Headaches during day since starting CPAP

[Jay1975]

I have been using my CPAP since about March. It has helped me sleep much deeper and I also wake full of energy. My problem is that I get random headaches throughout the day now. Sometimes mild and only lasting 3-5 min. Sometimes more moderate lasting 10-15 min and making me sick feeling.

I'm using the following:
Respironics System One with humidifier.
Setting is on 6, humidifier is on 2
Using Nasal pillow Medium (Nuance)

Use saline nasal spray each night. When I went in for my follow up visit after starting CPAP, the DR said apnea was under control and it was working like it was supposed to.

Any help with the headaches?

[zoocrewphoto]

I have been using my CPAP since about March. It has helped me sleep much deeper and I also wake full of energy. My problem is that I get random headaches throughout the day now. Sometimes mild and only lasting 3-5 min. Sometimes more moderate lasting 10-15 min and making me sick feeling.

I'm using the following:
Respironics System One with humidifier.
Setting is on 6, humidifier is on 2
Using Nasal pillow Medium (Nuance)

Use saline nasal spray each night. When I went in for my follow up visit after starting CPAP, the DR said apnea was under control and it was working like it was supposed to.

Any help with the headaches?

Can you tell us where on your head the headaches are located? Same place every time? Have you noticed any patterns? How many days a week do you get them? More than once a day? Any particular time of day?

A couple possibilities - headgear from mask may be too tight or pushing a particular spot, maybe pinching a nerve or something. Any chance with your improved sleep that you are sleeping in a different position or not moving much, and that is somehow pinching a nerve or causing soreness?

[Julie]

OR, you're just not getting treated adequately at such a low setting - you might want to raise the 6 (gradually - over a week or so) to an 8, but if you don't know how, we can help.

[avi123]

I would try raising the pressure up to 10 cm but I doubt if it will take the headache away. If I have a headache during the day I take 2 Tylenols. If I have a headache after 4 p.m., I then take EARLIER my daily pre- sleep mediation of Alprazolam (generic XANAX) 0.5 mg tablet {not the extended release} and a 300 mg Gabapentin capsule. It usually takes my headache away for the rest of the evening.

If you take any psychotic medications then it could be a cause for headaches.

[Jay1975]

So I get the headaches at different times of the day. It does not seem that they occur everyday or at any certain time. I tried to narrow down triggers and I'm having a hard time. They can be on one side of my head at the band area or they can be on both sides and in the back along the band area.

I do take medicine for high BP and I do know that one of the side effects is headaches, but I have taken them for 10 years and never had this issue. That is what makes me think this is related to the CPAP.

As far as the headgear too tight, I would think maybe just the opposite. I tried not to tighten it too tight for fear of it bothering me all night.

[Pugsy]

Respironics System One with humidifier.

Which model System One machine? Look on the bottom of the blower unit for a 3 digit number which may have DS or REF in front of it.

I wouldn't go increasing the pressure without evaluating the therapy effectiveness first if at all possible...hence the question about model number. Some models collect useful data and you can use software to evaluate your therapy.
Some models don't.

I sure wouldn't jump from 6 cm to 10 cm without verification of need.

Normally headaches that are associated with cpap therapy effectiveness or strap tension are going to be present when you first wake up in the morning and not something that pops up in the afternoon.
How is your cervical spine? Sometimes the straps and/or sleeping differently on the bed pillow can create issues with the neck which might make for an increase tendency to get headaches.

[Jay1975]

Does 260P make sense for a model #?

[zoocrewphoto]

Does 260P make sense for a model #?

Unfortunately, yes. This model has no data.

[Pugsy]

Does 260P make sense for a model #?

That would be the PR System One 60 series Plus CPAP with CFlex...basic entry level machine with no data on the SD card except hours of you. What we not so lovingly call a "brick".
See this blog especially the part down at the bottom "help, I have a brick".
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/
Unfortunately there is zero way to evaluate your therapy except "how you feel" and that's not such a great thing to go back in most situations.