If you're having that many problems you need to see a doctor to one get on disability so you won't have to work and two to try and find out what's causing this. I've been suffering from period related headaches for years.  The headache starts about 2 days before the period, or 2-3 days during the period or 2-3 days after the period and last for good 3 days.  I actually felt something in the right size of my head above my eyes burst.  When I told my doctor he told me I was lucky to be still standing and telling him this story.  I tried every kind of pain meds over the counter and nothing would touch it.  Only recently my doctor decided it was a vascular headache and gave me relpax.  For me that worked in about an hour after 3 days of a splitting headache. If your current doctor isn't helping you, switch to somebody else.  You will be surprised how another opinion sometimes makes a big difference. Don't give up!!!  Somebody will find something to help.

It does sound like you've tried a lot of stuff. Hopefully one of the  moderators will answer b/c I don't know how to post links here. But they have those lists of meds that help. There are dozens and dozens out there. Hopefully, some combination will work for you. You can find them under Manage and Migraine Medications I think. If you do like your doc and he/she is receptive, maybe there are differnent combos they would try. I took the printout to my PCP and he was happy to have it. He keeps it in my chart and we look at it each time. I also gave him some "rules" for side effects I didn't want and he's been great about trying to avoid them. Granted that is limiting me at the time, but I want to try to avoid certain side effects first if I can.

I have chronic daily HA and while the preventative meds have done wonders at helping to get the pain down from 5-8 and knock the migraines down to 1-3 a month, I still have these nagging 2-3 pain pretty much daily HA along with almost daily queasies/nausea. Sure I can live with them, but they make me miserable too. And if I add on anything else - sore neck, stumped toe, cramps, waking up on the wrong side of the bed, kids fighting, hubby acting stupid, whatever - yeah, I don't act so ladylike either.

You also have to watch out for rebound. I KNOW I probably get myself into this sometimes. I try so hard not to take anything when I can, but honestly, it leads to sleeping alot. Then again, it seems each time we add a new med on, I sleep from it too. Though I agree, sometimes closing my eyes hurt just as much as keeping them open. I'm also ready to MAYBE try counseling b/c he thinks my CDH may be as much from inner stress (I also grind the heck out of my teeth - just broke a week old custom nightguard....). Guess I should just yell at the people who drive me crazy instead of mumble under my breath, huh? I'm so type B usually - happy go lucky, then all of a sudden I just boom, let go. But obviously, my brain and jaw ruminate about life sometime?

OK, just wanted you to know you are not alone. Have you been on the Connect-> Migraine Forums and just clicked around? You can see what other folks are talking about, post a few questions, and get some info. You'll feel better and if you're ready to change docs, find the place to do it. If not, you'll at least be armed with more info and feel more knowledgeable going into your next appt.

Best wishes. Today was my first "good" day in weeks, so I'm hoping you have one soon!

Diane