Losing Naps to Migraine

By Sawyer Matheny

3 min read

I’ve always considered myself to be an energetic person. As a performer and all-around people person, I derive my energy from experiences and love striking up a conversation. As such, I have a roster of easy topics to broach if I’m ever in a pinch with a stranger. Most topics would revolve around universal experiences that are easily relatable, such as television, or the weather, or in most cases, how awake or sleepy we are. Every day is a struggle, and we’re just trying to get through it. We’re here, grinding it out, waiting for Friday and the weekend that comes.

That restless would often be broken down into solutions, such as an affinity for coffees or the allure of that sweet, sweet nap later. Only I’m out of my league here!

Coffee never worked for me

I’ve never gotten into coffee. It just really hasn’t helped me. I’ve tried that brown tasty stuff. Whether it’s a venti frappe whose-a-whatcha-ma-call-it or straight black like the night is dark, I’ve approached coffee from any angle just to see what the hype was about.

It just never woke me up. I’m just a high-energy guy, and caffeine has never really helped me stay up when I do get sleepy. High energy doesn’t keep me from getting drowsy; it just means I can’t tell where I end, and coffee might begin! Now, why would I try so hard to enjoy something that everybody loves and I couldn’t give a fart about?

Napping hasn't worked either

I don’t nap. Actually, I can’t nap. As a migraineur, I go through life finding new and unique ways to experience pain. I don’t want pain; I just live life as normally as I can until I’m confronted with an immovable migraine reality. From sugary drinks early in the morning to going to live concerts and staring right at egregious spotlights, I’ve gotten really good at spotting my migraine triggers. Only, I haven’t minded losing some of these to that all familiar head-pain.

Naps are painful

Losing naps was tough. I’m not talking about nodding off when on a long car ride. I’m talking about those 30-60 minute slumbers you set the alarm for during an especially sluggish day. Yeah, like clockwork, I always wake up with excruciating head pain. It feels like I’m emerging from a psychic paralysis that’s rendered me a fleshy pulp. With throbbing pain right behind my eyes and up into my temples. An ice-cream brain freeze from hell. It’s so frustrating losing something so crucial and convenient.

I mean like COME ON. I would always wake up early for work, laying in bed, counting the minutes before I have to stand up, relishing the fact that I can nap later and make up the sleep hours. Nope. Turns out that every time I satisfy that restless hunger, I am rendered immobile and lose all the progress I had built up in the day up until that point. Rather than letting a nap boost me through to the end, it ends my day right in the middle.

Looking for alternatives

This is why I’m so eager to try and get that whole coffee thing going. If I can’t enjoy a minor reset like a nap, I guess I’ve just got to power through. Not every night's sleep will be enough to keep me happy and healthy, but I guess that’s one of the catches with migraine. I’m different, and my body loves to remind me of that! What are some things you’ve had to give up thanks to migraine? I would love to know in the comments down below!

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Anna Williams Moderator & Contributor
I could nap until I started getting cluster headache attacks. Now taking a nap triggers those. I miss being able to nap too!
shalexan Member
Wow! We are twins separated at birth!!! I have Horrific migraines One of my triggers is not just naps, it's SLEEP period. For example, I have to get up at 5 am on a work day and may feel ok. But after several days of little sleep, I am exhausted. So, I sleep in, on my day off, and wake up with my head about to explode! Naps are the same. So, I try to force my self to get up early, even though I am tired. And no naps, either. And coffee is disgusting, including the smell! And drinks with caffeine are a problem, for chronic migraines, also. Want to party!!!!!
1. Cheryl Picerno Moderator
 @shalexan it must be terrible to have naps and sleep in general trigger your attacks. My husband suffers from erratic sleep patterns. He tries to keep a normal schedule, but it is hard and he always says he feels exhausted. He also had thalassemia so that takes a lot of his energy I'm sure. Having caffeine as a potential trigger also makes things tough. I hope you find a way to manage your attacks soon! Warmly, Cheryl migraine team member
Trudy C Member
Me too - I cannot nap without waking up with a bad headache and a bit nauseous. I thought I was the only one. The idea of a "refreshing nap" is foreign to me. I've even tried propping myself up with pillows so my head is elevated, but no luck. Thanks for sharing, as I mentioned earlier, I thought I was the only one. 
1. Holly Harding Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="Trudy C" user-id="3909965"/> This site constantly serves to reassure us that we are not alone in navigating this complex neurological condition that has so very many symptoms! Glad you were able to see that you are not the only one who can't catch a literal break with a nap! I experience this as well! So glad you're a part of our community. Hope you'll stay in touch. Warmly, Holly (migraine.com team).
2. Sawyer Matheny Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="Trudy C" user-id="3909965"/> That's something I've realized more and more lately, too. That we aren't the only one! Thank you so much for sharing that with us; and know we're here for you! How have you been feeling recently? I' ve been trying out coffee as an alternative to napping. A walk around my neighborhood has been a decent option too. Can't be sleeping when you're on your feet! Wishing you a gentle and symptom-free day ~ Sawyer (migraine.com team)