Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Bad Sleeping Habits
        
(Message started by: kyitb on Sep 17^th, 2007, 8:12pm)

Title: Bad Sleeping Habits
Post by kyitb on Sep 17^th, 2007, 8:12pm

So I found recently that I prop my head up with my arms while I sleep. After much investigation i've been doing this for years. It looks much like I am sleeping at a desk. Much like I saw others do in class all through my years.

I realize that this most likely has nothing to do with my headaches. However, i'm a little curious as to whether or not anyone else knows of someone that does this as well. Maybe even someone does this themselves.

Yes my shoulders are killing me every morning... Feedback appreciated ...

Any idea as to how to stop myself from doing this?

Title: Re: Bad Sleeping Habits
Post by AussieBrian on Sep 17^th, 2007, 8:25pm

Sew a small marble, or even a ball-bearing, into the front of your night-dress.

Title: Re: Bad Sleeping Habits
Post by kyitb on Sep 17^th, 2007, 9:13pm

What? Are you a serious? Where do I get a night dress? Will it emasculate me?

Title: Re: Bad Sleeping Habits
Post by GrandPotentate on Sep 17^th, 2007, 10:06pm

I'm not sure that this sleep position has anything to do with CH, but maybe others can comment. Most of my hits are evening, with a few random hits during the night.

I had some problems some years ago with pinched nerves in my neck. Made my left arm go numb or painful. I went through a bunch of doctoring and some PT, before finding that most of the problem was that I was twisting my neck while sleeping. I ended up needing to learn to sleep differently - it can be done. Not real easily, but now I can't sleep the old way. Good luck!

Title: Re: Bad Sleeping Habits
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Sep 18^th, 2007, 10:31am

My belief & my opinion only; this has been discussed before but not for some time that if you prop yourself up with as many pillows as you can, almost to the point that you are sleeping in the sit up position you will most likely get a better nights sleep while going through a cycle.

I do this when I am getting hit badly & it always works for me & I discussed this recently with my Doc who said quite plainly that Clusters are not only neurological but are vascular as well; as we are aware the blood vessels in our head swell to a size greater than normal, if you take into account that when you try to go to sleep you usually lay down, by doing this you are allowing you body to have a lateral blood flow in that your blood flow is now more easily pushed through your body and no longer needs to be pushed upwards back to your heart.

The Docs explanation of this was that if you have a badly damaged, broken or bruised foot or lower limb you will be advised to lay down with your foot or limb elevated above the line of the body; what this effectively induces is that the blood flow is reduced to the effected area & therefore reduces the discomfort in the effected area, apply this principle to clusters & do the reverse you will reduce the blood flow to your head & therefore reduce the effect of the cluster.

This made very simple sense to me & I would like to see what others have to say on the subject.

Regards
Barry

Title: Re: Bad Sleeping Habits
Post by DennisM1045 on Sep 18^th, 2007, 12:08pm

Barry, I couldn't agree with you more. When I get steady night hits I usually sleep on the couch till my cycle is over.

This cycle, in addition to melatonin, I slightly elevated the top of my bed by putting a 1" board under the feet. I've only had one night hit so far. I have woken up to several in progress around 6am. I can't really tell if it's the melatonin or the bed head height. I think its a combination of the two.

Of course that could just be the beast f'ing with my head. Now that I've gone and said it out loud he'll probably remind me whos boss tonight :-/

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Bad Sleeping Habits
Post by billyjoe on Sep 18^th, 2007, 1:16pm

Barry, makes sense to me, but what do I know. It may sound strange, but I as I rest my head on the pillow, I keep my CH side up. I found when my head is resting on the other side, I feel pressure building in the CH. It may be psychological at this point, but I hate nighttime CHs so much I don't mess with it.

Title: Re: Bad Sleeping Habits
Post by UN solved on Sep 18^th, 2007, 1:20pm

I can't sleep propped up, sitting up, or standing. It's just not in me. My dad (old school) said when sick or feeling bad to sleep propped up and that it might help, but I never could do it.

