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Does anyone get migraines when they first wake up?

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Posted 5/4/2007 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
I've been getting migraines for about 5 months now, and I noticed most of them occur when I first wake up in the morning (such as today).  Does this happen to anyone else?  Is this a specific type of migraine?  It has the typical symptoms...extreme pain on one side, very nauseous, dizziness, sweating, tingling, sensitivity to light, etc.  Today's was worse than normal, as it took 2 tramadol to get it under control, I'm just trying to learn more about migraines since I don't know much about them yet.  Thanks in advance for any input. 

---Nathan

Posted 5/4/2007 7:07 PM (GMT 0)

Welcome to the wonderful world of migraines, Nathan.  This is also know Hell.  I'm 42 and have migraines since I was 8.  Waking up with a migraine is quite common.  Depending on what triggers your migraines, the attack could be based on having an extremely stressful dream, or the weather could have changed overnight.  Both of these triggers can make me wake up with a miserable migraine.  So, yes, waking up with a migraine can be perfectly normal.

Two big questions first, how often do you get these migraine attacks and what medication are you taking for them?

Let us know how you are doing and if you have anymore questions.

Leigh Ann cool

Posted 5/5/2007 1:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Nathan,

I often wake with pain or am woken by the pain! I don't think this is uncommon for migraine, but quite why it happens I couldn't say as triggers are very individual!! Glad Tramadol can help you. Are you on any preventative medications or any other abortive meds such as a triptan?

Where migraine is concerned, I am still learning as new treatments and theories come out 30+ years later lol!!

take care

Ann
Posted 5/5/2007 1:54 PM (GMT 0)

Katelynn - I'll have to look into the Duradrin that you take.  How well does it work compared to the Tramadol?  The Tramadol seems to work great, though it may take some time for it to kick in, at least it works and is relatively inexpensive.  I hope to make an appt. soon with my family doctor to talk it over with her.

Leigh Ann - I tend to get a migraine once every couple weeks, though i had this one about 1.5 weeks after the last.  Not sure what triggered it, will probably take some time to figure my personal triggers for migraines.  The only medication I'm taking for the migraines is Tramadol. It's pretty strong and it works, though I also have to take it from time to time for pains associated with my ulcerative colitis.

Ann - I'm not on any preventative meds for the migraines yet, but I would like to be.  I'm hoping it can cut down on the number of migraines that I get.  Are you taking Triptan?  If so, does it work? 

Thank you all for your help and input.  I've only been getting migraines about 5 months now so I don't know much about them yet.  I'll look into everything that you mentioned.

---Nathan

Posted 5/5/2007 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Nathan,

Yes I have taken a triptan, and have Imitrex injections, which I have had since they came out some years ago!! The triptans are not pain killers as such they work with a completely different action. They constrict the blood vessels which have become several times their normal size due to the migraine attack, therefore taking the pain away!

Because of the action of the triptans it is important that they are not used more that twice in any 24 hour period, as each use puts a small strain on the heart. They are perfectly safe if used correctly! There are many others in the triptan family now, and maybe you will be able to find one that suits you!

It may be that your Doctor wants to wait and see how your migraines settle down before he/she decides to give you a preventative as you have had them for a comparitively short time - I know it will not have seemed like a short time to you!!

Please feel free to ask questions, the only silly question is the one you didn't ask!!!

take care

Ann
Posted 5/6/2007 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, up to 800mg of Tramadol?  Is that daily, or on a day when you have a migraine?  I had read that 400mg/day is the max for that med (i've taken up to 300mg/day), but I'm sure a doc can specify otherwise.  Thanks again to all of you for your help.   I'm going to try and set up an appt. with my doc to talk about these migraines within the next week or two.  Take care.

---Nathan

Posted 5/7/2007 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Nathan.  Sorry to hear that you are experiencing the world of waking up with a migraine.  I started with this scenario last summer and it has been pretty much non-stop since then.  Almost 100% of the time, my headaches start during the night.  I will go to bed fine and then start dreaming that someone is hitting me in the head and then will wake up with a headache so severe that there is no getting rid of it without IV meds.   My neurologist and I both think that my headaches are related to the barometric pressure.  The neurologist has me on a whole regime of meds to take at the first sign of a headache or if I hear on the weather that there is going to be a "pressure change" I take my whole regime of meds before bed.  Now.....I can't seem to figure out what to look for on the weather - I believe it is when we are going to have a High Pressure system come through but am not for sure.  Anyway, I take Verapamil and Trileptal daily as preventitives and then at the first sign of a headache, I take Prednisone, Zofran, Dilaudid (2mg) and Relpax.  The key for me is to never think I am just having a "little" headache - that is when I end up in the ED.  If I will take the meds at the first twinge, I can abort a bad headache; however, I hate taking the meds because they make me sleepy.  Anyway, hope this helps - I know that it has helped me reading what helps others on here.
Posted 5/15/2007 5:54 PM (GMT 0)

Migraine when you first wake up - I would suspect TMJ - do you clench your teeth and get pain in the joint in front of your ear?  Check with your dentist. 

