Hi I am a new member.  I am 34 years old.  About three years ago I stopped having cycles at the same time I also started having sinus problems that I never had before.  Incredible pain/pressure.  Saw doctor, must be infection.  I was on and tried every anitbiotic known to man.  These did not work.  Next the allergist, must have allerigies, again all sorts of medication.  Still no help.  My husband and I wanted to have a baby, saw doc. for missed periods.  diagnosis premature ovarian failure.  Heartbroken!!  well with the help of clomid, had a cycle got pregnant, sinus trouble went away.  After son was born had cycles for 6 months.  It has been 8 months with no cycles; diagnosis menopause on hrt.  Well guess what sinus problems are back full force.  Extremely painful and debilitating.  Like having migraines with extreme sinus pressure pain down into teeth and jaw.  Well today low and behold woke up starting to feel better and guess what first cycle in 8 months.  Before, I say something to my doctor and he tells me I am crazy.  I was wondering if anyone out there has had these same symptoms/problems.  I would really like to know, 1. so I can use it as ammunition with my doc. and 2. just so I know that I am not losing my mind.  I am really tired of always feeling so crappy.  I mean between bloating, nightsweats, hot flashes, etc.  my life has not been that great.  My 18month old must be wondering who took the fun out of mommy.  all replies would be so greatly appreciated.

MJL, I had a complete hysterectomy two years ago at age 38. I have had many and varying symptoms since then. My first fall/winter season was very difficult for me because I had sinus/allergy infections all winter long, it seemed like. Developed into bronchitis. Also I began having more allergy problems than I had had in years. Upon doing some research I learned that a lot of women experience this during menopause. Maybe this will help you see you are not alone!

hi MJLthis is how all my symptoms started. I also took antibiotics for a year but this didnt help.  I went to an allergist- not allergic to anything.  Had a MRI, cat scan but nothing.  i still get terrrible sinus pressur, eyes hurt, and eyes jump all over and cant focus right.  I think it might be some sort of migraine.  Ive looked all over the internet and some people have said this sinus pressure pain is a type of migraine.  I havent had a dr. tell me yet but who knows.

Hi Nina,   I don't think doctors know alot of these everyday problems with things like this.  They don't seem to be able to make simple connections anymore...........   First of all, make sure you don't have any other problems going on that have caused your menstrual problems too.  For example, Lyme disease can cause menstrual irregularities, plus a ton of other problems, including sinus.BUT.........I believe from the bottom of my heart, that our sinuses are definitely influenced by our female hormones.  Several years ago I started perimenopause and my estrogen started dropping.  I had anxiety, irregular periods, dry skin, but most of all, I had sinus problems and ear problems.  I ended up having 2 sinus surgeries in the course of 1 and 1/2 years.  I then went on a fair amount of hormone replacement therapy, and all of a sudden, I had NO sinus problems.  Then, last year, I slowly came off some of my hormones, plus I think my own estrogen is dropping even lower, and I began having alot of sinus/ear problems again.  I think the circulation to our ears and sinuses begins to decline when our hormones fall.   Unfortunately, I don't think your OB/GYN or an ENT would ever make this connection, so don't look for any validation from them.   I just try to drink lots of water and use a homemade saline spray for my nose (which sometimes helps my ears open up).  Also, if you can tolerate something like sudafed and also guaifenesin (which thins mucous), you might find some relief.   So.......I agree with you completely about the connection between falling hormone levels and our sinuses.......but I don't think your doctor will agree.  Good luck.

Hi,I have had a lot more sinus problems also.Cathy you said you have ear problems.  Do you get dizzy orlightheaded? I have been dizzy for years :confused: and was finally diagnosed with migraines but I am noticing an increase with the weird feeling in my head and will realize that my ear seems blocked.  Plus I think that dizziness is a symptom of meno or in my case perimeno.

Deb

Hi Deb,   The biggest problem I'm having with my ear is that it gets clogged up  (I think of internal congestion of the veins), and I can't hear out of it as well, plus it feels like there's pressure in it.   Actually, several weeks ago I went through a dizzy spell of several weeks.  I also have migraines, so I wasn't sure if it was a part of those, or my fibromyalgia, or my sinus congestion.   I spend some time on a Headache forum, and several of the women seem to always struggle with nausea and dizziness with their migraines.  Some of them have found that using a drug like dramamine (for motion sickness) can help a bit (it is over-the-counter).  Some people use phenergan or visteril for their nausea.    I think the dizziness and nausea (and the increased headaches) might be coming from the drastic change in our vasculature (blood vessels) that seems to be happening around perimenopause.   I hate all the symptoms, but dizziness can be the worst!  You have my sympathy!   Have you ever considered looking for a different cause of your dizziness?  Did  you ever fall or hit or head?   I have a friend who fell and hit her head, and she was so dizzy, she could hardly function for a year.  She went to various docs, Ent's, etc., then found a clinic that deals with manipulating the "gravel" that's in our ears and can get dislogded, and totally mess up our balance.  She went to a local clinic and they moved her head around in a special way, and when she left, her dizziness was gone!      Unfortunately, alot of us have symptoms that aren't this easy to fix......but it's always good to cover all your possible bases.  I hope you can find out what's causing your dizziness.......have you tried allergy meds?   I'm sure glad I never knew how awful this time of my life was going to be!!  

