Alex,
You probably have a migraine sufferer among your recent ancestors. It is generally gentic although head injuries seem to also cause them. Women have them more frequently and they are more intense in general. Mom requires morphine injections at times. Birth control pills have been known to diminish and regulate the headaches as well as menstrual cramps.
It is possible that the weekend occurance is caused by removal of stress, not having to work, which also can set them off. I used to regularly fight them all day and get hit just as I left work, vomiting out the door of the car on the way home. Imitrex (sumatriptan) tablets can be very effective if taken at the first sign of a possible migraine. At $15 each, they are expensive, but nobody who has migraines of any severity minds much at the time. If you wait until the migraine sets in, they are less effective, though they seem, for me, to diminish the symptoms intensity and duration, but may require repeated doses during the attack. The self-injectors cost about $75 each.
Accupuncture is supposed to be very effective, but many people can't get to the accupuncturist durng an attack. Also, botox injections, same problem. Howerver, women migraine sufferers on cosmetic botox injections reported diminished or complete absence of migraines. This requires botox injections by a medical specialist every 3-6 months, prophylactic treatment. There may be legal issues for non-cosmetic treatment in some areas. I have found accupressure points in the neck to relieve the sypmtoms at times and also work for toothache and other pains when pressure is applied to the appropriate spot with the proper amount of pressure.
Causes and treatment vary dramatically from one individual to another. Chocolate causes migraines in my mother but relieves them someowhat for me....if i can keep it down. Cafregot, helps some migraine sufferers but makes some vomit.(ergotamine). I use to use a chemical cocktail that included antihistamines/motion sickness pills (the nausea is from the brain's motion sickness area, not the stomach) caffeine (tablets or cola), chocolate, codeine, ibuprofen. Daily Atenolol (beta blocker) signifigantly reduced my frequency and intensity of migraines. I can also speak to the effectiveness of some herbal treatments....however, some of them contain drugs that could cause problems in high doses or with prescription medications or certain medical conditions, though I have not personally heard of any.
The idea that HRT could increase my migraines again would be a major factor for me to consider, since the pain levels can actually lead to active suicidal ideation. For someone who never had them before, the first one could be terrifying.
"A live lived in fear is a life half-lived." - Native American proverb.
"Inside every man is a woman who was drowned in testosterone before birth". - Wendy Jeanette Larsen
"It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you're not." - Andre Gide (French writer)