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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> altering sleep patterns
        
(Message started by: Why_me on Jan 31^st, 2005, 8:13am)

Title: altering sleep patterns
Post by Why_me on Jan 31^st, 2005, 8:13am

I know it sounds extreme but I have been doing so and it seems to be helping. I am episodic, so far, and it seems to be working, the morning killer doesn't seem to be taking as big a hold, here is what I have tried:

I usually get a small one at about 1:30 A.M. that last 15min - 1/2 hour pain level 4, then get back to sleep til 5:30A.M. and wake with a killer pain level 8 or 9, for 4 -5 hours.

So during a cycle I go to bed at 12:30 A.M. and get up at about 4 A.M. and it seems to be o.k. Knowing that I will only lose sleep for about a month and a half is better than dealing with the serious pain, it does bring on a few more headaches in the evening that last approx 1/2 hour, pain level 3-5 but the fact is I am not missing as much work and the headaches are milder when I can catch them while I am awake. Keep in mind I have only been trying this for about a week, and will keep you updated. And I have been doing this without meds.

Title: Re: altering sleep patterns
Post by floridian on Jan 31^st, 2005, 8:26am

If it works for you, great.

My clusters are usually preceded by less sleep - burning the midnight oil for school, long summer days, too many stimulants, etc. Usually the beast makes his season premier while I am asleep, but a few years ago I pulled an all nighter, and they zapped me the next afternoon while I was awake.

I usually get slightly manic before a cycle - I can go to bed late, I wake up early feeling fully refreshed, at first I thought it was great. Now I recognize it as an omen that my circadian cycles are messed up, and I use melatonin to wrangle my sleep back into a normal rhythm. That seems to help me the most; your mileage may vary.