Headache Experiences?

[ZombieHead]

Hi everyone,

I'd like to hear some anecdotes about headaches from other CPAP users about headaches. Did you have headaches due to apnea before CPAP therapy? Can you describe what they were they were like in detail? Did CPAP improve them? How long did that take?

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[chunkyfrog]

I only remember that I used to wake with a headache, which eventually faded.
Details unavailable, I just don't remember them. Cpap solved the problem.
Symptoms vary with the individual, especially with headaches.
Talk to your doctor.

[Wulfman...]

Hi everyone,

I'd like to hear some anecdotes about headaches from other CPAP users about headaches. Did you have headaches due to apnea before CPAP therapy? Can you describe what they were they were like in detail? Did CPAP improve them? How long did that take?

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

I think that most folks will tell you that their headaches went away. Of course it depends on what their cause was, but if it's like blood pressure, they should go away once the person gets their therapy optimized.


Den

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[Papit]

In addition to one's CPAP machine, a pulse-oximeter is a good tool to have for occasional blood oxygen checking. Headaches are known to be troublesome to some who have low oxygen readings which can be caused by sleep breathing disorder.

[Guest]

In addition to one's CPAP machine, a pulse-oximeter is a good tool to have for occasional blood oxygen checking. Headaches are known to be troublesome to some who have low oxygen readings which can be caused by sleep breathing disorder.

Not to derail the conversation (still interested in replies regarding headaches) but is this necessary if my CPAP machine tracks AHI? I was under the impression that if AHI was low, oxygen saturation must be good. Also, can you recommend any models for this?

[Papit]

In addition to one's CPAP machine, a pulse-oximeter is a good tool to have for occasional blood oxygen checking. Headaches are known to be troublesome to some who have low oxygen readings which can be caused by sleep breathing disorder.

Not to derail the conversation (still interested in replies regarding headaches) but is this necessary if my CPAP machine tracks AHI? I was under the impression that if AHI was low, oxygen saturation must be good. Also, can you recommend any models for this?

If AHI is low, I wouldn't expect your headaches are sleep related but more likely caused by something else. If you want to check your blood oxygen, I use and would recommend the Contec CMS-50i. It's a sweet unit that is worn like a wrist watch with a connected finger sensor. It cost me $97 online from a Chinese company and came in about 10 days. See instruction link in signature line below.

[ZombieHead]

In addition to one's CPAP machine, a pulse-oximeter is a good tool to have for occasional blood oxygen checking. Headaches are known to be troublesome to some who have low oxygen readings which can be caused by sleep breathing disorder.

Not to derail the conversation (still interested in replies regarding headaches) but is this necessary if my CPAP machine tracks AHI? I was under the impression that if AHI was low, oxygen saturation must be good. Also, can you recommend any models for this?

If AHI is low, I wouldn't expect your headaches are sleep related but more likely caused by something else. If you want to check your blood oxygen, I use and would recommend the Contec CMS-50i. It's a sweet unit that is worn like a wrist watch with a connected finger sensor. It cost me $97 online from a Chinese company and came in about 10 days. See instruction link in signature line below.

Well, at the moment, my AHI is certainly NOT low, as CPAP hasn't been in use. I just thought that a low AHI would preclude low oxygen saturation, and that since my machine tracks that, looking at oxygen saturation wouldn't be needed. Is it possible to have low AHI but still have low oxygen saturation? If so what would cause such a thing?

Edit: Thanks for the link. I will look into that.

[Wulfman...]

I would think it would be possible if the user was a smoker, lived at high altitudes or otherwise had some limited lung function of some kind.
But, if normal daytime O2 levels are above 90 and the nighttime therapy AHI was low, it probably wouldn't be a factor.

Years ago, I used to get headaches in the back of my head/neck area when the weather was going to change.....particularly low fronts coming through. But, not after starting CPAP therapy. I hardly ever get headaches anymore.


Den

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[RebornSleeper]

Once of the biggest reasons I explored sleep apnea was the EVERY SINGLE DAY headaches and high BP I developed. I only get a headache now for sinus congestion, kink in my neck and such.

My "apnea" headaches went away the first night. I have been able to sleep through the night from the first night without having to adjust to the mask and machine. Someone who takes longer to adjust (nothing wrong with that) may need more time before their apnea headaches go away.

Good luck!

[gregzeng]

Some comments here suggest using oximeters. Ebay has very many, cheap & portable, & upwards. The cheapies work well. Use a recording unit, which stores records for days and weeks.

I calibrated mine, bought cheaply years ago, with my many medical specialists. Luckily, the instructions are poor, lost and now non-existent. But the button menu system was simple enough for an engineer like myself to re-write the manual, if I needed it.

My supposed "epilepsy" and "headaches" are now seemingly due to low oxygen levels to my brain. The medical (University Professor explained that the oximeter-type sensors need to be implanted deep within my brain to record these very quick, slight losses in oxygen levels. He did not know (& still does not know) that in 1974, I was the Admin Officer in the Medical Research Laborartories, University of NSW.

What "we" are saying now, is simple oximeters, even recording ones on eBay, will not be able to detect if your headaches are like mine: caused by Dysautonomia. Google it. Then Google words in it, that you don't understand.

This will show you possible causes, and possible symptoms. Check if you have so many of these many seemingly unrelated systoms as well. In my case: old age & moderate Traumatic Brain Injury, leading to hemiparesis. Luckily I have never been stupid and suicidal (ethanol, nicotine, sucrose, etc). If ever you have been a drugee, like most western people, then you should of course expect to have these headaches.

My CPAP usage, etc is solely due to that traffic accident on December 31st, 3pm, 1984. Headaches, oximeters, etc are automatic results of that spilt second.

[tiredandscared]

If your oxygen saturation goes below 90% or stays between 90-95% for the majority of the time you're asleep, you'll wake up with headaches. The Times my oxygen stays above 92% the whole night. I seem to wake up headache free.

[SewTired]

Headaches can have multiple causes. Honestly, if I hadn't already been treated for 3 other causes, I would have assumed the cpap wasn't working. So, if your AHI and RERAs are low, don't automatically assume that it is related to apnea. Check out other causes.

[BlackSpinner]

I had a headache at lunch time every day that has not re-appeared in almost 6 years unless I read until 2 am.