New and wanting relief from headaches

[anglett]

I just found this forum last week and have been reading some of the posts while waiting on the results of my sleep study because the tech let me know I would need a CPAP machine. I just got the diagnosis at the beginning of this week of moderate OSA and I'm actually going to get fitted for a mask this afternoon. I am a little anxious about having to live with this. When I did the sleep study the tech had to wake me up and put the mask on me because my oxygen levels dropped below 80%, and it felt like I was suffocating and I couldn't breath. I thought I would never go back to sleep. I really don't know how I'm going to get used to sleeping with the CPAP.
On the other hand though, I am desperately hoping that once I get over all my uncertainty I will feel better. Since May of this year I have been having horrible debilitating headaches/migraines and since September of last year I have been diagnosed with uncontrolled high blood pressure. I first went to my doctor for the headaches in September and my BP was stroke level and I was 29 years old at the time. I always eat right and last year I would walk a mile three times a week, play tennis on the weekends and also work out in the gym at work occasionally during my lunch breaks. I was slowly loosing weight but as the headaches started I stopped exercising. My doctor put me on BP medicine and the headaches went away for a while until May. My doctor tried adjusting my medicine and even put me on Topamax to prevent headaches but that didn't help and he even thought it was possible I was just stressed. My father's health isn't that good and actually went through open heart surgery in April. I swore to him I wasn't stressed, but I was going to be if I something couldn't be done about the headaches.
A couple weeks ago I went to see him for a check up to get my blood pressure medicine adjusted and my mother went with me. I spent the night with my family with the main purpose to see my doctor because I live 2 hours away, and my mom started joking with him about how loud I was snoring the night before. He all of a sudden started grinning and told me I had sleep apnea and wanted me to do a sleep study. I told him he was full of it and was a little hesitant about it. So he made a deal with me. I was to wear a pulse oximeter overnight and if my oxygen levels dropped I would have to go through the sleep study for him. So here I am, waiting to go get fitted for my mask.
After being told I have sleep apnea I do realize I have lost all my energy. I still eat right but losing weight has been a very slow process. My biggest question is a lot of my research discuss morning headaches as a symptom of sleep apnea where I have headaches all day long morning to night. I have tried everything over the counter to several migraine medicines prescribed to me. I am currently taking Lortab and 800 mg Motrin for the pain in combination with each other and it barely dulls it. I was wondering if anyone else has dealt with the same thing I have and has the CPAP helped? I feel that I am at my wits end and I'm the kind of person that doesn't like the get her hopes up. I know I need to try it to find out but I am very curious if anyone has been as miserable as I have been with headaches and have had improvements.

[Meowser]

Welcome to the group!

Getting your machine will help alot!

I had headaches waking up in the morning and I'd get them mid afternoon (but I also stare at a computer screen allday)

But on the weekends, they were the worst... the longer I'd sleep the worse they got...

I've been on my machine for about 5wks and I'm just shy of 30 (in december).... My headaches have gone away. Mine weren't as bad, but they'd really suck on the weekends.

I would use your machine and go from there. I'd also look into trying the nasal pillows if you have issues with stuff covering your face.

It will probably also help you lose weight alittle faster/easier...

Look at the positives... you'll get your energy back, headaches may go away and you'll be a new you. You can do it!

[Pugsy]

Morning killer headaches and the multiple trips to the bathroom (nocturia) were the first things that improved when I started cpap therapy. Prior to cpap therapy sleep study showed oxygen dropped to 73%.
While not all my headaches were a byproduct of sleep apnea...some were and I saw a dramatic reduction in number and severity.

http://www.stjohndoctors.org/innerpage.aspx?pageid=935

Hypercapnia
increased amount of carbon dioxide in the blood

Hypoxemia
an oxygen deficiency

You can google the above and see how they can relate to headaches.

[Gaga58]

Anglet...same as Pugsy and others, first thing that I noticed was no more headaches. Haven't had one since starting therapy 2 months ago and prior to that, it was usually waking up everyday with one and sometimes keeping it all day.

[Emilia]

Please read this blog by one of our forum members, Janknitz... it will help you greatly: http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/ In addition, you should read, read, read the forum and also learn all you can via the wiki...yellow lightbulb top of page.

