Waking up with tension headache/migraine

[Anonymous]

For the past few months, I have been waking in the middle of the night - and sometimes just the early morning - with a splitting headache. I have had bad headaches for the past twelve years, but I've mostly gotten them during the day. I am blowing through my headache meds because the frequency has increased from 5-8 headaches a month to 20+. I have had a TON of stress in my life over the past few months, but I am concerned about the night onset.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I had a clean MRI ten years ago, but I'm wondering if I need to go for another one.

I've tried many preventative meds and none of them has worked for me (amitryptaline, gabapentin, propanalol, effexor).

[Anonymous]

See your neurologist.

Are you perimenopausal? I’m having similar symptoms.

Stay hydrated, no booze, and try a low-dose aspirin.

Also: set your thermostat cooler at night.

Any chance you have a lingering sinus infection?

[Anonymous]

See your dentist to check if you are grinding your teeth. A night guard fixed this for me!!

[Anonymous]

Sleep apnea

[Anonymous]

It happens to me too. Clenching and grinding due to stress are a migraine trigger.

[Anonymous]

This would happen to me when I was grinding/clenching my teeth at night. I recently got one session of masseter botox and haven't had a headache yet.

[Anonymous]

Is your pillow too flat? Make sure the room is cool enough.

[Anonymous]

Oh I’m so here with you op. It’s been months for me. Yes I have a mouth guard. Yes I grind. (Mouth guard protects your teeth but does not stop grinding). Yes my pillow is super flat. I fall asleep on my back with my neck perfectly supported. I’ve had all my bloodwork done. I see a PT. I do the exercises. At this point I’m just accepting it as part of my life. It sucks. And yes, I’m 44.

[Anonymous]

See your neurologist any time you have a significant change in your headaches.

It’s not unusual to get headaches that occur overnight or upon awakening. If you’re getting them 20 times per month, you need a better preventive or combination of preventives. CGRP inhibiting drugs don’t work for everyone, but are life changing when they do. Similarly, Botox and nerve stimulation devices also make a difference for some. For me, increased cardio exercise was life changing in a way that yoga and Pilates (often recommended for headache) were not.

Hoping you soon find what works well for you.

[Anonymous]

You might also want to look at your diet at night as well. Have you recently started eating something you didn't previously? I can't drink a glass of milk or eat chocolate at night because I'll wake up with a headache. I can do both of those things without any issue earlier in the day.

[Anonymous]

In addition to grinding your teeth, make sure your pillow is supportive. Neck issues can often result in headaches that feel like migraines.

-long time migraine and neck pain sufferer

[Anonymous]

Tension headache and migraine are totally different things. Regardless, I urge you to go to a neurologist and get checked out. Sudden changes in headache patterns can mean there is something else going on that is causing them. You will want to get assessed by a doctor, not the message board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:See your neurologist.

Are you perimenopausal? I’m having similar symptoms.

Stay hydrated, no booze, and try a low-dose aspirin.

Also: set your thermostat cooler at night.

Any chance you have a lingering sinus infection?

Me too! I also need to fall asleep by midnight. If I wake up really tired, I am at risk of a headache.

[Anonymous]

When I wake with a headache, it means I was dehydrated. I have no idea if this could be your issue, but it's an easy thing to try.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the thoughtful responses!

I am going to see the neurologist this week. Was prescribed Nurtec this past summer but insurance wouldn't cover it. Maybe he can come up with something else.

I do have TMJ and a mouth guard, and I go to PT to deal with head, neck and jaw pain. Have also tried Botox for migraine. I'm just so tired of dealing with this...