Migraines, Sleep Loss, and Sleep Apnea – Understanding the Link

By Brittany Washington

4 min read

Back when I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, I never made a connection to my migraines. I always treated them as 2 separate conditions that didn’t affect each other. I was so wrong. Now, I understand there is a link between migraines and sleep apnea.

The link between migraines and sleep apnea

I went for years without using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine and my migraines were almost daily. When I started using my CPAP again, I started to notice a pattern in my apnea numbers on the myAir app and my migraines. For me, there is a direct correlation between my insomnia, my sleep apnea, and my migraines.

Even while using my CPAP, if it leaks more or I have more incidents throughout the night, I know that I will have a headache in the morning.

What is the connection between migraines and sleep loss?

Insomnia makes using my CPAP so much harder. When I have a migraine it’s hard for me to use my CPAP because of the stabbing pain and pressure I feel in my head. Then putting on the CPAP mask is almost impossible in the midst of a migraine.

However, it starts a vicious cycle if I don’t use my machine because I have a migraine. As soon as I go to sleep, I wake up in the middle of the night with a worse migraine. If I happen to make it through the night, as soon as I open my eyes it’s an intense migraine.

Sometimes the migraines are so bad I can go 24 hours plus without sleeping. Sleep deprivation makes the migraine worse as well. It feels like someone is dancing on my brain with football cleats on. When this cycle starts, it doesn’t end until I either go to the emergency room or into the infusion center. Here, I will need to get a migraine cocktail via infusion that has allergy meds and magnesium.

The impact of sleep deprivation on health and wellness

When I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a few years ago, I was shocked when the first thing my dermatologist said was that I need to sleep. It was time to figure out a way to sleep and get back on my CPAP.

He explained that when I didn't sleep and wasn’t breathing at night, my body could never recharge. So, the only way to start to deal with fibromyalgia is to get a healthy relationship with sleep because it affects every aspect of my body.

In getting better sleep, he checked my blood to find out that I was anemic and had low vitamin D. He got me referred for iron infusions and started me taking D3 with K (because it’s better absorbed that way).

How to improve your sleeping habits to reduce migraine pain

Routines and sleep habits

One of the hardest things I had to do was establish sleep habits and routines. No matter what else I had or wanted to do, at 9:30 PM I took my medications and sleep supplements and cut off the TV. Monday through Friday, I turn the computer off by 10:30 and I’m in bed by 11:30.

Having insomnia, if I don’t fall asleep by the time my 1-hour sleep meditation is off, I get up and do something outside of the bed like read a book. I try not to pick up my phone or turn the tv on because of the blue light.

Monitor coffee

I also stopped drinking coffee or caffeinated beverages after 2 PM because of its effect on my sleep. I can’t go without it because I get migraines when I try to stop caffeine altogether, it affects my ability to sleep as well.

Natural Remedies

I didn’t realize how important magnesium is to your entire body. One of the first natural supplements my doctor recommended was magnesium. I now take Pure Healthy Sleep – a sleep supplement packet that includes magnesium. It helps me feel more relaxed before bedtime.

I also incorporate turmeric supplements into my routine. This has helped with overall inflammation with fibromyalgia and migraines which makes it easier to sleep with a little less pain.

Migraine caps

I also have a hot/cold cranial migraine cap that you put in the freezer or microwave. It wraps around your eyes and the top of your head to help eliminate pain. When I’ve got a migraine at night, I try to take something and use the head wrap before I lay down.

Hydration

Dehydration is another thing that affects my migraines. So, I drink at least half a gallon of plain or fruit-infused water throughout the day. I also drink coconut water because it’s excellent for hydration and is something with a little more flavor than water.

Understanding the link between chronic pain and migraines

It took me a while to understand that sleep, pain, and migraines are directly correlated. How I sleep – the quality, the events per hour, the amount, and sleep interruptions – all have an impact on my migraines. Even though my migraines don’t have an aurora or an apparent trigger, I very closely monitor my sleep and use good sleep habits as a first defense in preventing migraines.

Do you also suffer from migraines? Please share a comment.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The SleepApnea.Sleep-Disorders.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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CommunityMember9832606 Member
I have migraines and fibromyalgia, insomnia, restless legs, narcolepsy and chronic pain, to name a few. I wake up every day, either with a migraine or severe headache. I also take Magnesium 400 mg. twice a day, at the recommendation of my neurologist. She also prescribes Armadolfinal, to help wake me up. Using a CPap doesn’t refresh me. My old sleep doctor had started it, but he left to work at the VA hospital. I’ll have to ask about oxygen, <inline-mention username="CommunityMember379" user-id="4835264"/> I haven’t been using my cpap machine for a number of months, because my doctor told me I’m eligible for the Inspire implant. After the last test, a DISE procedure (Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy). After that test, my doctor said I wasn’t a candidate for Inspire, because of way my throat was being closed off. 😭 I’ve been wanting it for so long, because I can’t wear the masks, because of my PTSD. So he sent me to a colleague of his, who specializes in OSA. This doctor made several recommendations, first one being another sleep study. He feels that a different treatment, a BiPap, would help with the difficulty wearing the mask. He also took me off the medication for my restless legs, Requip, because he said it only made the RL worse over time. All this is news to me, so I’m cautiously hopeful. It’s liberating that more people with OSA have similar diseases as me. I thought that some of them might be linked, but none of my doctors has told me that. Now I can take this information to them, and see if a change in my treatment would help. Thanks to all the information by everyone here. 
1. Brittany Washington Member
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember9832606" user-id="9832606"/> I recently started Armadofinol after my last sleep study they found I have insomnia and now hypersomnia which is why I’m so tired. I have a friend who has ptsd and can’t use a full face mask who uses nasal pillows for his CPAP and it helps he just has to wear a chin strap. I hope that you get some answers and relief. We had takes about a BIPAP but upgrading my CPAP helped because the auto adjust is much better, it kicks on by itself and just seems more in tune with my body that the old one. I found out recently that all of the conditions have a link to Fibromyalgia and that my sleep makes the pain worse which is why I’ve really been using the machine even though I’m not better with it. 
2. Lori.Foster Community Admin
 Hi <inline-mention username="CommunityMember9832606" user-id="9832606"/>. Unfortunately, augmentation is not uncommon for people who use Requip and similar medications. Here is an article from our RLS sister community that explains it well: <a href='https://restlesslegssyndrome.sleep-disorders.net/augmentation' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>https://restlesslegssyndrome.sleep-disorders.net/augmentation</a>. It sounds like this new doctor really has your best interests at heart. I hope a new sleep study helps and brings you some relief. Do you take medication for your narcolepsy as well? Gentle hugs. - Lori (Team Member)
Plaguepeg Member
I had been getting up totally exhausted after sleeping with my CPAP. The doctor had me wear an oxygen monitor for two nights and shortly after, my oxygen machine arrived. One thing I noticed, right away, was I have so few migraines now. I do have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and congestive heart failure, along with many other problems which makes me happy having the oxygen. I really don't have to worry about dying in the middle of the night or losing anymore brain cells now. 
1. Lori.Foster Community Admin
 I am glad to hear that your doctor took you seriously, tested you and prescribed oxygen, <inline-mention username="Plaguepeg" user-id="7010451"/>. It must be a huge relief to know you are getting enough each night. How wonderful that your migraine symptoms improved as well. Thanks for chiming in. Best wishes. - Lori (Team Member)