Sinus yuck and migraines -- sometimes they marry. I've had the surgery and yes, it helped. I HIGHLY recommend two interventions. First off, acupuncture, with the right acupuncturist, has helped many people. You'll know after the first visit if it will work for you or not. After countless rounds of antibiotics, I found only acupuncture would help. The second intervention is irrigation. When in sinus hell, I use a water pic with a nasal attachment, and run water with a little salt and baking soda in one nostril and out the other. It's a bit disgusting, but may be helpful.

These strategies have helped me, but you never know, eh?

i have also had alot of sinus problems since starting this lovely transition in my early life.  my nostrils are dry it seems like it is almost all the time, but i keep getting sinus headaches, ear pressure and itching.  i've always had allergies, but since perimeno they have changed alot and gotten worse.  anyone else have the problem with the dry sinus?

I see this is an old thread, but I was doing a search on sinus problems and this subject popped  up.  I'm 51, in perimeno, getting periods every 4-6 months.  I've always had nasal allergies, but this winter they're worse.  It used to be they'd be bad for a week and taper off the second week.  This time, they've been bad for a month.  Antibiotics didn't work, and the doctor denied there was any relationship with perimeno.  The nasal passages feel parched, dry, and almost feel achy.  I alternate between stuffy, runny, and feeling unnaturally dry.  Sometimes when I blow my nose, there's blood.  I run a personal humidifier at night, use "Ocean" saline spray, insert vaseline in my nostrils, and take Sudafed.  Has anyone else had these problems this year?  I live in a cold climate, Pennsylvania.  

Nel... well here i am in the same boat as you..I was told three weeks ago i had a sinus infection. i was on vacation and went to a walk in clinic..was on antibiotics for ten days and no relief...went to my own Dr,. and back on Antibiotics... still NO relief.. dont think its sinus but two dr. say yes.. no test done yet. but the head feels like its in a vice..started on one side now seems the whole head is involved.. one day good the next horrible headaches..ugh.. any help out there for me.... eeyore5120@aol.com

Eeyore,

It's bad enough having a sinus infection without having to find a clinic while on vacation!  We're supposed to be relaxing and having a wonderful time!

While in my local health food store recently, I picked up a bottle of "Sinus Remedy" by Peaceful Mountain.  It's a nasal spray.  A woman who worked there saw me holding it, and asked if I've used it and I said "no".  She went on to say her daughter in law had a sinus infection that didn't respond to antibiotics and this spray gave her relief and the infection was gone in four days.

Well, I bought it and have been using it now for about 2-3 weeks.  I hope I'm not overdoing by using it for so long, but she told me if was OK.  I've been much better, but not perfect.  One thing though is the pain in my head and cheekbones, around my nose and eyes is gone.  Also, I think the painfully dry feeling in my nose is better.  

I still have some congestion, but I think this is going to be my new friend during this menopause transition.  It's just one more thing I now have to deal with.  Many women are bothered by new or worsened sinus problems.  It's the same thing with allergies which I suspect mine are tied to the sinus problems.  

Nel... thanks for answering me. the thing is i fdont think it is sinus at all. i wake in the morning with a little stuffiness but it goes away when i get up..This is like pressure on the left side and sometimes the back of my nead.. feels like someone is pushing in my head.. its weird.. iy seems to happen everyday but comes and goes... i still have over a week with the antibiotics and then back to the dr, i go if it dont go away... two dr. says sinus but  they didnt run any test and im thinking its not sinus... never had  one... who knows.... need all the help i can get......Eeyore

I know this is an older thread, but I just had to chip in with my experience. I am almost 50, have had migraines since my teens, and in adulthood (esp. with perimenopause) have developed serious allergies. About 2 years ago, I started having what I thought were extreme sinus headaches about every 2-3 months. They would last 3 days, and include such nausea and vomiting that I could not eat or drink, much like having the flu. I was totally confined to bed when this happened.

After a couple of these (and about to lose my mind from the pain), I tried taking an Imitrex (migraine med). Lo and behold, the miserable headache went away in less than 2 hours!

I have since learned that these are migraines that "masquerade" as sinus headaches. I still get them from time to time, but usually can control them with Imitrex until they run their course.

