Pounding headache at night Options

[linkaloo]

A couple months ago, I began to wake up in the night with a pounding, throbbing headache.  If I turned over on my other side, I could usually get it to subside.  I told my doctor about it, he said it's probably sinus headaches.  Anyone else have these?  Wonder if it might be hormone related also?

[Patricia]

Linkaloo....I never had headaches until recently - usually before my periods - and they last for about 2 days - most often they just go away...but just another meno - mistery I would say Take Care sis:) - PS I also keep a diary of the symptoms - for anyone to read up on....Ha Ha....

[MaryO]

I've had these, Link, but I never told my doctor about them - I just try to find that magic spot to lie in

I was wondering, since this started fairly recently, if it could be related to the stresses of your daughter's upcoming wedding somehow.

Just a thought

[Sophie]

I am 53 and still having periods, although very irregular. I too get headaches which feel kind of like a sinus problem, but they aren't tied to an infection. I guess it could be allergies, but they come and leave so suddenly I tend to think hormones might be involved. I also sometimes feel a heaviness when standing and a burning feeling in my bladder. It goes away with no treatment though. Anyone else experience this?

[organ]

I awake many mornings with excrutiating headaches on one side of my head, or sometimes around the back like an arch.  I have linked these headaches to eating chocolate or cheese or food in general late at night before I go to bed.  If I eat something sweet I know I'm going to wake up with a humdinger of a headache in the morning.  Sometimes I get them with a period and sometimes I get them for no reason.  They can make me ill for several hours - sometimes wiping out a whole day.  However, I don't dismiss the fact that I am peri menopausal at least and this may. Apparenty there have been some recent studies that headache pills may actually be contributing to headaches.  

[Monkey]

My uneducated guess (and over 30 years with migraines) is that these are migraines, or some form of them.  It's a classic migraine symptom to awaken in the middle of the night or early morning with a full blown headache.  Contrary to the classic description of migraines, mine often feel very like sinus headaches, yet they have been diagnosed as migraines.... you might consider trying the migrain abortive medications such as Imitrex, and see if that is effective.

[SylvryMoon]

Ugh - headaches!  I had migraines when I was in my 20's and on the pill.  Then, blessedly, they went away after I stopped taking the pill, and haven't returned.  However, I do get headaches occassionally -- yesterday I had a doozy, despite taking about a zillion tylenols all day.  Today - poof!  Gone!  Probably hormonally related, and it's being added onto my list of symptoms I'm taking to my gyn tomorrow morning.

Sophie, I also used to have the heavy, burning feeling in the bladder - even when after I'd just urinated.  But I haven't had it in over a year now -- I don't know why it just disappeared.  But the thing that worked the most for me was drinking lots of water, and urinating as often as I needed to.  I keep water on my desk at work, water here at the computer at home, water water everywhere.  If nothing else, it cleanses the system and keeps the bladder active.  Try more water and see if that helps!

[Babylon]

I also get really awful headaches that wake me up and make me nauseated, and I never had headaches in my life before. Mine are accompanied by night sweats often, and Motrin helps somewhat. I also get mini-ocular migraines now that I never used to have; flashing lights & loss of peripheral vision, that last about an hour.

I do find that sugar sets these off. I have a terribly sweet tooth, but eating a pint of icecream right before going to bed is no longer the harmless activity it used to be! I'm planning (& putting off) going completely without sugar for several weeks, just to see how it affects various symptoms.

Carina

[TerryT]

Babylon, I'm with you. I've had the most wretched migraine week, and I think it may have had something to do with the grocery store in my neighborhood that was going out of business and, immediately prior to turning off its cooler for the last time, unloading orphaned pints of Haagan-Dazs ice cream at 50 cents a pop. My subsequent consumption of uncounted numbers of those pints also proved not to be a harmless activity, I think. The Devil himself could not devise a better punishment. However, I vow, here and now to throw sugar out the window. Anything is better than menopausal ice cream migraine.

[Crow]

