Briefly - in the middle of a year-long very strange cycle.   For most of the time Verapamil has kept the beast at bay, but about two months ago he broke through and I got hammered pretty bad for about two weeks.  Doc put me on prednisone which knocked things back well enough.  Came off the pred about ten days ago and for most of the time since then I am having only light hits, one or two a night, just enough to wake me up.  I get up, move around, stay up for a bit and then back to bed.

Oddly, starting 3 nights ago I began waking up at my "usual" times (90 minute intervals) but with no pain.  Is it possible that my brain/body is waking me up before the hit arrives, and thereby interrupting the normal course of the headache?  I know, sounds crazy, but this one crazy malady we share.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?  The optimist in me has decided that I am working my way out of this cycle, but  this is an odd pattern for sure.

The 90 minute is where the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) takes over in your sleep. Melatonin will stop this (but sometimes takes a few days - or weeks to begin working).

I did this for a long time (but usually to a HA), but after starting the melatonin I quit and got the night sleep I needed.

But you're doing the right thing by getting UP when you wake up. Laying there always brought on a HA for me.

You might want to check out the Vit D3 regimen.. esp. if you've been going on for a year. It stopped my cycle (which had been going on since July of 97) and I haven't been hit since Oct 21st of last year.

These things are totally crazy. The pred may have slowed things down, but it usually doesn't stop a cycle. Just stops it for a little while.

Go for the Vit D3... it's helped so many of us and is gaining popularity on this site daily.

Keep us informed. We're here for ya.. :-*

Thanks Barbara.  Will give Melatonin a try, that sounds reasonable.  Have tried D3 and it doesn't seem to work for me.

About the D3... Did you do the REGIMEN?  With the other vitamins.. see Batch's post on all of it. Just a thought..

Hope the melatonin works for you. It sure nuff does for me.  :-*