Headache same time every night
 

Hi I am new here,

Has anyone ever heard of having a headache every night that comes on at the same time between 8:30pm - 9pm and usually subsides in the morning? I have been diagnosed with a small aneurysm and pituitary tumor but doctors say neither is what's causing the headache. Thought someone here may have some ideas.

Thanks,
Crwstar

Do you eat at a regular time? And if so, how many hours after you eat does the headache occur? They could be related to each other. Maybe something you're eating doesn't agree with you?

Thanks
 

Hi StuffedHead,

That's a good suggestion to check out, I usually eat between 5:30 and 7pm. . If nothing else I should consider any additives that's put in food. Unfortunatly the headaches have for the past two weeks been day and night...I'd have to do a pretty hard core cleanse to figure out the food thing which is not outside the realm of possibility. Thanks again.

Crwstar:)

Is it occuring every day?
I'd suggest changing your routine to see if you can find a trigger. so stop doing your usual routine between say 8 and 9, and do something quite different. Could be a posture thing.
Could also be a tension headache. I used to get these on weekends after working the week. Seems that you keep going during the week as you just have to and the body puts up with the stress, but when the first chance to relax comes along-the weekend-the body tells you it is in trouble and you need to stop. A whopping great headache is apparently the way it does that.

Hi there Peter B,

Thanks for your reply - Yeah, it happens every night although for the past two weeks or so its been day and night. You'd be surprise at what I've done to see what the trigger was. Rather than hanging out in the room upstairs I stayed in the living room. For a while I had class til 9:45 at night and still like clock work there it was. I checked for environmental triggers, slept in a different part of the house, changed my diet, stopped all supplements etc, etc. Here's the kicker, I'm not working right now so my stress level has gone down considerably....Hopefully, I will get some answers when I go see the new neurologist and eye doctor.

Have you or anyone else ever heard of migraines coming on at the same time every night or day???

Can you describe the pain? I have cluster headaches usually at the same time but it hits me after I have been asleep for 2 hours. Midnight is the golden hour for me.

I wonder about MOH
 

MOH= medication overuse headache.

I attended a huge medical seminar on this subject a year ago. It was amazing.

http://headaches.about.com/od/allhea...overuse_ha.htm

http://headaches.about.com/od/education/a/moh_quiz.htm

http://www.neurologyreviews.com/jan0...edoveruse.html

Hi queen178,


The headaches are a constant ache that is usually localized to the right side of my head. Just about any exertion not only increases the pain but completely exhausts me. I often have thunderclap episodes and sharp shooting pain. It extends into my right eye and as of late I have increased blurry vision. I actually just found out my grandfather was diagnosed in 1995 with a tumor and aneurysm. He decided not to have anything done to either and later passed away from complications. That was a sad time for us.

I was wondering if it could be some sort of migraine. At this point I'll take just about any answer that gets me back to my old self :cool:

Hi Mrsd,

Thanks for the input - thankfully, I don't really take anything for the headaches. The medication that I was prescribed was either bad for my heart or completely knocked me out. Both medications did nothing for the headache so I stopped taking them. I'm grateful I'm not a big one for taking medication unless its absolutley necessary.

You know I even stopped all vitamin supplements early on for quite a while to see if they were contributing to the headaches. I'm baffeled but as I read more and more i can see that the medical community is baffled as well with many illnessess that come their way.

Any other ideas send em my way:)

I didn't read Mrs. D's links yet...but do plan on doing so. I do know that for myself and many others that rebound headaches can be a factor AND IMHO, folks who are prone to headaches seem to be prone to rebound ones! It's all kinda crazy in a way. I have found that getting on the preventative Topamax (FDA approved for migraine prevention) helpful in preventing migraine and other types of headaches. However, this medication is frustrating and I only think it is a good idea to take when the problem is severe interferring with daily living. Other things that I have found to help would include careful attention to all the potential headache triggers out there...and food might be the number one culprit. There are some foods that might surprise you that trigger headaches. For example, bananas are a big problem for me...but do not bother other people. If you are exposing yourself to one or two triggers, it could be causing this problem. There are other possibilities...less likely...like a heart condition called a PFO that only a doctor can determine might be a possibility. It often takes a multi-discpline approach to put a dent in the frustrating problem of headaches. If you are not seeing a specialist (probably a neurologist) who has an interest in headache/migraine treatment, I would consider making an appointment.

