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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Sleep Deprevation
        
(Message started by: millie the episodic on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 2:20am)

Title: Sleep Deprevation
Post by millie the episodic on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 2:20am

Hello Out There, ;;D
I was just wondering if anyone out there has been told by your neuro that our problem of Cluster Headaches could be coming from sleep deprevation. That we are not getting enough level 4 sleep, dream land. She prescribed Amitriptyline and Lorazapam :-X. I hate the idea of feeling like a sleep walking zombie, but I have to try something, I don't know what else to do. [smiley=huh.gif]
Millie

Title: Re: Sleep Deprevation
Post by burnt-toast on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 2:37am

The old maintain normal sleep habits bit. What a joke.

In case it hasn't become clear to the medical community CH causes sleep deprivation. It happens to be what this nightmare is best at.

Nothing like gettin' smacked in the side of the face/head with a hammer while someone jams a sharp curling iron through the roof of your mouth and out your eye - several time a night - to assist one in maintaining normal sleep habits.

Tom

Title: Re: Sleep Deprevation
Post by millie the episodic on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 2:44am

Those are my thoughts exactly. That is what I tried to explain to the neuro, but she wanted me to see things her way. The H/A's and the fear of getting a H/A are what keeps me from sleeping. >:(
Question, Why do we (some of us) go into remission and have no headaches? Do we just all of a sudden start sleeping deeper and the H/A's go away? [smiley=huh.gif]

Title: Re: Sleep Deprevation
Post by burnt-toast on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 3:13am

A). Do you stop having CHs because you're sleeping better?

B). Do you start sleeping better because you're not having CHs?

I'm pickin' B.

Tom

Title: Re: Sleep Deprevation
Post by BobG on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 4:07am

I'm with Tom, pickin' B.

Deep sleep is where you don't want to go. Try melatonin or dramamine (sp?). It may help with your sleep by keeping you out of the REM sleep mode.

Title: Re: Sleep Deprevation
Post by millie the episodic on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 7:47am

:'(I had chosen B too. But I am not a doctor. I am a clusterhead who feels like a lab rat.
I have been on this Amitriptyline for two days, while having to drag myself to work because of the after affect of the drug only to have an attack at 3:30 and one at 6:30 and yes I am in it right now. :'(
It is hard but I don't know what else to do. I am grasping at straws. [smiley=huh.gif]
Thank God for you all!!!

Title: Re: Sleep Deprevation
Post by floridian on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 8:05am

Before a summer cycle, I start to sleep less, and wake up on my own earlier and earlier. I used to think this was great (more productive, energetic). Now I know it means my hypothalamus is slipping into a cluster pattern, and I need to restore my normal sleep patterns.

Taking melatonin as soon as the prodromal symptoms (warning signs) helps me reduce or supress a cycle. Magnesium supplements can also help the circadian clock to work better in some people.

That doesn't mean that poor sleep is The Cause - there are other things going on. But improving sleep can help many people. I prefer melatonin to some of the prescription pharmaceuticals ... it doesn't change the structure of sleep. Clusterheads produce less melatonin than normal people, and this is true year round, in cycle and out.

Title: Re: Sleep Deprevation
Post by Topical on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 8:49am

A week after getting back from a cross-country trip by car I had my CH come back. My sleep was slightly deprived and the time adjustment was severe, roughly 8 hours (+-3 hours from the time zones).

Since then another person asked this question and I decided to be a guinea pig. (Actually, I love the Tour de France and wanted to watch it live.)

I threw off my time schedule and now am sleeping roughly 8 hours past my usual time. I was in cycle but noticed no change to my CH. I had one attack in 7 days. I am taking Verapamil as a prevent. I also stayed up 28 hours one day and stayed PF for 2 days.

I have been getting 6-7 hours of sleep a day.

I will stop on Sunday as that is the end of the Tour. It's completely anectdotal and not scientific at all but wanted to share.

Title: Re: Sleep Deprevation
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 2:51pm

Well, look at the melatonin/benadryl info here on this site. I have have problems with sleeping for years, and took almost all prescription sleep aids with no help. After seeing the info on melatonin, i started taking that, and swear to god i am getting the best sleep i have gotten in my whole life. It does reduce the quantity of CHs i get per night, and when i do get one, the benadryl helps keep my eye from tearing and my nose doesnt get stuffed up anymore either.
I take 9mg melatonin, and 50mg dyphenhydramine every nite 1 hour before going to bed. Its important to remain vertical (not lying down) for the hour after you take it. Also, skipping dinner so you have an empty stomach makes the drugs get in your system better.
I tried almost all sleep aids to no avail, then I tried melatonin and it not only helps the sleep, it also helps the CH.
I highly reccommend it
BMonee

Oh, and yes, i personally think the sleep deprevation is the worst thing about the cluster cycle. I go for about 8 weeks with 3 to 4 hours of sleep per night. I typically only sleep for 1 to 2 hours between hits, so i never get any "deep" sleep. Getting 4 hours of interrupted sleep every nite for 8 weeks would make john mccain cave under pressure. Its a good thing the VC never did that to him!

Title: Re: Sleep Deprevation
Post by clarence on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 11:13pm

on 07/22/05 at 02:37:30, burnt-toast wrote:

In case it hasn't become clear to the medical community CH causes sleep deprivation. It happens to be what this nightmare is best at.

BINGO!

Casey

Title: Re: Sleep Deprevation
Post by hdido on Jul 24^th, 2005, 12:33am

For some reason, many times when I cannot sleep well for several days, the intensity of my CH attacks appear to decrease, but when the lack of sleep finally causes me to sleep a long time, the CH attacks are back full force. Anyone else have that experience?

Title: Re: Sleep Deprevation
Post by violet on Jul 24^th, 2005, 1:32am

Is it REM sleep that triggers the clusters?

Title: Re: Sleep Deprevation
Post by pattik on Jul 24^th, 2005, 10:44am

I have had chronic sleep problems for several years now. And just like the CH waking me in the middle of the night like clockwork, even out of an episode, 6 out of 10 nights, I will still wake up about the same time every night. Often the first thing you will hear out of the mouths of docs is that you are depressed, but even depression doesn't have that kind of regularity for years on end. Melatonin works for me, but I am
about to switch to a time released form which I hope will work better for my type of insomnia. I will use Alprazolam on those rare occasions when nothing else has worked and I need a really good catch-up. [smiley=sleep.gif]