Headaches while sleeping - Headaches & Migraines Message Board

fancyface22 · 12-04-2003, 10:01 PM

I have been having real bad headaches while I am sleeping. I will wake in the middle of the night with an excruciating headache. I can't get up or move for the pain, until my head stops hurting. I just usually lay there until I fall asleep again. I've been having these headaches for a little over a year now. I tell my doctor but I guess they don't believe they are serious. I had a MRI done of my head but they say it was find and that was the end of it. Has anyone else have headaches like this?

shay501 · 12-05-2003, 05:18 AM

yes.. i've had those episodes myself. although i'm not really clear if they may be anything other than migraines (continuously suffer from them myself). if the pain is excruciating enough for you then migraines could explain it. have you tried taking anything prior to going to bed? i.e. excedrin pm, tylenol pm, etc. if not.. that could help. or it seems to help me to some extent anyway.

saxgirl · 12-05-2003, 06:34 AM

Yeah, I've had a CT but no MRI...just a couple incidental findings that my docs say don't cause symptoms. I get the headaches during the day sometimes too, but they're worse at night. I've tried all the usual migraine stuff...imitrex, ultram, inderal, vicodin, acupuncture, etc...the only thing that's helped is topamax. I guess it can't be too serious, b/c I've had them for a few years & I'm still here.

spongebob_mom · 12-06-2003, 05:14 AM

I am notorious for getting headaches in the middle of the night. I hate it because that's when your body is supposed to be resting. Nothing is worse than waking up in pain. My hubby is used to waking up and hearing me rub my head, near tears. It's awful, I know.

I have told my Dr. the same thing. I don't know why sleep triggers the headaches, but for me it does. I took Pamelor for a while and I had great success with it. It was so great to sleep all night with no headaches. BUT, I couldn't tolerate some of the other side effects. I'm going back to my Dr. on Monday to try something new.

Good luck, I know how annoying a middle-of-the-night headache can be.

Jane

herzel · 12-06-2003, 06:28 AM

Yes, I too get severe headaches during the night and like right now I have one so bad, I woke up with it. Sometimes when I wake up with them I take some Asprin and drink alot of coffee and sometimes that seems to help. I don't know now I just took the Asprin. I don't think anyone understands unless they too get these bad headaches.