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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> New to the Site........Need Sleep
        
(Message started by: hootchdom on Aug 14^th, 2003, 1:29pm)

Title: New to the Site........Need Sleep
Post by hootchdom on Aug 14^th, 2003, 1:29pm

Hi All,

New to the site (been lurking for the last 3 weeks). Yep thats when the cycle started. It has been five years. Didn't take long to bring back the memories. I've had 13 differnt scripts filled in the past three weeks and still can't break the cycle.

My daily cycle goes like this, shadow starts, builds to a 4-8 in approx two hours then back down to a 1 another two hours. I stay at a 1 for approx a half hour and then the next one starts. As you can see the headache lasts for about 4 hours start to finish and the next one starts.

So this is my problem, I've slept 7 hours since last Friday. I'm exhausted, don't know how much longer I can go on. From what I've seen on this site one of you must be or have gone through something similar. Any advice on how to get some sleep would be great.

Title: Re: New to the Site........Need Sleep
Post by JDH on Aug 14^th, 2003, 1:41pm

Although it has never done me much good, some people use Dramamine to help them get to sleep.
Also, Prednisone will usually give you a little relief until you start tapering down but those few nights where you actually sleep might give you the break you need so you can regroup.

Jim

Title: Re: New to the Site........Need Sleep
Post by Woobie on Aug 14^th, 2003, 1:45pm

Welcome, and I'm sorry you're going thru this BS.

Just wanted to say hello and welcome.
I know others will tell you how you can sleep. I dont know the answer. I wanna say dramamine.. or amerge.. but i cant remember..

tina - who is no help at all.... :-*

Title: Re: New to the Site........Need Sleep
Post by hootchdom on Aug 14^th, 2003, 2:06pm

Hey,

Thanks for the welcome. You guys have been a wonderful wealth of information. As far as the sleep, I'm sure I will pass out from exhaustion one of these days. ;)

Title: Re: New to the Site........Need Sleep
Post by don on Aug 14^th, 2003, 2:39pm

Dramamine works like a charm for me.

Title: Re: New to the Site........Need Sleep
Post by River_Rat on Aug 14^th, 2003, 2:47pm

Welcome, and sorry those bastards are back, hang in there you'll be ok I promise!!

Amerge, Helped me!!

LEE

Title: Re: New to the Site........Need Sleep
Post by Darleen on Aug 14^th, 2003, 3:14pm

Ditto what JDH and don said. Dramamine helps John through some pretty hard times and it would also stop him from waking up in the middle of the night too.

Hope it works and hope you're pain free soon.

D :)

Title: Re: New to the Site........Need Sleep
Post by miCHel on Aug 14^th, 2003, 3:15pm

Welcome hootchdom!

Most of us know the feeling of exhaustion very well. Your attacks seem to last very long (4 hours). That's bad. Are you doing anything to abort them (O2, Imitrex,...)? That might give you back some energy as well.

As far as sleep is concerned, I guess I am "lucky" because I don't get hit that much at night (don't worry, the beast makes up for it plenty during the day ;)). But when I went through a bad "night period" a few months ago I tried Amerge and did see an improvement.

Here's hoping this cycle will be very short!

miCHel

Title: Re: New to the Site........Need Sleep
Post by aprilbee on Aug 14^th, 2003, 3:15pm

Welcom hootchdom! You might try not laying down all the way when you sleep (this may be a psychosematic thing) Try propping up on pillows so you're not horizongal. I sometimes even sleep in my recliner and try not to turn on the side that is being affected. I think a lot of us do that actually.

Sorry you're getting hit right now. Wishes to you for PFDAN!

Title: Re: New to the Site........Need Sleep
Post by aprilbee on Aug 14^th, 2003, 3:16pm

not sure what horizongal is, I meant to say horizonTal.. ;)

Title: Re: New to the Site........Need Sleep
Post by hootchdom on Aug 14^th, 2003, 7:22pm

Thanks guys for the hints....going to give them a try tonight. I've tried imitrex nasal spray....out of it right now and maxalt tabs 10mg. They both seem to take the edge off, normally drops the by 2 on the kip (6-4 or 8-6) but niether abort the headache. Sometimes the maxalt shortens the episode.

On your guys advice going to doc tomorrow to get 02 if not there than the welding shop.

Question, I've see alot about imitrex injection. Does this abort the headache or just relieve the pain?

Title: Re: New to the Site........Need Sleep
Post by Patrick_A on Aug 15^th, 2003, 12:34am

Hello, One thing ya might ought to do is this. I have found that when ya feel a twinge. Go ahead and take the Spray or the Injection. I find that if i do that, It will totally abort it, But if i wait till it gets beyond a 6, then all it does is knock it backwards as ya was saying. Dont wait, abort immediately!!
Are ya low on drugs, I just recieved a free coupon from Imitrex if ya need it. It is good for 9 pills, PM me. I might can help ya out!

Patrick

Title: Re: New to the Site........Need Sleep
Post by hootchdom on Aug 15^th, 2003, 2:08am

Patrick,

Thanks for the offer, but so far I'm in pretty good shape on the meds. Doc got the insurance company to up the maxalt from 12 pills a month to 24 every 25 days so I'm set for about 7 days. Going back to see her today, going to talk to her about the imitrex injections. You all seem to have alot of success with it. Ran out of nasal spray last week but wasn't getting much relief from it.

I've been keeping track (every 15 min) for the last week and have a pretty good handle on the daily cycle. I have tried taking the nasal and the max alt right when the shadow starts. It doesn't abort it but it keeps them in tack.

Title: Re: New to the Site........Need Sleep
Post by vig on Aug 15^th, 2003, 1:44pm

I use melatonin before going to sleep if I need to be knocked out at all costs.

Title: Re: New to the Site........Need Sleep
Post by HypnoticFreddy on Aug 15^th, 2003, 3:21pm

Ask your doctor for a short-term prescription of a short-acting benzodiazepine, such as Restoril.
A less addiciting alternative would be Ambien or Sonata.

-HypnoticFreddy

Title: Re: New to the Site........Need Sleep
Post by cerebus on Aug 15^th, 2003, 8:01pm

Welcome Hootch.....

Wish I could give ya some advice on how to get to sleep, I'm afraid I can't help much in this department, being that I can't sleep even out of cycle. The best I've accomplished is to try and sleep and when the HA starts get up and treat it with Immitrex and oxygen, the Verapamil the doc's prescribed as directed and pray the cycle end early.......uggghhh I'm already paranoid about the Fall Cycle and it isn't even time yet. Hang in there and I hope you get some zzzzzz's soon.
PF,
Ramon - prayin' it forgets about me this fall.