morning migrains following tuff night with cpap

[tvfrfireman]

I rarely visit this site because I feel left in the dust with most of the terminology that is used. I have had a cpap since 1995 and am on my second machine. About two years ago I started getting migraines and as time goes by they have become more frequent. I have noticed that when I am awaken by a burning pain in my sinuses during the night, I awake with a migraine. These pills (Imetrx) are extremely expensive and I am at a loss as what to do. I tried turning my humidifier up to the 4 setting and seems to help just a bit. Other nights, all is well. My Dr. retired about three years ago and is on a sailboat in the Sea of Cortez so I am now doing my own pressure adjustments. If this burning feeling sounds familiar and you can steer me in the right direction, I would be grateful for any help. When this occurs, I spray my nostrils with saline, but doesn't help. Why on earth does the air flow feel so painful one night and the other nights I am fine? Thanks, Dave

[SleepyDragon]

Migrains and sinus headachs are two very different things. Are you sure these are migrains?

I used to wake up with migrains (the real thing with flashy phantom lights and vomiting) before I was diagnosed with OSA. Now that I'm on CPAP I've not woken up once with one.

If you are waking up with migrains, what is your current AI?

[tvfrfireman]

My GP said if they were not migraines, the imetrex wouldn't work. It works. For twenty years I had cluster headaches and they disappeared when I got my first CPAP. I don't know understand what "what your AL " means. If it is pressure, I am currently at 14. Thanks for your response

[OCNorsk]

I didn't know what anything was either. In fact, I didn't even know my machine had a read out until I was told on this forum last week. I have had all kinds of headaches. I was especially plagued with them before CPAP... they would often start as one type which would trigger a migraine. After CPAP I got the dried out sinuses which would lead to headaches. So I didn't want to use the machine...which is how I found this forum. I was told that probably it was because my mouth was open (although I had chin strap, in fact TWO of them). I have tightened up the straps, made sure my mouth was shut and I have had much, much better nights and so far (fingers crossed) no headache. I do have my humidity at four. A humidifier in the house and the window open.

[SleepyDragon]

My GP said if they were not migraines, the imetrex wouldn't work. It works. For twenty years I had cluster headaches and they disappeared when I got my first CPAP. I don't know understand what "what your AL " means. If it is pressure, I am currently at 14. Thanks for your response

Yep, If Imetrex works they ARE migraines. I use it too.

AI (Alpha India) is for Apnea Index. Its your number of apneas per hour. My VPAP III has a menu function where I can see my average AI per night, week, month, 6 month, and year. Its great for tracking how effective your treatment is.

I've not read anything to back this up, but I think low blood oxygen saturation can cause migraines.