I hope this helps somebody out there. These headaches are truly the worst!

Wow ! I just noticed these threads! I can't believe how many of you have had sinus problems at the start of peri! I had a terrible time for years!!!! No one knew of the connection! If only I had known now  I might have prevented alot of  the worry!! I too had to go on so many different antibiotics because they didn't work for me either!!! All of a sudden they stopped- and the other symptoms that we all recognize as perimeno started to appear !

Suzie

I've had pre-period sinus pressure, headache and post-nasal drip for years.  I read somewhere that this can be helped by avoiding dairy.  I'm now 51, and have eliminated dairy. When I did, the sinus stuff decreased big time, so I hardly get it anymore. I also found out I was allergic to casein, the milk protein.  So, it's important to eliminate any foods that could be causing a reaction. I still have allergies, but I can handle them alot better now that I'm off dairy. Also, I noticed that stress will make it worse.  If I over-do it,  the sinuses will act up.  It's important to stay rested, relaxed and happy.

I have also experienced a marked increase in nasal and throat congestion for over a year.  At first, I attributed this to spring allergies, but when the symptoms continued well into summer, I suspected they were probably peri-related.  My symptoms present themselves in various ways.  Sometimes both my nose and throat are congested, while at other times, one or the other is congested.   The throat congestion can feel like something is constricting my throat, making it difficult to talk.   My nose and throat are always congested after getting out of bed.  I've tried several remedies, including NasalCrom, Rhinocort Aqua, Zicam Homeopathic Nasal Gel, saline sprays, Vick's VapoRub, Sudafed, nettle leaf capsules, Evening Primrose Oil and grapeseed extract(GSE).  I've had the most success with Sudafed, although occasionally, it doesn't help much.  The Rhinocort Aqua worked very well for the first month, or so, then lost its effectiveness.   According to the sources I've consulted, GSE is regarded as being extremely safe, without any known side-effects, contraindications or drug interactions. Therefore, I plan to increase my dosage to 200mg/day to see if that helps.

I'm also about to embark on an allergy elimination program offered at a very progressive osteopathic practice, specializing in integrative medicine called Osteomed in Strongsville, OH.  They claim a nearly 100% success rate  in eliminating allergies and an 85% success rate in eliminating or reducing pain.  They also offer menopausal services, facial rejuvenation and empathology sessions.  The physical therapist who referred me, described Osteomed as being in the forefront of their field, saying that there are very few facilities in the world that offer the types of services available there.    Hopefully, I'll realize relief after availing myself of their services.  I'll post updates on my progress.

Krista

I have a combination of shortness of breath with nasal congestion and post nasal drip. The nasal congestion makes breathing difficult through the nose and the shortness of breath manifests itself mainly while talking. It seems as though both conditions are menopause related because they coincided with other peri symptoms (I have never smoked). I've been seeing a psychologist for cranial sacral treatments, which have alleviated both symptoms, but had to discontinue seeing her last week due to having used up my alloted appointments for the year. Since discontinuing the treatments, my symptoms have worsened. I have tried many other remedies, but only Sudafed has helped consistently over time. I am interested to know if anyone has similar symptoms to mine and what they have done to successfully eliminate them. Thanks for sharing any info, Krista

Dear Krista, I keep getting terrible sinusitis this year. I feel like I am drowning in mucous. It appears to be a lot worse since I started skipping periods. The only thing that helps me alittle is to irrigate the sinuses with a saline mixture. I asked Pete (pharmacist from Powesurge) if natural hormones would help the sinusitis and he said it is possible. I do not want to go on hormones though- but for quality of life I might give it a try.

quote from Angel3 Dear Krista, "I keep getting terrible sinusitis this year. I feel like I am drowning in mucous. It appears to be a lot worse since I started skipping periods. The only thing that helps me alittle is to irrigate the sinuses with a saline mixture." "I asked Pete (pharmacist from Powesurge) if natural hormones would help the sinusitis and he said it is possible. I do not want to go on hormones though- but for quality of life I might give it a try."[/quote]Angel3, I read and responded to your post on the NHRT forum regarding the use of natural hormones to ease sinus symptoms. I said that Revival Soy has not reduced these symptoms, although it has helped with other things and 2 other women replied that the use of hormones did nothing to alleviate their symptoms, either. Last summer, I started cranial sacral therapy, which I think has greatly improved my symptoms. We also installed a central humidifier, which has made a major difference during the winter. In addition, I tried a Chinese herbal remedy called Clear Phlegm by Health Concerns, which was very helpful for 2-3 months. I still have excess mucus production, although it's not as severe as it was. It collects in my nose and throat and can either be very overwhelming or simply annoying. Overall, this symptom has been very debilitating. It sounds as though we are having similar experiences with this and can really relate to each other. Since you mentioned that it's getting worse since you began skipping periods, it does indeed sound hormone related. My sinus problems began when other peri symptoms appeared and have fluctuated on and off(mostly on) ever since. For more of my thoughts on the subject, please continue on to my next post, copied from the discussion on Estrogen Dominance Causing Shortness of Breath on the Headaches/Migraines forum, where I also have other posts on this topic. Thanks for responding, Angel3, I really hope things greatly improve for both of us, soon. Krista

