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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Lying on one side vs. another
        
(Message started by: painfulnoodle on Oct 29^th, 2006, 3:42pm)

Title: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by painfulnoodle on Oct 29^th, 2006, 3:42pm

I thought I'd asked this before, but can't seem to pull up my previous posts.

If I'm anywhere near a cycle (I'm in sort of a weird unpredictable one right now), lying on my left side will trigger a CH in a few minutes. Even lying on my back is not safe. But if I lay on my right side, which is the side I get my attacks, I'm fine.

Has anyone else experienced this or perhaps know why I'm doing this? I'm usually pretty good at putting two and two together, but this one has me stumped. Almost sounds more like a sinus thing than CH, but trust me ... it's the beast!

Thanks ... Red

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by Linda_Howell on Oct 29^th, 2006, 3:46pm

I've never experienced that. I believe it's just a luck of the draw. Why don't you continue to lie of your right side all the time. When your CH's go away forever...well then I'll call Goadsby for you, and we'll all celebrate with you. ;;D

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by Redd715 on Oct 29^th, 2006, 3:47pm

Many people have reported that sleeping semi upright helps a bunch. I don't have a recliner myself, but I do have a comfy couch and I've propped up and slept there.

(the other) Redd

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by painfulnoodle on Oct 29^th, 2006, 3:58pm

Wish I could stay on one side, but I also suffer from Ankylosing Spondolitis and have broken my back three times ... needless to say, I don't stay in one position for long.

I like the recliner idea, but lost that in the divorce (I could deal with all my pain ... she couldn't!)

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by Redd715 on Oct 29^th, 2006, 4:08pm

I went to see one of my clients Friday. A custom furnature builder. I saw a lounge chair there that would be prefectfor us clusterheads. Perfect 45 degree angle, and comfy as all get out. Just can't afford the 1500.00 they wanted for it. :'(

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by Linda_Howell on Oct 29^th, 2006, 4:10pm

Quote:

I like the recliner idea, but lost that in the divorce (I could deal with all my pain ... she couldn't!)

Well that just sucks. >:( I am so sorry she couldn't.

But we can... so come to us for support. We all understand. (she could have at least left you your recliner. Sheesh!)

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by Charlotte on Oct 29^th, 2006, 4:14pm

prop up w/a copula pillows, maybe?

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by painfulnoodle on Oct 29^th, 2006, 4:16pm

Want to hear something really funny? A few months after she filed for divorce, and before I had moved out, she had a massive kidney stone attack. While carrying her in my arms to the car, I broke my back the 3rd time! The bitch still divorced me!!! Go figure! >:(

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by Linda_Howell on Oct 29^th, 2006, 4:25pm

I've heard a LOT of divorce horror stories over the years including my own...but that one is right up there Red and makes me ashamed of my gender sometimes.

She didn't deserve you.

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by Chonas on Oct 29^th, 2006, 5:21pm

on 10/29/06 at 15:42:47, painfulnoodle wrote:

If I'm anywhere near a cycle (I'm in sort of a weird unpredictable one right now), lying on my left side will trigger a CH in a few minutes. Even lying on my back is not safe. But if I lay on my right side, which is the side I get my attacks, I'm fine.

Has anyone else experienced this or perhaps know why I'm doing this?

Has anyone else experienced this?. Yes, Me. Exactly the same thing.

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by maffumatt on Oct 29^th, 2006, 7:42pm

I always sleep on my right side.

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by leftsideonly on Oct 30^th, 2006, 1:56am

Never noticed - but I'm gonna give it a try - maybe it will work for me too. I usually sleep in my recliner though. That helps some but as you know the beast will wake you when it is ready - regaurdless of what side your on.

I will try it and let you know if it works for me.

Prayers, peace and PF wishes,
Andre

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by BarbaraD on Oct 30^th, 2006, 5:10am

I have to sleep on the OPPOSITE side (right) or I get a shadow (or hit) during the night.

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by chopmyheadoff on Oct 30^th, 2006, 6:18am

not exactly the smae but if i get a hit coming on then lying on my right side (ckluster side) and kind of stretching my neck to the left helps the pain. or at least it feels like it does.

