Waking up with a headache
 

Hello!

The past 2 mornings, I have woken up with a headache. I am taking care to drink a lot of water during the day now because I know I was dehydrated 2 days ago. I know I am not dehydrated.

I am taking a lot of vitamins and supplements and have for years. So far, aceteminophin or advil seems to work to take care of it. I am also trying to limit light and screens.

Anyone else out there with headache issues? What helps?

Thanks

I've had a pretty consistent headache for a few weeks now... After all the insurance tests I find I'm at about the same level I was in October of last year... I don't have any magic bullets except rest... for me even advil is not really helping lately.

I frequently wake up with a headache. These are diagnosed migraines. The pattern is recognized, as the timing of migraines is a stress-recovery phenomenon- the headache generally occurs as the body is recovering from exertion. Which is pretty insidious, since it's hard to know that you're triggering a migraine until it's too late.

I don't know if your headaches are migraines. If they are, there are prophylactic approaches to preventing them, which may or may not work for you (they didn't for me). Best of luck.

A morning head ache could be from poor breathing while sleeping. It can also be from neck inflammation from laying with your neck/head in the same poor position for too long. Try icing your neck when you wake up to see if it helps. Use the Advil rather than acetaminophen. The latter is rough on the injured brain.

Thank you so much!
 

Thank you Mark for your advice. I will try this. I think you are right about the neck and I can ice it in the AM. This message board is such a blessing with all that people offer in advice and knowledge. You would think the neurologist I saw would say that use Advil instead of Tylenol -- but she said nothing. Anyhow, I also used your list of vitamins and supplements to check against what I am using and it was so helpful. My best to you.

JJ

I just saw my neurologist yesterday. He recommended Migralief, a combination of magnesium and B2. Has anyone tried it? Maybe it will help others.

It's 6 years since my mild TBI. I've made lots of strides, but still deal with many residual effects of my injury. Extreme fatigue gets in the way of a busy schedule. I'm retired on disability.

It's been more than a year since I've been on the board. I plain forgot! I've got memory problems, too, but thanks to the birthday e-mail I got from Psych Central, it reminded me to come back and pay a visit!

My husband took an herb. Ahh I forget what it's called. I will re post when it comes to me. He refused medication so the neurologist suggested this. It helped! It broke the cycle of the 2 am migraines. Sorry your going through this.

Poetrymom,

For the first 3 months of my PCS I had headaches when I woke up and they stayed with me until I went to sleep at 2 or 3am in the morning. I couldn't get to sleep because of the headache.

Once my headaches were treated as migraines with Imigran they reduced, and since I have been taking Cymbalta I only get mild headaches and no longer need Imigran. Good luck, and I hope you find a solution to your headaches.

Thanks everyone!
 

All this info is so, so valuable. No headache today and cautiously feeling better -- closer to normal. Wish I could channel the feeling to everyone. TY again

Poetrymom

I am Sorry
 

I am sorry you are having these headaches.But you have not made it past 3month mark.I had headaches from the initial hit never went away for awhile.You need to be gentle on yourself and the concussion is going to have to run it's course.Remember that recovery is not a sprint it is a marathon. I hope you get a some relief.

Was it Feverfew or Butterbur?

Ahhh it came to me! The herbal supplement for migraines was Butterbur. Worth a try. Maybe check some reviews on it. I'm glad you are feeling better.

My headaches have changed over the course of the last 9 months. They were bad at first, then eased off. The last month or so I am getting more migraines, some without knowing it. I will wake up and feel "off" and 4 hours later I will come out if the fog. It's repeating itself 1-2 times a week. It's sort of worrying me.

another idea
 

Two things helped me with morning headaches. As Mark talked about, it turns out my concussion triggered sleep apnea-I didn't find this out until I took a sleep test 1 1/2 years into PCS. Also, my jaw was out of alignment from my accident. I wear an orthodontic device at night, like a bite guard but it is also realigning my jaw. Since the accident I have been diagnosed with TMJ. I'm on vacation this week and forgot my mouth guard and can really feel the difference. Every morning my head aches!

I have had headaches for a few weeks now. Its unusual for me to have them every day but a virus has gone through my family lately and it may be that. I started the vitamin regimen about 3.5 weeks ago, so I'm not sure if that could be causing the headaches. For now I'm leaning towards the virus explanation. The usual pain killers have little or no affect.