Hello Guest, Welcome to Apnea Board !
As a guest, you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use.
To post a message, you must create a free account using a valid email address.

or Create an Account


New Posts   Today's Posts

Headaches when using CPaP
#1
Headaches when using CPaP
I have an automatically adjusting Fisher & Paykel Icon Auto. I visited my sleep clinic yesterday because of frequent headaches during the night while using the machine. The appointment was completely botched up and I didn't see the right doctor, so have left the clinic annoyed and dissatisfied and having to have my GP help with the problem now.

I do get migraine type headache if I do NOT USE the machine, but it's very debilitating waking with the headache as a direct consequence of using the machine. That happened again last night; I felt the headache around my nose and sinus area and had to turn it straight off. Nobody seems to be able to help; they keep passing me from pilar to post. The headaches last all day and my quality of life is reducing, with at least 2 episodes of this a week. I've been using a CPap since March, 2008, and I'm over 60.

Help!
Post Reply Post Reply
#2
RE: Headaches when using CPaP
How about writing a letter to the attention of the doctor you wanted, detailing what, when, where, how long, and how often you are having the problem, what makes it better and what makes it worse.

And maybe seeing a headache specialist/neurologist would be more useful than seeing a sleep doc? You could be having a specific type of headache that presents at night and you are attributing it to the CPAP. It might be something else.
                                                                                                                          
Note: I'm an epidemiologist, not a medical provider. 
Post Reply Post Reply
#3
RE: Headaches when using CPaP
Given the location of the headache, it might be the result of too much or too little humidity. An ENT doctor might be another good source of help.
Post Reply Post Reply
#4
RE: Headaches when using CPaP
Thank you; that's what I was thinking. The headaches are definitely caused BY the machine. I recently had an MRI following hospitalization with extreme vertigo and all was OK, so there's no other source of the problem.

Meanwhile, my GP will be very annoyed by the specialist doctor's surgery and its very bad mistake in referring me to the wrong doctor in the practice. At least they didn't charge me. The doctor I saw was a Thoracic specialist!!! What the? The referral was faxed across before the appointment was even made (they phoned me), with the right doctor's name on it - and they still couldn't get it right.

Meantime, I won't used the machine very much until I get to the bottom of the headaches (which last all day until about 3pm).
Post Reply Post Reply
#5
RE: Headaches when using CPaP
Hi Sleeping Beauty,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
I hope you can get your headaches and sleep problems straightened out.
Hang in there for more responses to your post.
trish6hundred
Post Reply Post Reply
#6
RE: Headaches when using CPaP
I don't know how to do it on your machine, but it is probably worth turning the humidity up a setting for a night and see what difference that makes. Then try a night with it a setting lower. If it is humidity related, that should show in which direction to go.
Post Reply Post Reply
#7
RE: Headaches when using CPaP
It's probably too much humidity.
I normally run alot of humidity now after my second polyp surgery as some bone was removed and my left sinus is pretty wide open now.
But before if it was too high it could give me those sort of headaches your describing.
Post Reply Post Reply
#8
RE: Headaches when using CPaP
Many thanks!!

And to the other two people for their advice, thanks also.

I'm not sure how to adjust the humidity; there's a temperature thingy for the air temperature and another for the tubing. I might ring the retailer on Monday and see what they say.

I've got fairly warm air coming at the moment and I have noticed in the past that when it's too cold I get the headaches!!
Post Reply Post Reply
#9
RE: Headaches when using CPaP
Sleeping Beauty,
You can order the Clinicians manual for your machine, which should help.
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-pr...tup-manual
OpalRose
Apnea Board Administrator
www.apneaboard.com

_______________________
OSCAR Chart Organization
How to Attach Images and Files.
OSCAR - The Guide
Soft Cervical Collar
Optimizing therapy
OSCAR supported machines
Mask Primer



INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.  ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA.  INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
Post Reply Post Reply
#10
RE: Headaches when using CPaP
(12-16-2016, 09:03 PM)Sleeping Beauty Wrote: ...I recently had an MRI following hospitalization with extreme vertigo and all was OK, ...

Just a note: extreme vertigo can be due to a vestibular migraine. An MRI will look fine.

Been there, have that. Now on a preventative Rx.

                                                                                                                          
Note: I'm an epidemiologist, not a medical provider. 
Post Reply Post Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
Gross [Symptoms] Persistent headaches, nothing seems to fix haikuclue 16 728 02-14-2024, 08:09 PM
Last Post: TechieHippie
  New user with sinus headaches SnoNoMo 6 907 04-20-2023, 12:18 AM
Last Post: Crimson Nape
  Data analysis/headaches arkayamal 5 742 03-11-2023, 11:01 AM
Last Post: Gideon
  Morning headaches post- revised! lindylou 11 1,138 01-08-2023, 12:16 PM
Last Post: lindylou
Sad New CPAP user (sort of)Headaches every morning twincessmom13 8 1,225 10-25-2022, 11:31 AM
Last Post: twincessmom13
  [Treatment] 4 Years on CPAP, Still Tired with Morning Headaches FancyFrog 4 767 09-04-2022, 08:18 AM
Last Post: FancyFrog
  Low AHIs, still wake up feeling awful with headaches suresk 4 1,186 05-06-2022, 07:25 PM
Last Post: Millstone50


New Posts   Today's Posts


About Apnea Board

Apnea Board is an educational web site designed to empower Sleep Apnea patients.