Severe headache waking from sleep

[gandalf456]

Had this the other night. Went to bed with slight headache. Woke 2am with severe pain in back of head. Painkillers didn't touch it. Could not get comfortable, though slightly better standing.

I've had this type of head pain before but it normally responds to painkillers and, this time, I suddenly went unbearably hot and was drenched in sweat. I panicked and started hyperventilating and my hands and feet went numb Eventually, I was very sick then cooled down immediately though head pain remained but subsided enough to sleep.

Have had dull pain on and off ever since. I have a history of cervical disc problems which has recently flared up. I also have hearing loss currently under investigation and I have a scan coming up.

Any ideas? I really thought I was dying

I suffer from migraine and this happens to me. I wake up with excruciating pain, hot and, if I don’t take sumatriptan I vomit. I can also get numbness down one side of my body, face, hands etc. It can be quite frightening. If I were you I’d speak to your GP for reassurance. If it is migraine there are lots of treatments that can help :)

Thanks, Bridget. I used to get migraines in my 20s and 30s and then they resolved when I had my two children. I am 47 now and it looks as if they've reared their ugly head again, although before, they were always on the left side of my head, not the back. I'll look into that medication. Thanks