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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
        
(Message started by: thomas on Nov 30^th, 2005, 9:57am)

Title: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by thomas on Nov 30^th, 2005, 9:57am

Nighttime hits?
Ch is a terrible condition and they hurt no matter what time of the day you get hit. Personally, the ones that kill me the most, are the ones that come while I am sleeping. Many people have had success avoiding the nighttime hits by using melatonin, which in the U.S. is available over the counter. The dosage varies from person to person, but most usually have success with anywhere from 6-9mg. Some have had luck with much lower doses as well; you may have to experiment with the dosage, in order to find the one that is best for you. As with any medication, check with your doctor before you start using it.
PFNAD to you.

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by youngmichael on Nov 30^th, 2005, 1:22pm

From what I've heard, getting hit at night is very common with people who suffer from CH. I have been lucky in that I have never been hit at night. It's common for me to get one an hour or so after I wake, but never while I'm sleeping.

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by E-Double on Nov 30^th, 2005, 2:52pm

Keep on preaching my brother!

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by unsolved1 on Nov 30^th, 2005, 4:43pm

The nighttime hits are the worse ones for me too. I wish the Melatonin would've helped...but still they come.

Pain Free Wishes
UNsolved

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by Redd715 on Nov 30^th, 2005, 4:52pm

Some folks (myself included) who the Melatonin alone did not provide relief, added 50 mg benedryl to the 6-9 mg melatonin and had significantly improved results.

In my case this was nearly 3 months of relief from the night hits, although there was residual groggyness in the morning. Nothing a few strong cups of java didn't fix.

Unfortunately for me, it stopped working after those three months.

YMMV

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by marlinsfan on Nov 30^th, 2005, 5:04pm

I'm a believer. 9 mg did the trick for me. Took about 4-5 days to build up, but after that.... ahhhh, slept 6 hrs before the hit came! If I went back to sleep, got hit again, so I ended up sleeping 6 hrs while in cycle. Not bad!

REDD: What's YMMV?

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by Redd715 on Nov 30^th, 2005, 5:08pm

Your Mileage May Vary

;)

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by chewy on Nov 30^th, 2005, 5:34pm

I wouldn't mind the night hits so much if I would awaken around a Kip4 or so. I dont though. My eyes pop open at somewhere around a Kip 8.

Makes me wonder how I am able to sleep through the pain involved with Kip 4-7. I would bet that something around the Kip 2 level would awaken a non Cher.

The melatonin definitely helps though.

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by thomas on Nov 30^th, 2005, 5:49pm

That's what makes the night time hits so bad, is the fact that by the time you are aware of what's going on, it has already ramped up to a high kip level.

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by chewy on Nov 30^th, 2005, 6:57pm

I've grown used to it. I know its going to happen and there is nothing out there thats going to stop it so I prepare for it.

I just sleep in arms reach of the imitrex stilletto. At least the melatonin tempers them a bit.

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by Jonny on Nov 30^th, 2005, 7:21pm

on 11/30/05 at 18:57:25, chewy wrote:

I've grown used to it. I know its going to happen and there is nothing out there thats going to stop it so I prepare for it.

I lived by that motto for 30 years and its one that we all should live by!

Not to brag, (hope this gives some hope) but I have not woken up to one in almost a year.

NEVER GIVE UP AND NEVER GIVE IN!!!!! :'(

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by marlinsfan on Nov 30^th, 2005, 8:18pm

on 11/30/05 at 19:21:05, Jonny wrote:

Not to brag, (hope this gives some hope) but I have not woken up to one in almost a year.

It's not bragging, King Jonny. It's the light at the end of the tunnel.

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by mynm156 on Dec 1^st, 2005, 12:26am

about 2 am everynight

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by brewcrew on Dec 4^th, 2005, 11:02am

Yes, I get hit all the time while sleeping.

Apparently, deep down, my wife doesn't like me very much. ;;D

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by brewcrew on Dec 4^th, 2005, 7:21pm

Seriously, when I'm in a full-blown cycle, I will be awakened from sound sleep almost exactly 90 minutes after I fell asleep. These are almost always the worst headaches because they've already gotten a jump on the abortive treatments.

Interesting that this is the time when we begin to enter REM sleep - about 90 minutes after falling asleep.

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by mynm156 on Dec 5^th, 2005, 1:19pm

Some of my worst attacks have been the beast waking my up for a dance. usually around 2am. and a couple times a week

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by Svenn on Dec 5^th, 2005, 1:26pm

Every fucking time i am about to reach the rem-sleep

"Full blown hit or shadow"

Svenn

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by maffumatt on Dec 5^th, 2005, 2:32pm

I use melatonin at 12 mg at night, it knocks out the night time hits most of the time but they moved to the day. It seems like the beast is gona get you one way or another. The bad thing about thm moveing is that the daytime hits interfered with my work, but at least I was able to sleep. Might consider the alternitive therapy. Worked for me, I still take the melatonin however, Mary says it cuts down on my snoreing, plus I sleep better.

