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Q: What kind of headaches wake you at 5 a.m?
Hi Marilyn:
There are several causes of nocturnal/morning headaches. I have one of them called "hypnic headaches" that waken you at the same time every morning (or during the night). They are also called alarm clock headaches. They are thought to occur during REM sleep (which is why they occur at the same time, roughly, each night) and can be mild, moderate or severe.
You might want to google hypnic headaches to see all the symptoms/types; also google "nocturnal headaches" and maybe look at sleep apnea and headaches. Sinus headaches may occur in the mornings also, as well as other headache types.
My hypnic headaches do not respond to the meds that I take for my hormonal migraines, but they can be prevented usually (unless I have a migraine with vomiting) with preventative medications such as potent nonsteroidal antiinflamatory drugs taken before bedtime, massive doses of caffiene, or lithium.
A migraine specialist could help figure out what type of headaches you have and hopefully help you prevent or treat them. I hope that they are not severe.
Clemmie
I wake with migraine early in the morning. Usually anytime from 1am to 3am so it's a bit different from you. But I thought I'd pass on something I learned only recently. Sleep apnea can cause waking with migraine. I had been told this, but had dismissed it even though I suspected I did have sleep apnea.
Finally, out of desperation I went off to see a sleep specialist and was tested overnight in hospital for sleep apnea and it was found that I had mild sleep apnea in my light sleep which progressed to moderate to severe in deep sleep. I had to have another overnight stay in hospital to be tested to see what level air pressure I needed for a CPAP machine and only recently did I get it. It's too early days yet to say for sure whether my migraines have improved.
Thought I'd just pass this on.
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