@meme59, thanks for your advice. I got some caffeine pills today and will use those before bed tonight instead of the excedrin, per your suggestion. I have a very dear friend that's a dean of pharmacology. He told me a long time ago that pain responds better if you don't wait until it's awful to take the meds. Likened it to stopping a car before it starts to roll down the hill. Once it's rolling it's much more difficult to stop. Like these headaches, when they began waking me the pain was already so severe it seemed nothing would help, not even the stuff they added to my IV the night we went to the emergency room. Truly was shocked to discover over the counter meds were helping when I stumbled upon this group. What a blessing you all have been!