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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> The Night Monster Cometh
        
(Message started by: jokrs2 on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 2:07am)

Title: The Night Monster Cometh
Post by jokrs2 on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 2:07am

Well, here I sit already worried and wondering how I will get comfortable and get a decent sleep.....it's been a while. Any advice on how to relax a bit without taking a pill would be greatly appreciated. Anybody else wish they could just stay upright and not have to go to sleep?I always feel so manly when I have to admit that I'm scared :-[, but you all help me feel warm & fuzzy. Praying you and I both have a PFDAN. Joe

Title: Re: The Night Monster Cometh
Post by don on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 4:11am

Do you have a recliner? Sleeping in a reclining position is sometimes beneficial. That and about 9Mg of Melatonin might help.

Title: Re: The Night Monster Cometh
Post by Bob_Johnson on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 7:39am

The nice thing about melatonin is that it's inexpensive, OTC, and you will know in a couple of night whether it works for you.

If it doesn't, ask you doc for an Rx for Ergomar SL. Take one tab about one hour before bedtime. Relatively inexpensive and often helps to block attacks while sleeping.

Title: Re: The Night Monster Cometh
Post by PCMCCK on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 7:51am

Joe, being a "manly man (apologies to Monty Python)", I too have night when I avoid going to bed because I'm afraid of waking up covered in sweat and in terrible pain. Sleeping upright or on a recliner sometimes helps and even when it doesn't, when I wake up I don't feel so afraid. I take the occasional sleeping pill when I've gone a couple of days with only2 or 3 hours of sleep a night-otherwise I'd fall asleep at work or worse, while driving. Talk to your doctor. Ambien is a safe, non-diazepam sleeping medication that is out of your system in about 8-10 hours (diazepams, i.e., valium, has a half life of about 24 hours if I remember correctly, so build up can occur if you use them regularly).

Title: Re: The Night Monster Cometh
Post by Margi on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 10:15am

If melatonin doesn't work for you (and it doesn't for everyone), try Benadryl or Dramamine. Both are available in generic form without prescription. Both prevent REM sleep which is when the Beast finds you in the night.

Title: Re: The Night Monster Cometh
Post by E-Double on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 4:40pm

Since you do have the "typical" wake you up in the middle of the night horrors then.... Melatonin might be a savior.
Many of us (myself included) have found that taking 6-9mg (some take more) about a 1/2 hour to 45minutes prior to bed have Knocked out the night visits and can finally get sleep.

With the exception of 5-6 times.....I have slept through the night since August.....Still get hit during the day but my overall quality of life is better because I am not as exhausted all the time.

Some people report that it seems to make them worse....The fact is that we are all different and respond differently to everything therefore it may or may not...

The one thing I will tell you as far as my experience was that I had to stick with it...The first night I took melatonin, I was awoken with a doozy only I was too groggy to find my O2 .....It got a lot better for me....I then slept through the night but would get slammed about 1/2 hour after waking up....kinda like knocking the beast off schedule.....then again I was peaking and this cycle has been all over the place with no real pattern.
I stayed with melatonin and have had decent sleep overall.

It may help and it is natural with not too many sideeffects....also ask your doctor b/c if there are any side effects or contraindications...I think they have to do with mild depression.....

Like I said we are all different.

Best wishes, good luck & stay as positive as you can!!!!

Eric

Title: Re: The Night Monster Cometh
Post by hzzz on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 8:15pm

My cycle just started last week and I've been waking up every night about 1 1/2 hours after bedtime. I'm visiting the Dr. tomorrow and will try to get some. Hope it works.

Title: Re: The Night Monster Cometh
Post by jokrs2 on Mar 4^th, 2005, 3:38pm

Thanks for all the wonderful messages. My wife and I just purchased 4 recliners and 2 of them have massage with heat. Yeah baby! ;;D. I'll pick up some melatonin and give that a good shot as well. Thanks again.
You're all the BEST. PFD's and Vibes. Joe

Title: Re: The Night Monster Cometh
Post by Frank_W on Mar 4^th, 2005, 4:14pm

See the general board for the thread, "Living With The Beast III" Hope it helps you...

http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=general;action=display;num=1108433778

Title: Re: The Night Monster Cometh
Post by TonyG1 on Mar 6^th, 2005, 9:38am

Don't know if this is due to being out of cycle or if my nightly verapamil is doing its job but I decided to give melatonin another try (in the past it seems to make my CH worse). I took 6mg along with my verapamil (Verelin PM) last evening ... best sleep ever !!! [smiley=sleep.gif]