Will headaches go away with hyst?

I have no childhood history of headaches or migraines. However, since about age 40 (I'm 47 now) I have suffered from daily headaches and migraines. About 3+ years ago, these literally occurred daily, where I was lucky to be even half-well on 2 days of the month (well during a portion of the day).

I have seen a top headache specialist and neurologist at Mayo Clinic for five years and nothing has worked. During the time surrouding my period, they are always severe migraines (10/10 in intensity) and are only barely touched by my migraine medication. This month my period came on March 13, but my first "menstrual" intensity migraine started on March 6 and I have been sick with either a moderate to bad headache OR a migraine ever day since, including a severe migraine yesterday March 19 and today as well. I write this in terrible pain because I'm desperate to see if there if any relation between getting my hysterectomy and migraines.

My one gyn consult first suggested a TVH-BSO, then later said it would be totally fine if I wanted to keep my ovaries. He deferred the issue of what would happen with my migraines to my neurologist; my headace specialist/ neurologist said he did not know, and frankly I don't believe he pays close attention to this in his practice.

The second gyn consult, a woman, told me that she thought it might cure me of my daily headaches (from improvd anemia), but that I would still probably always have "hormonal headaches" (she recommended keeping the ovaries). However, she said she could work with me by giving me hormones (bio-identical or synthetic, don't know) through a compounding pharmacy.

I have been ill, as usual, with intense head pain for now two week straight--perhaps only a couple hours of relief here and there throughout the earlier days of that cycle. I don't know how much longer I can go on living like this.

Has anyone had the experience, or know of anyone who has, who had a hysterecomy and the headaches and migraines disappeared as a direct result? Were the ovaries taken out or spared? I sure would hate to lose my ovaries surgically.

My DH is mad at me because he seems convinced that ALL my health issues are caused by the fibroids, but the fibroids were only dx'd January 30 of this year. Now he blames everything on them. Perhaps he is right. If he is wrong, however, I could end up worse perhaps, as estrogen in the past has aggravated my migraines (should I need to take it as HRT or NHRT).

Does anyone have a hint or an idea or have experience in this area? Thanks! By the way, if anyone wonders, Mayo has done 120% of what can be expected in trying to resolve my headaches and migraines--five years of tons of migraine preventives that never worked, Botox, accupuncure, herbs, clinical trials, you name it. Nothing touches it. The closest was when my famiy doctor gave me iron twice a day for my anemia and I found improvement in my daily headaches. But since my menstrual migraines are so long pre- and post-period, they take up a good two weeks of the month and are usually not my only migraines either.

Please help....anyone? Thanks so much!

I have the exact same question as you. I've gotten migraine headaches since I was about 8 years old. I finally went to a neuroligist at age 38. We've tried some many meds I can't even remember all their names. The most improvement I've gotten has been from taking Inderal LA. I was up to 240mg daily, was able to cut down to 60mg for about 2 years, but am back up to 120mg. The headaches that precede my period are horrendous! For the last few months, I have headaches almost every day and I am miserable; nothing makes them go away. I am also bleeding almost every day, so I wonder if that has something to do with the constant headaches. Some nights it hurts to even lay my head on my pillow.
I am planning on keeping my ovaries if everything looks okay. I called my neurologist last week to ask if the migraines will get better or worse post-hysterectomy, and how he felt about keeping/removing the ovaries. He said he doesn't have an answer. He said that being thrown into surgical menopause by removing the ovaries can wreak havoc on your body, and the effect on migraines can't be predicted. I am concerned about using/not using HRT because birth control pills gave me the worst headaches of my life and I don't know how I'll handle HRT. The neurologist said HRT is so controversal, and he can't anticipate how I will react to it. So, I guess he really didn't help me at all, except to say that we'll find a way to handle whatever happens.
A few months ago, my neurologist told me to try "Migrahealth" or "Migralief" - they're a combination of magnesium, feverfew and riboflavin, that have been proven to help migraines. I've been using it for about six months, and it has helped a little I think. But yesterday the anesthesiologist told me to stop taking it because they don't know if it'll cause surgical complications. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to deal with these constant headaches somehow. Good luck to you; please keep me posted on anything new you learn! Virginia

Virginia,

My first thought before I forget is to ask you something, which you probably saw in my post. Since you are bleeding so much, when was the last time your red blood cells indices (all of the red blood cells tests, *including* all of the iron tests, were checked? Even though I was under the care of a very prominent headache specialist, well-known and very highly regarded, he never checked my blood in over 5 years. This is quite unusual and I'm sure yours have been checked. My family doctor had checked my blood during physical exams, but never iron. Iron is usually to first to show deficiency when one is bleeding heavily. Your iron stores will deplete themselves when the iron is being used up when not produced naturally. My iron values (serum iron, ferritin, etc.) were significantly low and I was dx'd with iron-deficiency anemia. The doc prescribed two iron tablets a day and shortly thereafter my daily headaches improved. I don't know what improvement you might see if you ever found this out, but certainly everyone bleeding heavily should have every single red blood cell value, including all of the iron values, checked fairly regularly. Have you?

