PMS headaches and sinus problems

I'm like most of the pp - I get the sinus headaches and sinus infections just before my period starts. But like everyone else am looking for a solution.

I have tried - neti pot rinse daily (usually in the morning) and nasal steriod at night (nasacort) and it helps (a little), but I still get them. I have also tried adding GSE (grapefruit seed extract) to the nasal rinse when I start to feel the sinus infection symptoms and that too has helped (a little), but not completely. I take primrose daily. I do like salt and sugar, so that will probably be my next change. The one thing I have found is that if I change things too drastically / suddenly - it makes my situation a LOT worse.

I saw an ENT a few years ago and he acknowledged the problem (menstrual cycle - sinus headache connection), but did not offer any reccomendations - other than the sinus infection that I had - that lasted about 6 months til I got pregnant and then it went right back to how it was pre-surgery.

I was also thinking about trying a diuretic - since it seems that my problem is linked to the swelling of tissue (due to hormonal changes and water retention).

I thought i was strange because i am only 24 and ever since i started my period at 13 i have had the worst periods ever! I get severe cramping and nausea as well as awful fatigue. but on top of that i always have sinus problems. The drainage and scratchy throat. I am so glad to see that i am not a lunatic and that other people have this problem!

I am 47 and have had these period sinus migraines a few years ago but they went away. Now they are back. I don't get them every month fortunately. Eye pressure, nausea, vomiting, neck pain. And then when it is all over, I feel like I have been hit by a truck. If I catch it at the first signs and take a advil cold and sinus pill, I can nip it in the butt. However, I just think I am overtired ad will feel better in the morning but by 4am or 5am, it is too late. Nausea and headache which gets worse and worse. By then I can't take anything or I will throw up.. I feel better and worse when I throw up. As soon as I can eat something, I take a pill hoping my stomach is settled then the cold and sinus pills really helps for me. Ginger and gravel did not work for nausea. I wonered if the nausea was post nasal drip but I think it is more to do with the migraine. I went to the pharmacist to see about a suppository painkiller if there is such a thing but she thought that was extreme and told me I should wait it out. I don't like to take drugs so ended up agreeing with her. Here is what I am going to work on and see if they go away again. I am curious if other women notice a difference f the following things. BTW, none of the PMS headache pills worked, just the Advil cold and sinus.

I have found certain things make it worse:
Being tired.
Not eating well [fatty foods, alcohol. probably caffeine].
Sore muscles.... if I haven't done yoga in a while or some other sport, this month it was the first week of badminton.
eye strain...the computer, TV. getting my eyes tested too.

Also, I rarely get cramps, it all seems to be in my head :-)

Thank you everyone for sharing!!! Next time I am suffering, I have the comfort knowing I was right with my diagnoses and I am not a nutter :-)

This makes me feel so much better. Why is it that every time I go to the doctor with a concern, they act like they have no idea what I'm talking about. Then I go on line and find that whatever is going on is very common, no one has an answer and the medical community will not address it seriously.
I also get what feels like sinus infections most months the day before or the first day of my period. I do notice that if I don't eat enough, it can turn into a powerful, multi-day migraine.
In addition to the headache, I get green and bloody mucus from my nose, aches and pains and a general yuck feeling as though I'm coming down with the flu.
I'm going to try the Evening Primrose, and the magnesium.
Best of luck to you all. I'm sorry you suffer with this but relieved to not feel alone.
A

Every month when my period comes I have this terrible headache, and now it comes with the company of sunisitis. If some of you have a remedy to this.

Oh my God!!! I thought I was the only one in the world with this problem! Unreal.....I will call my doctor today and ask because this is driving me crazy! I can't function with these sinus headaches and mood swings. Thanks everyone. I actually feel better knowing I am not the only one!

I've been struggling with pre-menstrual "sinus" headaches for many years. I used to get a headache the day before my period. In the last year or so I've noticed it's now increased its staying power to two and sometimes, though rare, three days.

I feel lots of pain/pressure on the sides of my nose, below my eyes, middle of the forehead, top of my head, behind my head - just above the neck. My boyfriend thinks I'm joking when I say I want to chop my head off to release the pain and pressure. My neck and shoulders become extremely tight and achy. To make matters worse, in addition to the headache, I usually also simultaneously suffer from a terrible case of heart burn.

I feel incapacitated when I have these headaches. It hurts to think or hear or smell. I have am suffering from a headache as I write this.

I have tried chiropractic care with little success. I have heard it works well for some. My doctor is adjusting my birth control pills so I take them constantly (no sugar pills in between) with the hopes that by not bleeding, it would also alleviate some of the pre-menstrual symptoms. I've just completed the first pill pack and am on the second day of the new pill pack and already I have a headache. I had one yesterday too. So I guess it's not working.

Three things that I have tried and have had some success with:
1. Lie down and place a hot washcloth/towel (as hot as you can handle) over your face. For the few moments that it's piping hot, my headache seem to retreat. I put the wet washcloth in the microwave for 10-15 seconds....be careful because it's very hot!
2. Take a hot hot shower.
3. Head On - Extra strength sinus headache - it's a topical solid and available at any drug store. It says to apply only to your forehead, but I apply it to wherever I have pain. Just be careful near your eyes...it's very strong. The headache doesn't go away, but this stuff is so strong it numbs the pain.

