Headaches Gone!

[Kody]

Woke up this morning and realized I haven't taken any Advil for almost a month now, my morning headaches appear to be gone!
Still a work in progress with the ASV and lowering the AHI"s, but I'm so glad to be rid of the headaches finally. Been on the hose for a little over 4 months now, and it took about 3 months for the headaches to leave. Is this about normal?

Just wondering for the people who had Morning Headaches, how long did it take for yours to go away?

[stanta]

The first time around headaches were the least of my worries. After my surgery I was free of apneas for about 6 years and they started coming back again, headaches in the morning were my first clue.

I don't think anything is normal with sleep apnea, but I would say it is not unusual.

[bunty]

my headaches have also gone, its a awful fuzzy feeling, I am pleased you feel better, hang in there.

[ems]

You are very fortunate! I still get morning headaches. My Pulmonary/Sleep Specialist just switched me from CPAP to BPAP (something about getting less carbon dioxide), so we'll see what happens.

[2 B Sleeping Soundly]

Kody,

My headaches that I have had for many years, on and off, have gone away since starting CPAP therapy. I used to get the worst migraine like headaches (mostly in the morning) that were made worse if my stomach was too upset to have my morning cup of coffee. I now know that at least the morning ones were probably due to low O2 sat. I am glad you are now free from them as it can make life so much harder dealing with headaches on top of our ongoing OSA/Sleep issues.

John

[2 B Sleeping Soundly]

by ems on Sat Dec 10, 2011 9:17 am
You are very fortunate! I still get morning headaches. My Pulmonary/Sleep Specialist just switched me from CPAP to BPAP (something about getting less carbon dixode), so we'll see what happens.

ems,

I really feel for you! Headaches can (based on severity) be only annoying all the way to completely debilitating. I hope your Pulmonary/Sleep Specialist can dial things in and give you the relief you are looking for.

Take care,

John

[ems]

Thanks, John. I hope so. Debilitating is exactly the word!

[JohnBFisher]

Kody! Welcome to the "Thank-God-for-my-ASV-unit Club". As you've probably noted, there are quite a of us who use ASV units. The number is not as large as other units. But ASV units can be tricky. It takes quite a bit to adjust to them.

It's great to hear that you are waking without the headaches. But I do have one public service announcement to make. If you have problems with severe apneas (central or otherwise) that are not treated, it can lead to both the headaches and uncontrolled high blood pressure. If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, be VERY careful about using NSAIDs, such as Advil or Ibuprofen. The combination of uncontrolled high blood pressure and NSAIDs (especially ibuprofen) can lead to kidney damage! Yikes! The label does NOT state that, but I've had the chance to learn that it's a common enough problem that it SHOULD be on the label.

So, in short ... uncontrolled apneas can lead to uncontrolled high blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure with NSAIDs is a great way to permanently damage your kidneys. Avoid that combination if at all possible!

So, it's really good to hear you are seeing reduced / eliminated headaches! That's one less worry!

[JHZR2]

Me too!

Im a big guy, a bit overweight currently, but quite tall, carry a lot of muscle, etc. I was waking up with bad headaches sometimes - felt like a hangover, but was somehow related to the sub-oxipital muscles at my neck/base of my skull on the left side. Press there and the headache (behind my left eye typically) would go away a bit... Of course it would come back.

Was definitely related to sleep - not enough and Id get one eventually. Too much and Id more often than not get one too.

I thought it was my pillow, tightness/need to stretch, etc.

I still have a "crack" or "crick" in my neck at that spot, so there is some muscular component to it, I guess... But I have not had headaches like I did (they werent chronic, but I could expect to have them every now and again) since starting treatment...

Which is great!

[ameriken]

That's great news Kody.

I too have occasional morning headaches. My VA doc is setting me up to take home an oximeter for a night to see how my 02 levels are.

I appreciate John's comments about advil and nsaids. I used to be big on advil....no more.

Kody, how are your AHI's, are they coming down? Where are you at currently? Back in Oct I raise my IPAPmin from 5 to 7 and since that change, only once has my AHI been as high as 5....everything else has been 2's and 3's. But, I do still feel tired, thus the oximeter.

[Kody]

So, in short ... uncontrolled apneas can lead to uncontrolled high blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure with NSAIDs is a great way to permanently damage your kidneys. Avoid that combination if at all possible!

Thanks for explaining that John, I have heard you mention that before but didn't realize it's the combination that is dangerous. Luckily I never had high blood pressure, however I was taking the ibuprofen daily for the last couple years which I know isn't good, due to the morning headaches, and general hung over feeling. Luckily that part of the equation is gone.

I too have occasional morning headaches. My VA doc is setting me up to take home an oximeter for a night to see how my 02 levels are.

Kody, how are your AHI's, are they coming down? Where are you at currently? Back in Oct I raise my IPAPmin from 5 to 7 and since that change, only once has my AHI been as high as 5....everything else has been 2's and 3's. But, I do still feel tired, thus the oximeter.

Ken let us know how it goes with the oximeter in your case. I also bought one and 02 levels seem to be good. CA's and OA's are basicaly gone, but still have high residual Hypopnea's from the 4.-12. range.
I went to the Sleep Dr. and he raised my maximums which did nothing. So I raised up my minimum EPAP from 6 to 8 to see if that would take care of the residuals. While it did seem to lower them, I felt Terrible for some reason, so reset it back to 6. I'm starting to wonder if it's that big of a deal to still have high Hypopnea's as long as the Centrals and Obstructive's are gone and your feeling pretty good. Have another appointment with a different person in the Sleep Dept. this weeks so I'll see if she has any ideas.

[ameriken]

Good luck on your appt. I'm surprised at how much difference the EPAP can make. When I bumped my EPAP, I noticed my PTB's dropped significantly. When I went back to my prescribed setting, they came back up. I'll update when I know the results of the oxi.