INTRACTABLE HEAD PAIN WITH FULL MASK

[DRNUTR]

Happy New Year!

Any experiences with pain above the left ear, SO bad, the mask has to be removed, resulting in continual hospitalizations for low O2, blood content; put another way, hypercapnia almost life-threatening?

Thanks.

Phil

[ChicagoGranny]

Needs some clarification.

1. Was the low O2 because you stopped using CPAP?

2.Was it happening when you were sleeping and/or when you were awake?

resulting in continual hospitalizations for low O2, blood content; put another way, hypercapnia almost life-threatening?

3. Did you have both hypoxemia and hypercapnia?

Hypercapnia is when you have too much carbon dioxide in your blood. Hypoxemia is when you have too little oxygen in your blood. One can lead to another and you can be hypercapnic and hypoxemic at the same time.

4. What are your doctors saying?

[Janknitz]

Too little info for anyone to be able to respond. I assume you are getting a diagnostic workup in the hospital. What results?

Which mask caused you pain? Was it brand new? How tight was it? Have you tried other masks?

[DRNUTR]

Hi Janknitz,

TNX for your swift reply.

Forgive me, again: there is no issue here with diagnosis nor treatment regimen. As you may have surmised, I am researching this problem, for someone other than myself. I am frustrated, with HIS frustration, and lack of competence in orthodox medical care, SOLELY due to no discharge treatment plan, after his recent discharge from a - chain - hospital; like a big-box store.

Regardless of diagnosis, regardless of etiology or current pulmonary insufficiency, THE problem is removing the mask due to pain. Fioricet, Percocet, oxy, caffeine, Tylenol, topical, Voltarin cream, single-malt and Amaretto, do not relive pain enough, to keep the mask on. When it's removed, he crashes. MY, personal, opinion — bolstered by more than a tad of anatomy and neuroanatomy texts — tell me there are no cranial and/or spinal nerves that could possibly be responsible. My friend is a push-over and will not advocate for himself; in fact, his philosophy leans toward seeing his deceased wife.

I can not push, motivate, scare, cajole or make good arguments, any longer {not giving-up, just fresh-out of novel cleverness} The ONLY recourse, is to find if possible, cause(s) of his head pain.

Thank all of you for your time and interest and caring.

Phil
WF3W@JUNO.COM

[Pugsy]

MY, personal, opinion — bolstered by more than a tad of anatomy and neuroanatomy texts — tell me there are no cranial and/or spinal nerves that could possibly be responsible.

My thoughts as well.

If

Fioricet, Percocet, oxy, caffeine, Tylenol, topical, Voltarin cream, single-malt and Amaretto, do not relive pain enough, to keep the mask on.

aren't working then something is wrong somewhere and unless the mask's headgear straps are putting pressure on some sort of nerve somewhere.....about all we can say is to try a different mask and he needs to be getting with his doctor about both the pain ,..mask fit and/or maybe a different mask.

[kteague]

I agree with the suggestion that a different mask may have the needed different pressure points to prevent pain. Knowing exactly where their pain is located could lead you to selecting a workable mask instead of guessing willy-nilly. I've had to give up on masks that the strap across the back of the head where the skull meets the neck caused neck pain. Also may want to check if their pain location and description could point to trigeminal neuralgia. That could cause very specific needs in a mask. If things go that direction, I'm sure you can get some more targeted suggestions then. Good luck with things.

[DRNUTR]

Gday Kay/K,

Thanks very much for your seminal thoughts!
Phil

[Janknitz]

I agree with the suggestion that a different mask may have the needed different pressure points to prevent pain. Knowing exactly where their pain is located could lead you to selecting a workable mask instead of guessing willy-nilly. I've had to give up on masks that the strap across the back of the head where the skull meets the neck caused neck pain. Also may want to check if their pain location and description could point to trigeminal neuralgia. That could cause very specific needs in a mask. If things go that direction, I'm sure you can get some more targeted suggestions then. Good luck with things.

Kteague hit the nail on on the head (ouch!). Definitely a mask could be an issue with where some masks and straps touch the face and other neuro issues at the back of the skull. A mask change would be the simplest way to deal with this, although the underlying cause should be evaluated.

[DRNUTR]

Gday Jankintz,

Thank-you, again, for your further insight! The "differential diagnosis" list is narrowing...

Phil