It's encouraging to hear there are others who suffer from the same monthly headache. I can tell my doctor with confidence it's not all in my head. It is a very REAL issue affecting many women. I hope someone will find a cure or create a pill or regimen that can help ease this painful monthly issue. Until then we should continue to share our experience and home remedies.

I thought I was going crazy. Thank you for posting all of these comments. I got PMS headaches in high school then they went away in college for years. I had my first baby at 38. I am 39.5 now and the headaches have started again ever since I weaned my baby (about 7 months ago). I thought they were sinus headaches which I get seasonally, but all the normal sinus remedies were not working. Then I noticed that they started 48-72 hours before my period. I even took Codeine with no effect. The pain behind my eye is incapacitating, I feel nauseous, and the pain in my neck and shoulders is so severe I feel like I have whiplash from a car accident or something! Mom's can't take off from mom duties 2 days per month. Someone please help with real solutions. I will try the primrose but surely there are more options.

I am home from work for the second day in a row. I have a doctor's appointment in 2 hours. Every month, about 1 week before my period, I get the same symptoms that all of the previous posts have talked about. Now that it is flu season, my doctor will probably tell me that it is the flu. Hopefully he prescribes some pain medication for it.....

Wow i'm not alone. This sinus infection occurs right before my period, mine however are localized to one side of my head the right. I realized it was not a menstrual migraine when I held down my left nostril and couldn't breathe at all in my right. That and all of the tension, congestion and painful pressure when I tapped lightly underneath my eyes. I have this horrible headache that is one sided. I also get expectorant in the mornings. This is really dibilitating and I really would rather not have a period at all than to look forward to this every month.

Don't just love not feeling alone and crazy~ Like PMS doesn't make us feel crazy enough as it is.....wow thank for posting everyone. Glad know I am not the only one...I will have to leave work soon as I can't keep my eyes open from the pressure, and my period is due any day now, and every month I go through the same thing, 'oh I must have a sinus' infection, oh great a cold' then all of a sudden I start and... voila.... a new woman~ so annoying! suppose it could be worse thought.

I'm 46 and I started having sinus headaches over 10 years ago and soon realized they were connected to my period. I guess I'm lucky in that I found that Advil Cold & Sinus usually works for me in about an hour or two. I take a second tablet if needed. Unfortunately, these sinus problems are getting more frequent and happening not just before my period, but other times throughout the month as well - often on weekends. I thought it might have something to do with not drinking enough water as I do at work.

Hi All,

I've been suffereing from these same symptoms. One thing that I found to work is called Bio-Fem PMS. It's an herbal pill. Look it up online or ask your Dr. I had been going to a naturopath for a few months and taking it and the problems mentioned (along with other PMS symptoms) went away. We've had a bit of financial troubles the past two months and so I had to stop taking the pills and now the symptoms are back. I may have to find a way to afford the pills. Paired with eating less sugars, salt and caffeine right before a period. (Esp when you crave it most.) Have a low fat protein meal instead. These really help!

Best of luck to the other suffers. Hope you can find relief!

I know my regular Dr. Just looked at me like I was CRAZY but obviously I'm not alone in this!

I am so thankful for what I have read. I to thought I was crazy that every month before my period I get such a sinus headache.
I kept thinking it was weather related but it always seemed to be right when my period was coming and lasts for days. I am going to try some evening primrose and maybe some of the boi-fem PS. Thank you ladies for letting me know I am not alone. Maybe some day someone will find the magic pill to help us all live pain free.

I am amazed and so relieved, to have found these posts... I have been suffering from "sinus headaches", "cold symptoms" etc. prior to my period for the past 8 years, and am at my wits end. I sit here now, at work, feeling the worse I have ever felt.

I work for myself, and cannot take any time off... I am a useless pile today... :(



Like Kim, I too have Lupus, and whole-heartedly believe that there is indeed a correlation between the auto-immune system and what we assume are severe PMS related symptoms.

Auto-immune disorders do often times worsen during times of hormone changes or any stress of the body.

Below is something I pulled from a site talking about endometriosis, which is just one of many forms of alleged (the vote is still out as far as categorizing this) auto-immune disorders.



"Autoimmune disease

The term "autoimmune disease" refers to a varied group of more than 80 serious, chronic illnesses that involve almost every human organ system. It includes diseases of the nervous, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems as well as skin and other connective tissues, eyes, blood, and blood vessel. In all of these diseases, the underlying problem is similar--the body's immune system becomes misdirected, attacking the very organs it was designed to protect.



Many individual autoimmune diseases are rare, as there are many different types of autoimmune diseases. But as a group, however, they afflict millions of people. Most autoimmune diseases strike women more often than men, particularly affecting women of working age and during their childbearing years. "



I wonder, because Auto-Immune disorders are rarely correctly diagnosed, and because the percentage of those of us suffering with the same symptoms is relatively small, if there is truly something to this…?

I would love to hear everyone’s thoughts.



Because of my Lupus, I cannot take Ibuprofen, and Aspirin does nothing for me; I stay diligent about drinking lots of water, and stay away from dairy before my period, eat lots of vegetables and whole grains & reduce the intake of processed foods. This seems to have helped the severity of the headaches... until this past year.

sigh...

I hope that we all keep after this and keep posting if there are any changes in remedies...



Best of luck!



Janna