HEALTH

 

When it comes to our period, everyone has different symptoms. Some girls have back pain or cramps, light or heavy flows and maybe even headaches. Or some simply could have nothing at all. Aren’t they the lucky ones? *sigh* But as you get older, sometimes your symptoms can lessen over time...or, in my case, may even worsen.

When I first got my period, the only things I had to worry about were a heavier-than-normal flow and severe cramps. And, once in awhile, I would get headaches towards the end of my cycle. I thought it was NBD. Until things started to change.

My headaches would turn into severe migraines. And they wouldn’t just last a day, but for a week or so at a time. I went to an urgent care center where the doctor told me to just relieve my stress and I'd be fine. Uh...

That was two years ago and my migraines are now stronger than ever. Even doing a simple task when it's that time of month seems nearly impossible and I have to take daily medication (something I only received because I took the initiative to go to my OB/GYN after being brushed off by the urgent care doc). It's something I'll have to deal with for the rest of my life probably and, if I hadn't spoken up, I would still be struggling.

Below are my tips for spotting serious symptoms and what to do if you're dealing with headaches on your period. 

Track how you're feeling on your cycle.
Using a period tracker to keep a record of your symptoms is a great way to see when and how often you get them. That way you can see a pattern if something out of the ordinary like migraines only happen around your cycle. The app that I use all the time is Clue which you can find on iOS and Android app stores.

Talk to your doctor (and advocate for yourself!).
If you have an OB/GYN or a primary care physician (which is your normal doctor), you can ask them questions about your symptoms and even show them the data from your tracker. It will give them a better understanding of what might be the problem and help you find solutions. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself, either—you know your bod better than anyone so keep pushing until you are given the treatment you deserve.

Try home remedies.
If you have migraines, they might not all be cycle-related. Sometimes, it really could be just stress. If it is, then try to find out what’s been bothering you lately and get to the root of the prob. And of course self care is uber important (I like to listen to music, sing in the shower, talk to my friends, etc.).

Meditation is also a great migraine mitigator because it helps clear your mind and calm you down. Here are two videos for you to do a 5-minute meditation session. Also, if you think it might be something else that’s causing you migraines, try some of these steps to help the pain.

How do you get rid of painful period symptoms or migraines? Tell us some of your tips in the comments below!

Photo credit: CNN, Giphy

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by Nicole Eggleston | 8/16/2017