Have you ever experienced OSA headaches?

[Enchanter]

I don't know what the correct term here is. Robysue described an OSA headache as being tired behind the eyes. Now I don't feel tired behind the eyelids directly, but my head feels pressure somewhere behind the eyes, I think towards the middle of the head.

I don't have the CPAP yet, the doctor hasn't called me yet.

How do you describe these headaches? I want to know if any of you know what I'm talking about. It's not exactly a regular headache, but it's pressure. And you feel the fatigue. I used to say that something is squishing me in the head or that I felt like I was losing blood. Well, those things were just my interpretation. What I really feel is pressure in the head. Now this pressure lasts me the whole day, but the degree varies. It's ALWAYS ALWAYS the worst when I wake up. It's very strong after I wake up. It normally takes several hours to subdue slightly. When the head pressure feels lighter than usual (It's always there) I always have more energy. But the problem is that it's so strong 99 percent of the time. Sure there are things I can do to distract myself from it, but that doesn't change the fact that it's still there. I have had to suffer from it all these years and it's chronic and I've always described it as a Kryptonite. A force that's so strong that there's nothing I can do about it. No stretching, no pills, or any headache medicine helps it at all.

[HoseCrusher]

On the chance that you may have some congestion...

Check this thread out and watch the video.

viewtopic/t105981/Kinda-OT--Lymphatic-M ... erers.html

[ems]

have had to suffer from it all these years and it's chronic and I've always described it as a Kryptonite. A force that's so strong that there's nothing I can do about it. No stretching, no pills, or any headache medicine helps it at all.

Could be that it's allergy related. Are you bothered more in spring and summer? Have you checked this out with an allergist?

There is also the possibility that when you start using your machine, the headaches will disappear.

[SleepyBear83]

Enchanter,

I'm sorry that you're in so much pain . Thankfully I haven't experienced what you describe but I do suffer from chronic migraines and cluster headaches have you tried any medication for the headaches? I'm using Fioricet, it's a prescription med for migraines. When that doesn't work I take 600mg of Naproxen or Ibuprofen as I find sometimes my headaches are more inflammation based.

Maybe this combination might help you? The Fioricet requires a script from your doctor but the Naproxen and Ibuprofen are both OTC. Either way I hope you get some relief and feel better.

[Enchanter]

have had to suffer from it all these years and it's chronic and I've always described it as a Kryptonite. A force that's so strong that there's nothing I can do about it. No stretching, no pills, or any headache medicine helps it at all.

Could be that it's allergy related. Are you bothered more in spring and summer? Have you checked this out with an allergist?

There is also the possibility that when you start using your machine, the headaches will disappear.

No I'm bothered 24-7, doesn't matter the time of year. I always had allergies, they never bothered me before and yes I always worked with an allergist. He said they don't cause anything like this. If it's just allergies, then what's the point of wearing the mask? Seems to me like on this forum people report their problems and everyone always tells them it's not the mask. I wonder at times what the point is then of wearing the mask if sleep and oxygen is less important than everything else.

[Enchanter]

Enchanter,

I'm sorry that you're in so much pain . Thankfully I haven't experienced what you describe but I do suffer from chronic migraines and cluster headaches have you tried any medication for the headaches? I'm using Fioricet, it's a prescription med for migraines. When that doesn't work I take 600mg of Naproxen or Ibuprofen as I find sometimes my headaches are more inflammation based.

Maybe this combination might help you? The Fioricet requires a script from your doctor but the Naproxen and Ibuprofen are both OTC. Either way I hope you get some relief and feel better.

yea medication doesn't help for the headaches. I don't have real headaches, what I have doesn't have an official name. So medication doesn't help. Because like I said, it's waking up that causes me to feel at my worst. I'm weak in the head. I can't recover from waking up. I'm actually better off if I only sleep for 2 hours and sleep lightly because then I have less to recover from. The only sense of relief I get is if I don't sleep at all and then I might go a couple hours where it's slightly better. Sleep really hurts my head, especially when I dream deeply. I already took Ibuprofen before. That helps for pain, not anything to do with my symptom. My symptom is a force. Taking ibuprofen won't erase the fact that sleep kills my head. There's no substitute. This is chronic. No medication helps at all.

[SewTired]

Lack of sleep headaches, OSA headaches, allergy headaches, all pretty much are the same. At one time they hurt in area. At another, it's behind your eyes. Some people have specific symptoms for each, but I doubt they are the norm.

[rance22]

Could it be sinus headaches?
I found at first the pressure would cause my sinus tissues to flare up causing headaches. Once the sinus tissue got used to it I was fine....perhaps thats what is happening.

[Cardsfan]

Could it be from too much caffeine?

[TheDuke]

I surely have experienced headaches. Before I was fitted with a CPAP many years ago, I woke up with a headache virtually every morning. I have had CPAP then BiLevel for about 28 years now and haven't experienced a single headache since I began using a machine every night.

My first sleep doctor many years ago told me the headaches were due to CO ad CO2 buildup due to inadequate Oxygen during my very poor sleep. The problem disappeared after my very first night on CPAP

TheDuke

[Enchanter]

So I guess lack of oxygen at night might not have anything to do with it? Maybe it's just a sinus headache that's causing me extreme pain 24-7, even thought my nasals aren't always stuffed and the allergist told me it doesn't do that? I guess I SHOULD look in other directions, maybe I don't need the CPAP mask since oxygen desaturation might not be a thing.

I don't mean to attack anyone, just a bit ticked.

[Enchanter]

I surely have experienced headaches. Before I was fitted with a CPAP many years ago, I woke up with a headache virtually every morning. I have had CPAP then BiLevel for about 28 years now and haven't experienced a single headache since I began using a machine every night.

My first sleep doctor many years ago told me the headaches were due to CO ad CO2 buildup due to inadequate Oxygen during my very poor sleep. The problem disappeared after my very first night on CPAP

TheDuke

That's the spirit. So you had headaches EVERY morning. And now you have ZERO headaches. So it had to do with Oxygen, and not some allergy problem? Can you explain how your head felt? It wasn't the normal headache right?

[chunkyfrog]

Before cpap, I almost always woke up in the morning with the hypoxic headache.
On the rare occasion, if I would wake without a headache, I would stay up,
even if I had only been in bed for a short time. I knew if I went to sleep again, I would get the headache.
The headaches stopped the day I started therapy. Good motivation to keep the mask on!

[Enchanter]

Before cpap, I almost always woke up in the morning with the hypoxic headache.
On the rare occasion, if I would wake without a headache, I would stay up,
even if I had only been in bed for a short time. I knew if I went to sleep again, I would get the headache.
The headaches stopped the day I started therapy. Good motivation to keep the mask on!

Wow!!! So the problem should get resolved overnight for me? Can you describe your headache? I want to know if it's the same thing that I am experiencing every day. However, do you have to sleep in order for the headache to go away or can you just put the mask on and stay up? And did you notice it when you woke up or did you notice it the first moment you put the mask on? That's what I want to know. I want to know if I have what everyone else describes a headache. It's not the normal headache right? Would you have relief from Tylenol instead of CPAP? Tylenol didn't do anything for me.

[SleepyBear83]

Enchanter,

I really hope you find some help with your headaches as I know that having your head threatening to split open can affect everything in your life . I do have one question for you though, have you seen a headache specialist or a neurologist yet? Perhaps there is something more going on here than just sleep deprivation headaches.