What doctor would you see?

[Moana of Motunui]

My primary care doctor knows I have a history of headaches. He has diagnosed me with chronic sinusitis because I get sinus infections and sinus headaches very often.

Recently I've started getting headaches that last about 3-5 days starting on the first day of my monthly friend (hint, I'm female).

The confusing part is they feel like sinus headaches because the pain is at the top of my nose and above my eye brows. But I don't know if I'm getting them because of my monthly friend.

Could they be related or bad timing for both to hit at the same time? This has now happened every months since April.

Thoughts?

 

[Poohforyou]

I'd go to an ENT (ears, nose and throat) and/or a neurologist.

 

[Mizzoufan]

My husband sees a Pulmonologist for his sinus headaches.

 

[Kaytie]

What specialist does your PCP recommend? Have you discussed the timing and regularity of your recent headaches with her/him?

 

[Meriweather]

I would also go to an ENT

 

[Moana of Motunui]

What specialist does your PCP recommend? Have you discussed the timing and regularity of your recent headaches with her/him?

I haven't. I just send him an email and calls in a ZPack each time I ask for it. He has recommended an ENT but the closest one my insurance covers is about an hour or more away.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I vote absolutely related! My allergies always act up right before "that time". Try whatever allergy med isn't counter indicated for you by other meds or side effects. (And if your cycle is very predictable, I'd start a day or two before.)

 

[AppleDumpling]

Headaches triggered by hormonal changes are fairly common. I'd discuss it with your OB/Gyn.

 

[adisneyaunt]

Chronic sinusitis and then constant z packs... I'd re think that regiment and see an ENT...
Too much antibiotics imho..specialist may have other alternatives.
As far as additional hormonal headaches... I'd discuss with ur Ob/Gyn
And before I saw either of them... I'd start a food/headache log... do u happen to see a pattern ( after 2-4 weeks)?
Hope u feel better... headaches are awful!

 

[Corbie]

Have you seen an allergist? I used to get sinus headaches all the time which would develop into upper respiratory dry cough. It would get so bad in the winter time that I would enter our building at work coughing and the receptionist (up the stairs where she couldn't see the door) would holler down, "Hi, there, Song!" This went on for (no kidding) years. My then primary finally sent me to an ENT who couldn't find anything, but who finally asked if I had ever been checked out for allergies.

Long story, short, I discovered I was allergic to cats and dust (both of which I have in abundance) blue grass, maple trees and tons of other stuff that grows around here, but not any of your typical fall allergy culprits like ragweed. I had developed the cat allergy over several years of having them. I never knew people could develop new allergies, but they can.

 

[low-key]

If it were me I would see Dr Feelgood

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Chronic sinusitis and then constant z packs... I'd re think that regiment and see an ENT...
Too much antibiotics imho..specialist may have other alternatives.
As far as additional hormonal headaches... I'd discuss with ur Ob/Gyn
And before I saw either of them... I'd start a food/headache log... do u happen to see a pattern ( after 2-4 weeks)?
Hope u feel better... headaches are awful!

I second this. I have sinus issues and while Z-packs are great for some infections, they're not the antibiotic of choice for sinus infections (unless you're allergic to penicillin) and definitely not in the standard 5-day z pack version.

Are you have headaches when you wake up? Or is it later in the day? It could also be bruxism if the headaches are in the morning (which can sometimes affect sinuses).

There's so many potential causes, I would definitely start engaging specialists.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

I would consider seeing an endocrinologist.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I think your primary doc should be able to handle this if you work with him on it. But if you have to see anyone for the chronic sinusitis, it would probably be best to see an ENT.

That said, here are my thoughts on the headaches that come with your period. (My DD and I have dealt with this a lot.) Those fall under the category of PMS, and there a lot of things we can do ourselves that help prevent some of these issues that come with our cycles. Much of the problem is dietary - especially sodium, or salt. Salt causes fluid retention and, along with the hormonal shifts, makes us have some water weight gain during that time, which makes us feel crappy all over. But if you're getting headaches in the same place as your typical sinus issues, in the absence of infection, I would think that would also be "sinus congestion", just like what causes you difficulty when you have sinusitis, but in this case, i.e. monthly, it's more related to general fluid retention (that builds up for you in your sinuses). If that makes sense. So my advice, and I've given this to my DD too, is to watch your diet especially well in the week you're pre-menstrual. Stay away from salty foods like chips and fast food. (But tons of other things have sodium as well, even "healthy" foods like pickles or cottage cheese, so READ LABELS!) If you eat healthily it may help your headaches during that time. At least try it for a few months.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/10/11-diet-changes-that-help-you-fight-pms/

(And of course, NSAIDS will help decrease the prostaglandins that are known to be the culprit in PMS, but you need to take them before your symptoms start, as they prevent the buildup. Once they're there, you have inflammation. Together with dietary changes, these should help.) Good luck.

Older article [that explains it best] but the theory hasn't changed much. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6350580

 

[kimmar067]

Dr. Suess




"I would see him in a box
I would see him with a fox.
On a train,
In a plane.
Doctor, doctor in a house;
Doctor, doctor with a mouse...."


....on a more serious note, how old are you? [just wondering if you are pre-menopausal...] A friend of mine used to suffer horribly from migraines, so it could possibly be hormonal...

 

[spacemountainmom]

I used to have horrible headaches at the end of my period. I mentioned it to my OB/GYN and she thought I might be suffering from hormone withdrawal. She changed me to a new pill. I now take one that has 21 days of full hormones, 2 days of a lower dose and then 5 placebo pills. It has done miracles for my headaches.

 

[MrsDuck]

I'd go to an ENT (ears, nose and throat) and/or a neurologist.

Agreed. These are the two best places to start. I'd go ENT first, then neuro.

 

[MamaBelle4]

He has recommended an ENT but the closest one my insurance covers is about an hour or more away.

It can be a pain to have to drive an hour or more away for an appointment, but if it can relieve you from these headaches 3-5 days out of the month, isn't the 2 hour round commute worth it?

Agreed. These are the two best places to start. I'd go ENT first, then neuro.

Thirding this suggestion, though an OBGYN would be 3rd. But since you've had issues with headaches prior to the timing shifting to jive with your cycle, I would suggest there's an underlying cause that isn't being addressed.

 

[minkydog]

I'd start with an ENT. He/she can take xrays that will let them see what's going on inside your sinuses. If the ENT can't help or doesn't seem to resolve the headaches I recommend you see a neurologist. It's possible you may be having migraines.