Beasty interrupted my sleep tonight. Even incorporated into my dream first, the sly jerk. Dreaming about CH, that I had already taken imitrex and was waiting for it to work. Then I open my eyes and it is 4:40am and I am in pain. I jump up and get the sumatriptan. Being labor day weekend I am waiting to see a doctor before getting my O2.

Any other suggestions on fighting the sleeper CH since imitrex takes so long since it is past the onset until I can get the oxygen?  :o

Are you taking Imitrex injections, nasal sprays or pills?  Pills often don't work fast enough for us, nasal sprays are better, injections are best of the 3 trex options.  There is a "Imitrex Tip" thread you may want to read where one can divide the 6mg injection into 3 doses.

Have you tried RedBull or another energy drink containing Taurine/Caffeine?  Read and learn as much as you can.

Sorry to read you woke up to the beast, but this is common.

Ice packs, a bag of froen pease, cold wet washcloth all are options that many have reported helpful reducing the pain level when applied to the painful areas of your head/neck/eye/etc.

A shower, cold, hot, to each his (her) own.

Sit in your car with the AC fan on full blast and try to breathe in deep and exhale deep, hyperventilating close to the cold AC fan after chugging (fast drinking) an energy drink might help.

Keep us posted what seems to help and make sure to log a headache diary for your doctor appt; including times, duration of attack, what provided relief if applicable, diet, possible triggers, exercise, sleep, barometric pressure, etc.

However, we also need Transitional meds such as a corticosteroid like Prednisone used as a taper while your body builds up to your Preventative med such as Verapamil.

O2 is best for the abort!

PF wishes to you Trizzy

I do know what you mean, i always get interrupt by the beast at night or morning...
I tryed to take sleeping pills but no use, so i stopped, so i tryed making hot compresses before i go to sleep, i don't know yet if it makes me sleep longer...  :-/

About an hour or so before you go to sleep try Melatonin (read on this board for suggested dosages) which has helped many avoid the night time attacks that are common during REM sleep when the beast wakes you about 60--90 minutes after you fall asleep.

If you try the melatonin, you'll have to start out at a much higher dosage than what is recommended on the bottle. I'd start at 9mg right before bed if it were me. Be prepared to adjust the dosage upward if you're not skipping the nighttime hits. Also be prepared wait a few days before seeing any results.

I do the same thing in cycle. Dream an attack is starting, dream I'm huffing the oxygen to abort, by the time I wake up from the nightmare beasty can really have a strong foothold. :'(

Start with 9 mg. of melatonin about 30 minutes before bedtime. Some have had better success combining extended release melatonin, with standard release melatonin, to get them thru the whole night. Say 5 mg of extended, 5 mg of standard. Be patient it takes a couple of days for some people to see any results.

Joe

Thanks for the info!! I will check out melatonin and ask the doc.

Hi Trizzy,
When you shop Melatonin look for this on the label....

N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine

This is the best type so i've read from those w/ success