The following post is copied from my original posting on the breathlessness discussion of this forum. I used Rhinocort Aqua about 2 years ago for 3 months, but only found it effective for the first month. I also tried a Chinese herbal blend from Health Concerns called Clear Phlegm, which helped for about 2-3 months before it too, lost its effectiveness. I then tried another prescription nasal spray, Nasonex, but it was completely ineffectual. Dearest has posted messages about how histimine levels are affected by hormone levels and said that she has consulted with more than one expert who has confirmed this. I also read info on another menopause support group that hormonal fluctuations can contribute to breathing difficulties. I've noticed that my symptoms fluctuate day to day and sometimes within the same day. Fortunately, today has been pretty good in that I haven't been very congested and haven't noticed being breathless. I think the cranial sacral treatments have been very helpful, but it does take time to discern any improvement. The treatments are cumulative, however, and eventually fewer are needed. I also tried acupuncture and allergy elimination treatments but didn't find either of these therapies helpful. I agree that these symptoms are just horrendously awful, to put it mildly. It is so strange and bizarre to experience something like this. I've discussed the sinus congestion with several doctors, some who agree that this is a peri symptom and others who deny it or don't know. One doctor said that it's similar to the ear pressure some women experience during pregnancy. Another doctor said that sinus trouble is "a horrible menopausal symptom." My husband consulted with an ENT, who confirmed that peri can be a causal factor for this symptom. I think it's frustrating that breathing and sinus problems are so little noted as peri symptoms, when they are in fact affecting so many women. Allergies are on the list of the 35 menopausal symptoms and allergy symptoms can certainly include nasal congestion and post nasal drip. However, I feel that what I am experiencing is not "allergies," per se, but a disturbance of histimine levels caused by hormonal fluctuations. If anyone has these symptoms, please share with us. It's reassuring to know that we're not alone with these symptoms. Thanks, Krista

Hello everyone,
This is funny. I did an Internet search on "sinus problems and menopause" and it brought me to this thread. I was reading it, and realized that I had answered it myself a couple years ago!! I'm 55, and have about 1 period a year. About 6 weeks ago, I had lots of ovary pain, although no period. But........recently, I've began having alot of my old perimenopausal symptoms back.......anxiety, depression, headaches, and sinus problems! Out of the blue, my nose and sinuses totally dried up and I have this incredible pressure in my forehead, even though I have no drainage. I'm also dizzy and have nausea. I did notice in one of my replies, that it was March then too.........so maybe March is a bad month for those of us in zone 5 who are perimenopausal.
I'm encouraged that this pain and suffering I'm going through AGAIN, won't last forever. But I'm more convinced than ever, that our sinuses definitely begin to dry up and have problems, as our hormones drop. (I'm no longer on HRT. I quit that about a year and a half ago).
I also use a daily home-made nasal spray, but I hadn't used that in a couple months either.
I'm curious if any of the rest of you are still around, and how your sinuses are doing now? Haven't we paid our dues many times over??!!

Hi, CathyAnn,

Yes I am still here. My post name use to be Angel3 and now it is ice dancer. I
still have severe sinus problems. I know it is related to hormones. Did your
HRT have any effect on your sinuses when you were on it?

I also use a nasal spray and find it to be the most useful remedy. I now seem
to be very sensitive to molds. We are having a very wet season this year in
California and I will be glad when it dries up some.

Thank you for posting again, I really appreciate it. The sinusitis has ruined my
quality of life and is my worst symptom!


Take Care,

ice dancer

Hi icedancer,
Oh darn.........I was hoping everyone was cured! I'm sorry to hear you're still having problems. I had really bad sinus problems around the age of 47 and 48.....which was when my periods really starting messing up. That's when I had the 2 sinus surgeries, the last of which really helped. The ENT doc opened up my "windows", so things could drain out better. Yes, my sinuses felt better on HRT, but I had other problems from the HRT, so I didn't want to stay on it. But I could tell almost immediately, when I came off the HRT, that my sinuses started to dry up. Once I adjusted to being off the HRT, my sinuses seemed to improve.....until lately. But it IS spring, so perhaps it's a combination of low hormones, plus allergies. Another thing for you to consider is a food allergy. I'm wondering about dairy products. I seem to do better without them.
I don't know about you, but when I have sinus problems, it makes me CRAZY. I seem to have panic easily, and just feel like my entire life is awful.
I make a home-made spray of water, baking soda and salt, and it helps. But I start feeling better and forget about it, then get into trouble again.
Have you had a cat scan of your sinuses? Sometimes one of the sinuses can close off and form an absess-type thing. Trying to figure out some of these menopause symptoms can drive a person NUTS! What's hard for me is having felt so good for so many years, and now I hardly ever feel good! It's a real bummer! Have you ever tried an alternative medicine doctor? Good luck to you icedancer!

