PMS headaches and sinus problems

I have been told by a nurse that during our periods we retain alot of fluid and we can get fluid on the brain . This mimics sinus pressure. I've noticed that I get relief if I try to keep the temp really cold on my house or put an ice pack on my forehead or at the base of my neck when the pres sure gets really bad. I also up my dosage of magnesium during the few days before my period. Magnesium helps you prevent fluid retention. I do also take 2 Advil during the worst of the headache when I need it. I think alot of people are mistaking sinus infection for the pressure that builds up on the brain when we retain alot of fluid. Hence the brain fog, dizziness, etc. This has helped me tremendously. I hope it helps you.

Hi all,

I love this thread. I am a 29 year old and have been experiencing worsening pms symptoms over the past few months. The last two months I get allergy and sinus issues and I'm sat in bed now with a completely clogged and painful sinus and on day 2 of girly time. It starts a few days before with sinus pressure and Inflammation and includes the fun stuff like a nose that drips literally like a faucet, itchy eyes and top of mouth, neck soreness, headache, sneezing, the lot. I may speak to my Gp and get a referral back to my Ent specialist because this is brutal!! Glad to know I'm not alone. I will say the evening primrose has helped with my mood swings after two months taking four capsules daily as well as b complex and calcium /magnesium daily. Oh to be a man eh!!! Bastards lol.

I too am a headache sufferer - went the route of sinus surgery (which was needed) but was said to be fully the cause of the headaches - BUT even after the surgery the headaches continued - debilitating at times - kept going back to the ENT - he finally said "there is no physical ENT reason for the headaches - I think you are having migraines" That was when I started using sumatriptan succinate (IMATREX) For me it was a lifesaver. I found that my headaches were either triggered by excess stress and weather. Funny thing - every time I was able to experience a change at work (boss got himself fired, change of work place, etc) getting away from stressful environment, the headaches decreased in number, frequency, intensity and duration - so much so that after retiring 2 1/2 years ago I think I have had only 2 or 3 migraines - popped a IMATREX, layed down for 20 minutes and it was gone. Not for everyone, but worked for me - otherwise I'd have been out of commisions 2 - 3 days, regularly barfing and not being able to keep anything down - found that I would always wake up with a migraine - never would they started during the wakeful part of the day. Would always dread going to bed at night never knowing if I'd wake during the night with one - but if I did, once I had the Imatrex, I would take one and it would be gone in minutes. I started having migraines when I was a child - like around 8 or 9 years old.

My sister had migraines too - but she pinpointed hers to hormonal cycle and certain foods - dark chocolate, aged cheeses, wine, cured meats. She'd get so bad that she would land in the ER on IV for fluids because of the nausea and dehydration because she couldn't keep anything down. She had to go thru chemo and her oncologist told her that the chemo would probably burn out her ovaries and push her into menopause and she said "YES!" She stopped having migraines after the chemo. She eats everything and anything that she wants.

Our histories occurred before doctors began to really pay attention to the effects of hormonal levels and cycling have on the female body. If one doctor does not/will not listen to you (without writing it off to being "all in your head" and "you need to grow up and be a woman instead of a little girl" as I was told when I was a teenager) go to another doctor, and another, and another if necessary. Find a doctor who will check you hormone levels and check to see if you are vitamin deficient. A good doctor will look at those things.

I suffer from the sinus headaches nausea depression fatigue and all symptoms possible including extream anxiety and panic attacks prior to my menstral cycle. It is severally debilitating and affects my life tremendously. I recently read that birth control with drospirenone help a lot. I am willing to make an appointment with my gynecologist to find out. I will post my experience.

First, you need to see a doctor. You need to see a gynecologist and a psychiatrist. I was lucky enough to see a team at DHMC, where the two departments worked together on things like post postpartum depression, hormonal depression, pms, and pmdd, and I they prescribed medication in tandem. I need to get back there to see my doctors, and not just see my regular psychiatrist, but I can tell you some of my experience:

I tried Yasmin and it was a nightmare for me. The symptoms just seemed to be less predictable and more severe at times. I did not feel better. I stayed on it for more than two months, at the request of my doctors, to see if it would begin to work. It didn't. 

Studies have shown that some people have have symptoms relieved from taking an SSRI, like Prozac, at a very small dose, two weeks before their period, and it works. Now, if you have PMDD, and not just severe PMS, that might not be enough.

I can write more on here and not just send you my blog links, but I've written and researched so extensively and posted it on there, I thought it might be a good start. I know a lot about what you are going through, so I can say hang in there, and you aren't alone...

 ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** web addresses not allowed*** Please read our Terms of Use

I haven't tried Evening Primrose, but I do take the Calcium, Magnesium, B Vit, and Fishoil. A friend also recommended Maca Root, which I have tried. Black Cohash (I have a hormone herbal mix with that in it), is supposed to help. Now, I have can't remember what I posted on here already, and don't want to be too repetitive, but I have no idea what's working anymore because I have had my major medications changed so many times. Right now I've had a new switch, but I was taking Maca Root and Black Cohash and I felt like it was helping. I have depression already, as a baseline, but during my luteal phase it is like B.S. Crazy time.

^ There, I made an account so I'm not just an anonymous guest! ^ I'm to "PMDD expert."

* Have you heard of the Yogi tea:  Mooncycle?

Viral sinitus the menstral cycle onset triggers herpes viral infection 5-7 days before your actual period comes. get a blood test done to determine if you have the virus. Honest to god. The eye pain pressure get the area cold ice it for relief. Heat will make your headache worse.

I have an IUD and suffer from the monthly sinus related headaches. I have finally put it together with my cycle. I don't "officially" have a cycle, but I still have the symptoms - cramps, cravings, and apparently sinus crud/pms headaches. I get sick once a month with a terrible headache that last 3-6 days. I am glad to know I am not crazy, I am not "faking" and that others suffer with the same thing.

I know how you feel with the monthly sinus problems and the IUD, because I have been going through the same thing. I have had an IUD in for over 3 months and will be having it removed soon. :( The sinus pains (as well as a host of the other unpleasant side effects) are just too much and the benefits of this IUD are not outweighing the side effects by a long shot. At least I tried.

Same here! One week before my period I get PND and asthma issues. Any resolution?

I am so relieved that I am not alone nor am I imagining that the 2 are related. I have always had headaches in the days leading up to my period. However for the last year or so I have noticed that I have a serious sinus / nasal drain as well. This time I went to the doctor and he prescribed the usual sinus meds which helps along with the usual acetaminophen .....

Hi I suffer with all the above . I am caffeine free in tea and coffee. ..exercise. 3 time+a week.. drink pints.of water take evening primrose. . u name it I do it.. I can honestly say exhausted with feeling c**p with this monthly sinus headaches. .I'm mid 40s wishing for the change. hoping that will bring me some peace from it all. How ever any cures please send my way.:)

I thought i was crazy, ,, I Experience The same exact thing prior to my period..had it for many years