PAP side effects (headaches, ear pain/pressure)

[sunny5ideup]

Hi. I'm a newbie here. I got my PAP machine exactly 2 weeks ago -- the ResMed AirSense S10 Autoset (regular/black version). About 6-7 days in, I noticed I was getting headaches and ear pressure/pain from it. I sent a message to my sleep specialist, but haven't heard back yet..

After researching on the forum, I was able to turn on Pressure Relief, which has helped somewhat, but I'm still getting slight headaches and some ear pressure/discomfort.

I didn't change my pressure settings (4.0-12.0 cm), but from what I've read 4-12 cm is pretty standard.

I've had 2 in-lab sleep studies. I snore, but no snoring was present during the sleep studies.
2017:
4 apneas + 5 hypopneas
Index (#/h): 1.9 (I think this is AHI??)

2019:
0 apneas + 28 hypopneas
AHI: 5.1

Since my AHI was so low, my sleep doc didn't want to do CPAP, but I kept bugging him. I've been sleeping somewhat better on it; still getting used to it; however, my AHI fluctuates between 0.8 - 1.6.

A couple weeks ago, I had to go to the ER for kidney stone pain and they noticed my left lung had mild atelectasis - partial collapse of the lung. I'm wondering if the PAP machine is helping b/c I have a mild breathing issue? But is the pressure too high? Should I be on CPAP instead of APAP?

Are headaches and ear pain/pressure normal during the first few weeks? Is it a sign that my pressure is too high?

I'm still waiting to hear back from my doc, but any advice on what I should do in the meantime? I know none of you are doctors <insert legal disclaimer>, but I'm hoping for some insight while I wait for my sleep doc to respond.

[SarcasticDave94]

Welcome to Apnea Board.

To benefit from EPR, you would have to raise pressure up from 4. Your machine can't go under 4 even though EPR wants it to try. As is, 4 is likely too low for most adults to breathe properly. It tends to cause the sensation of air starvation or breathing through a small straw.

You may want your clinical manual for your machine, which you can get a free copy at the top of the screen. You also should get OSCAR, a free report tool to visually track how your CPAP therapy is going. You'd need a standard SD card inserted in the slot on your CPAP to store the data overnight. Then you'd take the SD out to upload data into OSCAR on your PC. That enables you to see the data and you may also post it here as an attachment. We can then advise better on optimizing pressures. Most patients will need pressures set to their individual needs. Think of this like a car seat. The setting it's on currently will not fit everyone. Adjustments are required to control the machine well, and these same adjustments enhance comfort.

Best to ya