PMS headaches and sinus problems

If you notice headaches, often with the feeling of pressure behind the eyes or the like, around the same time every month, just before your period they are likely NOT sinus headaches, they are menstrual migraines. Sinus headaches are caused by infection or pressure in the sinuses and migraines are caused by nuerological factors, such as constrictionof the blood vessels, stress, hormonal changes, etc. They have similar feelings because your sinuses are located around your eyes, nose, face and a very common sympton of migraines is light sensitivity. This causes a similar feeling around the eyes, but your sinuses are generally not going to become blocked or infected because of PMS. The changes in your hormones is what is likely the cause of your migraines. The two kinds of headaches are not generally related except for that pressure-behind-the-eyes feeling.

Oh my goodness! I thought it was just me! I get a three day sinus headache/pressure the week of my period. Nothing helps the pain and discomfort. What works for you?

I thought I was going mad. I also get a persistent headache for 3 days prior to period with nasal drip and nausea. I also got the same symptoms everyday throughout my pregnancies. There must be a hormonal link. I will certainly try evening primrose oil. 

I have suffered with this for years. My worst migraine came last week and I felt sure this time it really was a sinus infection... but I'm skeptical. 

I read thru this entire thread and put things together....a nurse posted a few pages back and it seems to make sense. I notice a much thicker nasal discharge (gross, sorry) prior to my period and she mentioned the thickening of the mucus as well as water retention etc. So I went to Walgreens and found Mucinex for cold and sinus, pkg says it THINS & LOOSENS MUCUS (this is what we want) and it's an expectorant, we want this stuff flowing OUT not hanging around creating pressure. Some on here mentioned Advil Cold & Sinus and I can't take NSAIDS so I went with MUCINEX Fast Max Cold & Sinus. Increasing my water intake (I haven't tried a water pill as suggested but we'll see) and exercising more as well as cutting back on salt and sugar and caffeine, especially starting at 8-10 days prior to my period. I think I will try Mucinex on day 7 prior to my period and take it for a few days and see if that helps.     Another thing I'm trying is Macafem (maca root) it's supposed to help with PMS and menopause by stimulating our estrogen production (my doc tried to put me on estrogen patch when I mentioned headaches getting worse). You can also find maca root supplements at Whole Foods or some store like it. I have prayed much about this, figured I would go directly to the one who made me...God would know what's best for me.

Thanks for your post - what you have said makes much sense. I would suggest you cut out mucus forming foods such as dairy too. Good luck with your next time of the month and God bless.

I am 32 and I have the same problem. As I got older I started noticing a major sinus drainage/infection the week before my period not to mention night mares as well. I went to a doctor about it and he looked at me like I was crazy and said no! There is no connection. I think he is wrong and want to do more research thats why I looked online.

i startd having sinus problems jst aftr i hit puberty...also noticed dis pattern dat i get my sinus attacks and throat infectn jst before periods..but my doctor denied any such connectn...later whn sinus attacks stopped i started having bad stomch as well as anxiety attacks bfore my periods...the problm is dat medical science is still not aware of many problms we women go thru :/

There is definitely a connection! I dream most every night (even during naps!) but they are more frequent (5 or so a night) and a lot of them are nightmares. All this on top of bloating, cramps, sinus headaches/migraines, grouchy, .... seriously can menopause start now? Keep researching and find a doctor who will listen and respect what you are going thru.

Ok so I posted about a month ago, mentioned Mucinex and Macafem.  Well here we are at my PMS week...oh joy.  I had to switch to Zyrtek D which says on the box that it reduces swelling and inflamed nasal & sinus passages as well as a decongestant.  My headache wasn't as severe as last month's migraine (thank you GOD!!) but I had the throbbing at the back of my head, left side at the base of my head. Then it carried up and around and I could feel the throbbing in my cheekbones and my temples. My problem seemed to definitely be inflammation.  So I pulled out the Zyrtek D and it worked!! (can't take Advil / ibuprofen b/c of my stomach...bummer) so I'm also taking  Infla-profen from Whole Foods, it's a natural anti-inflamatory (we'll see but here's hoping!)   Cool packs on the face / head help relieve the inflamation as well.  So if any of this sounds like what you suffer, try anti-inflamatory meds with decongestants. And yes, cut the dairy, caffeine and sugar and nuts that week as well. All are headache/migraine triggers.  

