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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Messed up sleep!
        
(Message started by: Renee on Oct 25^th, 2004, 9:20pm)

Title: Messed up sleep!
Post by Renee on Oct 25^th, 2004, 9:20pm

Even after DHE IV treatments and having a few weeks of MUCH calmer and pf life, I still can't stay asleep.

I wake up at 0445 no matter what time I go to bed the night before. If I go to bed too early I awake a couple of hours later as though it was a nap so I head to bed around 1030 to 1100 and get to sleep by around 1130.

I've tried melatonin, diazepam, ambien, benadryl and I'm already taking Zonegran and Zanaflex at bedtime. I still wake at 0445, wide awake. If I don't get up and allow myself to fall back asleep I will awake later with shadows.

This leaves me tired all darn day! Do others have the same issues that aren't already being woken by ch's in the night?

Title: Re: Messed up sleep!
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Oct 25^th, 2004, 9:36pm

Hi Renee,

Two possibilities?

First - After my cycles end, for about a month I tend to wake up at the usual times that the beast would visit. Is 4:45 one of those times for you? If so, it will pass.

Second - If you're starting that interesting road towards menopause (my road started at age 40), early wakening is one of the most common symptoms. Nearly drove me crazy to wake up at 3:30 every morning and not get back to sleep.

Melatonin is a good script for both, but it may take some time. Meanwhile, a good boring book is the best I can suggest.

Hugs,

Kris

Title: Re: Messed up sleep!
Post by Renee on Oct 25^th, 2004, 9:48pm

Kris,

I'm chronic but getting a break due to the DHE inpatient treatments, although I think the breaks are beginning to wear thin as it has been almost a month since the treatments.

As for menopause, I had a hysterectomy in '99. But, now that you mention it, my sleep problems really started this summer when I was taken off of my hormone replacement therapy. The hot flashes are still here but not as bad as they were the first few months but the sleep problems did seem to start when the HRT stopped.

Any suggestions for sleep? I can't go back on the HRT as it causes my CH to spiral totally out of control.

Thanks for the input,
Renee

Title: Re: Messed up sleep!
Post by nani on Oct 25^th, 2004, 10:21pm

Hi Renee were you taking oral HRT? If so, you may want to try bio-identical hormones. If you regular MD hasn't a clue, find a dr of oriental medicine or accupuncturist. They are natural and I believe soy based. They made a huge difference for me. Oral estrogen wasn't doing anything. Bi-est/progest (which is applied through the skin was helpful the first day. (hot flashes, night sweats and sleep disturbance have not returned and I've been off for a year.)

Title: Re: Messed up sleep!
Post by thomas on Oct 25^th, 2004, 10:26pm

Trazodone

Title: Re: Messed up sleep!
Post by Renee on Oct 25^th, 2004, 10:53pm

I wore an HRT patch, vivelle dot, estrogen only.

trazadone? will it last 8 hours? let me go look that one up thomas! ;)

Ambien, diazepam, benadryl, zonegran, melatonin...they all put me to sleep but only last for 4-5 hours then I'm wide awake.

Title: Re: Messed up sleep!
Post by don on Oct 26^th, 2004, 8:00am

Quote:

trazadone? will it last 8 hours?

Depends on dosage. Talk to your Doc.

Title: Re: Messed up sleep!
Post by thomas on Oct 26^th, 2004, 9:16am

50mg keeps me out for a long time.

Title: Re: Messed up sleep!
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Oct 26^th, 2004, 9:34pm

You've gotten some pretty good suggestions, despite the fact that Thomas has never experienced the joy of the menopausal journey.

So far I've managed to survive without any HRT. Melatonin has been my salvation in terms of sleep. You might try your usual bedtime dose, along with 3 mg of extended release. Couldn't hurt, at any rate.

Kris

Title: Re: Messed up sleep!
Post by Ruth on Oct 28^th, 2004, 8:35am

Here is something to ponder, In July I stopped taking HRT. 6 weeks later the clusters came back after 9.5 years pain free. There were times I would wake up like clock work at certain times of the night for 3 or 4 days, but usually went back to sleep.
I started back on HRT yesterday at the Nuero suggestion. Who knows maybe it will help maybe not. I am 55 and was on HRT for about 5 years before I stopped.
I take 100 mg of Trazadone and have for years, but lately have started taking 3 mg of melatonin at night with that. I still wake with the clusters.
One thing my Nuero told me, if we are anything, us cluster folks are constantly unpredicatable.
Good luck and wishing you WELL.
Ruth

Title: Re: Messed up sleep!
Post by Ruth on Oct 28^th, 2004, 10:18am

:D :D
After reviewling that post, I am not 55 I am 53, what the hell, guess my mind is going south too!

Title: Re: Messed up sleep!
Post by eddie on Oct 28^th, 2004, 10:51am

i have taken xanax but it does not keep me out
also 9 mg melintonin so i tried dramamine
it does help and if you wake up take another
dramamine they do help, hope it will help ya
PFDAN TOO ALL

Title: Re: Messed up sleep!
Post by becky8 on Oct 28^th, 2004, 3:08pm

Eddie told me about dramamine, I did sleep but woke and just put another one in my mouth and went back to sleep. also take melation 10mg. So I had all this in me and slept finally about 7 hours. but the next day I didn't have really a headache just a hangover feeling and I was grumpy big time, just ask my daughter!! So I laid off the dramamine, still use melation but still don't sleep much. I see the Neuro in 11/2 so tell me more about trazdone? Does it make it hard to get outta bed the next day? Can anyone tell me more?

Title: Re: Messed up sleep!
Post by thomas on Oct 28^th, 2004, 5:20pm

on 10/28/04 at 15:08:12, becky8 wrote:

Does it make it hard to get outta bed the next day? Can anyone tell me more?

If you take it too late it can. But if you take it early , you wake up refreshed. Be careful though one of the side effects is prolonged inappropriate and sometimes painful errections. [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: Messed up sleep!
Post by unsolved1 on Oct 28^th, 2004, 8:20pm

Sounds like you could really get screwed taking that medicine ::)

Title: Re: Messed up sleep!
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Oct 28^th, 2004, 8:23pm

Goodness boys ... you're making me blush!

Kris

Title: Re: Messed up sleep!
Post by GeneralPatton on Nov 1^st, 2004, 7:53pm

Whats the dose on the ambien?

Also, even though I know this is a no-no, if you take the 10mg ambien with a couple beers, its a guaranteed sleep, at least in my case.