CPAP & Headaches

Hello,
This is my first time posting and my 5th night using my CPAP machine. I called my doctor today as I've been waking up with headaches each morning since using my machine. I've had migraines & sinus problems in the past but not in the last month and it seemed odd to have one each morning since on CPAP. My doctor advised me to continue usage but to call him if it persisted. He mentioned sometimes the air can "leak" internally into one's sinuses and such causing headaches or sinus problems. Does anyone have similar experienes? My pressure is 17 which seems very high to me and the thought of air escaping internally in my sinuses or under my eyes frightens me. How can I tell if it's regular headaches, migraines sinsus problems or if I truly have pressurized air being driven into my sinuses?? The whole sleep apnea is very new to me & I am anxious at times. I sleep ok w/ the 17 setting for pressure. I haven't noticed a greatr increase in my energy as described by many but maybe it will come slowly. Any replies would be greatly appreciated.

Much thanks, Erica

I am still quite new to this also, and I too could not tell if I was getting as much benefit out of my mashine as I wanted until one night when I got frustrated with the headgead and threw it aside and slept without my CPAP. The next day I felt horrible. Very tired. I hear that it takes time to get your body to recover from the many years you have probably been sleep deprived. For the headaches I have heard other people having what the doctor told you but I myself have not. I would suggest looking through the other posts to see if there are any old posts about this. Hang in there, and keep your spirits up!

Welcome Erica!

The headaches could be from several things. First the forum needs more information on what setup that you have. What brand and model CPAP machine do you have? Do you have a heated humidifier? What mask are you using?

Headaches can be caused by too little humidity -- at a pressure of 17 you are moving a much larger quantity of air through your nasal passages than they are used to. Not having enough humidity can make your nose, sinuses and throat hurt.

Do you know if you had low oxygen levels during your sleep study? Significant oxygen desaturations can give you a headache also. If you had significant desaturations during your sleep study, you can ask your doc for an overnight recording pulse oximeter. They can verify if your oxygen levels are staying above 90% where they should be with this device. (it is the finger clip with the red light)

From my experience, an AutoPAP can increase comfort, as it only gives you the higher pressures when it detects an event starting. My titrated pressure is currently 14 cm/H2O. I started with straight CPAP, so I know what that is like! I got an APAP about a month after I started on the therapy and have been very happy with it. My range on my auto is 10-17 cm/H2O. I fiddled with my settings until my acoustical vibrations came down (snores) and I was not topping out on my graph at the high end of the pressure. The high end is higher than my titrated pressure (the same as yours!), but I am not there very much, and it works better for me. My average pressure runs between 10-12 usually, which means that I am not at the higher pressure as much.

There is another auto out there that has an exhalation relief feature that might be more comfortable with your pressure -- the Respironics Auto with C-flex. Rested Gal or Mikesus can tell you more about that one! It is a very popular machine here. I ALWAYS march to the beat of a different drummer, and I got the PB420e because it is small, light weight and I travel often. I also wanted the software so that I could monitor what is happening.

Please let us know what setup that you have, and the answers that you get will get more specific.

Good luck!