Also - try eating before you go to bed. 

Botox injections are a wonderful thing as well - paralyzing a lot of those tense muscles. 

Also try a  neti pot or a measuring cup - bend at the waist and pour salted water (to taste like tears) into one nostril and let it flow out the other - you are clearing out your sinuses.

I am also constanly nursing migraines and am happy to see some new medications on this website.

Posted 5/16/2007 11:21 AM (GMT 0)
i too wake up with them and go to bed with them and ive just been given Pregabalin to try prevent them but im not taking it till ive had some people reply to my post that ive put up.as dont want to take them if they stop me from driving or make me feel ill.i stay in enough with these migranes its actually depressing.and i feel its not fair on my family being like this.as im the only 1 who can drive,so if anyone knows about Pregabalin please let me no your thoughts
Posted 5/17/2007 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Nathan,  I am new to the board and so glad I found it. Headaches and daily pain are really a test of my faith, you too ??? How are you doing ? I am goign to an ENT tommorrow to see if allergies could be the cause of some of my headaches. Wish me well !!! Anne  
Posted 5/17/2007 9:22 AM (GMT 0)
ENT what is this and what does it do as ive not been sent for one of these
Posted 5/17/2007 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
Nathan,

I've been getting migraines or really bad headaches right when I first wake up, almost every day for the past week. Also, twice I woke up at 4 in the morning and it was so bad I couldn't get back to sleep. I'm prescribed Imitrex 100mg to take at the first signs of the migraine and no more than two in one day. I try to only take it when I desperately need to considering the fact that the safety of taking more than 4 in a month hasn't been established, and that kind of scares me.

I was getting severe migraines weekly but now that I've cut caffeine almost completely out of my diet, I do feel better, though I get them occaisionally and I still have daily painful [but not quite migraine] headaches.

Good luck on figuring it out and feeling better.
Posted 5/18/2007 7:31 PM (GMT 0)

Ucreallysucks,  My neurolist says that most migraine sufferers wake with a migraine, getting them in the am more than any other time.  He contributes this to maybe not necessarily covering your face with a cover, but maybe even sleeping (having your mouth and nose to your pillow or covers).  Oxygen helps prevent migraines and also helps get rid of them.  So I guess it makes sense.  Also, eat a little something to keep your sugar right during the night.  Nothing on the bad migraine food list and just a few bites.  I take Imitrex and have been on everything in the world to help myself.  I've gone to several Migraine Clinics in the US seeking help.   I get migraines daily and finally couldn't hold down a job, and now am disabled and on disablility.  It's rare I skip one day without a headache.  I've found out we can help ourselves more than a lot of doctors.  Expecially by talking to each other.  But it's hard to find the "pain free" time to get on here and try and keep up with a board"  I know if I can help anyone that helps me and return I never know what I may read to help my migraines.  Don't get me wrong, we need the doctors.  It's just that each individual is unique and our triggers are not the same, maybe close sometimes.  My doctor told me a daily magnisium vitamin helps migraines a lot too.  I'm going to get on Topomax, doesn't have many side effects.  I don't know how bad yours have gotten, but if they are too bad, you do need prevention meds.  Ice packs are a saver for me to.  I also use a things called "Tens", you can ask your doctor or a physical therapist about it.  Probably can find one on the net.  It helps with the tension I get sometimes along with the migraine.  To be honest almost everything can cause a migraine.  My doctor said I need to lead a common and calm life.  He said even a fun vacation would probably send me off into a migraine.  He said changing my environment, good or bad could make me sick.  Of course, I'm sure you've looked at your foods.  If not, do a search for bad foods for migraines.  I still can eat the bad foods.,,,but for instance, I can only eat one slice of pizza.  If I ever eat more than one, I go straight into a headache.  Too little sleep causes them, too much sleep causes them.  It's crazy.  If someone or somehting cause you any kind of stress, you have to learn to get away from it.  It's not worth it.  People, in general, even our family can't grasp the pain and bad feelings you get after a migraine.  It can be overwelming.  Guess we have to take care of ourselves and do a lot of research.  Hope something in this helps.  Take care of yourself.

