Sleep and Migraine, Part 1

Sleep is normally regarded as an essential part of life. Its mysteries have yet to be fully unlocked, but as a Migraineur I know that sleep is my best friend, and it can also be my worst enemy.

Sleep can be a Migraine trigger for many individuals. Too little, or too much, can overwork the brain into a frenzy. Unrefreshing sleep may also wake an individual with a severe Migraine.

Sleep and I have a love/hate relationship. My sleep issues are compounded by my CEBV and depression. Sometimes it seems like an endless chicken/egg cycle. I almost always wake up with full blown aura activity or a headache. My headaches aren't always Migrainous in nature, but left untreated these headaches have generally turned into a full-blown Migraine. It can be confusing - you need sleep but you know it's going to hurt when you get up.

Generally if I trigger from sleep alone, it's going to be because I had 4 hours of sleep the night before and came home from work to nap for another 3-4 hours. Because of the CEBV, some days I sleep 10+ hours, and I'm in trouble when I wake up (like right now). I went to bed last night around 1 AM (which is typical for me, that's my schedule), and today I finally got up about 1:30 PM. My Migraine specialist has me on Seroquel and melatonin both to help boost my anti-depressant and keep me asleep through the night. The Seroquel really puts me down, and the melatonin keeps me out. Generally I will wake up in the night anywhere from once to 3 times. Sometimes I will be unable to sleep after waking up so many times. Every once in a while I can attribute my insomnia to Migraine euphoria; other times I have only my napping to blame.

Poor quality of sleep can be attributed to many causes. Bad mattresses, pillows, napping for too long in the afternoons, depression or anxiety, and any number of illnesses or disorders. These things all perpetuate the Migraine cycles. I'm sorry to say I haven't found the key to adjusting my sleep outside of avoiding long naps. It seems no matter what I wake up unrefreshed and heading into a Migraine. The good thing though, is that talking to my specialist helps me to look for answers that may help me. But just like finding the right medication or regimen to help ease the number of Migraines one is having, finding the answer to good quality sleep can take a while too. I am happy that I am sleeping throughout the night for the first time in almost 5 years, but it still worries me that I sleep so much and I'm dependent on coffee first thing upon waking.

So where is the answer? For me, there is no solid answer since CEBV relies heavily on rest when the body has been pushed a little further than it's able to cope with, and Migraines in and of themselves can be fatiguing and push you into bed as a coping mechanism too.

For others, however, understanding your schedule of sleep and looking back on your Migraine diary may give you a clue as to whether or not sleep is a trigger for you. When you can see a sleep/Migraine pattern emerge, it may be time to pay more attention to what is going on in the evenings before you sleep...