[anglett]

I want to thank everyone for replying. I truly appreciate it. I was a complete mess going to my appointment and sitting through it. I had no clue what I was doing. As much as I did research online I still had no idea what kind of mask to pick so I had the respiratory therapist help me out. My doctor didn't write me a prescription for a humidifier so I'm going to ask him to do this because last night I work up a few time coughing because it was so dry. Otherwise though I actually felt really good all day today energy wise although the headaches were still present so it's a start. Again thanks so much and I am going to keep readying up in everything suggested and all the forums here.

[ameriken]

a- It's ok to have sleep apnea
b- It's ok to have trouble getting used to it
c- It's ok if you wake up and find you've taken off your mask or if need to adjust it, or if it feels like its bothering you.
d- It's ok if you have other problems with mask fit, leaks, rainout, and other silly little annoyances. These can be fixed.
e- It's ok if this turns out to be a darned frustrating thing to have and that CPAP therapy can sometimes be a pain in the rear, that does happen.
f- However: it is never never never never ever ever ever ok to sleep at any time without your mask and machine on. If you wake up one morning at 2 or 3 am and want to throw the mask and machine out the window, it's ok to feel like that. But then calm down, get your bearings, perhaps even a warm cup of milk, and then put the mask back on and go back to sleep. That may or may not happen to you, but if it does, it is imperative that you put the mask and machine back on. Regardless of how much of a pain this may or may not be, it is extremely important that you continue building good habits and keep getting used to it by wearing it all the time. You've got to do it.
g- No more sleeping without the mask and machine, ever.
h- Never go to sleep without the mask and machine.
i- Anytime you want to sleep, even if it's a 15 minute catnap, you must wear your mask and machine.
j- You can even wear the mask (without the machine) in the beginning while watching tv, reading, etc just to help you acclimate to it. But anytime you sleep, you must wear the mask and machine.
k- Welcome to the forum!

Seriously, it's not so bad, but some folks do have some difficulties getting used to it. In fact most of us love our CPAP. I do love sleeping with my machine (and with my wife too). What is sad is I've heard something like 50% of the people who start CPAP therapy give it up. That's sad because giving it up is a death sentence. Sleep apnea will eventually get you. BUt if you stick around the forum, you'll be successful.

Just remember one simple rule: never go to sleep without the mask and machine on.

Good luck and hope you stay around!

[sheep1234]

a- It's ok to have sleep apnea
b- It's ok to have trouble getting used to it
c- It's ok if you wake up and find you've taken off your mask or if need to adjust it, or if it feels like its bothering you.
d- It's ok if you have other problems with mask fit, leaks, rainout, and other silly little annoyances. These can be fixed.
e- It's ok if this turns out to be a darned frustrating thing to have and that CPAP therapy can sometimes be a pain in the rear, that does happen.
f- However: it is never never never never ever ever ever ok to sleep at any time without your mask and machine on. If you wake up one morning at 2 or 3 am and want to throw the mask and machine out the window, it's ok to feel like that. But then calm down, get your bearings, perhaps even a warm cup of milk, and then put the mask back on and go back to sleep. That may or may not happen to you, but if it does, it is imperative that you put the mask and machine back on. Regardless of how much of a pain this may or may not be, it is extremely important that you continue building good habits and keep getting used to it by wearing it all the time. You've got to do it.
g- No more sleeping without the mask and machine, ever.
h- Never go to sleep without the mask and machine.
i- Anytime you want to sleep, even if it's a 15 minute catnap, you must wear your mask and machine.
j- You can even wear the mask (without the machine) in the beginning while watching tv, reading, etc just to help you acclimate to it. But anytime you sleep, you must wear the mask and machine.
k- Welcome to the forum!

Seriously, it's not so bad, but some folks do have some difficulties getting used to it. In fact most of us love our CPAP. I do love sleeping with my machine (and with my wife too). What is sad is I've heard something like 50% of the people who start CPAP therapy give it up. That's sad because giving it up is a death sentence. Sleep apnea will eventually get you. BUt if you stick around the forum, you'll be successful.

Just remember one simple rule: never go to sleep without the mask and machine on.

Good luck and hope you stay around!