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by pattik on Oct 30^th, 2006, 9:22am

I'm like BD...I avoid my cluster side when in cycle--anything to take the pressure off of it. Plus, as stated earlier, propping up is also helpful.

pk

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by georgej on Oct 30^th, 2006, 11:34am

I always fall asleep on my left side, (cluster side), cycle or no cycle. But I don't stay there--I move around during sleep. I haven't noticed that it made any difference what position I sleep in during a cycle.

Best wishes,

George

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by BDinbo on Oct 30^th, 2006, 1:53pm

This is the first cycle i've ever experienced where it is so uncomfortable to lay down in bed... I can barely sleep-

Usually I sleep on my sides or on my stomach w/out clusters but right now, immed. if I try w/in like 2 min. I feel the pressure and a screamer brewing.. It's only allowing me to sleep directly on my back propped up with an ice pack on the back of my head/neck and I have to go to sleep right after I just took my last Imitrex to get over my 9:30ish attack or I wont sleep at all the entire night.
Before I remember being uncomfortable in bed and always choosing my recliner for comfort during CH but not this bad and predictable where I can never roll over throughout the night or it wakes me immediately!

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by JeffB on Oct 30^th, 2006, 5:46pm

Broke Back 3x..............and your divorced.

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by tanner on Oct 30^th, 2006, 6:19pm

I am like BD and Patti, I am chronic so I don't know about the approaching cycle thing, but I MUST not lay with my face left side down or I will fly out of bed. Happens pretty often >:(

......Tim

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by Tam Tam on Oct 31^st, 2006, 8:32pm

Wow, this is fascinating to me!
I've never even considered this but now that it's been brought to my attention, again, I don't feel so alone!

My first cycle ( before diagnosis ) it was on my right side. I usually sleep on my right side also so at first I thought for sure that I had some horrible tooth/root decay/abcess/bone cancer ( I'm sure you all know what I mean, night after night, when you don't know what it is, you start to think the wildest things ) I would try to sleep on my left but I suppose I would turn to my right because that is where I would always wake up.

But this time around I did notice that once I laid down, didn't matter which side, front, back, whatever, within 20 minutes I got hit BUT, once I got UP and out of bed it was gone within 15-20 minutes. I told Sara "Gee, it's as if it WANTS me to get the hell outta bed!"

This goes to show, however, just how BLONDE I am.....it never occured to me to go sleep in the recliner...or prop myself up with pillows!
Jeeze!! [smiley=bag.gif]
Thanks for the info....I am SO blonde!

Tam Tam

Title: sRe: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by keithr1024 on Nov 1^st, 2006, 5:43pm

I am also in a really goofy cycle.... as for sleeping on one side or the other I'm with you on that I get my ch on my right side and if i sleep right side down i get hit but i get hit anyway sleeping on anyside. it just seems that the cluster lump seems to hurt more and i usually don't wake up till i'm allmost fully ramped up so it makes the o2 take longer to work or not work at all , all i can say is that this syndrome is very weird and there is a number of factors that trigger ch it seems there are as many variations as their are sufferers, basically we're jacked up in our own way

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by yikes-another-one on Nov 4^th, 2006, 9:57pm

once it hurts, I cannot lie down unless I am laying with
the painful side down....It hurts either way, but the gravity
pulling on that side just "seems" worse???

I can get hit on either side...
so whatever side hurts, I put that one to the pillow...

I am lucky in that I can pass out....pain or no pain...
but I will toss and turn...until the beast retires....

I think I have an excess of that chemical that
paralizes you while alseep...because I will wake up in agony,
but not be able to move...everything is too heavy and too
much work to pace...so I just wait it out....
and pass out again....

maybe I am only getting the level 4 or 5 in the am hours?
I usually get my level 7 and 8 at 5pm or 8pm...
so I can pass out by 10:30....and just toss and turn
for the early am hits....(1am, 3am, 6am)

sleep isn't over-rated...
what they call beauty sleep....it just
makes the world more beautiful, if you can sleep....winks.