Hi Crwstar, I Googled "headache every day same time" and read a few replies. Seems like this is a common complaint, and in the ones that I read they call it a cluster headache.
Maybe a brain problem-the hypothalamus was singled out. The regularity may be because of your body clock.
Couldn't find any answers, though, unfortunately.

I noticed that you said you stopped all vitamin supplements to see if they were causing a problem. You might want to consider putting back: CoQ10, B50, Calcium and Magnesium. All of these are said to help with migraine. IMHO, it would be doubtful that these things would be problematic and they also would have other significant benefits.
Other supplements that are good possibilities include: Butterbur and Feverfew.
IMHO, it often takes a multi discipline a approach to make headway into this often difficult problem.

some people
 

are very sensitive to polyphenols in food.

Some common ones:
Tea
Green Tea
red wine
chocolate

I find myself (and I don't get headaches much) very sensitive
to tea and green tea in hot weather. Every summer I have to
stop consuming them. In winter I don't have the same effect.
(I get a neck ache on one side only)--not really a headache.

I cannot tolerate red wine though anytime, or the red wine
capsules.

Medication overuse headache can be triggered with simple aspirin or Tylenol as well.

Thanks Peter B
 

Thank you Peter B - queen178 mentioned cluster headaches as a possiblity as well. Hearing that the hypothalmus was singled out points me in a good direction. I will do more reading on those types of headaches.

Hi - Vowel Lady -

I was thinking about doing a headache journal this should help me isolate triggers whether its food or any otc meds I may take, yes? I'm wondering if this is the most effective way of finding out what the triggers are or do people usually go to an allergy doctor?? I'm curious, when it comes to headaches what doctors would be a part of the multidisciplined approach?

You are right in this day you must take vitamins and minerals, I have since returned to taking my vitamins, it will be 7 months on the 11th that I've been with a headache. I'll have to take a look at some of the other supplements you mentioned I haven't heard of them besides the B50 and calcium/magnesium.

Hi Mrsd -

I did some reading about what you are saying - You know there was a time when I took exederin at least 3x a week - this was a while ago. Thank you for sticking with this as it has jogged my memory a bit. Is it possible that its a delayed response to over use? This was more than a year and a half ago.

Thank you for your reponses!! its appreciated

re: Excedrin...
 

Excedrin contains CAFFEINE... and I think that this ingredient is the active one for it, which accounts for its popularity.

Caffeine itself is implicated in headache, because it causes a mild addiction, and rebound. When the caffeine wears off, from what you consumed during the day (and it doesn't take much--since I get this effect from one tea in the morning during the summers) it rebounds at night.

It just became very HOT here the past few days...and bingo,
there was my tea headache/neck thing. It would wake me up sleeping...throbbing away. So yesterday it was the beginning of no-tea, and I didn't get the pain in my neck!

People can be very different from each other.

I think the journal idea is excellent... you may learn alot.
If you have a blood pressure cuff, do that too. It is always revealing to log blood pressures!

Crwstar:
You make a good point. I have lucked out because my neurologist has headaches and is therefore more than willing to examine all the discplines when it comes to headaches. Ideally, you might start with a neurologist-specialist who is open to working with other discplines. Some doctors might not be overly cooperative, but they might not be close minded either. You could also go to a nutritionist or a hollistic doctor at the same time. I really like the idea of keeping a food journal. There are books at the libary that explain how to do it and there are even books specific to foods and headache. BTW...nothing says that you can't work closely with your doctor and on your own, and carefuly observation and record...figure out your likely food triggers. I recall one time I complained to my doctor that I couldn't chew gum w/o getting a h/a. His response "don't chew gum anymore!." I thought it made sense and it was funny too!

Also...IMHO...you can probably get away with taking an Exedrine as an emergency measure once in a blue moon. That means perhaps 2 times a YEAR. Everyone is different...but it has to be clearly and obviously the great exception.

Mrs. D: LOL! I am reading your post while suffering from a h/a as the result of the Green Tea I drank last night. I knew in my heart it was a possibility...but it was soooo yummy and I read that it might have thermogenic properties. So....I took that chance. WRONG MOVE. Perhaps, like you mentioned, the warm weather combined makes it even worse. And no doubt, the stress I have already had this morning was yet another trigger. I think that makes sense. I am a big believer in multiple triggers often being what really does us in....

