Waking up with a cloudy head

Hello, I am a 26 year old female.

I'm here for a second opinion as a last resort after trying everything I can think of hopes someone can give me an Idea of what may be causing me waking up in the mornings with a cloudy head. 

My main concern is when I become pregnant and having to deal with constant headaches with out taking drugs and while at work.

Here is all my information:

•Waking up in the morning with a cloudy head, been going on for 8 years and occurs randomly about 20 times in a month.

•Been to the doctors, they can't figure it out. Had my blood and heart tested and the results came out healthy. The doctor stated that no other further tests or scans where necessary.

•The cloudy head turns into more of a tension headache 2-3 hours after I wake up (tension/pressure band across my head and or behind my eyes or sometimes only one side of the head). 

They are usually only mild and light/sound do not bother me and I can keep working.

2 Extra strength ibuprofen only and 9 times out of 10 works to either take the edge off or completely clear my head. No other or unusual symptoms occur ever or rarely.

I only take 2 extra strength ibuprofen in one day, max over 3 days in a week, twice a month. So it can't be drug rebound.

•I made a journal for two months of my entire day. The only "triggers" seem to be the weather (Barometric pressure/heat) and stress, but no real pattern or obvious triggers. It all seemed random.

•I have no health conditions, I am quite healthy and have only really dealt with mild anxiety for most my life but over the past couple of years I have learned to over come, manage and control it never taking drugs for it.

I mainly only experience heart palpitations, 2-4 times a month and sudden racing heart and armpit sweat, mainly triggered by trivial stressful situations.

•I have a strict routine when it comes to diet, sleep and exercise.  

Sleep:
•I work early so I have a routine of going to bed at 9pm and waking up at 5am. I've tried getting less sleep to see if I was getting to much, 6-7 hours, but it did not seem to work or help.

•I originally was a side sleeper, learned to then sleep staying on my back with perfect posture with many types of pillows. I even learned to sleep sitting up on a 70* angle on a wedge pillow, with a neck, arms and legs pillows to see if what ever was not draining properly if that is even a thing.

It seemed to work but still woke up every so often with a cloudy head or even a mild tension headache.

•I even tried the natural route with listening to guided meditations before bed, yoga and lavender oil, which it all seemed to work great for a de-stressor.

•I make sure to keep away from my phone throughout the day and before bed and eliminate any stressors throughout the day. 

•I don't eat or drink anything but sips of water 4 hours before bed.

Diet:
• I eat very healthy, I only drink water, about 3 letters a day. I mainly eat vegetables, fruit, chicken/fish and more. 

I don't eat, (placebo effect or not it's been working for two years) beef/pork, (inflammation) wheat/milk, potatoes, rice (bloating, constipation/ diahreah, sugar conversion), junk food, anything high in sugar or salt. 

Such a strict diet mainly for my menstral cycle/hormones, any thing that converts to sugar or high in salt seems to make my period extreamly achey and strong cramps, now I hardly get any symptoms. Also, I don't like most of those foods anyways.

•I eat breakfast no later than 1 hour after I wake up, I eat the same thing everyday. 2 scrambled eggs cooked in 1 tsp coconut oil, with 1 avocado with a side of homemade oatmeal with unsweetened almond milk.

•I eat smaller meals throughout the day about every 2-4 hours.

•I have never, and do not consume alcohol, caffeine nor do I smoke.

Exercise:
•I work 8 hours a day 5 days a week, constantly on my feet walking around, of an average of 12,000 steps a day. On my days off I go for 30min-1hr power walks.

•I practice yoga 4 times a week.

Remedies I use to cope with the symptoms:
•Microwavable heat pad I place on my forehead and take a 45min- 2 hour nap. (A nap 7 out 10 times works to relieve my tention headaches.)
•Epsom salt baths.
•Peppermint essential oil on both sides of my temples.
•Fruit smoothie to get a "brain freeze" to relieve head tension. 
•Self massage and neck/shoulder rolls, massage tools for my back.
•Breathing techniques.
•I've tried all sorts of vitamins and supplements.

Conclusion:
•Just one month ago I got my eyes tested for the first time and got a basic prescription to wear all the time. The glasses seem to be working and it seems I can get rid of headaches quicker and my eyes don't get as tired with tension so far.

•The only thing I can think of that is causing the cloudy head in the mornings is if I have im having an odd sleep and my shoulders and or neck is not in a good position that may be causing it.

•I tell my husband to move me if my arms are up or I'm in a weird position. I don't grind my teeth. I sleep with a fan on and the window and door open for fresh air flow during my entire sleep.

Thank you greatly for your time and help.

Post Edited (SomeOne247) : 8/11/2017 8:47:34 PM (GMT-6)

Vee721 said...
There is nothing more frustrating than doing everything right - and still having health issues. You totally have my sympathy.

Since the eyeglasses seem to have made a difference, it's possible that you have been squinting for years, trying to see better. Squinting can cause compression of the supraorbital nerve (between the eyes) and the trigeminal nerve (on the side of the face) So, continue to use the glasses, but try to consciously work on not squinting or making really big facial moves when you talk or laugh and see if that helps at all. Look in the mirror - at 26, you shouldn't have any wrinkles at all between your eyes or at the corners - if you do, it's a sign you have been squinting all along.

Also, you may not grind your teeth, but if you tend to have anxiety, you may be clenching your jaw at night. I learned the hard way that clenching does not damage the teeth (so it leaves no visible signs), but can damage the trigeminal nerve (again, by compressing it) After a lifetime of this, I was waking up with severe migraines, and had to get a device that literally wakes me up if I am clenching. Since you're young, you're not at that point if it is clenching, so try using self-suggestions to relax your jaw muscles when you sleep and see if that helps.

Good luck!

I would of never thought of that! Now I'm noticing I'm tensing the muscles under my ears and cheek bones withougbt thinking of it during the day. I'm trying now to relax those muscles.

Thank you.