My Story So Far

My change of life story so far,

I have been prone to migraines all of my life. I’m hoping that they subside after the change of life. As a child I experienced random severe migraines (darkened room, ice packs on the head and vomiting), which became more regular at the onset of puberty around age 11. These continued for many years with many doctors visits to no avail, until I was prescribed beta blockers, which worked fairly well (I don’t know why) with only a few attacks getting through. I am not one to take medication long term so eventually I stopped taking beta blockers. 

Until about two years ago these migraines had no evident pattern. I was studying for a bachelor’s degree and was in the final year when a pattern of migraines became clear. Every weekend and then three days before every menstrual period I was experiencing a three day migraine, these would incapacitate me and energy levels dropped further than usual. I was watching doctor Oz one day and discovered black cohosh. I found a preparation which contained black cohosh at my local chemist. On taking this preparation I found that the weekly migraines subsided and the menstrual ones are still present but far less severe (more like dull headaches, which signal that my period is a few days away).

Around ten years ago I started putting on weight in the mid-section, something I could never do before no matter how hard I tried. During the last three years I have experienced bloating to the extent that I will wake in the morning with a flat stomach and half an hour later my belly has expanded noticeably. I have no idea what causes this, but it coincides with the migraine pattern and changes in the menstrual cycle.

My menstrual cycle has always been an accurate 28 day cycle by the calendar. I told this to a doctor once who said that a 28 day cycle was just a text book thing and that I was a freak of nature, I laughed my but off. During the past few years I have not been able to rely on the calendar as my periods firstly moved a few days either side of the norm and then sometimes a week or more late or two weeks early, then back to monthly. I expected that this would mean that they were about to stop altogether, but recently (the past few months), they have been occurring fortnightly and are at times so heavy that I can’t go out and do shopping and so forth until they are finished. This is how it stands at present. Apparently these irregularities may be pointing to peri-menopause, which could last for about a year and then menopause arrives. What this will bring remains a mystery to me. 

I look forward to seeing what those who have lived through the experience can offer here. I’m sure all who read your contributions will get something from this and I thank you in advance. Anyone who has a question, you are welcome to ask, that what this blog is for.

Kind Regards

Tracy