Migraine during menopause: Lorraine's story (48)

At first, it didn’t really hurt much. It was more of an annoyance, Lorraine explains. “Could something in my lunch have gone off? Could that cause a headache?” An hour later, she found herself sitting with her hands pressed against her head. She was experiencing a throbbing pain that was impossible to ignore. The sunlight felt as though someone were shining a torch directly into her face. She snapped at her colleagues, something she would never normally do. She didn’t recognise herself in this.  

For the first time in her career, she went home in the middle of the day. She drew the curtains and went to bed. She slept for hours. When she woke up, it felt as though she had been hit by a lorry. "It's just a strange headache," she told her partner. She didn’t think much of it.  
Some time later, it happened again. And then again. 

She never suffered from headaches. And migraines? That was something other people dealt with.  

Halfway through a dinner with friends, she experienced another attack. She couldn’t cope and had to leave early to go home. That was the final straw that prompted her to visit the GP. Once there, she was informed that it was migraine. She was also told that she was going through menopause, specifically perimenopause. Her hormones were fluctuating so significantly that it could trigger migraine attacks.

She was prescribed medication for the migraines—tablets she needed to take as soon as she felt an attack coming on. And they worked. Not entirely, but they “took the edge off.” She has to take the tablets promptly, which can sometimes be a challenge. On occasion, the migraine comes on so suddenly that she doesn’t realise it until it’s too late. Or it happens during the night, and by the time she wakes up from the headache, it’s already too late.

For Lorraine, it felt as though the migraine was narrowing her life. She dealt with it both at work and at home. Her husband could take over tasks when she was unable to cope. The children would slow down when she had a headache. “That’s when I started looking more into what I could do myself.” It wasn’t just about the medication; she also began identifying triggers. When does it start? Why? She kept track of factors such as sleep, diet, and stress. “Not obsessively, but to gain some insight.

She noticed that restless nights and hectic days take their toll. “I really need to bear that in mind.” She has adjusted her eating habits, ensuring she eats more regularly and drinks less coffee. She makes an effort to set boundaries more frequently, although this remains a challenge for her. “I was always the type of person who just kept pushing through. That’s no longer feasible in the same way. It demands a different way of thinking.

Lorraine is not alone in experiencing migraines during menopause. Many women face this challenge. “I discovered that it’s an actual symptom of menopause.” Things have improved somewhat now. While the migraines haven’t completely gone away, Lorraine feels more in control of them and, perhaps more significantly, she has a better understanding of what is happening. “Now I think, if only I had paid attention to my body sooner. I let it go on for far too long.” At some point, the body signals that it can no longer cope.

Migraines can change during menopause, partly due to fluctuations in oestrogen levels. This can lead to attacks occurring more frequently, feeling more intense, or even appearing for the first time. Keep a record of when the headaches start, how well you are sleeping, and whether factors such as stress, coffee, or alcohol have an effect. Always discuss recurring migraines with your GP or gynaecologist. Do you see yourself in Lorraine’s story? Are you wondering if this could mean you are going through menopause? The online menopause test may help you gain further insight.