Headaches with cpap

I am on day 3 of cpap. It is going well except for the morning headaches. My sleep report numbers are all good, but these headaches are not. Thanks for any feedback, ideas and support.

Are the headaches something new just starting with therapy or did you have them before you started therapy?
What mask are you using?

Adding to Pugsy's questions:

Where does you head hurt?

Can you describe the pain? Throbbing or dull? One side of the head? All over? Concentrated where the mask straps were?

FWIW it's not the first time the OP's asked the question... help was offered previously but she never returned.

Ahhh...first post pre cpap mentions headaches for 2 or 3 months so they predate the mask and machine.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=155360&p=1181253#p1181253

Given how quickly the original thread deteriorated into senseless name calling, it's not a surprise the OP didn't come back.

If she comes back to this thread, I still want to know the answers to my questions. Not all headaches are related to OSA, but in her case they could be. And she may be expecting too much too soon in terms of eliminating the morning headaches. We just don't know enough.

Yes - I did have headaches (sharp pain in my temples) before I began cpap. That is the primary reason that my doctor wanted me to try cpap treatment, although my AHI was only 5.
It is discouraging that the headaches are worse, not better. I am using a resmed Airsense 10 machine and a Resperonics Dreamwear mask. The equipment does feel comfortable enough - better than I expected - and I am adapting to that. The pressure is set from 5 to 9 and I have a heated hose and humidifier. My "events" per hour are .3, and my resmed "sleep score" is 96, so that all seems to be working. I am using the cpap for 7 to 8 hours per night.

I don't have sinus problems, have new glasses and don't read in dim light. I've had massage treatment for my neck and shoulders which can be stiff. Thanks for those insights.

I am simply reaching out to this community who knows much more than I do for support at this difficult time in my life.
I appreciate whatever encouragement and support you can give me.
As robysue mentioned, perhaps I am expecting too much too soon.
I realize that there are so many variables in any healing.
What I am seeking, besides the real life experiences and information from this community, is compassion and hope.
As I continue to heal, I hope that I may return that to other new members.

Thank you!

Do you happen to know how low your oxygen levels went when you had the sleep study and came up with AHI of 5?
Sleep apnea headaches are usually related to low oxygen (been there myself) and typically go away a couple of hours after getting up because once we are awake the oxygen and carbon dioxide gases get back in balance.
Headaches that last all day are not usually related to sleep apnea.
I had some killer headaches before cpap but they would fade rather quickly once I was awake and up and about. Hour or two and they were gone.

Now I also have had some killer headaches from cervical spine issues...they mimicked the sleep apnea headache in terms of where it was and how it felt but those usually lasted all day (maybe several days) and often I had cervical spine discomfort along with it.
I called the "neck headaches" because it was tension and muscle spasm and arthritis in the neck causing the headaches.
I sometimes still will get them now (had neck surgery) but they are usually associated with sleeping weird on my bed pillow.

If you think your headaches are actually worse since starting cpap....look at the mask straps fitting to see if you have them too tight.
Which DreamWear...the cushion or the gel nasal pillows?
Also if you are having any nasal or sinus changes/symptoms...what humidity setting are you using?
Some people need more and some need less...and it's just something each person has to sort out.

Thank you for all of your ideas.
I appreciate them very much.

My headaches were - and are still - morning or middle of the night headaches.
I don't think they're really worse with Cpap. I was just hoping that they would disappear.
They do pass after a couple of hours, so I'm thankful for that.
I think I may have been taking too much tylenol, thus causing rebound headaches.
I am now using ice on each side of my temples, and that helps. I'm trying to stay away from tylenol.

My lowest oxygen level during my sleep test was 83, but the mean oxygen saturation was 91%.
A total of 2.1% of the total sleep time was spent with an oxygen saturation of less than 90%.
The total arousal index was 8 per hour of sleep.
I use the cushion nasal pillows. They work, but I only wish they didn't have that "new car" smell. Any ideas
about getting rid of that?

I have gained some insight from your feedback - I may be putting all of my eggs in the sleep apnea basket.
I have had a physical with labs (from my primary care Dr.) and have never smoked. He sent me to a sleep dr. who recommended
giving Cpap a try - based on the study and diagnosis of mild sleep apnea, but more on the headaches.

Thanks, everyone!

Might be useful to measure your Pulse Ox levels, you can buy Recording O2 meters, Check with Cooper Medical in Google, you want one that records... Jim

He give a lot of advice...but...wouldn't it be interesting to see what machine and mask the end of alphabet boy uses...(if any). Also, he complains of his CAs and that he needs an ASV even though his insurance company says he doesn't. Would be nice to see his Sleepyhead charts.

HAve you been to a headache specialist? To me, these headaches don't sound like sleep apnea headaches. Mine were always in the morning after a longer night of sleep (pre cpap). I have never had one with cpap. And I also had a very high untreated ahi.

Back in April, I had cluster headaches for over two weeks that started out of the blue. The doctor figured I probably started having them because I had previously gotten sick with E-coli, and I was still dehydrated, tired, and not sleeping or eating well. She gave me a shot to break the cycle of the headache and it did improve over the next few days as I finished recovering from being sick.

I realize this isn't what is going on with you, but it sounds like something did change awhile back, and that may have started a cycle of cluster headaches or rebound headaches. A good headache specialist can help you with this.

valerieshields wrote:Thank you for all of your ideas.
I appreciate them very much.

My headaches were - and are still - morning or middle of the night headaches.

I can see why the idea of sleep apnea headaches occurred and why even with very mild apnea, CPAP was suggested.

But you also write:

Yes - I did have headaches (sharp pain in my temples) before I began cpap.

And that does not really sound like a typical OSA headache.

Sharp pain in both temples at the same time? Or sharp pain in one temple on this headache and sharp pain in the other temple on a different headache?

Is the sharp pain more like somebody sticking an icepick in your temples? Or more like an ax? Or something else? Any throbbing with that sharp pain?

I don't think they're really worse with Cpap. I was just hoping that they would disappear.
They do pass after a couple of hours, so I'm thankful for that.
I think I may have been taking too much tylenol, thus causing rebound headaches.

Rebound headaches are awful. And yes, you'll need to stay away from not only the tylenol, but any other OTC pain med if the headaches are frequent.

As someone who has been a life long (multiple type) headache sufferer, I've been told that if you're taking OTC pain meds more than 2 a week for headache pain, you are running the risk of triggering rebounds. And once you've had rebounds, you really need to limit taking OTC stuff for a headache to no more than once a week.

I am now using ice on each side of my temples, and that helps. I'm trying to stay away from tylenol.

It's good that the ice can help. But it would be nice to figure out what's causing the headaches in the first place. But you may need a headache specialist for that.

How many days each week do you have this kind of headache?

On a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (excruciating pain as in you can't imagine more pain), how painful are the headaches?

My lowest oxygen level during my sleep test was 83, but the mean oxygen saturation was 91%.
A total of 2.1% of the total sleep time was spent with an oxygen saturation of less than 90%.

More reasons why docs thought the headaches might be related to sleep disordered breathing.

How's your daytime O2?

I use the cushion nasal pillows. They work, but I only wish they didn't have that "new car" smell. Any ideas
about getting rid of that?

Time usually takes care of it. When it really bugs me, I usually wash a new pair of pillows in a dilute vinegar-water combo since I much prefer the smell of vinegar to "new car smell". But others find the smell of vinegar worse than "new car smell."

Dr. Bronner's unscented baby Castille soap will clean up your cpap gear without leaving any residual smell.