(Post) Midnight Sinus Headache Blues

[Khephra]

Indiana, like much of the US, has been having dramatic weather changes the past week. I went to bed early, thinking that everything would be better in the morning.

Morning has sort of come here (it's 3AM) and now I can hardly breathe because my morning sinus troubles.

BLEH.

Maybe I should move to Texas. At least Hell is close by.

[Senior citizen]

1. How long have you had sinus problems?

I only had them for a few years. Took all kinds of pills, had surgery, nothing seemed to help. And then, for no reason at all, the headaches went away and (knock wood) haven't come back. I wish I knew why so I could offer advise, but I'm mystified. And lucky. It was really hell for the years it lasted--the headaches were the worst I've ever had, so I sympathize. Hope you feel better soon and that the sinus problems disappear like mine did.

[Khephra]

3. The headaches were/are akin to having my brains ripped out

by Egyptian embalmers...while being alive for the process. In my early childhood, it was much worse as I lived out in the rural fields of Indiana. I moved to the city (Indy) when I was around 14 and I never felt better. I would have an attack maybe once a year, but they were never as serious as the ones I had living between corn and soy-bean rows.

For the last decade, I've been blessed with the typical of mild Summer related sinus troubles. My real head-throbbing agony started Tuesday and it doesn't seem to be letting up.

My sympathies right back at you for your troubles!

[hedda_foil]

6. Kheph ... listen to Auntie Hedda, please.

Credentials: My whole damn family is allergic with 3 generations of migraines and sinus headaches. (My Dad flunked his WWII draft physical because he had a migraine during the physical itself!) I've been hospitalized with headaches like you described and I've beent he mother of a kid with your symptoms for more than 30 years!

Anyway, kiddo. You're describing one of two things. This is not an allergic sinus condition. It's either a major sinus infection that you've got to get treated for right away OR not sinus at all but migraine. It turns out that most of what the docs 15 years ago thought were sinus headaches are actually migraines. Sumatriptin (Imitrex) works amazingly well for me, and other newer drugs work for people who don't respond to Sumatriptin.

Bottom line ... don't just suffer. Get to the doctor today even if you have to go to the ER.

PLEASE.:loveya:

[FleshCartoon]

2. Then for God's sake!

Don't come to Mississippi--they'll only get worse.

I almost posted to an insomniac thread earlier tonight that I was up with a sinus headache and then didn't.

I share your woe.

[Khephra]

4. My sympathies to you too!

I've turned out the lights and am now listening to mellow music. It seems to be helping. I might not be going to sleep for many hours to come, but at least I can cut down on the pain level.

[FleshCartoon]

7. I hope you're feeling better today, Khephra.

I am and wish the same for you.

[PDittie]

5. There was news recently

that nearly nine out of ten people believing they suffer from sinus headaches are actually suffering from migraines:

Here:

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/DailyNews/sinus_migraine020624.html

Key information:

"In a separate study presented at the American Headache Society Meeting, Schreiber reports that those with perceived sinus headaches obtained pain relief when they were treated with the migraine drug sumatriptan."

I've had some sinus pressure and headaches occasionally (on the rise and fall of the barometer) for the past five years, but no pain such as you describe.

Go to the doctor.

And come on down to Texas and help us drive out the infidels when your head starts feeling better.

[FleshCartoon]

8. It can be sinus, though.

In Mississippi, during every season but Summer, we have extremely fluctuating weather--not only will it go from nearly springtime temperatures to winter or fall-like temperatures within the space of 24 hours, but the humidity goes up and down, but mostly always staying over 50%.

That can (and does!) cause severe and instant sinus congestion in a majority of people, so when Khephra mentioned the weather changes, I knew exactly what she meant about that causing sinus pressure.

I didn't have much sinus trouble until about 5 or 6 years ago, and I'm now forty--women who are pre-menopausal or menopausal can be prone to those sorts of ailments coming on. That's the only thing that can explain why I never had this before but do now.

One thing I know--I used to poo-poo people who griped about sinus pain as being a bit too sensitive, but I no longer do. When mine gets bad occassionally, the only thing to do is lie in the dark with warm rags on my eyes, nose and forehead after slathering as much menthol rub around my face as I can stand. After a while, the drainage starts and then the pressure stops--the pressure is what causes the severe headache.