My heart goes out to you. I know what it's like. The last two days have been hell and my head like it is splitting open, despite taking Imitrex nasal spray. This morning I jumped in the showering immediately to "belt" myself with slightly hot water in hopes of easing out the pain in my neck and head, but it only partially helped and I was also slightly nauseous because of the pain. All that was left in the house was one Advil, so I took that and two Tylenol, which is like taking nothing for me.

I then sat down and prayed, crying my heart out to God for healing and relief from my pain. It hurt to cry, but I just couldn't help it. Now two hours later I have significant relief. You just never know what brings about a healing.

I wonder (have no info to know) if bio-identical hormones cause the same types of headaches as synthetic hormones. I guess you could save BCPs gave me migraines, but it was hard to telll because I had a headache or migraine 28 days out of 30 or more! Life caused a migraine *LOL*.

I would be interested to know if you think you might be anemic.

Yes, I am anemic and have been for years, even before the non-stop bleeding started and despite taking one iron tablet a day. My GP recently checked my iron and it was very low, so he had me increase my daily dose of iron to two tablets. I took two tablets for two months and he checked the iron again. The iron had gone up to normal, but the hemoglobin didn't budge, so he told me to go back to one tablet. He'd like me to see a hematologist, but said that the anemia is probably "just me" and that I'll just always be anemic. In 10/02, I had a total knee replacement, which can result in a lot of blood loss, and I had to have Procrit injections ($1000 each - luckily, insurance paid) before the operation to raise my hemoglobin level. I went yesterday for my pre-admission testing for the hysterectomy and I'm anxious to see how anemic I am now due to all the bleeding going on. You're right, the migraines and the anemia are probably all related. I also know anemia can cause sleep problems, which I DEFINITELY have, and the sleep deprivation can cause migraines, so it's a vicious circle.
I've taken Imitrex, and it just made the headaches worse and made me throw up. The last time I had a headache for 10 days, the neurologist injected decadron (sp?), a steroid, directly into my head (sounds awful, I know!), but it did get rid of the headache. About once a year, I get a #10 headache that lasts for 7-10 days and usually sends me to the ER. I have also cried and prayed and wished I was dead. People that don't get migraines can't understand the pain we go through.
I plan to talk in length with my gyn about HRT and my fears when I go for my pre-op appt on 3/30. All the years of suffering make me so afraid of having to start over with new headache symptoms. I pray that the hysterectomy will take away this problem for both of us! Please keep me posted. Virginia

Sorry to hear of your anemia. I've been in healthcare for years and still had no idea of the broad side effects that anemia can cause, although I'm only personally familiar with iron-deficiency anemia due to blood loss.

I know I was taking a suggested OTC iron supplement (Slow-Fe). It didn't work too well and I couldn't get over the stomach upset with it.

My doctor changed me to a prescription version of iron (ferrous sulfate). It is still iron, of course, but formulated differently. I had no stomach upset, but more importantly my anemia has resolved very well. I also make sure I take the pills with food and try to make sure I am getting lots of iron-rich food in my meals, vitamin C to help with iron absorption.

I'm sure you're done all this, but I say this to educate others who may not know as well. There are different "forms" of iron out there and it's important sometimes to switch to a prescribed version that is compounded in a different way if you are not responded as you would like and all other forms of blood loss have been ruled out.

Hi. I had excruciating menstrual migraines that would come either before, during or after my cycle. Meds would not work for the pain after a while.

On 1/20/04 I had a TAH/BSO and have not had headaches since. There is hope!!!

Hi - nobody ever said anything to me about my headaches going away after my surgery. I suffered with migraines so bad, and was treated with every different medicine out there, but nothing seemed to help. So many times I just held my head and was so very sick I thought I was having an anurism (sp?) I thought I'd die. My parents were so concerned about me. My drs. said it was a hormone thing, but nothing seemed to help. After I had my surgery TAH - I haven't had a headache since. It truly was a blessing - it was bad enought having the pain and bleeding, but I never thought the headaches would go away. Wow, and I was really sick with them I had to go to bed. Sometimes I'd throw up. So - for whatever reason, I haven't had a headache since, and just told my mom, it was worth having the surgery just to have the headaches gone! good luck to you.

I am 9 days post op and have had BAD daily headaches since surgery. Some have told me they are "rebound" headaches from the surgery...I am hoping they go away soon.

I too had severe "hormone" headaches before surgery...so I am thinking that is what is going on now...just hormone imbalance after surgery.

Hopefully your headaches will go away once you start your recovery. I was told sometimes you can get bad headaches after surgery because of the anestsia, and it takes some time for it to totally get out of your body. Give yourself some time, you'll see, I bet your headaches go away. I was the same way, but once home from the hospital, I haven't had a headache since. Take Care.

Just a crazy thought: Have you done any research on magnesium - or better yet, the lack of? A friend of mine in her late 40's swears that once she began taking Citracal with Magnesium, her headaches ceased. Calcium is always important to women anyway, so I can't imagine this OTC supplement would hurt. Just make certain you get the one with the MAGNESIUM as that seemed to be the key for my friend.

Wishing you good health,
Kajsa