Amen!! Well said! I actually look forward to mine now. You WILL get used to it!

[Gaga58]

Same here...I ditto what Ameriken said!! I actually love my machine as well!! Being sleep deprived and feeling so lousy all day long, I think I just was ready for some relief so bad I could of hugged the thing right off!! Yes, there is adjusting and tweaking and LOTS of learning, but it's very do-able and we'd all encourage anyway we can to stick with!! And I may be one of very few "strange" ones, but I seriously get sleepy once the mask is on...almost like a lullaby for me...purely psychological I'm sure, but I'll take it!! Good luck to you!!

[sheep1234]

Same here...I ditto what Ameriken said!! I actually love my machine as well!! Being sleep deprived and feeling so lousy all day long, I think I just was ready for some relief so bad I could of hugged the thing right off!! Yes, there is adjusting and tweaking and LOTS of learning, but it's very do-able and we'd all encourage anyway we can to stick with!! And I may be one of very few "strange" ones, but I seriously get sleepy once the mask is on...almost like a lullaby for me...purely psychological I'm sure, but I'll take it!! Good luck to you!!

Me too!! Once I hear the whoosh of air, I'm usually out like a light! I find it very soothing. It's like, I know once I have my mask on...it is Time To Sleep!

I have a friend at work who's hubby wears a mask and she said she likes the sound of the cpap machine and it puts her to sleep as well. LOL

[avi123]

I just found this forum last week and have been reading some of the posts while waiting on the results of my sleep study because the tech let me know I would need a CPAP machine. I just got the diagnosis at the beginning of this week of moderate OSA and I'm actually going to get fitted for a mask this afternoon. I am a little anxious about having to live with this. When I did the sleep study the tech had to wake me up and put the mask on me because my oxygen levels dropped below 80%, and it felt like I was suffocating and I couldn't breath. I thought I would never go back to sleep. I really don't know how I'm going to get used to sleeping with the CPAP.
On the other hand though, I am desperately hoping that once I get over all my uncertainty I will feel better. Since May of this year I have been having horrible debilitating headaches/migraines and since September of last year I have been diagnosed with uncontrolled high blood pressure. I first went to my doctor for the headaches in September and my BP was stroke level and I was 29 years old at the time. I always eat right and last year I would walk a mile three times a week, play tennis on the weekends and also work out in the gym at work occasionally during my lunch breaks. I was slowly loosing weight but as the headaches started I stopped exercising. My doctor put me on BP medicine and the headaches went away for a while until May. My doctor tried adjusting my medicine and even put me on Topamax to prevent headaches but that didn't help and he even thought it was possible I was just stressed. My father's health isn't that good and actually went through open heart surgery in April. I swore to him I wasn't stressed, but I was going to be if I something couldn't be done about the headaches.
A couple weeks ago I went to see him for a check up to get my blood pressure medicine adjusted and my mother went with me. I spent the night with my family with the main purpose to see my doctor because I live 2 hours away, and my mom started joking with him about how loud I was snoring the night before. He all of a sudden started grinning and told me I had sleep apnea and wanted me to do a sleep study. I told him he was full of it and was a little hesitant about it. So he made a deal with me. I was to wear a pulse oximeter overnight and if my oxygen levels dropped I would have to go through the sleep study for him. So here I am, waiting to go get fitted for my mask.
After being told I have sleep apnea I do realize I have lost all my energy. I still eat right but losing weight has been a very slow process. My biggest question is a lot of my research discuss morning headaches as a symptom of sleep apnea where I have headaches all day long morning to night. I have tried everything over the counter to several migraine medicines prescribed to me. I am currently taking Lortab and 800 mg Motrin for the pain in combination with each other and it barely dulls it. I was wondering if anyone else has dealt with the same thing I have and has the CPAP helped? I feel that I am at my wits end and I'm the kind of person that doesn't like the get her hopes up. I know I need to try it to find out but I am very curious if anyone has been as miserable as I have been with headaches and have had improvements.

When I started CPAP a year ago I have been taking a couple of Tylenol Arthritis for my headaches and a couple of Pepto Bismol for my ingested air. It worked well for 4 months when I have not needed them anymore. My PSG diagnosis a year ago: Severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome