Waking up with tension headache/migraine

[Anonymous]

I was waking up with headaches a lot, for over a year.

Turned out to be sleep apnea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was waking up with headaches a lot, for over a year.

Turned out to be sleep apnea.

What was the fix?

[Anonymous]

See a headache specialist neurologist, not a regular one. There are multiple new medications but most insurance want you to try several older/cheaper medications first which is probably why you were denied.

[Anonymous]

If you haven’t tried several triptans, insurance won’t approve nurtec.

However, with all of your tmj and jaw/neck issues, I am leaning toward the possibility that this is a flare up of these issues in your sleep and would urge you to figure out if these are actually tension headaches or migraines, because if they’re tension headaches, Nurtec wouldn’t help at all anyway. It only works on migraines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was waking up with headaches a lot, for over a year.

Turned out to be sleep apnea.

What was the fix?

Not the PP, but typically it's either lose weight (if applicable), get a mouthpiece to adjust your jaw position, or use a CPAP machine (not easy). The are other options, but those are the typical suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Do you check your blood pressure when you have a headache? It is often highest in the morning. My mother gets headaches when her BP is elevated.

[Anonymous]

I have had severe bouts of these in the past. My neurologist calls them alarm clock headaches. I’m on a daily preventative, get injections, and have a triptan for when I feel a migraine coming on during the day. He recommended a small amount of caffeine before bed (I think it was 8oz). A few nights of that finally broke the cycle for me.

He gave me that recommendation several years ago and I’ve had to repeat the recommendation 3 or 4 times since.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was waking up with headaches a lot, for over a year.

Turned out to be sleep apnea.

What was the fix?

PP here. CPAP. I'm still getting used to it, but I feel so much better. Almost like a different person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was waking up with headaches a lot, for over a year.

Turned out to be sleep apnea.

Can you describe what the headache felt like? How lomg did it take to go away after you woke up in the AM? Did you have to take any meds for the headache? Did you decide to do the CPAp machine?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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...

I don’t know your insurance situation, but I am aware that you have to “fail” several treatments before more expensive meds, like Botox and CGRP inhibitors will get approved. With your medication history of trying three different preventives, you should be eligible, especially given the number of headache days per month you experience. Ask for peer-to-peer review.

[Anonymous]

I’m a pp with similar problems. Can anyone recommend a Botox provider? How much did you pay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a pp with similar problems. Can anyone recommend a Botox provider? How much did you pay?

The Neurology Center has providers who do Botox, but most large neurology practices do. What you pay depends on insurance. The retail cost of 200 units of the drug is $1200. Injecting it is another $300-$400. If you have a flat specialist copay, that caps your costs. I used to have to pay all of the costs during my deductible period and 20% thereafter. Allergan has a refund program where you can get up to $200 back per injection series (4x/yr) if you submit your receipts on their website and waive HIPAA protections around your Botox for migraine.