Signed,

Needmylifeback

Posted 5/22/2007 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
ENT

...Ear , nose and throat...allergy specialist too. Anyway, he presribed Allegra, whuch might work for soem of these headaches...but I didn't need a specialist for that. He did not want to do any testing for allergens until we try some drugs. Then to my dentist, who I love today. My splint for TMD is working. I know we all have migraines or most of us here do but I never dreamed that my headaches would be so less than before he made this splint for me. My dentist said I would fall in love with him after he made this splint for my mouth so I couldn;t grind or clench my teeth....He was right and I did fall in love but he is married, how sad for me. LOL  If you have facial pain as well as headaches this is worth a look at .....TMD. I thought I would have a headache for the reat of my life . Bless you all, OAKLEY

Posted 5/22/2007 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
I must apologize for my spelling errors. At the end of the day, I am tired and well, lazy.....peace to all, OAKLEY

Posted 5/22/2007 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your input.  I'm calling the doc today to see about getting in and getting some kind of preventative script.  It's bad enough I'm still trying to get my ulcerative colitis under control (for the past year), but migraines make it even worse.  Had another one the other day but luckily it wasn't as severe as the previous one.  Lasted only a day and was able to lead a somewhat normal life that day, though I had to take 2 Fioricets.  They made me very drowsy, but it's better than pain!  I'll continue to update as I learn more about my migraines.  I'm keeping a daily journal to see if I kind find any trigger...

Speaking of triggers...seems like I might have found one.  See if I can describe it correctly...it seems that when I strain too much, I feel alot of pressure in my temple.  When I say strain, I mean like when my wife and I were horsing around, or during physical intercourse.   Yes it seems that one migraine occured after intercourse.  We had intercourse late one night, and I felt alot of pressure in my left temple (didn't think much of it then).  The next morning woke up with the worst migraine I've ever had.  Coincidence?  I'm still trying to figure that one out...

Posted 6/3/2007 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
Nathan, still sounds like Oakley is on the right track for you. You might be clenching. My dentist said the same thing to me because most of my migraines hit me first thing in the morning. I have resisted getting the splint (they are kind of expensive) but I have been more aware of the position my jaw is in when I wake up in the middle of the night and upon waking in the morning. I try to keep my upper a lower teeth from touching now when I sleep. The splint is supposed to train your brain not to clench your teeth when you sleep.

I am on Topomax daily (200 mg taken at night) and Imitrex whenever I get a headache which happens about once every other month (used to get one once a week before the Topomax). Whenever I get a migraine now, I only need to take one Imitrex and my headache is gone in 20 minutes. Before the Topomax, the Imitrex took about 4 hours to work and I might have to take another to make it totally go away. That's where the drugged up feeling comes from. I take a multivitimin a day which includes magnesium that I have also heard is a migraine preventitive, but no other meds. It took me about 30 years to settle into the right combo, so for anyone out there has only been suffering for a couple of years, unfortunately, good results don't usually happen overnight, because every migraine is so different. Too much of a good thing can also cause problems. I was taking Excederin which worked wonders for about 10 of those years and ended up with an ulcer, so that's why the docs don't want you to take any more meds than you absolutely have to. I have been on the Topomax for about 3 years now and don't have any plans to give that up anytime soon.
Posted 6/4/2007 3:35 AM (GMT 0)

Nathan,

I thought I'd answer your query about waking with migraines because that's exactly how my migraines mostly emerge even after 45 years!  Yes, that's right!  I've had migraines for 45 years.  I started when I was thirteen years old..so I guess you know how old I am now! :-)

Anyway, I have gone to so many doctors, headache clinics, neurologists, naturopaths, etc. that I think I have a pretty good handle on what causes migraines.  My neurologist says that the latest research shows that migraines are a result of a brain disorder.  eyes Of course, there are so many triggers that I don't know where to start with that. 

When sleep clinics grew popular, I also spent the night smurf at one of those to see if my sleep patterns, snoring, etc. could be the cause for my middle-of-the-night migraines. I found that I didn't have sleep apnea but the doctor told me that I go into deep REM sleep very late in the sleep cycle.  I sometimes wonder if that has anything to do with triggering migraines. 

