Progesterone autoimmune response

[feelsoshitnow]

I wondered if anyone else has had this, as I feel pretty alone in this.

I've had little spots on my scalp just before a period for years (as well as night sweats). My GP and pharmacists have told me to use anti-dandruff shampoo, and say it is unrelated, but I know it absolutely is. They are teeny little white spots, which don't itch, but I do tend to rub my hands and pop them (naughty I know). Of course I also have the usual spots on my neck and chin (I used to think it was bug bites as they look bites/boils, but come once a month, and leave when I begin menstruation).

I also have itchy legs for a week before my period, mainly when I get into bed. They drive me absolutely crazy, and I scratch till I bleed. I've taken antihistamines, but nothing helps. I was prescribed Topiramate for severe migraines around the time of my periods (and other times, but guaranteed then), but stopped taking it when I thought it was causing the itchy legs, but I can definitely tie them to my cycle now.

I also started getting this other weird symptom. I get very dizzy, especially if I turn my eyes/head. It is really unsettling, and if I've been out has forced me sit on the street, and sometimes vomit. The GP said this definitely isn't hormonal, but again, it ONLY occurs just before menstruation.

I've heard of Autoimmune Progesterone Dermatitis, but it doesn't exactly fit, as it doesn't seem to include the tiny spots on the scalp, or the severe dizziness/swaying.

No one?

Hopeful bump in case anyone has any ideas

Did GP take blood tests for hormone levels? Or just dismiss the idea? I don't have any ideas I'm afraid but I hope you get somewhere.

Not sure about the premenstrual symptoms, but the dizziness after turning your head sounds like benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Basically some crystals in your inner ear swirling when you move your head and giving you a feeling of falling. Do your eyes flick repeatedly when its happening, as if you're watching things rushing past a window? If this sounds like you, a quick Google will bring up some head maneuvers you can do to fix it. I have to do them regularly but they do work! Good luck and I hope someone comes along who knows about the rest.

No blood tests recently, but a few years ago they were fine. My eyes don"t flicker, it"s like the room swaying. Interesting though, so I'll check it out. Thank you both.

Have a read about 'Mast Cell Activation Syndrome' and check out their Facebook groups. Your symptoms fit. It's not serious, but an inconvenience.

@Beebeeboo2 that looks promising, thank you! I had a quick look, and will research more tomorrow. I did notice that one of the treatments is a leukotriene inhibitor, and I already take one (Montelukast) for asthma.

My wife was diagnosed with autoimmune progesterone dermatitis fifteen years ago and she’s had dizzy spells that were absolutely cyclical with her period. First she had a rash that came just a few days before her period, but I could always tell even before the rash because her dizzy spell frequency would increase. They’ve been very erratic, sometimes she has big ones, sometimes they’re very small. But we’ve never been able to get to the bottom of them. (I hope that’s not too discouraging. We haven’t been as insistent on getting to the bottom of them as we should have been and often months would go by with only the mildest of spells.)