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...

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Sleep apnea

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

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?

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).