There are
 

decaffeinated green teas. I use Salada in the bags.

Green tea is hard on me because of the double whammy...
polyphenols + caffeine.

I don't know what my neck thing is... it is not really a headache.
Although sometimes I get a throb in the night there that wakes me up.
As soon as I sit up it goes away. Right now with 90+ temps,
it is a pain in the neck! :yahoo:

Thanks
 

Hopefully, I will be blessed with a neurologist that is very interested in helping me. I go in early July. I'm not sure who the doc will be as I got a referral to a teaching hospital and they will have me see who ever...not sure how that works. I did call and try to ask for someone specific but it was a no go. I've got my fingers crossed though, so far with my other appts they have been quite thorough.

I'm on with my headache journal - we'll see what turns up with all the potential triggers whether food or otc meds. Lol, Vowel lady, I can relate to the gum chewing - its not a trigger for me but sure can add to my headaches...do you think I throw it away immediately, nooo. I think I'll have to stop that.

Blood pressure cuff is an excellent idea as well. Lately, its been a tad bit higher so for sure something I'd want to pay attention to.

:highfive: Thanks for all your help!! :D

I'll post after I see the doctors - I'll be seeing a neurologist and ophthalmologist in early July.

Possible headache help
 

Have u tried Excedrin Tension Headache? Contains 65 mg of caffeine and 225 mg of Tylenol. Only thing that works for me. May have to choose btwn sleeping and being pain free due to caffeine. Good luck.

Headache help
 

mrsD -
Did you ever find out what your condition is? I was googling "headache all night every night" and saw your post for years ago. I also get right temple headaches every night starting at 9 p.m. that last until I stand up in the morning. They are accompanied simultaneously at night by a throbbing front shoulder pain that is now allowing me to sleep. Occasionally during the day I get mostly the shoulder pain with a bit of nystagmus happening as well...the headaches do not happen so much during the day. When it first presented, it started with the headaches, then the shoulder pain came along. I've been trying figure out what this is since January...six months. I've been to the neuro who had me on Gabapentin with no relief. After a couple of other meds, I'm currently on Cymbalta (60 mg/day) and Tramadol (50 mg x 2 or 3 at night only). This doesn't seem to help anymore. I simply cannot sleep. I've fallen into a routine of taking Tramadol at bedtime, and then when I invariably wake up at 1 a.m. or 2, I take 2 Benadryl, another Tramadol and try to get another hour or two. It's just miserable. I dread bedtime. I've got a prescription for Ambien, but am too afraid to use it too much. Every three days or so, I'll take it and get 5 hours in a row.
I saw your post and it seemed as though you had some similar symptoms. I'm desperate! I do have MS, so I think the neuro thinks that's what it is. I'm thinking it might be Lyme's. I have a lumbar puncture scheduled for Monday with IV antibiotics for a month.
I've tried accupuncture, chiropractic and am currently doing PT. The PT may be helping a little, but the "no-sleep" situation is what's doing me in.

Did you have resolution of your headaches and shoulder pain? I'm worried that taking Tramadol every night is giving me rebound symptoms...but wouldn't I get some symptoms during the day? I only take it at night and usually tough it out during the day if I get the shoulder pain...it's usually not that severe during the day. Last night I couldn't take it and took two extra-strength Tylenol at 2 a.m. and both the headache and shoulder pain went away. I don't take the Tylenol very often for fear of rebound pain, but find it odd that Tylenol helped and two Tramadol didn't.

Any insights are very much appreciated...so sorry for the length of this post.

Yes, over time, it has improved.

Mine appears to be arthritis plus some muscle spasms.

I use a lotion on my neck there, called Morton Epsom lotion, and
this relaxes the spasming muscles. For really bad times which are not everyday, I have Flexeril.

I had shingles in my upper neck and down my right arm, and I find taking a gram or 2 of lysine also helpful, so I guess there is a viral trigger in there as well. (Herpes Zoster).

I don't have everyday pain, and I consider myself lucky.

Tramadol has to be activated to its active metabolite to work. This can take up to 2 hrs from when you take it.
Also some people don't have the enzyme that does this, so for them Tramadol apparently doesn't work at all.

So the delay in onset gives the impression of not working, and then you take Tylenol on top of it, and that works, so when the Tramadol kicks in, it is concealed by the Tylenol.