SIDE EFFECTS?

[MEGA]

I've been using the CPAP for about a month. I slept like a baby for the first couple of nights and really felt energized in the morning... now I'm getting headaches and feel like my ears and head are stuffed. Has anyone experienced this?

[BlackSpinner]

Did you change the filters and do you regularly clean the humidifier and mask? Is you mask leaking?

[Julie]

There are no 'side effects' as such from Cpap, only breaking-in annoyances that once sorted out allow us to use Cpap (or Apap, etc.) the way it was meant to be. There are no chemicals involved, no invasive mechanical things to break - all that's happening is that plain air is being pumped in at a more consistent rate than it otherwise would be if we left the job to our own bodies. One problem a lot of us do run into (apart from e.g. aerophagia) is that as a result (often) of the air going in, or just as a long time habit, many of us end up sleeping with our mouths open (unaware, of course) and the Cpap air is all lost that way. SO, the thing to do is investigate full face masks, and/or taping, and/or chin straps (not noted to be very effective). Starting out can be hard as you may go through various masks until you find the right one for you (we all have a few 'experiments' hanging around) but it's 99% the usual problem if things seem not to go right at first.

[fishhead]

I'm new here myself, only on my 5th week with the machine. But I also had bead headaches after the first week on the machine. It turned out to be a sinus infection - mainly due to working out the proper humidity settings (there was a night or two when I think I had it set too high). it eventually cleared up on it's own.

I told my sleep doc about it and he assured me that headaches are not a normal side effect. In fact, I'm kind of curious to see if cpap might actually help reduce/alleviate my frequent migraines. Too soon to know just yet, but I'm hopeful.

Anyways, I hope you get relief soon.

[tattooyu]

I think there could be some side effects (apart from aerophagia, the swallowing of air) to having air being blown into your sinuses. I know I get some side effects from time to time, like nasal congestion (didn't have before CPAP) and fullness in the ears.

Oh yeah, and the side effect of feeling 1 million percent better!

[PST]

I have a strange side effect that has become remarkably consistent. On the whole, my nasal passages are clearer now that I'm using CPAP. The doctor predicted this. I told him I was often too stuffed up for a nasal mask and he said that many people breathe more easily with humidified air under pressure. (I went with full face anyway.) But despite the general improvement, my nose runs for a few minutes every morning after I take the mask off. The discharge is thin, watery, and colorless (yecch! I know. I'm sorry) and all over in a couple of minutes. It's no problem, but it's as regular as clockwork and totally new since CPAP. Anyone else have this?

Another fairly common side effect is sore eyes from mask leaks. Hours of air squirting out at an eye can cause them to dry and even lead to conjuntivitis.

[spacetoast]

Oh yeah, and the side effect of feeling 1 million percent better!

Nice!

[Muse-Inc]

...despite the general improvement, my nose runs for a few minutes every morning after I take the mask off. The discharge is thin, watery, and colorless...

My nose ran for about 20 mins every morning for awhile...big deal I was in the shower anyway. After a few weeks (if I remember correctly) it stopped, never to return...maybe you'll have the same good result over time. My sinuses are much happier than they were pre-CPAP.

[spacetoast]

Do you think the sinus thing is because we spend a little more than a quarter of a day breathing filtered air?

[sarasmyly]

I also get a runny nose in the mornings from time to time.

And I also get the trouble with my ears.... like they need to pop or something. I'm assuming it's something to do with the pressure. How can I stop this annoyance??

[sarasmyly]

Oh, AND.... I often wake up with a sore jaw. What's that about?

Sorry, I'm a newbie.

[ozij]

If you sleep deeper, and have started mouth breathing with a nasal mask or pillows mask, that could be a cause of bad therapy leading to headaches.

Another possible reason for headaches is the placement of the headgear straps.

Sore eyes from air blowing into them are not an acceptable condition - that is really something that should be taken care of by solving the leak problem.

A runny nose happens when we start out -- for some is may be a response to too little humidity.


O.

[MEGA]

I don't have a runny nose but mI walk around all day like I'm in a bubble (that's how my head and ears feel)

[MEGA]

Thanks for all the great input... I guess I 'll have my doc check for possible ear or sinus infection. What is the best method or cleaning solution?

[MEGA]

Ozij... that's something to think about. I have a nazal mask and yes, I've awakened and had my mouth open. Hummmm... so the headaches could be due to "bad therapy" ...