Headaches every morning, do other people with Fibromyalgia suffer this?

[Irene25]

I wake every morning with headaches, I say wake I also wake lots during the night with fibro pain. My headache will ease when I get up and sit up, but sometimes stays all day.

Do others' suffer this? has anyone found a solution?

[Ginsing]

I have muddled along and now ,after many years, I take 2 pareacetamol as soon as I feel one is about then every 4/6 hours I up my intake of water and that is about it. A cool shower sometimes helps depending on how hot the atmosphere is.

Sorry cannot be more helpful - good luck and take care !

xxxgins

[Fibrofoggiest]

Hi Irene, I really feel for you as a fellow migraine/headache sufferer. I think Gins has given very good advice saying to increase your intake of water. Like you I used to wake every morning with a headache, not a thumping one or a migraine, but there, then I was told to drink a large glass of water as soon as I woke and it has helped matters a lot. I think sometimes we dehydrate over night and headaches are the result. I tried drinking lots before bed, but that just made sure I was waking up to dash to the loo umpteen times a night, so that stopped.

Have you spoken to your GP about this? If not I suggest you do, just to make him/her aware, they may also be able to suggest something which might help prevent this occurring for you. Sending positive healing vibes your way

Foggy x

[TheAuthor]

Hi Irene25

I am so sorry to read that you are suffering with headaches every morning, and I genuinely hope that you can find some resolution and relief to this issue. I have copied and pasted a section from the NHS Choices Fibro symptoms relating to headaches with Fibro:

Headaches

If fibromyalgia has caused you to experience pain and stiffness in your neck and shoulders, you may also have frequent headaches. These can vary from being mild headaches to severe migraines and could also involve other symptoms, such as nausea (feeling sick).

So, as you can see it is sadly a horrid part of this illness. However, if your headaches persist of get any worse, it would be a good idea to discuss the issue with your GP.

Take care

Ken x

[Julie63]

Hi Irene,when I saw my dentist I mentioned my morning headaches and he made me a mouth guard as I clench my jaw in my sleep. When I wear it I really notice a difference, my head feels so much better. It might be worth thinking about. Gentle hugs, Julie x

[TheAuthor in reply to Julie63]

Very good Julie, I never thought about that, I think they are called Mandibular device, I have pasted a NHS Choices link for Irene to check it out?

They are also used for sleep apnea and snoring! So I hope that you find the link useful:

nhs.uk/Conditions/sleep-apn...

Take care

Ken x

[Jjudith in reply to TheAuthor]

The mandibular device is the one that clamps upper and lower jaw, I had really severe TMJ my dentist made me one to stop my face moving from side to side at night to stop the face pain as well as headaches, but the smaller mouth frame that I also wear for headaches isn't a mandibular device but it just clamps over the lower teeth, it's like magic, apparently it causes the lateral pterygoids to relax, ie., the muscles that move the jaw. For some people, they wear this small frame at night as well as in the day. I don't know how it relaxes muscles because it isn't connected to any, but it is wonderful, the second I put it in my pain moves from my forehead to my teeth - they instantly become really painful, but within 10 minutes no pain at all. I'll try to find a link and post it, because you can wear this 24/7 except when you eat, and it might be useful for others to know about it.

[Jjudith in reply to Jjudith]

[Edited by Admin] [Link removed as per guidelines]

This is an American article, it actually shows a device that fits over the upper teeth, mine fits over the lower teeth, it is called a mouth splint or NTI.

[TheAuthor in reply to Jjudith]

Yeah your right! I get them mixed up! Mind you, if they work they really are worth having?

Take care

Ken x

[Kirby in reply to Jjudith]

I have to say that the clamp did nothing for me or my headaches.

[Jjudith in reply to Kirby]

They say the NTI (the small frame, not a clamp, that fits over the top or bottom teeth) works in a different way and sometimes it can work when the clamp doesn't. Have you tried trigger point injections?

[Kirby in reply to Jjudith]

It was a small frame ( a bit like a brace) sorry I couldn't remember the name.

[Jjudith in reply to Julie63]

Hi Julie, the frames are wonderful aren't they? I have one that fixes my upper and lower jaw at night, actually its not that visible and I can talk but I can't drink or open my mouth, but it is SO comfortable and it immediately stops all pain. And a smaller one that I wear in the daytime that just fits over my lower teeth, I can't think how it works but it does, pain goes away within 10 minutes of putting it in my mouth. Did you have yours on the NHS or was it private?

[GraceNadin in reply to Jjudith]

Hi Judith: can I know which dentist did you go to? Pl email me the name & address & contact no. Tqvm

[Jjudith]

Hi and sorry to hear about the headaches, I will tell you my experience and I don't know if it will be possible for you and I don't know if it will work either. I went to a specialist dentist, privately, who deals with face pain and TMJ. I had a non-stop headache in the left side of my head for some months, and it was not touched by any sort of analgesia, it was just always there. I had a trigger point injection into my forehead and immediately I was free of pain, the headache comes back sometimes but it is not constant any more. Also he found my teeth weren't properly aligned and he made me a frame to wear, well, 2 actually, one for night that I wear all the time, and one for the daytime when the pain comes. If I have a bad spell of headaches I wear that in the day for 3 months, it fits over my bottom teeth, I can't eat with it and I have a slight lisp but it's not too visible although I am conscious of it, but better than headache. It works for me and I never know what the financial situation is with people with fibro, I know a lot of people can't work and suffer financially, this should be available on the NHS and it would save them a whole lot of money in analgesics but it isn't. Hope it helps, love and hugs Judith x

[Irene25]

Hi jjudith thank you sound like a solution could you tell me how much it cost irene

[Betty67]

I too have this and find it best to get up as soon as I wake up - if it is light outside. I find it better not to take painkillers as the pain comes back stronger. I also find the headaches depend on what I ate the day before - too much wheat makes the headache worse the following day. I get up, open the window, get some fresh air, take it slow, have a hot drink and wait. I also find massaging my head, ie hair washing also helps.

Best wishes

[denvajade]

Hi there sorry to read about your headaches! have you had your blood sugars checked? you may have hypoglycemia

your blood sugar levels drop too low while sleeping and you wake up with a headache, i would recommend a blood test, or else ensure you eat protein of some sort before going to bed, it can be cottage cheese, almonds, a piece of chicken- this keeps your bloods stable. wishing you well.

[Mdaisy]

Hello Irene25,

I suspect there are many conditions that could be associated with headaches in the morning. I too have TMJ but rarely wake with headaches although I have done on occasion.

I thought I'd mention Sleep Apnoea (link below) too as I know it has this symptom too however I would consider speaking to your GP as s/he has all your medical history & can examine you to give you an accurate diagnosis.

nhs.uk/Conditions/Sleep-apn...

I personally that the headaches could be due to any one of many conditions, some of which have been mentioned and only after speaking with your GP can you be sure what the cause is, then you'll be able to address it as advised by the healthcare professionals.

I wish you all the best & please keep us posted

Best Wishes

Emma

FibroAction Administrator

[Irene25]

Thank you all for your kind and knowledgeable responses I shall now try suggestions and discuss further with my doctor. X

[Kirby]

Hi Irene

I'm very sorry to hear about your morning headaches. They are the worst of all for me because they always linger into a migraine lasting for two days. I didn't find the clamp the dentist made for me helped at all and found it hard to get accustomed to it. But I see it's helped others! I'm also wondering if you're premenopausal? I am just going through the change and have found my headaches are easing. I don't think we should underestimate the power of those hormones! I think they have a lot to answer for and I've heard many people say their headaches eased or disappeared after they went through the change. I live in hope! They are very debilitating. x