Cheerful Monday Health News

[tamaranth]

Migraines double risk of stroke.

Cheery stuff: especially as they add, "Women with migraines who were on the oral contraceptive pill appeared to be at particular risk".

Considering that my migraines were almost certainly caused by the Pill (a variety which apparently I should never have been prescribed to start with) I feel ever so pleased to have escaped. And ever so reluctant to go back to my GP for anything at all.

Comments

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

Don't be afraid to report problems with any form of treatment. And don't be afraid to move GPs. But be aware that almost anything has risks and doubling a small risk may in fact still be a small risk.

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

apologies if that was re-stating the obvious.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

Reporting problems is one thing: getting them to listen, and not to give you incorrect and potentially dangerous advice, is quite another. (I have had two conflicting Opinions from two GPs in the group practice). And as for changing GPs, very few practices will take on patients who are not in their catchment area -- and if you are, then you're clearly a trouble-maker for wanting to move.

Risk isn't entirely quantifiable, but when both parents have a history of repeated stroke, and the patient has spent 20 years taking a Pill which is contra-indicted for anyone with circulatory problems, the 'small risk' tends to loom rather larger.

On the bright side, I stopped taking the bloody thing, and -- allegedly coincidentally -- my migraines stopped within a month.

Sorry for defensive tone! But have spent much of this year blighted by This Stuff.

[moral-vacuum.livejournal.com]

What on earth were they doing giving you the pill when you were 5?

[moral-vacuum.livejournal.com]

Well, you could go back to him to point and yell "You are an utter quack!".

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

Always look on the bright side of ... oh, it's a sodding Monday.