Cold symptoms during period

[johart]

I have searched the interenet and can not find any answers to my problem.
I have recurrent cold symptoms during my period. I have noticed the symptoms for about a year but for the last six months they have happened every month around the third day of my period. Symptoms include aching joints, blocked nose and headaches as well as generally feeling awful. Periods are heavy and painful with clotting for about seven-nine days. Cold Symptoms usually last 5-7days. GP tried to treat heavy periods with Tranexamic acid but I reacted with severe mouth ulcers (half tongue size) Again these ulcers would appear around day three. Now resolved by stopping the meds but heavy periods have returned. The symptoms are to regular for coincidence, can anyone help?

[ElleHealth]

I am 48 years of age and I was diagnosed 15 years ago with Uterine Fibroids (from 2008-2010) those fibroids made me appear to look 20-22 weeks pregnant). My periods started to become bad in my early 30's prior to this diagnosis. In 2010, I had an embolization that shrunk the fibroids by approximately 50 percent. My periods much like most of those being noted caused me headaches, bloating, inflammation and major congestion (including  the cold symptoms, with sneezing, stuffy nose, and congestion in my throat and lungs). Since the procedure I still have all the same symptoms - with fewer headaches and less blood flow than before.

At first physicians would say - it's the fibroids causing the problems. Recently, the new tagline is peri-menapause and now I get it's just menopause.  As an educated person, I turn to research, science and choose teaching hospitals for my information. Not all doctors are interested in their areas and the focus is on treating the symptoms often w/o diagnostics to treat the problem. I am a huge believer that we should be tested for hormones and we should treat the cause or balance those symptoms versus this trial and error method that is being used.

I was happy to read someone was told after a test they had low progesterone and their doctor came up with a local solution for care. We need more of that. It's amazing that people have to suffer for years even though we have answers right here in the US that could make our lives better.

[ElleHealth]

Dairy does cause congestion and inflammation and regular milk may contain hormones (versus organic). I have been told mainly to avoid milk and cream. However, milk is one of the few sources where we can also avoid osteoporosis.

[Shellstar86]

I am so glad for this site. Thank you everyone.

I woke up early on Monday morning with a cold and it lingered but not enough to take time off work. I hardly had a sore throat but then I realised I was losing my voice. Without my voice I cannot work. I also felt very weak. I also had a bit of diarrhoea.

This doesn't happen for every period, however I've seen it more regularly as I've got older

I now understand that I am not crazy and it's not only happening to me!

I started to research maybe it was my immune system, then I rang a doctors and EVERY lady doctor was busy for the whole weekend!

I am 29 years old and we are thinking of starting a family soon and I thought I would need to be fully healthy and well before we start trying.

thanks again for sharing your story.

[Fungeesue]

Hi, I've also been getting cold like symptoms before menstrating. It's been a nightmare. I've done a bit a research and it's the progesterone that can dilate the upper airway and other areas in the body, causing several problems. It's a nightmare but I would suggest taking ibuprofen 3 times a day. Another medication I'm about to try is vitamin B6 which can help fluid retention (breast tenderness), mood changes and fatigue. Hope this helps. Susie

[JuliaEW]

Take a look at this post that discusses how increases in estrogen--like during ovulation--suppresses women's immune systems specifically something called Th17:  http://www.livescience.com/36067-women-prone-infections-ovulating.html
The rationale is that it makes women's bodies more accepting of foreign sperm to allow the sperm a better chance to fertilize an egg. They also think that the rise in progesterone after ovulation may stimulate the immune system.
Apparent moral of the story, track your cycle and boost your immune system prior to ovulating!

Hope this helps explain the issue better.

[Kit50]

I have cold symptoms just before my period starts. I'm 50 years old. At the beginning of last year I learned I have GERD and IBS so I went on a strict diet no wheat dairy or sugar. I started getting my period every 4 months. Then in October I went back home to England to visit family and friends. My diet went out the window. I put on 8 pounds was 119. I got two periods in 2 months. With cold symptoms. when I was in England I was eating anything and was feeling fine so I cintinued not on purpose just couldn't stop really. The sugar cravings were the worst. Chocolate especially. But I really believe it's the dairy that affects the menstral cycle. Because on tv everyone now talking about fat is good for you and we should eat more fat and no sugar. So I went with it. I get soo fed up with my boring diet sometimes I get carried up with the new diet fad and I forget yeh that's ok for a normal person but I have GERD and IBS so it's not for me. So now I get it and I'm back on MY diet what works for me. I believe diet is the key to our health issues as in the food we eat. And pills are not the answer. You have to find the food that works for you. Make a food diary. Go through a food elimination process. Eat healthy foods make a note how you feel after you've eaten something that doesn't quite feel right so you can look back and go oh yeah it did that last time. Good luck