question for Moominamy

In a recent post you wondered about sleep patterns and a deep coma sleep that you experience. With my migraines I have the compulsion to close my eyes and shut out all outside stimuli and in a few minutes I am completely out. I am unresponsive unless you shake me really hard......it is like a deep sleep that last from 30 minutes to an hour. Am curious if that is what you experience also? Leslie

Sounds similar. Particularly when I've had a really bad one I go into this deep deep coma like sleep that I just can't wake up from afterwards. If I set alarms I can sleep right through them. I used to have three alarm clocks when I was working. If my hubby tries to wake me up it can take him an hour or more. I barely register him talking to or gently shaking me (eyes open about a mm and I may grunt!) and go straight back into it. Sometimes I don't register him at all. When I do 'wake up' I feel like I'm walking through treacle and my brain is still asleep. It can take several hours to feel awake after I've got out of bed.

I had this once when I was in hospital for IV steroids (to try an break the migraine) in about 2003. The nurse kept trying to wake me to no avail, visiting time came, my ex came to visit and kept trying to wake me up, along with the nurse. Eventually I woke up several hours later at the end of visiting time, completely disorientated. It was talked about with my drs but they decided it was 'just a part of my migraine'.

Even with a good nights sleep I don't feel refreshed on waking. I need 10 hours to keep my migraine pain down, if I get less I know I'm in trouble the next day. Fortunately pregnancy has changed my sleep quite a bit and it's not as bad at the moment and sleep quantity is slightly less important. I've also not had so much coma sleep.

Other weird sleep disturbances include hypnogogic and hypnopompic hallucinations sometimes. These are like very real dreams on falling asleep and waking up. My body feels paralysed and it seems as though things are happening in the room around me, such as my hubby coming in the room and trying to smother me but then I wake up and there's no-one in the room. I get very vivid and real dreams generally, and often think I've done something (eg cleaned the bathroom, mailed a letter) but then realise it must have been a dream because I haven't. But they are SO realistic.

Added to this a couple of years ago I started to get the occaisional but very scary losses of chunks of time. The memory of what happens during that time doesn't come back, but it appears I act normally and rationally during an episode. My specialist thinks this is part of my migraine too (I have chronic intractable migraine and sporadic hemiplegic migraine).

Thought I'd add the rest in incase you relate to it too.

The coma sleep I feel is my bodies way of repairing itself after a bad migraine. It can be a nightmare if I have an appointment to keep though. Even if I manage to get up I'm in a real fug afterwards and not with it at all.

I envy people that need 6-8 hours of sleep and wake up feeling refreshed and full of the joys of life! On the very rare occaisions I wake up feeling great it is AMAZING. To live that everyday would be life changing.

How's the rest of your sleep?

Amy

This is interesting. I don't have the issues that you do but some of it sounds vaguely familiar. Before I went into this state - I got 8 hours (my internal alarm was set to this and would wake without an alarm). Now, I need a minimum of 8, 9 is better. When things are getting worse - 9 is required, 10 is better. I can also tell when I'm going to have a bad day - I can't seem to wake up and get going. This morning for example, my alarm was set as normal (I allow one or two snooze but usually need 1) and I hit it at least 3 times before realizing it. Looked at the clock and it was much later....for whatever reason this signals problems. When I can't get up, my symptoms are worse and it's a day I'm going to have to stay home. I went to bed about 9 and planned to be up a bit before 6...with giving up, I slept until almost 7. Just strange...wonder if there is some connection there...

Thanks for the information. I have never slept well and do not nap - can't shut my brain down. It takes me at least an hour to fall asleep each night. This fading out into a deep sleep has been going on for about a year now and occurs about 5 times a week. It seems to be part of the aura phase of the migraine.........sometimes I have pain when it is over but not all the time. It is like my brain just can't handle whatever storm is occurring and retreats. When I do come back I am exhausted.......like my brain has run a marathon and I usually have to lay around for another hour before I can function fully again. Just another weird migraine symptom that is difficult for my friends and family to understand!