Migraine

Hi,

I've been suffering from migraines for about 7 years. I used to get them 5 or 6 days a week. I've tried all sorts of medications, and am currently taking amitriptyline and they have backed off quite a bit. Recently I've been waking up in the middle of the night with a horrible migraine, throwing up, then going back to sleep. When I wake up in the morning I feel fine. This has been happening once every 1-2 weeks for the past couple of months. I'm just wondering if this has happened to anyone else, or if they have any ideas about what's going on here.

I really appreciate any thoughts anyone has.
Thanks.
Meg.

First of all, welcome to the forum. We're glad you found us.

When I wake up with a migraine, it's generally at an hour when I would consider getting up--although I'm a very early riser in general. It's rare for me to wake up with a migraine, but the ones I wake up with are the really bad ones. I think that's partly because the migraine is full-blown before I have the chance to take any medication.

Everyone's experience is so individual with migraines. Is your doctor aware of this pattern? If not, call and let him/her know. There may be something he/she can do to improve your quality of life.

Welcome again.

Hi Meg, and welcome to our forum family!

Have you tried keeping a migraine diary? This may help you to discern a pattern in these middle-of-the-night migraine attacks. We have a great diary on this website, which you can access HERE.

We also have a great article on the phases of migraine, if you haven't seen it before: Anatomy of a Migraine.

Have you been able to identify any of your migraine triggers? We have an extensive library of articles about migraine triggers, which you can access HERE.

While I'm at it, I'll link you to our article about the different types of medications used to treat migraines: Preventive, Abortive and Rescue Medications - What's the Difference?

Hope I haven't completely overwhelmed you with information! Take a look around this site and let us know how we can help you. Welcome again!

I get some nasty midnight migraines, but most of my migraines are at night or in the morning. Just once in a while it kicks it up while I am sleeping and gets to the point of acute pain to wake me up. Sometimes I have some crazy dreams, often involing something painful, as I wake up. Anyway for me it is lack of sleep, ironically, that causes these... rather annoying that just when I manage to get to sleep something like that jars me awake. Sometimes I don't get back to sleep and sometimes I have to get up and take an abortive to do so.

Welcome MegK

My migraines are 98% at night. I usually wake up around 3:00-3:30 with a migraine. Mine are also sleep, or lack thereof, related. Also, if a front is moving in, that will trigger it a hours in advance. Normally, when I'm lying down.

I use Zomig NS for my first abortive because it acts so quickly!

I bought a wedge pillow but I'm 5'2" so it is to high for me. My next goal will be to buy a smaller version. My specialist said that for my particular migraines, sleeping elevated will help a lot. I've seen improvement already.

I agree with Nut, you need to let your doctor know what is going on especially since your patterns have changed.

Please keep us posted, k? Again, welcome, I look forward to seeing you around the forum. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Welcome to MyMigraineConnection.

Are you waking up at the same time with a Migraine/headache? There is a headache called Hypnic headache that wakes one up from a sound sleep, occurs more than 15 times per month, can have nausea and pain is usually bilateral. Caffeine has been reported to be effective in several cases. Does this sound like you? If so, mention it to your doctor.....

We look forward to hearing more from you.

Hi Everyone,

Thanks so much for all your replies...I'll try and answer all your questions!

MaxJerz - I've been to multiple neurologists and they've all had me keep both migraine and food diaries. There seems to be no pattern to my migraines, just that they happen alot! As for triggers, the only ones I've found are strong smells and barometric pressure changes. Everything else we have ruled out. And as for the medications, normal ones like Tylenol, Ibuprofen and Excedrin don't have any affect on me. Neither do abortive medications, I've tried pretty much all of them. I'm currently taking amitriptyline and it has been working for over a year, just not on these ones that happen at night.

LauraHOST - These 'night attacks' also happen for me around 3-4am and they wake me out of a deep sleep with pain. I'm definitely planning on telling my doctor, it's just hard to find time (I'm away at university), though this seems slightly serious.

Nancy Bonk - Yes, it's pretty much the same time every time it happens. I'll definitely look into this Hypnic headache, though it doesn't happen more than 15 times a month, so I'm not sure what to think.

I really appreciate all of your ideas and help. I'm going to make an appointment with my doctor the next time I'm home. And I will keep you all updated.

Thanks again,
Meg

(wow I just realized how long this ended up!)

Thanks for clarifying for us, Meg. Do keep us posted and let us know if you have any other questions.

Oh, but that's a short post, Meg. Really. You should've seen some of my early posts on the old forum. Many of them got so long the forum software "truncated" them. Saga would probably be the right word.

Hi Megk!

I understand you are at school, is your Spring Break coming up so you can see your doctor soon?

I hope you're doing well, please keep us posted k?