About Kathleen MacNaughton Expertise As a registered nurse and health educator, as well as a person living with nasal allergies, eczema, allergic asthma, and eye allergies, I can answer questions related to allergy symptoms, triggers, diagnosis, and treatment.
Experience I have lived with severe nasal, eye, and skin allergies all of my life. I also have allergic asthma. In addition, I have been an RN for more than 30 years and have spent the last 10 years as a consumer health educator, both offline and online, specializing in the areas of allergies and asthma.
Publications About.com (asthma), HealthCentral.com (asthma and allergy networks), RhinocortAqua.com, EverydayKidz.com
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Syracuse University.
Question I'm 52 yr cau/female who has been having headaches that awaken me at night, sometimes pounding so bad that I can't fall back to sleep without getting up and taking several extra strength Excedrin. I have chronic sinusitis and seasonal allergies which sometimes cause me to have to use an inhaler. I have looked and searched trying to find out on the web (web md, and other medical sites) to see if there is a correlation to the headaches occurring because of sinus/allergies problems and laying down at night. I have read what little I could find on hypnic headaches but not sure if that is what I am having. Sometimes I have these headaches every night for a week, skip a day or two only to then resume having them. I can't drink caffeine at night as I have insomnia a lot as they suggest for hypnic headaches. My sinus drainage can be quite bad while I am sleeping as it can also awaken me. Unfortunately, I don't have insurance and can't really afford to see a doctor...can you help me in regards the headaches during sleep and the possibility of them related to allergies? Oh...I have four inside cats (yes I know....allergies) and an inside cocker spaniel. My upper eyelids have become itchy and swollen and I have quit wearing eye makeup to see if that is causing that reaction...Help!
Answer Hi Diane,
I am going to try to answer this for you to some extent. However, headaches are a symptom, sometimes of something serious. When you have them as frequently or as intensely as you seem to be having them, it worries me. It could be nothing, but I want to highly encourage you to scrape together the resources to see at least an urgent care doctor, if for nothing more than your peace of mind. I know it's hard; I don't have health insurance either. But sometimes it's necessary.
Having said that, though, it does seem possible the headaches could be coming from your allergies. You know your environment is not ideal, what with all the dogs. You also know your sinus congestion and draining gets worse at night.
Things you might try are taking an antihistamine at bedtime, perhaps one with an added decongestant. You could also try taking the recommended dose (not several) of the Excedrin along with the antihistamine and see if that helps.
