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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
        
(Message started by: dissident on Jul 1^st, 2006, 4:51am)

Title: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by dissident on Jul 1^st, 2006, 4:51am

Over the years it's become obvious that most CH sufferers get their head trauma at night. I've suffered for 13 years now (episodic) and I've only had two hits at night. Seems most everything I need to do is done during the day...I almost wish they would come at night instead cause I can't get sh*t done for literally two months (can't leave the house during the day)! Anyone else get CH mostly during the day? Would you nighttime sufferers prefer day? I know a lot of you get em during day and night but which would you prefer?

BJ

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by unsolved1 on Jul 1^st, 2006, 5:25am

No !! You should count your blessings. The night time attacks give you no warning and are usually full blown when you awake. They also deprive you of much needed sleep ... sometimes I stay up for days!!

I'd much rather only get day time attacks.

My [smiley=twocents.gif] worth

PF Wishes

UNsolved

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by Cat_CH on Jul 1^st, 2006, 8:34am

I understand your frustration about not being able to do anything during the day... But I have them in the evening/at night and I will say that the sleep deprivation is so exhausting for me.

Even though I am able to work a bit, also my whole social life is suffering because of course most of my friends wants to do things in the afternoon/evening when I am "out". So I get some things done during the day, but I still feel I am loosing a lot...

Not much of a conclusion here, sorry :)

All the best to you!

Cat

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by pattik on Jul 1^st, 2006, 8:34am

on 07/01/06 at 04:51:57, dissident wrote:

I almost wish they would come at night instead cause I can't get sh*t done for literally two months

BJ, I wouldn't wish that if I were you. I am a 27 year episodic who until this last spring would get mostly daytime hits. If I got a nighttime hit, it would be late in the night (4:30-5:00 a.m.) and then I would be up for the day dealing with the beast. This last spring for the first time, I experienced the more typical hits all through the night--being awakend from rem sleep every 90 minutes or so. I assure you that it is in no way preferable to day-only hits. Plus the sleep deprivation that
you experience has its own set of problems. Your days would be shot anyway.

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by georgej on Jul 1^st, 2006, 8:43am

Like everyone else here, I'd prefer neither.

However, as a forty-year episodic who gets nighttime hits almost exclusively, I'd have to say that at least daytime hits don't have sleep deprivation as a side benefit. I sometimes end up getting four hours sleep in a 72 hour period, or worse.

Regards,

George

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by E-Double on Jul 1^st, 2006, 9:16am

I get both dude.
No prep for nighttimers,just an a$$ kicking.
During the day, ya learn to deal and go about business as usual.
either way part of life

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by Richr8 on Jul 1^st, 2006, 9:46am

on 07/01/06 at 08:34:15, pattik wrote:

Plus the sleep deprivation that
you experience has its own set of problems. Your days would be shot anyway.

I agree. Mine come like clock work about 60-90 minutes after I'm asleep everytime I fall asleep, day or night and I also get a few during the day as a bonus. I am an absolute mental case for months.

If I could choose, I would definitely pick days only.

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by Weatherman on Jul 1^st, 2006, 2:16pm

I'm agreeing with everyone. For the last 14 years I had mostly daytime attacks. It was bad. But now this cycle is mostly at night or anytime I fall asleep. It's really kicking my ass. I'm at the point where I'm afraid to go to sleep so sometimes I don't. Or I might chose to stay awake after a late night hit so I don't have to do it again. So I'm exhausted all the time. Plus, I get hits during the day sometimes but I find that even if I don't get a hit during the day, the shadows seem to always be there.

I can handle the daytime hits...I guess. But oh what I wouldn't do for some quality sleep!

Good Luck
Doug

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by Guiseppi on Jul 1^st, 2006, 5:37pm

For the first 15-20 years I had only daytime attacks, 2X a day late morning then early afternoon. Then I discovered night time hits. The problem with night time hits is I would dream I was treating them. I wouldn't wake myself up till they were almost full blown so it made the oxygen battle that much tougher. When the nite time hits start, Keep the E-Tank propped against your bed!!! Wishing you peace and 10 year remissions!

