Posted by gary (208.133.217.79) on December 30, 1999 at 02:42:06:
In Reply to: Melatonin posted by John R on December 30, 1999 at 01:04:37:
this cluster (started in Sept) I've been trying to beat the wake-from-sleep-attacks by staying up fairly late, and then taking a 3mg melatonin AND 3 or 4 benadryl when going to bed
it SEEMS to have been helping quite a bit,
getting a good sleep with no waking attacks or maybe 1 mild one - (very restless sleep though)
UNTIL the last week or so, during which the attacks have been getting more frequent at night, and not as easily suppressed
BUT I have been on a VERY overextended schedule during this time, including 2 @ 900 mile nonstop drives, completed during "allnighters" - skipping any sleep for 36-40 hours, twice in a week
( I know - stupid, stupid, stupid - what can i say?)
I don't believe so-called "stress" CAUSES CH,
but I have definitely observed that DURING a cluster,
if I really overdo it,
a spell of suddenly increased attacks is predictable starting when I DO go to sleep, and for a day or two afterc- then takes much extra effort to get the beast back in the cage
have had 3 "bad spells" like that this cluster, and they have ALL followed overextended activity combined with reduced sleep
there DOES seem to be a definite nocturnal concentration in the attacks, regardless of when I'm getting my sleep - - if I am up very late or all night & then sleep in the day, I am MUCH less apt to get the waking-attacks