I've been having these headaches for about 8 years now but they have only ever come in winter and until now were never as frequent. For the last month everytime i go to sleep, I've been waking up with this headache. For the last week, I'm not even getting to sleep as the CH comes on within minutes of lying down. While I'm lucky that I don't experience some of the more severe symptoms associated with CH's and last year, I didn't even get any but to have them come back with such regularity has really brought me down. I went to the doc who gave me a nasal spray called Imigran (contains 20mg of sumatriptan) and advised I take them as soon as i feel an attack coming on. It seems to take the edge off and quickens the CH's demise but its not killing that sucker straight away. I've been referred to a specialist but god knows when I'll see that appointment. These CH's were always manageable in the past but this winter they have been a nightmare. I'm so tired. Afraid to go to sleep and even when i take the spray and the pain dissipates, I'm already anxious and expecting its immediate return at any point. While my CH have been triggered by alcohol before, its always been a sleep issue with me. I only really get them when I put my head down. Is there any way I can pre-empt the attack? Take something before I go to bed. I can be a cranky guy at the best of times but without a decent nights sleep in month, I feel like the walking dead! Any help would be appreciated and apologies for the meandering long message.

Welcome Beast. You say the attack starts when you lie down. Two words....don't lie down. I'm not trying to be a smart mouth. I just mean don't lie down. Try sleeping in a sitting position. Or at least with your head elevated. It helps lessen the blood pressure in the vessels around your trigeminal nerve. You can also try melatonin or Benadryl a few minutes before bed. When you get to see the headache specialist, and if you are diagnosed with clusters, ask about a prednisone taper and get started on verapamil.
Please keep us updated and in between updates you have thousands of pages to read on this website. Better get started now. There might be a pop quiz soon.

Like Bob says, Melatonin to keep the beast at bay! 5-15mg before going too bed normally does the trick. It can take up to a couple of weeks before it kicks in.

Cheers Hoppy

Thanks for the advice. Will try sleeping sitting up. Not my usual sleeping position but as I'm wrecked tired, I imagine I'll be a able to pull it off. Happened again last night, took my nasal spray which needed about 15 mins to take effect. This time I managed to sleep before it hit but I reckon I was 30 mins or so out when I woke. You know sometimes the pain I can handle but its the disruption in sleep thats really getting me down. Anyhow thanks for the tips and I'll update you on my progress as I go. 

Hey Beast,

Welcome aboard...  Check your PM InBox.

Take care,
V/R, Batch

Do you use oxygen?  That, combined with the Imitrex nasal spray, helped me.  During a cluster cycle, they often come on right after I fall asleep.

29 yrs with CH and I'm where you are as I type. Next to the pain it is the most damaging part of CH for me. I've slept sitting up and it does help. Once I could fall asleep in that position. Sleeping pills don't work for me.

What I do now is every other day I take an injection of DHE. Imitrex/imagran work also to give me a night of rest. Been fighting the beast for 2 mnths now.

I never sleep on my back so I tried that last night. I was not awakened by CH while in that position. ?

We are all different so what works for me, may not for you.

God Bless Us All,
Don

Beastreturns -- Several of us here have found relief from CH via treatment for Sleep Apnea. Since your hits are coming mostly while sleeping (or attempting to sleep!) this might be worth looking into with your doc.  I've been headache-free for nearly two years since starting on a CPAP machine, which has kept my blood oxygen levels much, much higher at night.  PM me if you have any questions, but in my opinion its worth discussing.

hi Beastreturns,

As you have had some releif from the imigran, ask your doctor for the auto injections.  These are much better than the nasal spray and can see off the worst CH in 5 - 7 minutes.

Also, if you can get the pill form too, one of those before bed may help.  I find it delays the first attack of the night by about 3-4 hours. 
The attack still comes, but at least you've had a little sleep by then.
Maz