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by Mattrf on Jul 1^st, 2006, 6:02pm

I am a day timer, but after seeing a new doctor I was told I did not have CH but instead had something called SUNCT that is similar but has a couple distinct differences.
SUNCT typically happens during the day not night.
With SUNCT you have a consistent headache all day only varying in intensity.
It is one sided surrounding the eye just like CH.
The ice pick and burning pain in the eye lasts for seconds but it very intense unlike CH where it will last for 45minutes at a time.
The ice pick and burning sensations happen up to 40 a day where CH is 3 or 4 times a day for most.
SUNCT comes in cycles and is predictable like CH and once you get it, it will keep coming back like CH, maybe there brothers or cousins.
It is even rarer then CH with little known about it, what they do know is the medications that normally may help someone with CH will do nothing for SUNCT sufferers, so if the meds have never helped you might want to look at SUNCT.

The biggest similarity of these to afflictions is they both suck and make people suffer more then they ever thought possible. I am on my second cycle with SUNCT and the first lasted 9 months and I am at 7 months with this one so far and none of the new medications have really made any big difference in the pain yet.

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by ShaneM on Jul 1^st, 2006, 6:11pm

When i am in cycle (now), I get em' night and day. Thanks everthing that you hold dear to yourself that you can sleep at night. For me, when I ddo get some sleep it allows me the some energy to fight the beast when it shows up during the day.

Shane

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by chewy on Jul 1^st, 2006, 10:49pm

Quote:

However, as a forty-year episodic

You started when you were 12?

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by georgej on Jul 1^st, 2006, 10:54pm

Hi Chewy,

Well, not 12. I started at 13. I'm almost 53. First time I got one I thought it was fatal. Very frightening.

Best,

George

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by mynm156 on Jul 2^nd, 2006, 1:10am

My Night attacks are the most intense! I never get use to it every time it is like someone stabbed me in the face!

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by MJ on Jul 2^nd, 2006, 10:15am

I get hit equally day and night.

Though day and night are equally as intense, at night you can fight in solitude and without interference. Maybe even could get something accomplished in the pain free days.
Just wish I could learn how to live without sleep.

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by Charlie on Jul 2^nd, 2006, 1:12pm

I always had three a night. It rarely varied. Like so many, the fun began about 90 minutes after falling asleep. I was fortunate that mine were 20-30 minute episodics. The hell about the night attacks was that I wasn't able to use my circulatory technique very effectively at that time. It was harder to concentrate. Now and then, I got around it but not as often.

The things wore me down enough that I didn't have a lot of trouble getting back to sleep until the next one hit. The later ones didn't seem to follow such a schedule though. My recliner was helpful though.

I would never wish for nocturnal hits. Nothing like leaping out of bed and crashing about your room on your way to your favorite quiet place to howl.

Charlie

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by Sandy_C on Jul 2^nd, 2006, 1:29pm

When I had my first CH cycle (didn't know what it was at that time), I was hit exclusively in the evenings, from 8:00 PM until 10:30 or 11:00, sometimes just one hit lasting 30 to 45 minutes, then PF, other evenings two or three short but severe hits. Never a nighttime hit.
Last cycle Feb 2005 through May 2005 (June was PF, but July began getting hits on opposite side), was the first time I had ever had nighttime hits. I had only one or two nights during the whole cycle when I was awakened about an hour after going to bed with a major hits, coming again and again. The rest of the times I would get hit during the night were in the early morning hours, around 4:00 or so. I just got up then, so I really wasn't sleep deprived. I also, during this last cycle, began getting hits in the mid afternoon around 2:00, while at work. I learned really fast how to cope with those. Closed my doors, told bossman to leave me alone, and take my meds. When hit passed to the point where I was sort of human again, I went back to work. This worked out very well, especially after bossman saw me with a K7 hit going on. He never questioned me again.

It should be interesting to see what my next cycle brings :-/

Sandy

Title: F'ing've Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by dissident on Jul 3^rd, 2006, 1:31am

Thanks for all the feedback guys!
Sounds like I'm the fortunate one here (if there is such a thing). The couple of times I've been hit at night were brutal -no warning whatsoever-! After reading all of these posts, I'm hoping that my "routine" stays the same. I can't stand the thought of my clusters changing sides (i'm a leftie) or coming at night...I NEED MY SLEEP (although I'm pretty sure I won't be getting much of that anyway - clusters or no clusters - our 1st baby will be here July 30th WOOHOO ;;D!!)
Mattrf - I feel for you man. I've got an online friend that gets SUNCT. I can say that I have two online friends that have SUNCT now :D. I'm definitely a Clusterhead...no doubt about it. Prednisone, Verapamil and Shrooms and my weapons of choice/necessity). Usually a big ole bottle of ice cold beer or a lung busting bong hit will abort an attack...LOFL I WISH [smiley=laugh.gif]!