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by BlueMeanie on Dec 5^th, 2005, 9:16pm

When in cycle @ 2:15 a.m. every night. Even if I stay up till then. Melatonin unfortunately doesn't work for me. Get hit no matter what. [smiley=huh.gif]

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by BobG on Dec 6^th, 2005, 8:25am

on 12/04/05 at 19:21:19, brewcrew wrote:

Interesting that this is the time when we begin to enter REM sleep - about 90 minutes after falling asleep.

There are chemical changes going on in the head at that time. Please don’t ask me about the serotonin/melatonin thing. I know it’s happening but I can’t explain it.

on 11/30/05 at 17:34:27, chewy wrote:

I wouldn't mind the night hits so much if I would awaken around a Kip4 or so. I dont though. My eyes pop open at somewhere around a Kip 8.

Have you tried sleeping with the head in an elevated position? Or sleeping in the La-Z-Boy? It never stopped the attacks for me but I would wake up at a lower Kip number.

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by bnfreeman on Dec 7^th, 2005, 9:42pm

I do awake alot with shadows but can usually go back to sleep. I use sleeping aids. I have just recently been hit hard from having a cold I guess. I have heard a few people talk about using Benedryl and my doc even said it was a good idea. I hate the melatonin because of the grogginess. And even though they say it will pass, I am tired enough from the Verapamil. I also take Lamictal and the doc told me that was probably adding to the fatigue.

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by Roxy on Dec 7^th, 2005, 11:27pm

Uh....duh....this may sound really stupid, but I thought everyone with CH got hit at night. The night hits for me are those that nothing will stop, they come every night just like clockwork.

Are there really ch'ers that don't get that rem hit?

Rox

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Dec 7^th, 2005, 11:36pm

Yep I get hit when trying to sleep, usually around 2am when in cycle.

When you consider that serotonin levels increase naturally when we sleep it’s no wonder.

Barry

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by Beastfodder on Dec 8^th, 2005, 8:43am

Night time is definitely the right time for CH.

Mind you sleeping on my back makes things twice as bad.

But that's because I snore and my wife hits me almost as hard as the beast. [smiley=bag.gif]

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by burnt-toast on Dec 8^th, 2005, 9:03am

I no longer view sleep and rest as the welcomed end to long days like most folks do. I dred the thought because I know what to expect.

Tom

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by thomas on Dec 8^th, 2005, 9:09am

on 12/07/05 at 23:27:07, Roxy wrote:

I just posed that question for noobs who may have not tried melatonin yet. It's just a friendly reminder. ;;D

BTW you're the best Roxy! :-*

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by cazman on Dec 9^th, 2005, 11:47pm

thats all i had for yearts was night hits like clock work 1am 3 am 5 am over and over i tried the meatonin my self worked for two nights that was it i also tried amitriptyline that was huge mistake for me made the beast extremley angry wont do that again. the last cycle before i started the alternatives i was getting dayhits that was new to me. right now i think im ok at least for now other than strange painless hits [see my post} i dunno one day at time.

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by gobby on Dec 10^th, 2005, 1:25am

Ya, that's how mine start....2am, 5, 7, 9, like as everyone says, "clockwork". Then the daytime hammers begin, usually at 1pm and 4pm and if I'm really unlucky 9 and 11 also. Melatonin hasn't done anything for me yet. I've been taking it for 2 weeks now, started at 9mg then uped it to 11mg and now I'm back to 9mg. I took 1 benedryl with it tonight (don't have to work tomorrow, just in case) we'll see how this turns out. Anyway in a kinda' sick way I'm glad to see the daytime hits start. It lets me know my cycle is progressing and these days it always has to get worse before it gets better. The sooner I scream..........the sooner it's over.

Take care all

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by paul_pero on Dec 10^th, 2005, 2:23am

when in cyle get hit at night almost everynight. tried melatonin last cycle and it threw the CHs all over the place. still got some at night, but got a lot more during the day.

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by Maggi Jons on Dec 10^th, 2005, 8:32am

one hour after i go to sleep is almost certain! when in cycle as now
sometimes melantonin 12 mg helps but thats just sometimes and then i get them all over in the 24

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by purpleydog on Dec 10^th, 2005, 3:05pm

I don't sleep before 1 am or I will get hit. I stay up till around 1:30 to 2 am, then I sleep till 4:30 when I get up for work. Melatonin never worked for me. I'm used to it now. I don't dream much anymore. Sometimes I'll sleep a little longer. I rarely get woken up with a hit anymore. If I sleep too long, like over 4 hours, I'll get hit right after I wake up.

Being woken up with a hit is the worst. It's already gone on too long to stop it most of the time.

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by mcf69 on Dec 10^th, 2005, 11:01pm

Sleep?, I fear sleep..... I've never got hit during the day, except when just waking up, but when I sleep it's just like clockwork, about 60-90 minutes and BAM! Interesting thing I've noted this time around, I've been trying melatonin and all it does is move the attacks further into the night, if I take more than 3mg the first attack doesn't hit until about 2-3 hrs after I fall asleep, anymore than 6 and I don't get hit until I wake up. I've learned I would rather have the first hit early, abort, then get some good sleep rather than putting it off until morning when I have to get up and get going. Just my 2 cents.

Title: Re: Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?
Post by Melissa on Dec 11^th, 2005, 9:31am

Quote:

Do you get hit while you are trying to sleep?

Um, ya. >:(