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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Can interrupting your sleep work?
        
(Message started by: Randall_Swain on Nov 25^th, 2006, 9:29pm)

Title: Can interrupting your sleep work?
Post by Randall_Swain on Nov 25^th, 2006, 9:29pm

Hello All

Last night I had two attacks - one 90 minutes after going to bed, and the next 90 minutes after going to bed following the first attack. Speaking to a few people around here, 90 minutes into sleep seems to be the key.

My beautiful wife unfortunately had to witness my 10+ last night (second attack - first was about an 8 or 9) and I was in absolute stark raving mad agony... She was there for me and it was wonderful that she was - although I hate that I woke her and she had to see that.... Me a blubbering, weeping, spasming 38 year old!

Anyhow, we have discussed how it seems to be that I am on a strict 90 minute profile for attacks - if I try to stay awake longer, 90 minutes after I eventually go to sleep I end up with an attack - regular as clockwork.

So Mel came up with an idea. We have learnt that my attacks come as I hit REM sleep - after 90 minutes. She suggested (and at this point I was eager to try anything whatsoever!) that I set my alarm for an hour - then wake up and set it for another hour. I have a countdown timer on my phone, so I set that for 60 minutes. Collapsed on the bed following attack no 2 (a true "suicide" headache if ever I'd had one) and fell straight to sleep.

60 minutes later, my alarm went off. I awoke, reset it and fell straight back to sleep.

60 minutes later, it went off again (now about 5am) set it once more (I think...) and at 6am I woke, not having had another attack.

I have a shadow (and have had all day - now 1pm) but I can shadow-box all day... Just can't dance with the devil....

I am not sure if it is coincidental or not, but I am going to try again tonight. After all - disjointed sleep is so much better than screaming to oneself for an hour...

Has anyone else tried this? Had any success? I can't believe that I am the first to try - so please let me know how you go, and I will keep you updated to see whether this works!

Cheers!

Randall

Title: Re: Can interrupting your sleep work?
Post by UN solved on Nov 25^th, 2006, 9:35pm

This would be extremely hard to do. You're talking about preventing REM sleep with an alarm clock ? I would think it maybe possible for awhile... but not for long term. Your body's still going to fall into REM sooner or later. Some claim that some drugs prevent REM ( like Melatonin) ... but they never prevented my cluster attacks.

Goodluck with it & let us know how you do

UNsolved

Title: Re: Can interrupting your sleep work?
Post by Randall_Swain on Nov 26^th, 2006, 12:59pm

Unfortunately UN Solved was right - it didn't work

When I fell asleep tonight, I set the timer for 1hr 15. I awoke when it went off, and reset it for another 1.15. Ten minutes later the attack snuck in - so pretty much on time, although I don't know if it was during REM sleep or if the devil was just being a prick... It was only about a 7 so that was one small nicety. We danced for about an hour and fell back to sleep - setting the timer for another 1.15. This time is didn't wait, and hit after1.10 - with 5 minutes left on the timer. It hit 8 on the scale and am just recovering now - the nice dull ache one gets after a hit, which seems somehow pleasant...

So no magic bullet here I am afraid... Will keep searching!

Take care out there...

Title: Re: Can interrupting your sleep work?
Post by kcopelin on Nov 26^th, 2006, 1:15pm

Randall,
There definitely is a connection between REM sleep and night-time hits. Unfortunately, Unsolved is right. Your body will only function so long without REM sleep. I'm sorry that melatonin didn't work for you Unsolved-it has helped me but I still wake up every 45 minutes to hour after I fall asleep. I have symptoms of a hit-congestion, teary red eye and cluster knot on my neck-but no pain. It is very odd.
PFDAN y'all,
kathy

Title: Re: Can interrupting your sleep work?
Post by andrewjb on Nov 26^th, 2006, 7:37pm

:). thanks for posting randall, was going to try this tactic at the next dance..........................will keep searching. andrew.

Title: Re: Can interrupting your sleep work?
Post by floridian on Nov 26^th, 2006, 8:12pm

REM deprivation is a great way to torture someone - they start losing their marbles pretty quick. And after a period of sleep deprivation, a person slips into REM almost as soon as they fall asleep.

IMO, If you are episodic, you are better off trying to re-establish regular circadian cycles. Melatonin helps me to do that - as soon as I feel like I am slipping into a CH cycle, I start hitting the melatonin at the same time everynight.

Title: Re: Can interrupting your sleep work?
Post by E-Double on Nov 26^th, 2006, 8:26pm

..........and make sure that you stick to a regular sleep schedule!!!
It didn't seem to make a difference once I went chronic but it certainly helped with the melatonin establishing a good pattern and decreasing nocturnal attacks.
The more you disrupt your sleep the harder you will get slammed once you start crashing.

Good luck

Title: Re: Can interrupting your sleep work?
Post by AussieBrian on Nov 26^th, 2006, 8:35pm

Been doing the same thing for years, setting the alarm for an hour and a quarter, but the absolute max is twice in one night and just living with consequences after that.

Any more than that is mind-bending.

Title: Re: Can interrupting your sleep work?
Post by andrewjb on Nov 26^th, 2006, 8:39pm

:). yet again, thanks for being here. andrew.

Title: Re: Can interrupting your sleep work?
Post by neetnut on Nov 26^th, 2006, 8:59pm

Interrupting my sleep at least once or twice will surely bring on an attack. Once they start, they usually last a day or two. When I get back on track with sleep they start to taper off. Seems like Holidays are the worst with the traveling and all, sleep gets messed up.

Title: Re: Can interrupting your sleep work?
Post by stargirl50 on Nov 30^th, 2006, 7:18pm

For me, interrupting sleep is a sure way to bring ON an attack. sticking to a regular sleep schedule once i start my med regimen (among other things) is one of the best ways to end a cycle.

Title: Re: Can interrupting your sleep work?
Post by vig on Nov 30^th, 2006, 9:30pm

actually, I got pretty good at waking up after an hour, getting up and walking around for a few and going back to bed and trying another hour.

and sleeping sitting up!

both are difficult, and I think it helped, but really, how long can you keep that up? not very long!

In the end, I found a better answer at www.clusterbusters.com.

try the seeds first

my 2 cents