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by jenrob2006 on Jul 3^rd, 2006, 9:53am

Every cycle I get varies with one consistency. I alway get them at night. Usually 2am to be exact. Two to three a night and two to three during the day. The cycles that I have only night ones are just as bad as the cycles that include day hits. I am physically and emotionally tired all the time and always have a headache hangover. At least right now, with no day hits, I can work and function even if I am exhausted. At night, my daughter is asleep and I can deal with the pain without having to function for her. I remember one day hit that I could not take care of her and had to call my mom to come and get her. The feeling of not being able to take care of my own child was almost as painful as the CH. I know they are more severe at night, and pain wise I would pick day over night, but functionality, I would rather suffer at night then to neglect my children or not be able to work during the day.

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by Charlotte on Jul 3^rd, 2006, 6:36pm

Mine have always been around the clock.

Charlotte

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by Bob P on Jul 3^rd, 2006, 7:01pm

Like Joe, for the first 15 years mine were only daytime. The last 20 years have been day and night.

Funny, I always get hit 1.5 hours after I fall asleep.
When I'm out of cycle I still wake up 1.5 hours after I fall asleep, every night, without fail.

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by BarbaraD on Jul 4^th, 2006, 8:29am

Since going on Melatonin, I usually don't get hit at night. About 4-5 a.m. I wake up with a shadow and have learned to get up immediately and get coffee (or Red Bull). If it keeps reeving up, I hit the O2, but can pretty well control them in the early mornings.

Daytime hits are something else. Sometimes I get warning and can abort them - sometimes I hit a 9-10 before I know what's happened -- then it's cafergot time. Just about the time I have a plan to keep them at bay -- they CHANGE! Oh well, .... I'm chronic so I've learned to just deal with them -- they're not going to be consistant so when they hit I just do whatever it takes.

But -- I think the daytime hits are easier to deal with than being woke up in the middle of the night with a 10.

Try the melatonin.....

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by chopmyheadoff on Jul 12^th, 2006, 2:57am

i am chronioc and its obviously very bad to get hit at any time.
But i have to say that its worse getting them at night because of the sleep deprivation, in my experience this makes the pain much worse as you dont feel it sneaking up so dont have time to prepare for it.

One minute your happy as larry asleep, next minute BAM, your awake with a 7 or 8 - that always turns to a 9 or 10 (for me)

this makes you real tired the next day and need to nap. But the nap brings one on and off you go again.

So to sum up, i get equal day and night ones but if i could choose, i would get rid of the night ones because they affect the next day too !!!

imho that is !!

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by brady713 on Jul 15^th, 2006, 1:24am

They both suck. That's like asking if you want to be shot in the front or back with a .50cal BMG, either way there won't be much left. I'm scared to go to sleep because I know what is waiting for me. I take Ambien 10 and xanax to sleep. For me daytime CH come on first as shadows then develop further. This gives me time to grab some rescue meds. Morning CH you skip everything and go straight to the top kip 8 or 9 before you can put your feet on the floor.

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by sandie99 on Jul 15^th, 2006, 2:32am

Ch has been part of my life since 2001. Most of my attacks have been during the day time and to be honest, I prefer it that way.

I've had plenty of night time hits and they get to me. When I get hit during the day, I can deal with it a lot better.

But the last cycle in this spring was bit different; all my hits came late afternoon/evening. I know that the beast will do what it wants and there's no use trying to predict what'll happen. But it could be that the next cycle will be just/mostly night time hits... We'll see.

PF days & nights to all,
Sanna

Title: Re: Daytime vs Nighttime Clusters
Post by unsolved1 on Jul 15^th, 2006, 8:02pm

I'd much rather see 'the beast' coming !

on 07/02/06 at 01:10:11, mynm156 wrote:

My Night attacks are the most intense! I never get use to it every time it is like someone stabbed me in the face!

on 07/02/06 at 13:12:49, Charlie wrote:

Nothing like leaping out of bed and crashing about your room on your way to your favorite quiet place to howl.
Charlie

on 07/15/06 at 01:24:02, brady713 wrote:

. For me daytime CH come on first as shadows then develop further. This gives me time to grab some rescue meds. Morning CH you skip everything and go straight to the top kip 8 or 9 before you can put your feet on the floor.

UNsolved