Need Advice if possible I have been in pain since Oct 22

I started CPAP on Oct 1 it was fine the 1st week the 2nd week I had a panic attack but figured out a solution to that. The 3rd week I got really exhausted and sick not being able to keep food down. I contacted the provider, and she offered me a new different machine. The day I got it I tried to nap with it and after 10 minutes I had severe pressure in my head and neck that kept getting worse over the next few hours so I ended up at the ER they told me to use nasal spray and an antihistamine. The nasal spray seems to help the head pressure some but not the neck not sure if the antihistamine helps anything.

It has gotten worse since then while driving if we go up a hill it's painful if we go on a highway it's painful. Yesterday after accidentally taking the highway and ending up screaming in pain I went back to the ER I was there for 10 hours total they did a CT scan because I have Chiari Malformation of my head all was clear so they sent me home and said to take Ibuprofen. I haven't slept well since I started CPAP and was advised by the provider the day after the 1st ER visit to stop it. I am going to see my family doctor but it's not til next Thursday and I have a call into the doctor I did the sleep study for I don't know what to do in the meantime.

Any suggestions are appreciated because at this point I am about ready to give up life is unbearable because I constantly feel like I am being choked I am not sleeping right and daily tasks are becoming more difficult because of the combo of all of that. I feel like my brain is dying and no one seems to be able to help.I hope this is at least somewhat coherent. Again I appreciate any other advice/suggestions anyone has.

Don't know how helpful this is, but can you separate the whole Cpap/OSA business for a minute from your symptoms and maybe see them as (co)incidental FWIW and see either your own MD or another new one just in case something else is going on? People get tied up in Cpap/OSA and forget there might be other stuff responsible for symptoms. But do bring your latest paperwork etc. with you to be looked at.

I want to second what Julie says: Not everything that is wrong with our health is related to CPAP/OSA.

It sounds like your symptoms are being caused by something other than your machine. You need to see your primary care doctor and if he/she suggests that these problems are related to something else, get it treated.

I agree with Julie and robysue1. I looked up Chiari Malformation Type I here:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/ ... ion-type-i

and I see that pain in the head and neck can be symptoms. When you see your family doctor, ask for a referral to a neurologist. The work-up you received in the ER may or may not have been adequate.

I also see that apnea can be associated with Chiari Malformation. It's possible that a more focused assessment by a neurologist would wind up being helpful in the apnea arena too.

If you feel the machine makes things worse, I'd recommend that you stop using it until you see your family doctor.

Thanks for the replies I stopped CPAP the day this started and have been advised by the provider my therapist and now 3 different ER doctors to stop. The worst pain is in my neck and has been continuous since that day I see my family doctor next week. I'm sorry I wasted everyone's time with this post.

You didn't waste my time. I'm just sorry I couldn't be of help. All my best wishes as you try to get to the bottom of this.