I've never found a doctor who thinks that getting migraines in the night has any significance to the treatment of migraines.  I bring it up all the time and the doctor just shrugs. 

I've been on preventative medicines in the past (Depacote and Topamax).  Migraine preventative medicines have nasty side effects, I feel.  With Depacote I gained weight and became lethargic.  With Topamax, I lost my appetite (got skinny) but couldn't concentrate anymore. In fact, sitting down to read was impossible because I just fell asleep.

I'm now trying to get more massages (to relieve tension) and exercise daily.  That seems to help.  Also, many migraine sufferers that I know say that botox is a real asset to migraine management.

Currently, my doctor has me on copius quantities of Riboflavin (B vitamin) (400 mg).  Some migraine patients find relief after being on that quantity after 3 months.  I take Amerge if I feel a migraine coming on.  Sometimes I'll take one of those before I go to bed.  Amerge has some preventative qualities and is not just for taking during an episode.  The good thing about Amerge is that it will last for 12 hours.  However, it could take a good hour to kick in so be sure to take it right as the pain starts.

Good luck.  One thing is for sure for migraine patients: make sure you go to bed and get up at the same time, day in, day out.  Migraine patients seem to thrive on a scheduled, predictable life.

Hope this helps.

Rose

Posted 6/4/2007 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
  I have found the night time or wake up migraines to be worse.  For me it means they are more severe and harder to treat.  Probably because they have had a chance to take hold before they wake me.  I take Imitrix and use the Imitrix shots for these.  They get the medicine to me immediately and that is important.  Also I am usually nauseated or vomiting by the time they wake me so pills just come right back up.  I am 61 and female but migraines are migraines. Bless us all!
Posted 6/4/2007 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I think night time migraines are the worse. I use to take Imitrex and give myself shots in the middle of the night. But, I find that Amerge works for me better. I also agree that taking pain medication early is so very important to managing migraines.

I wanted to add that if my night migraine is out of control by the time I wake up, I'll take my meds with a full glass of water and then take a hot shower, with the water hitting the painful area. (My migraines are now in the back of my head but for years they were over my left eye). It takes a few minutes but the hot water treatment gives me relief. Sometmes it will relieve my pain long enough for the pain medication to kick in. I'm so glad I found this technique. It's been a godsend.

Hope everyone is pain free today!
Posted 6/6/2007 2:01 AM (GMT 0)

Nathan,  I have had none of the side affects others have mentioned with the Topamax confused   except maybe loss of appetite, but not extensive.  I take it at night, so I don't notice if it makes me sleepy because that's what I am there to do anyway.  I don't get tired during the day, but I usually get a full 7 or 8 hours sleep every night smurf .  I also take Vitamin B (Riboflavin) daily, but didn't notice a reduction in migraines until I added the Topamax daily.  So you can see that everybody reacts differently to different meds and methods.  You have to keep trying until you find what works for you.  That's why some doctors just shrug their shoulders.  I had to change doctors to get one to listen to me after puking my guts out with every medication he gave me that didn't work. tongue   It took almost 30 years, but I finally made it.  Hang in there.

Posted 6/6/2007 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
Do you mind my asking how long you've taken Topamax?  I, too, did so well on it in the beginning. But, its side effects became more and more of a problem the longer I was on it.  My friend who also suffers from daily migraines also has been on Topamax.  It changes one's personality by making one more bossy, for lack of a better word.  When I was on Topamax, I seemed to be mad at the world. This friend told me before I went on it that I would probably divorce my husband because of the rage I'd feel.  I didn't get that bad, but it's still something to watch for.

 I agree, though, that everyone's side effects are different for each drug. I did try to take it at night; but since Topamax lasts for a long time, the accompanying daytime weariness probably came from the drug.  Topamax is a wonderful drug but be careful. 

Posted 6/7/2007 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on Topamax for 3 years and no side effects such as you mention. My mood in fact has been just the opposite. Of course, I am normally an easy going person. Never had been moody, even going through menopause. I am 57 and post menopausal. Could it have a combination of scripts. I don't take anything else except the Vitamin B and multivitamin. Sometimes certain drugs together cause weird side effects in different people.
Posted 6/7/2007 2:21 PM (GMT 0)

So glad that Topamax is working for you.  I do think that hormones also play a big part in migraine pain and treatment.  Hopefully one day researches will find a more exact remedy for migraine treatment.  Good luck to you.

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