11 days in and on my fifth day of non-stop headaches

[callisto9]

Hello sleep peeps! I am about 11 days in days with my ResMed AirSense 11. Tweaked a few settings after some advice from the CPAP subreddit (turned ramp off, set pressure range from 7-15, turned off humidifier). Put in the SD card several days ago so I could see the data in Oscar.

I'm meeting mask compliance for insurance purposes, and most nights, I make it through the whole night with the mask on. However, I often am in bed for 1-3 hours with the mask on, AWAKE, as I'm still getting used to the mask.

Starting Sunday, I've had a terrible headache non-stop. It's all day. Nothing helps (med wise). Seems like a tension headache. If this keeps up, and it's due to CPAP, I will not be able to continue treatment as the headaches are making each day unbearable.

Wondering if there's anything in my Oscar data that might point to why I'm getting these headaches. I'm not normally someone who gets headaches, but when I do, they are maybe once every few months, and handled by ibuprofen.


       

[Rickyricardo]

I'd' find not using a humidifier to be quite uncomfortable.

Unless you are in Florida with no AC I can imagine it would be quite dry which cannot help headaches.

The mask, not named, might also cause headaches if it is too tight. The only one I can imagine not being too tight is the ResMed P10 which is often not tight enough (unless you have a huge melon) . Also try the three different nasal pillow sizes.

[SarcasticDave94]

I was thinking similarly. Is your mask adjusted to be very tight?

[callisto9]

I have the ResMed AirFit N10 mask. It's not too tight, nor too loose. I believe it's listed in my profile on the side of my post.

I have turned up the humidifier to level 2 (out of 8?)

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Also, it's been SUPER humid here in Iowa, and I overheat easily, so I turned the humidifier option way down.

I'm on day seven now of a non-stop headache.

Is it possible my pressure is too high and that could be causing it?

[HalfAsleep]

The “subreddit” advice seems off to me.

Turn the humidifier on. If you are in an air-conditioned setting, the air is not humid. However, turn the temp on the humidifier down. This should help your feeling of overheating. Personally, I love the cool air in my nostrils, and find it very relaxing.

-Ask your DME to issue you a different mask, so you can experiment. Get one that maybe has a different placement for the straps. Maybe with the hose off the top of the head instead of at the face, or vice versa. You are allowed to have a different mask within first 30 days of starting therapy. LankyLefty on YT models the most popular masks if you need ideas.
—Make sure the mask isn’t too tight.
—Check especially that the straps aren’t on the jaw joint, or at least that there’s nothing nubby right there.
—Check other areas where the straps may be giving too much pressure, e.g. in the nape of the neck or behind the ears. This is a very individual thing.
—Try padding the straps. You can experiment with wrapping them with rags. If that works, get some fun strap pads from etsy
—Make sure you aren’t sleeping in a position that’s pressing the mask into your face or jaw joints.
—Make sure, if you have a hose on the top of your nose, that it’s not smacking into the headboard and causing you grief.

[callisto9]

I turned the humidifier up to 4 (out of 8) last night. 

I will see about getting a different mask. It’s definitely not too tight. I can barely feel it on once I am drifting off to sleep. 

Hose doesn’t seem to be in the way. 

The mask may press against my jaw/side when I am sleeping on my side, but I usually fall asleep on my back. 

Thank you for responding HalfAsleep. I appreciate it. 

Day 8 with a headache…

[HalfAsleep]

You can also change the temperature of the humidifier.

This is very likely a mask issue… Looking at that mask..I can see a number of potential pressure points, including jaw displacement, strap across the cheek near the sinus area, behind the ear, and in the nape of the neck, where the headgear can dig or prevent your head from moving freely. The same points appear on many masks, but not every one!

Could you be getting dehydrated?

The pressure settings may need attention as well. That’s not my skill set.

[SarcasticDave94]

Does this sound like the headache, especially the first 2?

Symptoms of sinus headaches include:

Deep, constant pain in the forehead, cheekbones, or bridge of the nose

Pain that worsens when moving the head suddenly

Feeling of fullness in the ears

Fever

Runny nose

Swelling in the face

This is a description of a sinus headache, that can even be caused by external pressure, for example, at the bottom of the nose.

Had you tried the ResMed P10? P in ResMed masks will be pillows style. If you wish to try that one, probably only requires changing cushions.

[callisto9]

Thank you HalfAsleep. I am going to try a different mask. I stopped using the CPAP machine two days ago while I try and figure this out. I even went to the ER yesterday as the headaches are freaking me out. Pretty sure at this point, it's a migraine, but it may have started as a tension headache. Dehydration is definitely a possibility.

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SarcasticDave94:

I don't have most of those symptoms:

Deep, constant pain in the forehead, cheekbones, or bridge of the nose
Pain that worsens when moving the head suddenly
Feeling of fullness in the ears
Fever
Runny nose
Swelling in the face

I think what I have is a migraine and/or tension headache. I went to the ER yesterday, as I was sufficiently freaked out by a nine-day headache, and I have stopped CPAP for the time being while I figure this out. I have never had a headache like this, and never one that lasted this long and didn't respond to treatment. It's awful.

[SarcasticDave94]

OK copy. Best wishes you get the headache relief. I get migraine, sinus, and probably tension style. Each are bad in their own ways. And because of my several meds, I can only do Tylenol based pain killers, which don't really cut much.

Hoping things get better for you.