

jenny

Hi Ally, welcome to the site

Welcome Ally!

I am going through the same thing girlie! I just switched off the generic ortho onto the generic Seasonale. I think the drop of estrogen during the placebo week really messed up my system and gave me those hormonal induced whoppers.

I've heard it go either way....you can talk to your doctor about switching your pill (that's what I did) or check your options about alternative methods. It is possible your pill could be making your migraines worse...but that would be for you to discuss with your doctor.

I decided to try the Seasonale since it's the continued dose of pill throughout the month (well, 3 months) then a placebo week, instead of the ortho - where each week the pill is a different formula and then you have that placebo week which is what always killed me.

I see Laura already gave you links so I won't give them to you again, but please look them over.

Let us know if you have any other questions, and please keep us posted!!!

Welcome to the family!

Welcome Ally.

I'll echo what Eileen said - see if another pill or another method of birth control is an option for you.

The links the others gave you are helpful. Let us know if you have anymore questions.

Hi Ally,
Since everyone before me has given all of the great advice, I'll just say "hi" and welcome to the forum family!

Take care,

Just wanted to add my welcome onto the pile!

Thank you all for your advice. I am not currently on a preventitive medicine because I didn't care for the side effects, especially the one which my dr mentioned that said I could lose temporary memory recall...have a hard time saying what I was thinking too. I decided to just stick with the maxalt and try to do other things such as diet and exercise to decrease my migraines. The doctor that I have currently, is not a migraine specialist at all. To tell you the truth, I never knew they existed. I would love to find out what is causing them. It is the only link I know of since no one in my family has ever had migraine problems.

I agree with you Eileen. I seem to get the worst and the most of my migraines during that placebo month. I decided, with my husband, that the pill is still the best method for us. I might try a different one eventaully, but with us wanting to get off them next year to start trying for a family, I didn't think it would be worth it to switch. Could I be wrong?

It is great to meet you all. Laura I will have to check out the sites you sent. Thanks again everyone for being so helpful and supportive!

Switching pills may help. Like I said - it would be best to speak with your doctor about it.

Also there are now over 100 preventive options out there now for migraine prevention. And in all different drug families such as anti-seizure, beta blockers, antidepressents....so don't give up if one or two you've tried before gave you a problem. Most of the time the cognative side effects will subside after your body adjusts to the medications, if not then thats when you would speak with your doctor about something else.

Are you keeping a headache diary? that will help you find your triggers as to what may be bringing on your migraines (if it is food, weather, smells, etc related)

Hope this helps you out some!

There are over 100 different possible preventative meds for migraine, each with a different side effect profile, and each affecting each person differently. I couldn't tolerate Topamax, and tolerated neurontin with difficulty (but it also didn't work for me) but I'm not having any significant trouble with Inderal, and it's greatly reduced my migraine frequency. It's still higher than I'm comfortable with, so next time I see my doctor, I'm going to ask about adding magnesium to the regimen. Anyway, you can find info on preventative possibilities on this site. Some of us have been known to print the list and take it with us to the doctor!

Preventative medications

Welcome to the site.



1

Hi, Ally!

Like Eileen and nutcracker pointed out, there are many, many preventatives to either try singly or in a combo. There's bound to be something you can handle that works for you with limited side effects. Finding an effective preventative is critical, so don't give up on it. You might find that something simple works great for you. I always have had my best luck with magnesium, with NO side effects.

I have now experience with the migraine/birth control angle, though, so I can't comment there. But I did want to say hello!

Welcome joesgirl,

If I may say a word about potential side effects. It was great that your doctor explained the potential side effects of the medication he was going to prescribe. But please be aware those side effects may not happen to you. They are called potential for a reason. If everyone experienced all the side effects listed on medications the FDA would never be able to approve new drugs.

It is important not to let the fear of a potential side effect impact our decision on how to reduce our Migraine frequency. If we take a drug and DO experience unwanted side effects, there are many others to choose from. We just need to get some of these doctors to understand that and prescribe more than just one medication for prevention.

Please keep us posted on how you are feeling ok?

Hi Ally, Just wanted to check up on you and see how you are feeling

I am doing good. No migraines for probably a week now. I will definitely talk with my doctor about other options for preventatives to see which ones are right for me the next time that I see her. Thank you all for your advice and support I am also trying to exercise more hoping that it will help also, and I added magnesium pills to my vitamin regimen as well which has been helping too!