Like Monkey, (I can't type that name without giggling) I too have had migraines for many years, 31 to be exact. They started when I was 15, just before my periods started.  (Yes, I was a late bloomer.)  I have treated with a neurologist for the past 4 years, and have recently moved on to a pain management clinic.  The nighttime headaches are a classic migraine symptom, as is waking up with a headache, which I did about 20 minutes ago!  Sophie, migraines are usually located in and/or around one eye, and are often "dismissed" as sinus headaches.  It's very important to learn your "triggers" like  Linda has done.  Cheese and chocolate are classic triggers.  Carina, those flashing lights are classic symptoms too.  Imitrex, Zomig, or Amerge would be of great benefit for you.  For me, the nasal spray Migranal eliminates the flashing lights and loss of vision in no less than 5 minutes!  It's a miracle.  Since starting my mennopause journey about 3 years ago, I have had headache pain nearly everyday.  Last week I had 8 Botox injections in my head.  It is a weak form of botulism which paralyzes the muscles in the head, hopefully reducing the frequency and/or severity of headaches.  So far, no results.  But, I am hopeful.  The injections last for 3 months.  Botox is used by many plastic surgeons to eliminate forehead wrinkles.  So at least I have a young looking forehead.  The rest of me looks like "you know what," but my forehead is gorgeous!  Ha!  Whether or not your headaches are related to or exacerbated by menopause, please ladies, do not hesitate to see a neurologist for help.  They are headache experts.  And there are a multitude of medications and other aids that can help reduce your headaches while you are going through "the change." One of the most efective for me is a good old fashioned ice bag!  Anyway, there is no need to suffer with headache pain.  If you experience nausea and/or vomiting with your headaches, that is another classic migraine symptom. Bonine, an over-the-counter remedy for motion sickness does wonders for the nausea and does not cause drowsiness, like Dramamine.  There is much truth to the theory of "rebound" headaches caused by taking too much headache medication.  Rebound headaches usually feel different.  Duller and more generalized, rather than hurting in a specific spot.  My rebound headaches involve my entire forehead, rather than one or the other eye.  If you think that your headaches may be due to the "rebound effect," try stopping all headache medications (prescriptions and over-the-counter) for two or three days.  Usually, a rebound headache will subside rather quickly, and won't start all over again like a migraine.  Here's wishing all of you a good night's sleep, without night sweats, without hot flashes, and without headaches!  P.S. to Sophie, for your "mennopause bladder," drink lots of water and try taking Prodium, an over-the-counter remedy you can buy in the drugstore.  It is the same medication as Pyridium, a prescription medication that was given to me by an M.D. for these very symptoms.      

[joys4]

I am 55 and still having fairly regular periods.  Once every couple of weeks I wake up with a horrible headache.  I have had many migraines through the years, but these now seem to be related to not having a bowel movement the day before.  Then the day of the headache I might have diarrhea.  After that's over, I'm fine again.  Do you think it might be food-related?

[swsunshine]

Hi, I'm new here but am very excited about the info!  I have spent over $500 at the chiropractor trying to get rid of those pounding headaches that wake me up in the middle of the nite and make me crazy in the a.m.  If I'm going to have a pounding headache like that, I would like the cause to have been way too much champagne!!!!  Now I know it's this meno deal - along with the night sweats.  I took bc pills for the last yr to prevent periods, just went off them mid december and started these symptons.  Still don't have a period yet, so don't really know where I am on the path of meno, but by reading this stuff, I am obviously in the throes of it.  Just ordered Revival, hoping it will help - anybody out there using it with fabulous results - like no more sweating, no more headaches, no more insomnia?

[lattymom]

I didn't know where to put this in but perhaps headache central is the best place. Well up until I began my perimenopause I never had headaches. Today I feel headachy with a pressure inside my head. I also get tingly's at times. I'm on HRT. I dont know if being on it helps or hurts. I always have some degree of fogginess. I know this to be symptoms. What causes such silly things? Is there anything I can do to rid myself of these odd sensations. I always say that every day I feel completely different from the last.. A big sigh... LOve to you all Susan.....

[Christine413]

Hi Susan, Good God Girl, how long have you been on HRT? And why are you poisoning yourself?   Read Dr. Erica Schwartz chats and  you will get a better picture. She said the exact quote to me, I weaned myself off throughout  June, I 'm off the synthetic HRT, which is nothing close to the natural hormone products out there, I am now on Progesterone Cream, which seems to be doing fine. My Aunt had a stroke which her Gyno suggested she reread the  possible side effects letter which comes enclosed with her HRT, and especially pay close attention to the fine print at the end.

[PrissyPause]

I just posted a big ol' long headache post in the middle of nowhere.  I didn't see this thread.  I am seeing that I am not so alone in the headache category.  

Like so many of you here, I've never been one to have headaches but the last couple of months has me baffled with the most throbbing headache near my right temple.  It always starts the day after I take my last birth control pill.  

Does anyone think or know that this is strictly related to the drop in estrogen levels after that last pill?  Seems as though those sugar pills could be made with something in them to alleviate the headaches but still allow you to have your period.  I am seriously considering not allowing myself to have a period by just continuing with the pills non-stop, but I don't know how healthy that would be.  

I just had a hot flash and I know within the next half hour the throbbing will start and it will be full blown within a few minutes.  My hands and feet tingle sometimes, too.  

Anybody know if these are perimenopausal related and how long do they last?

Prissy

[Lesk]

TextTextPurple I get those headaches too and found that Excedrine Migraine helps most of the time...if I catch it in time. I believe that they are due to stress, hormones and some food sensitivities as well.

[Zappi56]

linkaloo, Yes. Infact just the other night I had one. You cant even walk with out your head feeling like its going to explode. But soon as you get up they leave. My internist also said sinus. I think it has something to do with your head being lower then your heart while you are sleeping . OUCH