DARK CIRCLES UNDER EYES

I've been using my cpap machine successfully for a little over a year now
and have changed masks every 3 months as suggested. over the corse of the last few
weeks I've developed dark circles under my eyes. Has this happened to anyone else or
does anyone have any advice for me. Thanks

I guess it's just stress, I've had much of it as of lately

I start seeing dark circles when I have problems with my sinuses......usually, I'm aware of it before the doctor because of the circles!

I've been using an OTC nasal spray called 4way sinus relief or something like that just about every night before I
put on my mask. It says that you're not supposed to use it more thatn 3 days in a row and have been using it on a nightly basis. I wonder if that is attributing to the dark circles due to the fact that I'm using it more that the recommended amount of time.

Before Cpap, as exhausted as I was, I did not have dark circles. Now, 5 weeks in and having good numbers, I've got dark circles. Go figure.

Good Afternoon,

The subject of "Dark Circles" caught my eye!

My "dark circles" seemed to appear at the same time and frequency of my apnea symptoms over a period of a few years. My eyeballs hurt when I was suffering from the worst apnea symptoms, which was eliminated with cpap. I have used the dark circles to diagnose sleep apnea in my family. My mother and I have dark circles and are on cpap. My three brothers have no dark circles and no complaints of fatigue or other. Cpap does not seem to have any effect on the circles for me or my mother.

I would like to get to the bottom of these circles, however it may be as simple an explanation as the tissue under the eyes has "relaxed" at the same rate as the tissue in the back of the throat that caused apnea?

Georgio

Nuke Wichols wrote:I've been using an OTC nasal spray called 4way sinus relief or something like that just about every night before I
put on my mask. It says that you're not supposed to use it more thatn 3 days in a row and have been using it on a nightly basis. I wonder if that is attributing to the dark circles due to the fact that I'm using it more that the recommended amount of time.

Two years ago, I finally admitted to my family doctor that I had been using nasal spray since I was pregnant with my son......he's now 33!!!! Even though she didn't see any damage caused by it (that's what's claimed by the "experts") she had me change to Rhinocort. I hardly ever use it any more! Other doctors had tried to stop it but they'd give me a Menthol type and it would burn like the devil so I wouldn't use it. I have had dark circles off and on before and after diagnosis of apnea. I've been on machine for almost 4 years and have the circles show up now and then. Maybe the nasal spray isn't enough....I usually take an antihistamine tablet - Claritin.

I use Fluticasone Spray and Zyrtec-D every day now. I can breath through my nose much better than ever before, however I don't see any impact on dark circles.

Georgio

Recently, I have also noticed dark circles under my eyes. I always had them, just never this dark. I have been on CPAP for 6 mos and they are definitely worse now. I do not have any sinus problems. I do not know why either.

Gail

I had soft palate and tonsils removed- surgery (partial UPPP) . The night the I spent in the hospital they put a loose breathing mask on me pumping pure Oxygen, blowing the air in my face (out of a green tank- I double checked). When I woke up my eyes looked amazing. Very wide open and perfect looking. No dark circles or puffiness and I felt 'somewhat refreshed' even though I only slept 4 or 5 hours. I have never looked like that after waking up my whole life. I was also elevated in the electric bed. I have read that this can also help sleep apnea but I think it was the oxygen.
*** My doctor warned me USING OXYGEN CAN BE DANGEROUS.** so please don't try it without help from your doc. Causes very bad medical problems if pure oxygen is used all the time, but, if used properly it can be done in moderation by adding a feed of oxygen into the cpap/bipap machine somehow, for example. I haven't tried that yet because my doctor is reluctant to use it until we try other things, but it looks like I am going to try it. Possibly adding oxygen feed to by BiPap machine. I will update this post if I try it.

Also I tried elevating head of my bed (4" up on cement blocks) and that doesn't seem to have much impact on my sleep but maybe. I have been sleeping well. I read that this helps some people. Possibly affecting the way throat closes and gravity angle.

I have sleep apnea and use a BiPAP machine. I was diagnosed a few months ago. I have had dark circles and sleep apnea all my life, but have noticed dark circles and puffy eyes are much worse sometimes after I wake up, even after a great night of sleep on the BiPAP machine with clear nasal breathing. Switched to nostrils nasal mask and that has worked GREAT for me. Very small and light, not much touches the face so hardly know it's there. I hardly notice Bipap machine in on anymore.