What to do when Menopause is a Real Headache, er, Migraine

By Jennifer Upton

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Menopause is life-changing in many ways.

One of the more unpleasant symptoms is the onset of frequent headaches.

While sufferers of monthly menstrual headaches may find relief, for others, headaches and menopause frequently coexist.

HEADACHES ARE A REAL PAIN

There’s nothing worse than getting a headache at the wrong time.

Imagine being out for an evening with a group of friends you’ve not seen for a while.

The sound of their laughter contorts from a source of joy into a hellscape of overwhelming sound.

The lights in the restaurant seem brighter than usual.

You can’t concentrate on any of the multiple conversations taking place around you, so you fall quiet.

When your food arrives, you find you’ve lost your appetite to the vague nausea accompanying the now steady pulse pounding away like a jackhammer on the left side of your head.

This isn’t a “normal” headache.

It’s a migraine.

You retreat to the bathroom, rummage through your bag for some ibuprofen and swallow two with a fistful of tap water.

You fix your hair in the mirror and tell yourself, “I’ll be okay in a few minutes.”

A few minutes comes and goes.

A half an hour later, you realize what you really need is to lie down in a quiet, dark place.

You politely excuse yourself from what they later described as an “epic” evening.

But headaches don’t just ruin an evening out.

PHASES OF A MIGRAINE

More than merely the period of time when someone experiences a headache, migraine episodes typically comprise several, generally three, different phases.

Prodrome phase. This could happen before a migraine by hours or days.

Many people suffer sudden drowsiness or fatigue, low mood or anger, or difficulty concentrating during this phase.

Along with neck pain, sensitivity to sounds, odors, and lights, they could also experience nausea or lose their appetite.

Some crave unusual foods.

Aura phase. Some people claim to experience additional sorts of visual disturbances, such as zigzag lines or colorful splotches, during the aura phase.

Additionally, they can have problems speaking, feel queasy, have vertigo, or discover that their extremities are tingling or numb.

This stage may last up to an hour, which is followed by a headache.

Headache phase.

The headache phase is only one part of migraine and may last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours.

It may be accompanied by nausea or sensitivity to light, sound, or smells, as well as difficulty concentrating.

Postdrome phase.

Once a migraine headache subsides, it’s common for people to feel fatigued or “washed out” or “hungover,” in a low mood, and have trouble concentrating for several hours, as they recover.

Only approximately 25% of migraine sufferers have an aura.

Some people perceive an aura during a headache as opposed to just before it starts.

At least occasionally, some migraine sufferers will experience an aura without a headache following it.

According to research, women are more prone to experience migraine than men, mostly due to monthly hormonal shifts.

Many find that headaches or migraines worsen at the start of perimenopause or menopause and then improve after.

For some it can even be a time when they happen for the first time.

FROM EPIC EVENING TO EPIC HEADACHE

Headaches can affect:

Concentration
Work performance
Intimacy
Parenting duties
Sociability

The two main types of headaches experienced during perimenopause and menopause are tension headaches and migraine.

Tension Headache symptoms:

Dull pain (mild to moderate) that comes on slowly
Pain all around the head in a band or pain on both sides simultaneously
Tightness in the neck and/or jaw area
Tightness/tenderness in the shoulders
Tightness/tenderness in the scalp

Migraine symptoms:

Severe pain on one side of the head
Sensitivity to light and sound
Nausea
Forgetfulness
Seeing auras of light around objects
Exhaustion
Dizziness
Can last up to three days

According to research, hormones such as estrogen, play a significant role in the onset of migraines.

Estrogen levels can fluctuate wildly during perimenopause and fall throughout menopause.

Because of these biological phases, women have migraine almost twice as frequently as men.

DIAGNOSIS

Some headaches may indicate a significant underlying condition, thus they should be swiftly investigated.

Any of the following symptoms ought to be reported to a medical professional:

Occurrence of a headache that is “first” or “the worst”
Headache that becomes worse with time
Abrupt or sudden headache onset
A headache that keeps you awake
A headache that is accompanied by a rash or a high fever
A headache that accompanies muscle weakness, along with confusion
Accompanying headache with unexpected weight loss
A new type of headache that is distinct from all others
A headache that occurs immediately after an injury or accident
A sudden headache that occurs with symptoms of anaphylaxis following a bee sting or consumption of a particular food

It’s important to keep a symptom diary.