Hi fellow sinus sufferers,

I too have had a lot of sinus problems since entering peri. I have never had any type of allergies in the past and then about 6 months ago I got two sinus infections within a two months. I was put on antibiotics and Rhinocort nasal spray but it only helped while I was on it. I don't like the nasal spray stuff so I found this natural spray called Xlear. It works well for me. I usually wake up every morning with stuffed up sinuses. Never had that before peri. But the Xlear does help and it is natural. You can find it in most health food stores. Hope this helps some especially if you don't want to take all the meds doctors want to give you.

Maeflower

Hi CathyAnn and MaeFlower,

I had sinus surgery in 1999. I had my sinus openings enlagred. I feel the problem
I am having is from "estrogen dominance". When I started skipping periods my
"allergies" became much worse. I am hoping once everything stabilizes I will
get better, hopefully.

Yes, the Xlear Nasal Wash is a good product. I tried the Sinus Buster but it was too
harsh.

Pete, the pharmacist from this site claims the natural hormones can improve sinus
conditions for some women. CathyAnn, were you on bioidentical hormones?
Just curious, what made you decide to get off of them?

Food allergies can create mucus also. I stay away from dairy and sugar. I seem
to be sensitive to air borne mold now. I use to never have these health problems
before. My grandparents came from a farm and lived to be in their 100s and
never was sick. They ate fresh food and had clean air in their day. So... this
seems to be the sign of the times.

Thanks for posting.

ice dancer

Hi CathyAnn, MaeFlower and icedancer,

Thanks for posting and for recommending the Xlear Nasal Spray, MaeFlower. It sounds promising and I think I will try it. Unfortunately, I continue to have stuffiness/excess congestion and post nasal drip, although I feel these symptoms have gradually improved since last summer when I started having cranial sacral treatments. I recently read that peri symptoms tend to be at their worst for the first 2-3 years. Therefore, I am hoping for continued improvement since it has been almost 3 years since this started.

Krista

I found something that finally helped my headaches- I found it online. I know this sounds funny but its called Sinus Buster. Find info at www.sinusbuster.com It was the only thing that helped my sinus headaches. Mine were getting so bad that I was nauseaus and had no energy. I went to doctors, had antibiotics, nothing helped for long. I do believe they are hormone-related, but this spray is great its all natural and you can use it as often as you need to. It has capsicum in it as wlel as eucalyptus and other things. Ellen

This sight has made me feel so much better. I know that this is an old post, but I just have to add to it. I have been having such severe sinus problems for the past 2 months, taking antibiotics, feel better, then it comes back, I know that I am peri, (dr. says to young 43) I have had the worst year of my life, every test known to man, GERD, aches, pains, sleeplessness, anxiety and now this. This morning I am having my 2nd CT scan, checking my sinuses for infection, the way it sounds maybe there is hope after all. I tried to explain overall symptoms to ENT but he sees no relation

Hi Cindy, I went thru the sinus miseries too. I was so nauseus I couldn't keep anything down. Antibiotics don't work longterm. My internist doesn't see a connection with hormones at all. But my gynecologist put me on Prempro for 3 months. I did see relief. Now I'm off it and I have slight twinges but nothing too bad. I also use a nasal spray and I take Mucinex every day to clear out mucus.
If it returns I'll tell him and go back on the Prempro. The only drawback there is that it prolongs bleeding. I am 55 and hoping to stop soon.
Best of luck,
Ellen

Hi Ladies,

There is a nasal spray called Xlear which contains purified water, saline, grapefruit seed extract, and Xylitol which works wonders for nasal allergy symptoms! I have been using it for the past three months and my nasal congestion caused by allergies has decreased dramatically, and I can actually smell things again! It took a couple of weeks of daily use before it "kicked in" to relieve all of my symptoms, but now I don't react to allergens as easily as before and I use it once per day to maintain my healthy nasal condition. Also, if you use it immediately after exposure to an airborne allergen, it seems to wash the allergen out of your nose and prevents a bad allergy attack.

My ENT says I have "sinus disease" and I must avoid all allergens to prevent the condition from worsening. My right sinus cavity showed a lot of problems in an MRI last August. At the time, I suffered with severe sinus headaches, constant stuffy nose, and post-nasal drip. But now, I have non of those problems.

