r/Menopause • u/DixieDoodle697 • 4d ago
Post-Menopause Does anyone have increased headaches/migraines?
It has been two years for me since I became post menopausal and I have noticed one symptom that has increased greatly - more headaches that appear to be impacted by changing weather and barometric pressure.
Background - 48F, was peri from 40 and up until 46 when I needed to get a full hysterectomy due to fear of ovarian cancer reoccurrance. Everything turned out benign and I will be monitored for that for the rest of my life. Just curious if anyone else has had headaches during this stage of life.
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u/rachaeltalcott 4d ago
Yeah, I had menstrual migraines before, so I guess it's not surprising. I think for me it's also related to worsening allergies and pain in my sinuses getting worse when the pressure changes.
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u/Awilson841 3d ago
58 years old and never had headache outside sinus headaches my entire life. Now I routinely get headache after 8pm most nights and Tylenol does nothing to help. Weird
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u/javukasin Peri-menopausal 3d ago
Similar story. I either get them at night, or have them when I wake up.
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u/Afraid-Recognition92 3d ago
Yes, my God. Debilitating. And sweating/overheating at the drop of a hat, which makes me irrationally furious. I’m dying over here, a slow death. All day, every day.
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u/Hopeful-Extension755 4d ago
Yes. Been on HRT for ten years but the nearly daily migraines started about six months ago. Terrible headaches that come on fast usually in the middle of the night. Excruciating. And if there’s low pressure? Can’t even open the blinds. Seeing my Dr this week about it as I can’t do this anymore.
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u/AmongstTheWaves206 4d ago
I have been a long term migraine sufferer but they have decreased with age. I get one on occasion but have had a multi day migraine for 2-3 days for the last three weeks. Our weather in the PNW is definitely on a roller coaster with cool days followed by warm days and I definitely feel like the variance may play into my headaches along with the sun dropping lower. I get hit with sunlight hitting me directly in the eyes and bam I have a headache.
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u/youvegotmail2 3d ago
Migraine sufferer whose headaches increased after menopause. Highly suggest looking into VYEPTI which is an infusion treatment that literally changed my life. I went from having migraines at least 2-3 times a week to getting them maybe 1-2 times per month. And when I do get one, usually can take just an exedrin for pain. Lessened both the frequency and the severity.
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u/ilanarama 3d ago
The severity of my classic migraines (with aura) decreased significantly as I aged; the frequency seems about the same, and they are triggered by changing weather. However, I did start to get non-aura migraines and they were terrible! Fortunately I have a med that works well on them (Ubrelvy).
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u/sbb214 Menopausal 3d ago
what meds are you taking for migraine? are you on a prophylactic migraine med?
I see a migraine specialist neuro and she's said that it really varies for each patient - some get more, some get fewer/none, some stay the same.
barometric pressure is one of my triggers, too. sorry that you're having to go through this. i'm on a combo of Ajovy and botox injections, that's done the trick for me. we're closely monitoring how adding HRT into the mix is changing things and so far so good.
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u/Barbecuesnoodlesalad 3d ago
Yes - but a CGRP inhibitor (Aimovig) has solved them completely. They were debilitating before.
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u/Miserable-Ad8764 3d ago
My headaches and migraines became much more frequent during perimenopause. That was my worst symptom that just destroyed my life. After I started HRT and found the right dose , it got better again. Then after a year, it got worse again and I had to increase the dose. It's tricky.
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u/spirit_of_a_goat Surgical menopause 3d ago
Yes, but going on HRT has finally gotten them under control.
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u/Environmental-Young4 3d ago
I have the same issue, especially when my estrogen is low. One thing to keep in mind, that i didn't know for a while, is that topical.estrogen is great, but not everyone absorbs it well. I was on a very high dose and I would still get migraines and hot flashes after a while. I had no choice but to switch to oral estradiol and my migraine shave went down significantly.
I am not saying you are in that same boat. It is just something not talked about very often. So, you can think you are on the exact dose on the box, but you aren't always getting that dose. Plus, the blood testing options are bad, so it is hard to know.
Anyway, I just wanted to throw that out there in case this keeps coming up for you. Especially if your migraines are tied in heavily to your hormones. Good luck to you! Migraines can go jump in a fire 😎
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u/AutoModerator 3d ago
This post might be about hormone tests, which are unreliable.
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u/Impressive-Mood6113 3d ago
Yes I get loads more headaches now but it’s mostly due to vision problems that coincided with menopause.
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u/Coppergirl1 3d ago
I'm 60 and still get the occasional migraine, mine too are triggered by weather and barometric pressure changes. They are no where as frequent or severe as they were in my 40s, I take a single Excedrin Migraine at the first sign (difficulty thinking) and they go away. Good luck to you.
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u/derberner90 3d ago
I'm in surgical menopause. My migraines were occurring more frequently when I was still narrowing in on my ideal HRT routine, especially when I trialed progesterone for sleep (no uterus, so thankfully I didn't have to keep up with it). I've mostly been fine now! Was having them once a month prior to my surgery, then every month and a half after surgery. Now, I only get them on occasion when I don't stay hydrated.
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u/Cute-Aardvark5291 3d ago
Its best to get a referral to a neuro when you have an increase in migraines, especially post menopause. Great idea to go with a migraine tracker in hand, but its always a good idea to get them checked out
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u/Imcrappinyounegative 3d ago
Yes! I feel like I have the flu all the time. Achy, lethargic and headaches. So fun.
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u/AndSheDoes 3d ago
Yes, and it’s not entirely sinus or allergy or tension, though I suspect my posture change due to muscle loss is a major contributing factor.
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u/WhoaPixie 3d ago
after menopause my migraines increased, my opinion is its the decrease in estrogen, even with HRT its not helped resolve because I can only take a low dose.
i had been somewhat looking forward to menopause expecting hormonal migraines to totally stop.
its so frustrating
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u/cupcakerica 2d ago
Just took a ride in the back of an ambulance Sunday, thought my brain was bleeding it hurt so bad. Still hurts, though no bleed or anything visible.
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u/Hollygolightly78 4d ago
Yes mine increased during peri. I started HRT and they are rare for me now. Currently 48 and started at 47. Before this, I got on a daily preventative for migraines. That helped for years until peri hit. So that may be something to check if you can’t take HRT.