After a few weeks, take the diary to your physician.

The mySysters app will help you keep track of your headaches along with any other symptoms you might be experiencing.

SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT

There is no cure for a migraine or tension headache.

But, once your doctor has reached a diagnosis and ruled out other possible triggers for your headaches, they will discuss possible treatments to manage your symptoms.

Hormone therapy (HRT or HT) is most successful in treating hormonal headaches when administered in gel or patches as these keep the estrogen levels in the blood more consistent over time.
For migraines, your doctor can prescribe one of several medications (both preventive and abortive) currently available.
Over-the-counter pain medications such as paracetamol, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen frequently mixed with caffeine
Prescription pain medication and triptans. A triptan can successfully treat the discomfort of episodic tension-type headaches and migraines in persons who get both types of headaches. Narcotics, often known as opioids, are rarely utilized because of their negative effects and risk for addiction
Acupuncture
Lie down in a quiet, dark place with a cold compress or eye mask
Stay hydrated
Get plenty of sleep
Take a daily multi-vitamin to ensure adequate nutrition
Limit alcohol
Limit foods high in sodium and histamine (fermented foods, cheese, wine, cured meats)
Some people swear by ginger or peppermint tea but there are other varieties that might also help
Stretch your neck and shoulders throughout your day

THE ICE WOMAN COMETH

While medications may be effective in treating migraines and headaches, ice has long been used as a headache and migraine treatment and has no side effects.

In fact, using cold therapy for headaches is at least 150 years old.

When your head hurts, applying ice makes sense because it is frequently the “go-to” treatment for pain and inflammation.

Blood vessels narrow as a result of the cold, which can also lessen pain’s neurotransmission to the brain.

Studies show that applying a frozen neck wrap at the beginning of a migraine considerably reduced pain in people with migraine.

The Cool Wrap Chill from Opal Cool is a safe, drug-free alternative that delivers natural cool therapy for migraines, headaches and hot flashes. For a limited time get 20% off your order by using promo code mysysters20 at checkout.

The difference between tolerable and severe pain might be determined by whether you find a home remedy to assist you alleviate the signs of a headache or a migraine.

A headache’s discomfort and agony can be eased by using an Cool Wrap Chill from Opal Cool, which is a cost-effective and secure method.

The carotid artery in the neck was thought to be chilled by the cooling pack, according to researchers.

This lessened brain inflammation, which lessened the agony that migraine sufferers experience.

Applying the ice pack for 15 to 20 minutes at a time works best when using cold therapy for headaches or migraines.

Your ability to get relief faster depends on where you place the ice pack.

Applying ice as a neck wrap can help ease the pain and suffering associated with headaches and migraines.

Another great option is a cooling eye mask.

This cooling eye mask from Opal Cool is safe to wear directly on the skin, latex free, and HSA and FSA reimbursable. *For a limited time get 20% off your order by using promo code mysysters20 at checkout. *

ENGAGE YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM

Key to surviving the perimenopause or menopause headache is the understanding of those around you.

Open and honest communication with your doctor, friends and family are crucial when dealing with chronic pain.

The people around might not grasp fully why you might not be as keen to accept invites or why you left that “epic” ladies’ night early.

Be kind to yourself and others will follow.

mySysters is an app for women in perimenopause and menopause. Good Housekeeping and Woman’s Day named mySysters the Best App for Women in Perimenopause and a Must Have App for Women.

The information and other content provided in this blog, website or in any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Jennifer Upton is an American (non-werewolf) writer/editor in London. She currently works as a freelance ghostwriter of personal memoirs and writes for several blogs on topics as diverse as film history, punk rock, women’s issues, and international politics. For links to her work, please visit https://www.jennuptonwriter.com or send her a Tweet @Jennxldn

Sources:

https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/migraine

https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/migraine-treatments

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/headache-remedies

https://artfultea.com/blogs/wellness/best-teas-for-headaches-and-migraines

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tension-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20353977

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hormone-headaches/

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02867-4

https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/women%27s-health-and-menopause/headaches