I had been using a saline spray which contained Benzalkonium Chloride as a preservative. I have since discovered that this chemical actually makes matters worse by interfering with cilia function, which is required for moving allergens and mucous out of your sinuses and nasal passages. You should Google this chemical and read the studies! It is even used in children's saline sprays, which are supposed to be natural and free of harmful chemicals! It caused my sinus condition to become worse with each use and I thought it was perimeno causing the negative changes in my sinuses!

If you are interested in researching Xlear, you may find it and information regarding its ingredients at the following sites:

nationalallergysupply.com

vitaminshoppe.com

xlear.com

The spray is available in two different containers, an old fashioned squeeze bottle (the best!), and a spray bottle similar to a nebulizer, depending on which store you visit for purchase.

Take care,

McRisa

this topic seems to have been around for a long time but i have a new spin. i am 30 and i have been on the depo shot for about 8 years or so and not gotten my period. i have always had sinus problems, since i was in my teens, but this year its the worst. dizziness and shaking hands have been added to my daily headaches which the md gave me topomax for this last year and he diagnosed this loosely as cluster headaches although i stressed that this is mostly sinus and only becomes migraine if the headache is not medicated at the beginning. the headaches i have been able to control with topomax or excedrin migraine (if i have an outbreak) but not the dizziness and shaking. i also have the thick post nasal drip but that is pretty much all year long. this just started about a week or two ago and i have already missed a day of work and my boyfriend says im 'cruddy' a lot. DUH

HI!!! I'm brand-new here and am so excited to discover this thread about sinus problems & peri/menopause onset. OMG, I have been going thru sheer hell for the past 4 months with my sinuses. First, a full-blown infection, which required 3 rounds of antibiotics to clear. But it finally did clear up. Then I got the flu, got over that. Now, sinuses are Really Really Bad again, and nothing I do seems to help much, or for long. I use Flonase, marginally helpful, at least for the first week. Saline irrigation with the Grossan nasal irrigator (like a waterpik w/nasal attachment) 2-3x day. Systemic enzymes to control inflammation (bromelain, quercetin to knock down histamine levels, turmeric, Wobenzym N) 3x day, which, when things aren't flared, seem to help a LOT, but not so much right now. Avoid dairy, very minimal on wheat products. Watching sugar, seems to be a relationship there with the sinus flares.

Now I think I'm onto something, though. I've got hypothyroidism, and have been taking 1 grain of Armour thyroid/day for the past few years. It helps a lot, so much so that I generally forget I have this thyroid situation. BUT: now I'm thinking maybe it's time to get another lab done, because perimenopause can knock thyroid function for a loop, and that's exactly what it feels like right now. Cold all the time, dry skin & hair, sluggish, hurting from normal exercise efforts, etc. Also, progesterone production depends on good thyroid function. And, since I do use ProGest cream (worked wonders when I was dealing with bad, heavy periods last year), and this is the 1-week-off part of the cycle, I'm thinking that with insufficient thyroid replacement AND no ProGest, no WONDER my sinuses are miserable! You would think one of my doctors would make this correlation, but noooo. Allergist is mystified. Primary care doc is utterly clueless. ENT says, let's do surgery, nevermind the absence of polyps. No thanks!

So now I'm going to experiment a little. Started ProGest application a couple of days early. Tomorrow I will increase the Armour by 50%, to make the daily dose 1.5 grains (90 mg). In a week's time, the meds should kick in & I'll have a sense of their impact on my poor ol' sinuses.

I'm turning 54 in March, and my periods are just now starting to get farther & farther apart, from every 17-21 days last year, to day 40, and this time, day 49. Periods are scant, but annoying. Not really dark blood, not heavy, just watery & won't go away for days on end. Anyone: sound familiar?

Let me know what you think of my thyroid theory. Hey, it's at least something to work with!

madge

Dear Madge, I aslo suffer from "sinus issues" it is true low throid can trigger
sinus problems. Also, low estrogen can cause it too! Any kind of hormone
imbalance can make allergies/sinusitis worse. The key is to balance all hormones

By the way, welcome to Power Surge glad to have you on board. You will find a
wealth of information here!

You know, I tried the Progest OFC for my sinusitis but it is not strong enough for me.
I am also low in estrogen. I am going to take the plunge and get on compounded
hormones to see what happens with my sinusitis. Keep us posted how upping
your thyroid med and increasing your progesterone helps. I am very curious how
this will work for you. Good luck!



icedancer

The headaches are what clued me into this being a hormonal issue. I have only had problems with sinus headaches two other times in my life. Both were when I was taking bcp's. I don't take them anymore, doc won't let me, but when all this carziness started back in July it was one of the first things that I noticed. Fortunatly I don't have them all the time like I did when I was on the pill. They do however hit me every few months. Almost seems like once my body adjusts the the hormone shift they go away. Here's hoping that I adjust quickly to this latest round.

