19 Year Survivor

I started having migraines at the age of 13. At that time they were manageable. I got married when I was 21 and started taking birth control pills. They seemed to trigger my nightmare of migraines.

Searching for relief

Honestly, I had a migraine every day for 3 weeks of every month but not the week of my period. I went to every doctor I could. I even went to a psychiatrist who was no help.

Since I had to hold down a job, I would go to work, throw up my lunch then a full blown migraine would start. I'd manage to make it through the day but as soon as I got home, I had to get some relief.

My husband finally started taking me to a local clinic where they would give me Demerol, meperidine, and visceral shots. I would then go home and sleep the migraine off only to start all over again the next day.

The return of the attacks

I accidentally got pregnant while on the birth control pills but had a spontaneous abortion at 5 months and we lost twin baby girls. I opted for an IUD after this but it managed to come out by itself. We decided not to use any birth control as we were ready to try for another baby. Three years later we were blessed with a healthy baby girl. I was so very happy except the migraines returned.

It's hard to feel like you're dying and take care of a newborn. My husband's job kept him away from home a lot and I had no family near as we had just moved. That also meant I had no friends nearby. Eventually, I found a wonderful friend who would help me with my daughter when I wasn't able to do so.

A silent trigger

That was the time hormone replacement was becoming popular. As it turned out when I was 32, I found a great gynecologist who had me tested to see what, if anything, she might be able to help me with. Anyway, she felt I didn't qualify for hormone replacement but sent me to someone more knowledgeable than she for consultation.

It turned out that I produced almost no progesterone and that was causing the migraines. As soon as I started the progesterone there was almost instant relief! I was on a very high dosage of 1,000 milligrams a day. I have been migraine free ever since.

Changed my life

When I had to have a hysterectomy, I was put on full hormone replacement which is progesterone, DHEA, and a 2% testosterone cream. I truly believe had I not found the progesterone I would not have been around to raise my daughter because the pain was so bad I really didn't want to live.

There is a saliva test available so your hormones can be tested easily. Just spit in the vial, close it up, and have your pharmacist send it in. I urge those of you with severe, chronic migraines to at least talk to your doctor about having your hormones tested. It saved my life!!!