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Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Birth control and cluster headaches? http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1308031203 Message started by Cittenscollar on Jun 14th, 2011 at 2:00am |
Title: Birth control and cluster headaches? Post by Cittenscollar on Jun 14th, 2011 at 2:00am
According to my doctor, if you get "migraines with aura", taking birth control increases your risk of stroke (I don't know if this is true or not, whatever)
She asked me if I've ever had an aura with a cluster headache. I told her that once or twice my vision has been messed up. She then started saying that she didn't think that I should take birth control because of that. ...Has anybody else's doctor ever said anything like this? |
Title: Re: Birth control and cluster headaches? Post by wimsey1 on Jun 14th, 2011 at 7:41am
Jeez, Batch, you're getting to be as Oracular as is Bob. Nice research findings.
Cittenscollar, as to the docs diagnosis about migraines with auras, is the diagnosis of migraines based solely on the fact that you have auras? Generally speaking, CHs do not come with auras, but according to responses on a thread I ran some time ago asking that very question, a significant minority among us do receive auras prior to the beast coming to visit. Bob Johnson did has some research available for that and could probably send it if you asked pretty please. I'd hate to see you misdiagnoses because you are among those of us who have some less common side effects, like auras. Just a thought. Blessings. lance |
Title: Re: Birth control and cluster headaches? Post by Cittenscollar on Jun 14th, 2011 at 8:05pm wimsey1 wrote on Jun 14th, 2011 at 7:41am:
Oh no, I am diagnosed with CH. But the doctor thinks that because my CH has had auras once or twice, that I have the same stroke risks as somebody who has migraines with auras about birth control. I really don't know the relationship between migraines and cluster headaches well enough to know if that would be true or not. |
Title: Re: Birth control and cluster headaches? Post by Bob Johnson on Jun 15th, 2011 at 9:58am
The medical literature I could find on migraine + aura + stroke summarizes: recognized; not well understood.
Could find zero on CH + aura + stroke or birth control. But I don't say this representing it as a comprehensive overview. ==== We talk about medicine as a "science" often not appreciating that it's also described as being an "art". Only the scientists/docs who are close to the research really appreciate just how little of our practice of medicine is grounded in solid scientifically established knowledge. Your doc is extending her limited knowledge about birth control hormones and PG to Cluster (where there appears to be almost zip). No criticism intended; she is using the "art" of medicine to give you the best care. Always the struggle to balance risk of the disorder with the risks of the cure. (And, as laypersons, since we don't understand or appreciate this balancing, we find it so easy to criticize medicine/doctors.) It appears that the short term risk is using the pill is not great but that picture changes when you are thinking about decades of the pill + Cluster -- for which there is no cure. I can imagine that, if $ is available and using the pill is very important for you, that seeking a researcher in this area who could advise you on the latest science might help lead you to a comfortable decision. The dilemma is: the risk of stroke vs. the solid data on the risk of pregnancy. Medicine is like the entirety of our lives: no free lunch on risk. |
Title: Re: Birth control and cluster headaches? Post by oxyrunner on Jun 15th, 2011 at 5:22pm
Isn't the possibilty of having a baby just another kind of headache?!!!!! ;D ;D
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Title: Re: Birth control and cluster headaches? Post by Graemel on Jul 5th, 2011 at 8:51am
My wife had migraines when we first were married. she was on BCP. After she has kids the migraines disappeared and she was on and off the pill for years without problems. I think you should tell your quack you want to try it and see. and now you know a possible cure for the migraines as well!
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Title: Re: Birth control and cluster headaches? Post by Jenny G on Aug 1st, 2011 at 4:40pm
I am back after about a 5 year remission. I know this post is old but wanted to add insight on this issue.
Like all of you I've tried to find triggers or any rhyme or reason why/when we get these headaches. The only common denominatior for me was I only got CH while off BC, so I have stayed on it to keep the CH away. This cycle started shortly after forgetting to take my pill two days in a row and started spotting (sorry for the TMI). I am still on BC and will report if the cycle is shorter/less severe than in the past. Not sure if related but before staying on BC, I had CH every 18 months, and my last cycle was about 5 years ago. I am disappointed after my remission that there are really no new advances in medicine to treat our condition. |
Title: Re: Birth control and cluster headaches? Post by heidalt on Sep 15th, 2011 at 2:04am
i am new to forum but just wanted to add my 2 cents in the hope someone eventually connects the dots from our various experiences. my CH cycles started the year i started birth control pills at age of 35. prior to that i was on depo provera shots. in jan 2006 i started pills and 6 months later i had my first attack. i don't know if that is coincidence but i doubt it. when i realized this last year, i immediately stopped the BC pills. sad to report that the cycle was delayed this year but has returned with a vengeance in recent weeks. i have searched web and have only seen a minor nod to possibility that starting BC pills can cause headaches to start for first time. if anyone comes across similar experiences pls post so we might accumulate info on this... tx.
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Title: Re: Birth control and cluster headaches? Post by foxxfury on Sep 15th, 2011 at 5:35pm
I've heard that low testosterone can be part of the equation. It's possible that the sudden hormone change in women who take birth control very well may trigger attacks. But what about men? We obviously don't take bc, and yet, we get it also.
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Title: Re: Birth control and cluster headaches? Post by Jamiekins82 on Mar 3rd, 2013 at 10:40am heidalt wrote on Sep 15th, 2011 at 2:04am:
I too had my first CH cycle the same year I started birth control pills. I was 18 and am now 30 and still on the pill, and still suffering from CH. Always wondered if there was a connection with the BCP and CH but then thought more men get CH than woman so it didn't make sense. Then I did some looking back into past cycles...I have come to realize that my CH cycle, which usually lasts about 6 weeks or so, always ends on a week I start my placebo pills. So my 3rd week of BC pills is usually my last with intense CH (kip 8-10) and then the headaches dwindle over the next week and I am back to normal by the time I start up my next month of pills. Not sure if it really means anything, but we are all always looking for some sort of connection as to why we get this terrible pain. I will be stopping BC very soon to start trying for my first child with my husband, and am wondering if pregnancy may affect the headaches. |
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