Hi icedancer, thanks for your reply & the nice welcome. I will likewise follow your progress with the compounded hormones with great interest. I never thought I might also be low in estrogen, there's a thought. I've been battling estrogen dominance for so long, the idea that it could--and probably is--on the wane is rather novel. I know you're right, that hormones, generally, being out of whack can create these problems, not just one or the other. And, thyroid of course is a hormone, which in my case, probably got knocked for a loop when the progesterone took a nosedive. I have no proof of this, of course, other than the weird way I've been feeling, and the changes that have been unfolding, slightly under the radar.

This is day 3 of the increased Armour meds & also the progesterone cream, and the change in sinus function has been remarkable. Yesterday was so good, in fact, I almost began to think of my sinuses as normal! Given where I've been the past 5 years or so, this is amazing. However, today I can feel something going on up in there, and there's a pressing on my eyes or at least that's what it feels like, making me right on the verge of another visual migraine . If I get to it in time with Sudafed, I can usually fend these off. And, today wasn't nearly that bad, just a mild threat of things to come. I didn't use Sudafed, but did take a slug of the Robitussin (guaifenesin) to thin out the mucus & get things moving, which worked well.

I feel a bit strange on the increased Armour, but that's to be expected. Hopefully I'll adapt quickly.

Do you include soy in your diet? I know this is a subject of great controversy, but some women I know who are estrogen-deficient absolutely swear by soy. I hope the compounded hormones work wonders for you. Please keep us posted, OK??

take care,
madge

Dear Madge,
Please see my thread in the Revival soy section under the post "How Has Revival
Helped You" It may be of interst to you. Also. soy is a hormone balancer-it modulates
high and low estrgoen according to scientific studies.



icedancer

Buy some SinoFresh (kills nasal mold & bacteria) not the other kind, and give it a try. Can be found at Walgreens. (Sometimes I get microscopic pieces of fungus lodged in my sinuses and this is the only thing that ejects it.) The side effects of that fungus in my sinuses are dizzyness, ears stuffed, nasal sinuses ache, feels nausea.

Ashlynn - could I ask you for more details of your sinus infection? I have the same symptoms as you mention and it's no fun!
I am in the UK and I'm not sure we can get the med you mention - are you in the US?

Many thanks

Hi ashlynn,

I took your advice and went to Walgreen's and bought the Sinofresh for my son.

Is there a specific sino fresh for mold and bactiria??...i just bought sino fresh <_<

Thanks,Lynda

Has anyone tried Hopi ear candles, which help to clear your sinusses?

Never heard of it Alice...does it melt ear wax?

Can anyone tell me what their sinus headache feels like? I have burning pain on the top of my head daily. When I get up in the morning i feel pretty good but as the day wears pain creeps in. Dr. has me on another antibiotic, 3rd one) and I can only hope for the better, very hard to concentrate and at times have trouble with vision, (got new glasses in nov) I have had 2 head cts and the first showed middle sinus full of gunk, 2nd one showed sinus empty but swollen, this truly has been worst 4 months of my life, i thought gerd was bad, body aches terrrible but this takes the cake, and of course i am second guessing everything, looking for terrible unknown disease but what else can i do????? Day to day stuff is miserable but i keep trying in hopes of it getting better. Thanks for any help or encouragement.

Hi all:

I've been reading these posts with great interest and they describe me to a tee. I am 58, postmenopausal since 2002 and have been through hell on earth with sinus infections, weight gain, fatigue etc. etc.

I have been a virtual guinea pig since September 2000 and nothing has helped until September of 2005 when I took the plunge and tried progesterone alone and finally got relief. I started sleeping, sex drive came back, fluid retention disappeared and sinus issue improved dramatically.

The problem is that with each cycle I seem to be getting more and more tired and now it seems like my estrogen is a factor - a lot of night sweats and body aches.

I've been on thyroid meds on and off over this 5 years but they give me headaches and don't seem to help this much.

I am thinking of adding estrogen into the mix to see what happens.

The compounding pharmacist told me all this is because I had a tubal ligation when I was 32. Has anyone else heard this?

Peanuts

Neucindy,

When I first realised I was in peri I went to the Doctor to have my sinus checked as I found I was having these weird spinning heads and a funny type of headache. The Doctor didn't know what really was wrong and treated me for sinus. Eventually I went to another Doctor and she said I was experiencing a Oestrogen Vasomotor surge. I would describe as my head having a cap on and a bunch of crawling veins twitching.