It's easy for me to sleep laying down .... I always find a bed or couch first, then I lay on in and close my eyes ;;D

Goodluck

UN solved

Title: Re: Bad Sleeping Habits
Post by kyitb on Sep 18^th, 2007, 3:08pm

So you think by body is trying to give me more comfort (for my head) when I sleep by propping my head up? So, other people do this? In case I wasn't clear earlier i'd like to re-describe what i'm talking about. I literally prop my head up in my hand. Friends tell me that I look like i've woken up but, I haven't. I just bend my elbow and lay my head in my hand and sleep.

Title: Re: Bad Sleeping Habits
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Sep 18^th, 2007, 7:42pm

on 09/18/07 at 15:08:37, kyitb wrote:

So you think by body is trying to give me more comfort (for my head) when I sleep by propping my head up?

Exactly, I think it’s a natural instinct for your body to make allowances or compensation to help itself.

It's just a pitty it cant work out how to kick the demons butt.

Regards
Barry

Title: Re: Bad Sleeping Habits
Post by Ctech on Sep 18^th, 2007, 10:49pm

When I watch TV at night, I lay on my side with my head propped up with my hand and I have noticed that it seems to trigger a CH when I do it (when I'm in cycle)??? Now like someone else said "it could just be that the beast is F**king with me" I don't know, but now that I sit up and watch TV it seems that I get less hits...

When I go to sleep, I always try to sleep with my CH side down on the pillow - that seems to help me.

Chris.

Title: Re: Bad Sleeping Habits
Post by BarbaraD on Sep 19^th, 2007, 6:19am

Years ago I got an RX for one of those beds that go up and down (and massage ;;D). Sometimes I sleep sitting up, but usually at a 45 degree angle. It's worked for years (insurance company will probably pay for it after a fashion - you might give it a try -- It's also a tax write off for medical if you have a script - docs are good about giving one for it). Or a recliner. (Been there done that one also - had a script for it too).

I have to sleep on the opposite side from the CH. Weird isn't it - how we all have our little "quirks".

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Bad Sleeping Habits
Post by Saffy on Sep 19^th, 2007, 6:56am

Hi Kyitb,

My partner sleeps much of the night like this and often gets shoulder pain, as I am a Sports Injury Therapist he is lucky enough to get it treated for nothing! Although I do hurt ALOT [smiley=laugh.gif]!

I have noticed he is very stiff in the shoulder area anyway i.e. if he lays on his side his profile is rigid, his shoulders don't round in toward each other at all. I believe this makes it uncomforatable to lie side on for too long. Thereby he has learnt to lie more on his back or front. The way you describe is a good way to lie on the front and NOT smother yourself in the pillow which could be how it came about. Are your shoulders mobile? If you cross your arms , not fold, pass one over the other, firmly in front of your body, do your shoulders come much closer together? If not your shoulders are stiff.

Deep massage may help and /or a change of pillow but my partner never ever gets headaches so it may be nothing to do with the CH problems.

Good luck.

Saffy

Title: Re: Bad Sleeping Habits
Post by kyitb on Sep 19^th, 2007, 9:43am

I guess my shoulders are stiff... Thanks everyone for the feedback! I also find it innteresting how we all have our little quips. The brain is a crazy thing. BTW i've given up fast food now in the hopes that it will have an affect on my attacks. Running out of things to give up now...

Title: Re: Bad Sleeping Habits
Post by Ctech on Sep 19^th, 2007, 3:20pm

Giving up fast food :o Giving up beer during a cycle is bad enough!

Title: Re: Bad Sleeping Habits
Post by kyitb on Sep 21^st, 2007, 3:17am

Gave up alcohol about a year ago. Cigarettes are all I have left. That and escorts . ;)

Title: Re: Bad Sleeping Habits
Post by The Image on Sep 22^nd, 2007, 10:08am

I always find that if I lie with my CH side downward it hurts more. Sitting up does sometimes help.

An interesting thing I've noticed is that painkillers like codeine and paracetamol that speed up the blood flow really play havoc with my CH but Ibuprofen which doesn't speed up the blood flow don't increase the CH and seem to help my minor CH'S.

Not sure about the fast food bit. I'm a vegetarian and eat no fast food and still get hit by CH pretty bad. Mind you I do smoke if that makes any affect.