CPAP Machine Use Side Effects

I was diagnosed with severe apnea last year and as a result, I have been on the CPAP machine for a few days now. Although my breathing has improved and I am able to get more restful sleep every night, I have been experiencing sinus pain and discomfort with its use. This discomfort is now the new reason why I wake up frequently during the night and I get up with a headache in the morning.

Can you tell me if this is a common problem and if there are any suggested solutions? Any advice or comment would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Robert Nichols

Hello and welcome. Your sinus problems may have something to do with your humidifier settings or mask type. If you could list your machine, mask, pressure, humidifier setting, etc. it would help others better know how to be helpful. For starters though what is your humidifier set on?

Thank you for your response. I have the Escape II machine and the humidifier has been on the 3rd notch. I'm trying it off tonight to see how I do.

Thanks,

Robert

Robert, you are using a machine that does not store data about your last sleep session like your AHI, AI, HI, leak, etc....all it stores is how long it was was running. Within the first 30 days, they will let you exchange it for a data-capable machine...don't let them lie to you and tell you they can't. The Escape II comes in two varieties: one delivers the same pressure all night long (CPAP) and the other is an auto-titrating CPAP (APAP) that is set to a range of pressures adjusting the pressure on a breath-by-breath basis. If you have the former, get the Elite II. If you have the APAP, you want the AutoSet II. They might try to tell you these machines cost more, they do for them but they are reimbursed the same amt by your insurance company regardless of whether you had the old Escape like I had or the latest AutoSet which I use now -- now you know their secret, sell patients the least expensive unit 'cause they get paid the same whether it's the bottom of the barrel Pinto or Cadillac .

Believe me, you will want the data to optimize your therapy and track long-term trends to watch for changes in the effectiveness of your therapy. I backslid for 6-months last year into full sleep apnea symptoms again because I had a data-less CPAP and was clueless...not good.

-I don't necessarily recommend this-

I ended up buying my own autoset 2 outright because I wanted the auto and full data capabilities and Apria and my sleep tech wouldn't help one bit. After almost 2 years of that I said screw it, now it's all mine and managed by me.

Shrug.

JC

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I have just started using a cpap system and am wondering if i have the most effective set-up. It has been about three weeks and I have switched from a nasal mask to ResMed Swift Nasal Pillows. My machine is is a Respironics Rem Star plus. I sleep on my side and neither mask stays sealed. I also feel claustrophobic, have congestion in one nostril or the other at most times and have been feeling dizzy like not enough oxygen is getting to my brain. I can't see any difference in how i feel during the day. i had no idea there could be problems with it. I was very excited about getting the machine so i'd stop snoring. That has definitely happened so that is good. Any advice on how to make it more tenable?

Thank you ALL for your responses and suggestions.

Congestion has seldom been a problem during the day, nor do I suffer from a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates. There is something about a flow of air that seems to aggravate my sinuses and cause a headache. I have always been sensitive, while sleeping, to air movement produced by fans, as over the years, they have produced a very similar pain in the sinus cavities around the eyes.

I will check with my CPAP supplier about which model I was sent. I purchased it over the internet with my own funds, since my deductible ruled out any help from insurance.

It is possible that the sinus problems and headaches are due to your sinus cavities drying out during the night with the cpap air, try using a saline nasal spray just before you go to bed and see if that helps. If not I would reccomend seeing your doctor as cpap therapy can cause sinus infections and other problems that may need medical attention.

Robert Nichols wrote:Thank you ALL for your responses and suggestions.

Congestion has seldom been a problem during the day, nor do I suffer from a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates. There is something about a flow of air that seems to aggravate my sinuses and cause a headache. I have always been sensitive, while sleeping, to air movement produced by fans, as over the years, they have produced a very similar pain in the sinus cavities around the eyes.

I will check with my CPAP supplier about which model I was sent. I purchased it over the internet with my own funds, since my deductible ruled out any help from insurance.

Don't trust suggestions on this type of problem when we don't know what type of mask you are using. Join, fill out your equipment profile (text not images) and answer SAGirl's questions.

Regarding the humidifier setting, 3 is likely too high but "off" may be too low. What is the temperature and relative humidity in your bedroom while you sleep?

shnoress wrote:I have just started using a cpap system and am wondering if i have the most effective set-up. It has been about three weeks and I have switched from a nasal mask to ResMed Swift Nasal Pillows. My machine is is a Respironics Rem Star plus. I sleep on my side and neither mask stays sealed. I also feel claustrophobic, have congestion in one nostril or the other at most times and have been feeling dizzy like not enough oxygen is getting to my brain. I can't see any difference in how i feel during the day. i had no idea there could be problems with it. I was very excited about getting the machine so i'd stop snoring. That has definitely happened so that is good. Any advice on how to make it more tenable?

Like the original poster in this thread, you have a bottom of the line CPAP with no data capability. Without data, its very difficult to say whether your apnea events are being adequately controlled, or if you are experiencing leaks or snores which might indicate too-low of a pressure setting. If you can upgrade to at least a RemStar Pro that would get you data. What are your pressure settings?

Tried saline spray the last two nights...but had the same results

Machine: Escape !!

Humidifier: Resmed H4i

Mask: ResMed Mirage Quattro

Thank you for your response. My sleep pressure is 8.0.

shnoress wrote:I have just started using a cpap system and am wondering if i have the most effective set-up. It has been about three weeks and I have switched from a nasal mask to ResMed Swift Nasal Pillows. My machine is is a Respironics Rem Star plus. I sleep on my side and neither mask stays sealed.

Hose management has a big effect on how the mask seals: [b]Rested Gal's [url=http://www.cpaptal ... r hose[/b]
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I also feel claustrophobic, have congestion in one nostril or the other at most times

Congestion in one side is natural and happens to many of us.

and have been feeling dizzy like not enough oxygen is getting to my brain.

Are you taking medication to lower your BP? Effective therapy sometimes lowers BP that is too high, and -- check that.