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by G on Nov 11^th, 2006, 2:35am

I cannot sleep in a bed anymore,I sit on the floor with my back to the wall by the heater and always sleep with the light on,sure it's not very comfy,but it beats waking up with clusters,not 100% ,so the light helps me wake up and focus ,not much worse than fighting pain half asleep!!

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by r_headache on Nov 11^th, 2006, 11:06am

wow, this is very interesting...not only the sleeping part but that so many people are describing that they are having an odd cycle.
I have had clusters for 12 years, usuall 3-4 times per year but this year I have been pain free until 2 weeks ago (WOOOHOOO). Started to get shadows and small hits until last Tuesday night when I got slammed at night. This is where it gets wierd...I have found that during this cycle the quickest way to get rid of the monster is to lay flat on my back on the heated floor and grab the couch bottom above my head, tighten my grip and take deep breaths...it is hell but every time the pain is gone within 5-10 mins. I can sleep thru the night now as long as I stay on my back....If I accidently turn to one of my sides or stomach I get hit within minutes. I know...strange but that is the nature of this beast!!

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by kcopelin on Nov 11^th, 2006, 11:19am

Interesting thread-I can't sleep on my cluster side (right), I tend to sleep on my back with a bag of frozen peas (wrapped in flannel) right under my neck. Mostly though, melatonin and benadryl have helped me get through the night. When I was getting hit-any position was a trigger.

PFDAN y'all,
kathy

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by dave..... on Nov 13^th, 2006, 9:21am

sleeping on the left side is best for me..... i usualy get hit on the right side... if i try to sleep on my back instant headache........ when it hits the only way i can get any sleep is proped up

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by Sean_C on Nov 13^th, 2006, 9:42am

on 11/13/06 at 09:21:08, dave..... wrote:

when it hits the only way i can get any sleep is proped up

Dave can you sleep with a hit propped up, whats your secret ??

Sean............................

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by The Image on Nov 19^th, 2006, 7:29am

I can't sleep onm my cluster side (left) and right side is better but upright is better for a while and hunched forward with my head in my hands is another one. I don't think any position will totally suffice as I like to move around a lot.

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by clusterwife on Nov 19^th, 2006, 9:28am

My hubby sleeps on his left/numb side. He says it feels like a soft cloud. And he thinks I'm weird..........

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by Tybo on Nov 19^th, 2006, 2:02pm

I've always found that sleeping on my right side(cluster side) brings on an attack.
Most of the times i'm awaken by them,it always seems to be the case anyway.
As for getting to sleep,its always flat on my back,propped up with pillows.

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by CynthiaB on Nov 19^th, 2006, 11:31pm

Always sleep on my left side (right side is cluster side). I don't think it makes any difference regarding the clusters, though. It's just a habit. Sometimes I'm too tired to get out of bed when one hits, and laying on my left side makes it easier to try to cram my fist through my right temple.

(I understand this is not an effective abortive, but it's better than an ice pick). ;;D

Tonight's a good night. I think my 10pm hit has maxed at a 6, and is on its way down. 12 hours until my doctors appt!!! I should have O2 soon!!!

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by liquidsuspension on Nov 28^th, 2006, 4:26pm

on 10/30/06 at 05:10:42, BarbaraD wrote:

I have to sleep on the OPPOSITE side (right) or I get a shadow (or hit) during the night.

Hugs BD

same here. i have to sleep on the opposite.

also, when i'm in a cycle, i feel like when i'm wearing sunglasses or eyeglasses, that can trigger one. could just be one of those things that i'm paranoid about. i feel like when the glasses rest on my nose, that causes sinus tension around my eye.

could be related

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by stargirl50 on Nov 30^th, 2006, 3:08pm

another "me too"... sleeping on my back is best, but I can also sleep on my right side. (get headaches on my left.) Sleeping on my left side has triggered headaches. But, facing that way also faces my window and I thought the light was what triggered them, not lying on that side... who knows?

Title: Re: Lying on one side vs. another
Post by ax on Dec 4^th, 2006, 1:04am

I'm with ya....

CH on Left side always. I can't lay on my left side at all, unless I want a k10 in about 15 min.
http://home.comcast.net/~stinklcream/sleepup2.jpg
pic of my pre recliner days....