TAP PAP & headaches?

Hi All! It's really great to have found this site! I've been using a CPAP for 3.5 years and had no idea there were so many options and such support out there! Thank you!!
For the past 3.5 years, I've been using the Swift FX for Her mask and ResMed S8 series II machine. I go in every 3-4 months to get my supplies at my local sleep clinic. I recently read on this board about the new TAP PAP, ordered it, and have tried it now for 4 nights. The first morning, I woke up fine. The second morning didn't go so well, as I had woken up with leaks during the night and I had a slight headache starting. The third morning/night I didn't have leaks, but had a bad headache all morning long. This is the fourth morning, and although I feel like I slept okay and no leaks, my headache is getting worse by the day.
I also recently went to my dentist, a TMJ specialist, who informed me that I've been clenching for years, which could be causing the ear pain I've been experiencing for the past few months.
My question for you all is, could the TAP-PAP be causing my headaches for some reason? Or could I be clenching more with the new mask? I can't read my machine because it has the old card that needs the ResScan machine, which I don't own. Might the pressure be too high or too low with the new mask? I changed the setting from Swift to Mirage on the machine, since the flow pressure chart for TAP-PAP showed to be about the same for the Mirage.
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!

Kathy,

I too "brux" (teeth clenching and grinding) I have been using the TAP PAP (see Pugsy's thread) for several weeks now. One of the reasons that I went to the TAP PAP was that it replaced the "nightgard" anti-bruxing appliance that I had been using. The appliance had been causing sores occasionally where it rubbed against my Mirage Quattro FF mask. With the TAP PAP I too had a couple of days with a slight headache when I awoke.

For me my solution was adjusting the humidifier on the machine. Do you feel like your sinuses are dry when you awake? That may be the first thing to try.

I realize that if you are really "Clenching" on the mouth piece that could give you jaw pain (been there done that). Have you tried to spread the TAP PAP mouth piece if it fits too tightly? Maybe a re-fit would help?

Anyway, I had been a mouthbreather and I was worried that I would have problems using the TAP PAP, but, I pracitced nose-breathing for a few days and I was able to use the mask without taping etc.

I don't know if this feedback will help you, but, that worked for me (ymmv)

Good luck and feel free to post with future questions.

Dave

I recently bought the Tap Pap and think it is causing me headaches in the forehead area, I discovered this on my third night of use. I think it is because it's too tight on my teeth. I set it aside for now and went back to my Headrest. When I have more time I'll try to refit the appliance teeth part.

I also found with the Tap Pap I need to get a shallower pillow because, sleeping on my stomach makes the end of the mouth piece protrusion rub against the pillow cocking sideways (if that makes sense). I need a regular length pillow that my head can rest on but not touching the mask. Kind of a tube like pillow. I don't know where I'll find one but I haven't started looking yet.

Bryansong

No headaches that I can blame on the mask.
I do have a bad neck and sometimes wake up with a bit of a headache from sleeping with my head and neck on awkward position...but that's nothing new. That's been going on for years and years.

I have noticed more headaches since using the Tap Pap (the last 2-3 weeks). I am mouth breathing more with this mask, so wonder if it is a dehydration thing. I also use the mask in conjunction with the Tap Pap chin strap, seeing the original headgear keeps slipping off. I try not to have the chin strap very tight as this can cause head aches too.

newsnore wrote:I have noticed more headaches since using the Tap Pap (the last 2-3 weeks). I am mouth breathing more with this mask, so wonder if it is a dehydration thing.

Or losing therapy through your mouth causing sub-optimal therapy --> headaches.

SleepingUgly wrote:

newsnore wrote:I have noticed more headaches since using the Tap Pap (the last 2-3 weeks). I am mouth breathing more with this mask, so wonder if it is a dehydration thing.

Or losing therapy through your mouth causing sub-optimal therapy --> headaches.

Good thought - but if my AHI is down there where it should be, then am I right in thinking that this shouldn't be my problem?

newsnore wrote:

SleepingUgly wrote:

newsnore wrote:I have noticed more headaches since using the Tap Pap (the last 2-3 weeks). I am mouth breathing more with this mask, so wonder if it is a dehydration thing.

Or losing therapy through your mouth causing sub-optimal therapy --> headaches.

Good thought - but if my AHI is down there where it should be, then am I right in thinking that this shouldn't be my problem?

I'm not sure that the AHI is valid and interpretable in the presence of large leaks. If your leaks are not large, it may be OK.

I get headaches from being tired, not from SaO2 drops. So if something wakes me all night (e.g., my mouth opening), the next day I'll easily have a headache. One difference is that I don't tend to wake with the headache; it develops later.

When you all talk about taping your mouth, what exactly are you taping it with?

First aid tape?

I'm still thinking of trying this mask. I'm looking on cpap.com and I see "returns on warranty issues only". A lot of people said they got to try it risk free for 30 days. Was that a special initial offer? I don't see that info anywhere.

The mask manufacturer is offering free insurance. If we hate it we return it to cpap.com within 30 days and get our money back.

Some masks that cpap.com offers have insurance available for purchase...if you hate the mask you return it and get your money back less cost of insurance.

You have to proceed to the "customize and by" choice to see the insurance offering. It gets added on at that time...you still don't have to finalize purchase at that time though. So you can do that step for other masks to see the cost of insurance.
SleepWeaver also offers 30 day back thing so we don't have to pay for return insurance for their masks either.
In the case of the Tap Pap...the mask manufacturers are backing cpap.com so no need to buy the insurance.

Tigerlily wrote:I'm still thinking of trying this mask. I'm looking on cpap.com and I see "returns on warranty issues only". A lot of people said they got to try it risk free for 30 days. Was that a special initial offer? I don't see that info anywhere.

Thanks Pugsy! I'm ordering it right now.

SleepingUgly wrote:

newsnore wrote:

SleepingUgly wrote:

newsnore wrote:I have noticed more headaches since using the Tap Pap (the last 2-3 weeks). I am mouth breathing more with this mask, so wonder if it is a dehydration thing.

Or losing therapy through your mouth causing sub-optimal therapy --> headaches.

Good thought - but if my AHI is down there where it should be, then am I right in thinking that this shouldn't be my problem?

I'm not sure that the AHI is valid and interpretable in the presence of large leaks. If your leaks are not large, it may be OK.

I get headaches from being tired, not from SaO2 drops. So if something wakes me all night (e.g., my mouth opening), the next day I'll easily have a headache. One difference is that I don't tend to wake with the headache; it develops later.

That's interesting, as it could well be my problem - although I thought I was doing better with the Tap Pap (not waking through the night so much) - but sometimes we don't really know we are partially waking throughout the night - as we never remember it in the morning. I think I need to have a closer look at my graphs and get to understand them better, so I can see what is really happening or not happening. Thanks for that.

I adjusted the mouth guard to loosen it, and I think that helped a bit. Ultimately, I think I just need to get my machine stats read. I've been better (without headaches) the past few mornings when I woke up, but then around 10am I get a headache again. I have an appt with a sleep specialist in May, so we'll see what my machine says. I feel like I've been sleeping really great, though. I used to wake up often due to my headstraps and the nasal pillow slipping off or getting jostled thus ending in leaks. However, with TAP-PAP, I'm not waking at all. It feels like I used to sleep before CPAP (minus the wake ups and apnea). So far, it's a thumbs up. Now to figure out these headaches...