Eventually I started experiencing surge type heads, sort of spinning sort of feeling weird. Hope this is something you experienced. Now I know what it is I just try and remain calm and let it pass.

pisces

At the moment I have dizziness, full feeling in the ears, someone's trying to push my eyeballs out from the inside and my head feels like it's in a pressure chamber. I've had this on and off for nearly a year, but the first time was the worst. I became so dizzy I couldn't stand, nauseous and hot hot hot! Had to call a friend for help and I ended up in ER.

Looking back, and from info gleaned from this site, it seems like this was the start of hot flashes possibly due a to a sudden decrease in hormones.
To get to the point (finally!) I am now wondering whether all this could be sinus problems as well. There is pressure all around my eyes and I feel like my forehead is pushing down the rest of my face

Do any of you get dizziness with sinus problems? This feeling doesn't go quickly and only wears off after some days - at least it has before. Any suggestions for getting relief?
I've also heard that the dizzies could be due to trapped nerve in the neck, but this isn't the place to go into that!

Any suggestions gratefully received

Just a thought.

I live in Canada and through this whole mess for 5 years there has been something that has helped me - a product called T-100 in Canada but in the U.S. it is called Thyodine and is available from www.greenwillowtree.com. It is a thyroid support which also helps the adrenals. For me it brought my TSH down from 6.5 to 2.4 taking one a day. For some stupid reason I have been afraid to take the second dose which they recommend until Sunday and Bingo, yesterday I had a normal day.

Even my doctor couldn't believe that this would work. It doesn't have the side effects of synthroid.

My problem has been Is it estrogen, progesterone or thyroid that is causing the 45 symptoms I have. Progesterone helped for a while but then it seemed to make me more tired.

Hope this info helps someone. Check out the testimonials or call them. Elora is really great to talk to.

Hard to believe that in 2006 women have to go through such hell with so little medical help

Peribelle,

I have the same symptoms you have but maybe not as intense. I got the head pressure, ear fullness with dizziness, and head ringing/buzzing , noise senstivity and hot all the time... really bad last year in December. Also had crying jag and really bad thoughts of not making it.

I can't tell you what to do but I finally broke down and now taking the bioidentical estrogen and progesterone. I was already on progesterone (a lesser dose than now) prior to my December meltdown. I am also on 10 mg pf prozac, must to my resistance. Prior to my period in Jan., my symptoms were much improved compared to December and I do feel better and sleeping better since I started the bioidenticals.

I work full-time and have a 12 year old daughter, and I just couldn't function. In December, I couldn't even put together a grocery list ...

I think for me it has came down to quality of life. I don't think I would take hormones if it were synthetic though and I still have doubts about my decision to go on the bioidenticals but for now I think I'll be staying on them. I am planning on stopping the prozac after 3 months of use... this is my plan with my naturopathic doctor.

Are there any naturopathetic doctors in the UK or maybe consider contacting Pete
on the bioidenticals.

It is a very confusing time in our lives, but you are the only one that knows how you feel and what you need to do.

Many hugs Peribelle and hang in there.

Plumeria

Emma, thanks for your encouragement I'm still dithering whether or not to take any sort of hormone - bio or synthetic. Dithering seems to play a major part in my life at the moment!

It's difficult - if not impossible - to get the bios here, and to import from the US costs a mint in import taxes, but I shall have to do something before I go completely round the bend I take St John's Wort which helped some but seems to not be having an effect any more.

Peribelle,

I can so identify with you. The bioidenticals takes care of some of the symptoms but not all and I am still struggling with the tinnitus. As I type this I am hearing the two (2) sounds, a hissing and like a faucet continuous running type of sound and just experiencing a head pressure (fullness), hot neck, and shallow breathing... taking deep breathe to calm myself. Period suppose to come on the 20th so I think I am getting more symptoms. Last night, my chest felt a little heavy for a few seconds and also had some dizziness. I few days ago I had the earache going on but not as bad as the previous months.

Anyway, I know the bioidenticals don't take care of it all but any bit of help I am welcoming. Okay, now I am back to only hearing the hissing sound.

I wish you the best Peribelle and I hope you can find some relief. PM me anytime you need support.

HA ditto! I see us both sitting at our PCs trying to hold it together, taking deep breaths and trying to keep calm

I don't seem to have the tinnitus at the moment but, talking of that, I heard on a scientific documentary the other night that gingko biloba can be very helpful for tinnitus. Have you tried it? The programme was a serious study into the effects of herbs and they have said that there are 4 "super herbs"...gingko biloba, St Johns Wort, hawthorne (heart problems)...and for the life of me I can't remember the last one. But these herbs are said to be as good if not better than conventional meds.

Wouldn't it be nice if someone did a serious study into the effects of menopause. Fat chance.
I hate the full head feeling and the dizziness...just makes me feel so ghastly I haven't had a period for 6 months, and before that it was 7 months. I suppose I've blown it now and will get one tommorrow! The sooner they stop completely the happier I'll be. Only 6 more months to go.....