Are aching sinuses expected at first?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
jrgood27

Are aching sinuses expected at first?

Post by jrgood27 » Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:30 am

My first night of therapy was a bust b/c the sleep med my doc gave me (Rozerem) gave me profound insomnia.

But I did get 2 hours of very shallow sleep on my APAP (S8 Vantage with Heated Humid - Set to Auto 4-18).

And another half hour nap today. My sinuses ache at the top of my head, around my jaws and beneath and around my eyes and my ears ache. Is this expected? Or does it point to a problem with my set-up?

I'm using Swift Nasal Pillows medium. No leaks that I can detect. The pressure only got up to 5.4.

I'm not a person with sinus trouble normally and I never have earaches. Just wondering if this is something to talk to my RT or doc about or if it's 'normal' at first.

Jenny


jrgood27

that should say

Post by jrgood27 » Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:31 am

Set to Auto 4-18.


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Linda3032
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Post by Linda3032 » Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:44 am

Most of us here on the forum consider that wide of range too much. Unless there is a good reason to have it that wide open, it's better to narrow the range to 2 or 3 above and below your titrated pressure.

Yes, it's kind of normal to expect aches and pains. Your mask might be too tight. You are sleeping in a different position than normal. Your pressure is too high - and causing pressure in your ears.

I find my ears ache if I set my humidifier on 2 or 3. I get fluid (moisture from the humidity) in the canals and that hurts. If I run my humidifier on 1, that doesn't happen.

So, yes, it's normal (to some degree). Only you can tell if your pains are serious enough to go to the doctor.


_________________
Machine: DreamStation Auto CPAP Machine
Humidifier: DreamStation Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Compliant since April 2003. (De-cap-itated Aura).

jrgood27

thanks

Post by jrgood27 » Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:52 am

Yeah, I wouldn't say it's serious pain - just general dull ache in the sinuses and ears. I'll try turning the humidifier down. Thanks!

The range is wide because I haven't had a titration study - using the APAP to collect data instead I guess to determine what my pressure should be.

Jenny


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Snoozin' Bluezzz
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Post by Snoozin' Bluezzz » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:29 am

Yes, at least for me, burning sinsuses were a problem when I first started out. It did go away reasonably quickly and it hasn't returned since Feb. Don't know if it because I became aclimated or if there was an environmental factor as the heating season waned.

David
Only go straight, don't know.

Malibu
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Post by Malibu » Wed Jun 14, 2006 8:13 pm

I had minor sinus pain but found that using a nasal rinse before going to bed helped greatly.

I use NeilMeds pre-packaged packets (about 1 cent a piece) but others have found good luck using their own recipes...

Also, I have the Swift nasal pillows also but found that to be more irritating to the sinus areas. I finally went to a Resmed Activa mask (any mask will do, that is just what I use) and found that sinus/nasal irritation disappeared totally. Everyone is different of course and some people swear by the Swift setup...

Marc