PMS Headache Question

**paelthom** · 04-05-2004, 09:48 AM

I think it's safe to ask this question, not to personal.

Do you get the headache from h*ll right before your period? I'm talking about the headache to end all headaches, makes your soul even hurt. I have it today and I get it EVERY month.

I've tried all the over the counter pain meds, prescription strength Aleve and even one for something like Motrin but in prescription strength (Relafen). Nothing helps this headache and it doesn't go away until the period arrives in full strength. Hot baths don't help, sleep doesn't help and chocolate doesn't help but I eat it anyway.

Have you ever found anything to get rid of these headaches? A plain old regular headache I can get rid of with 2 Tylenol but not this sucker. I dread getting this every month.

Any suggestions will be tried (unless they require tons of money and a trip to the Bahamas - though I'd like that too) and appreciated.

**Michelle** · 04-05-2004, 10:26 AM

I get them really bad too. The only thing that will touch my headaches is Excedrin or 800 mg Motrin (the kind I had after my Csections).

I also try to drink a TON of water--that seems to help.

I hope you feel better soon--

**Missy** · 04-05-2004, 11:14 AM

I do, but I am prone to headaches. I was suffering with them for a very long time, until i found a pin killer (OTC) called Orrudis KT. I can't locate it in the stores here in CO, but i stocked up on some of it when I went on vacation to Maine last year. You can only take one in 6 hours, but man this stuff really works. Before this i relied on cold packs on my forehead (have you tried the "Be Cool " strips? found by the childrens fever reducers) and drinking lots and lots of water.

**paelthom** · 04-05-2004, 11:23 AM

Will check on the Orrudis and the strips. Does yours feel like someone is squeezing your head? Glad you stocked up on the meds, crazy that you can't get it in CO.

**canadian gardener** · 04-05-2004, 12:04 PM

yes Pat, and it's probably a migraine, brought on by hormonal fluctuations. There are pain producing hormones, can't remember the tech term off hand--hate it, it's on the tip of my tongue too!, that are produced in honkin great quantities just before your period is due.

Good news? Well sometimes the level of these pain producers can be lowered by using Aspirin BEFORE the pain is due, but here it comes.

About 2 to 4 days before, you start taking one or two plain or buffered aspirin about 4 times a day and keep taking till the 2cd day of your period.

It blocks a particular chemical pathway. Darned if I can remember the name of the chemicals!!! It'll come to me later, I'll add it in then.

They are a class of chemicals that cause inflammation.

Aspirin works to prevent the chemical cascade but once you are into the full blown migraine, they can't touch it much and you should consider regular migraine medicine then but this can prevent it if begun soon enough.

Which is about 2 to 4 days BEFORE the expected headache if you are able to predict it. about the time your breasts begin to get sore or other premonitory symptons start.

Aspirin, Motrin, and another anti inflammatory (cant remember name) will work but NOT TYLENOL. Tylenol has no anti inflammatory action at all.

**paelthom** · 04-05-2004, 12:11 PM

Thanks Margery,
Mine are a bit hard to predict but I will certainly chart this one and see if I can start taking the aspirin before the next time. This one is a doozy today. I want a cold, dark room and quiet so bad but it's not on the agenda for me.

**bamamomto4** · 04-05-2004, 12:54 PM

I get headaches to. I now take a prescription called fiorcet.it's the best thing I've ever taken for headaches.
Before the prescrip I would take 800 mg of motrin (just take 4 of the 200 mg) it helped a lot.

melissa--we have that orrudis kt here..never tried it though

**paelthom** · 04-05-2004, 01:04 PM

Thanks Tammy. BTW - love that Princess Jayme avatar.

**Dixie** · 04-05-2004, 03:00 PM

Sorry about your headache, Pat.

The only thing that helps mine is 800 mg. Ibuprofhen,too. I hope you get relief, soon.

**macca-gal** · 04-06-2004, 08:30 AM

Hi Pat - I used to get terrible menstrual migraines also. I don't like to take meds, but when they got to the point where nothing OTC touched them, my doctor talked me into taking just 25mg of Imitrex for them. A lot of people are afraid of Imitrex, because the old injectable version that used to be commonly used had so many adverse effects, but I have been able to use it effectively with virtually no side effects at all. It's best to take it at the onset of your headache, but I have woke up with migraines already in full force, and it still worked well. Taking some caffeine at the same time seems to speed the process up a bit.

There's lots of good suggestions in this thread - I hope you find something that works well for you soon. Take care and feel better.

**paelthom** · 04-06-2004, 10:05 AM

Thanks everyone. Well the flood has started so the headache is better. I am going to try some of the suggestions and be prepared next month to stop the headache before it starts (hopefully).

**Missy** · 04-06-2004, 12:49 PM

I like the orrudis, it works great for me. I like the Be Cool strips too, they work well. I have no idea why i can't find Orrudis here, but it's ok, Mom sends me some to keep me stocked in it.

**sixfreds** · 04-06-2004, 04:11 PM

I get those headaches and the only thing at that time that helps is the midol complete, for pms headaches for me it is the only thing that helps...

Eileen

**paelthom** · 04-07-2004, 06:32 PM

Gonna stock up on some of that as well. One of these is bound to stop the headache next time.

**pip** · 04-09-2004, 05:09 PM

I think it helps me to start some Advil a couple times a day a couple days before my period is due. I think it might even help decrease the heaviness of my period, but don't quote me!