I also HIGHLY recommend Macafem (google it) or pick up some Maca root from Whole Foods, comes in powder or capsules. Did a lot of research on this Maca and it's amazing. I've taken it for a month and notice a HUGE difference. Helps with PMS, perimenopause and menopause...anything relating to hormone balance.   Hormonal dips are also part of the blame for PMS headaches and this stuff helps to regulate hormones. Try it!! Trust me. It's all natural so it can't hurt you.  I pray for everyone on here to be healed from this, I know how debilitating it can be and tho I don't know your names.... God does.   :)     I will try to follow up next month.

Stephanie

 

Oh im am so glad to know im not alone and not crazy like the docs make you feel! I too have been suffering with all the same problems for years now. Trying the primrose and dim complex. also magnesium and a progesterone cream. Seems to ease things. I have a question for you all tho. Does it make any sense that my husband also gets the same headache at the same time i do every month? Sometimes the day before i do? Could my hormones affect him that much? It works on women making them cycle together so could this be a real thing? So ya we get the sinus swelling, constipation that horrible headache and our faces even puff like eye puffiness! But by the second day of my cycle its like all the moisture comes back and everything cuts loose and goes back to normal for both of us. So how can i help my husband to not get these symptoms along with me? just a warning on those decongestants, i used to take those for this and it caused a rebound effect and i ended up in the ER with a headache that made me want to put my head thru the wall and i couldnt stop from rocking in place from all the pain! I have had natural childbirth twice and that was nothing compared to that headache! So beware. wishing u all health, peace, and happines.

 

                                                                                                              Lisa W hormonal headaches

 

So excited I found this site!!!!  I have been suffering from sinus issues since about 2006. AND, since then I have had such heavy periods and I am on the pill!!! I was diagnosed with fybroids in 2007. I still have them, and I believe they are the cause of my heavy periods. I've tracked my headaches the last couple months and determinded that the sinus pain appears when I start my period. I have pressure in my upper cheek bone area. Pressure behind the brow bone. Some pain deep in one ear, sometimes both. Sometimes pain at my temples too. Queasy tummy, but also hungry feeling. ???  Most of the time the pain starts on one side of my face and lasts for two days, then the pain is gone for one day, and then the pain moves to the other side of my face and lasts for two days.....the the next day completely GONE!! Has anyone experienced that at all??? Please let me know. All the doctors that I have seen have no clue! I've had a CAT scan, and nothing bad appeared. I went to an allergist, and he prescribed a pill that used to be used like Prozac is used. I took that for a while, and no change. Please let know your remedies, advise....anything! I want relief! I am 48 years old, and I have not started perimenopause. Thank you ladies.....and I hope you ALL feel better SOON!! :)

Wow... so many of these stories sound just like me.  I get my headache on day three of my period.  The headache is worse when the flow changes.  I, too, thought they were migraines but my Relpax doesn't get rid of this headache.  It helps take the edge off for a few hours so I can sleep but the headache remains (which tells me it isn't migraine).  I've been doing Excedrin and Sudafed every 3-4 hours but that is killing my stomach.  Plus, all the caffeine keeps me from sleeping at night. 

And now at age 46, I've just started perimenopause so I got two periods this month!  Which means, double the headache! 

I've already cut out as much white sugar and white flour as I can from my diet because I've heard they cause inflammation. 

I guess by reading everyone else's responses - there is no silver bullet for this, huh?  Well... we're not CRAZY and we're not ALONE.

 

Yes, yes, yes! I get the queasy stomach but also feel hungry. I get the headache pain that moves from one side to the other and then can completely disappear!

I've tried all sorts of remedies but nothing has worked.

Wow. I get this too. In fact I have the tiredness behind my eye right now. I find if I'm calm and not anxious (I suffer with anxiety) I don't have a headache so bad. I can't just phone in sick when I get them and I am in fear of sufering with them at work. Feel tired and when it gets so bad I feel sick and don't want to move. 

I am going to try yoga apparantly the bridge poss and bow pose help and also taking tablets when you know you will get a headache might help the severity of it. 

I havn't told my doctor as they never seem to have a clue what's wrong with me half the time. They took years to diagnose my anxiety. They'll more likely just blame the pill but I'm sure I had these headaches before the pill 

I don't see how cutting out flour etc is going to help although maybe caffienine or sugar is an idea but I'd rather do something less drastic

I am a retired RPh & have also been unable to locate any Cafergot tabs. I'm curious as to your success in getting any information from Schering-Plough as to when or if they plan to bring Cafergot back onto the market. Even some of the Canadian websites state that Cafergot has been DC'd.

Hope your P3 year is going well.

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