Headaches!

[majinmatt]

Hello I am new to everything. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about a month ago AHI 15 and an RDI of 20. I was given CPAP but wasn't really told how to use it so I've been experimenting with a bunch of different settings. I've recently been having headaches almost every morning and I think associated with the CPAP machine. I run a full face mask because I'm a mouth breather for sure and (if this means anything.) I sleep on my back. I'm 38, fit, relatively eat healthy and have an active lifestyle. I'm fine other than these damn headaches. I'm so tired of these headaches. CAN SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASE.

I have an 
-Air sense 11
-Airfit-20 Full face Mask.
Pressure settings are 8.4-11.4
-EPR 3. On.

Am i doing something wrong? Can someone help me please?

Ill post my OSCAR too! Would love to get everyone's feedback.

[Deborah K.]

You would benefit from changing your pressure range to 9 to 13, the 9 because that's where your median pressure is, and the 13 is to give you a little headroom.

You have some leaking, probably from your mask, which needs to be worked on.  It may need to be tighter, but it also may need to be loosened.  Experiment and see what causes the leaks to lessen.

Your Oscar chart needs a little work too.  Delete the calendar so we can see useful information below.  On the chart itself, we don't need respiration rate, but we do need flow limits.

The chart will help us and the pressure change and leak stopping should help you.

Again, welcome, and good luck with improving your therapy and comfort.  

[Crimson Nape]

The location of where your headache originates might help to determine its cause. Please elaborate.  Also, please use the F12 key to take the screenshot of your Daily screen.  You could provide additional information by resizing (increasing the width) the left side to allow it to use one line per parameter and not allowing them to wrap.
- Red

[majinmatt]

Sorry still figuring this out. Is this better?

---

They are usually on the back of my head staring behind my ears kind of wrapping around the back.

[Crimson Nape]

It sounds like you're wearing the headgear too low and possibly too tight.   Wearing the headgear too low will result in pinching the nerves at the base of the skull and neck. This is very common.  This position also will cause your body to want to tilt your head forward during sleep to reduce the tension of the mask, thus causing chin tucking and OAs.  

Here is are the steps I have found that will correct this condition.  Shorten the very top strap until the mask tension does not change, or is very minimal when you tilt your head back.  If it gets tighter when you tilt your head back, then it is still too low.  Repeat adjusting until you can not feel any concernable tension difference from tilting your head forward and back. Try this and see if this eliminates your headaches.  The mask tension should only be tight enough to maintain the seal at the maximum therapy pressure.  Using the mask fit option on your CPAP will cause it to use the maximum set pressure for testing.  That is another good reason not to leave your CPAP at its maximum pressure.  Why adjust the mask for a 20cm pressure when you only use 10 cm normally?  Following these steps should improve your AHI too.

You may wish to review this article on mask fitting for further help.
Mask Primer

Good luck, and please report back any successes or failures.
- Red

[majinmatt]

Ok ill give it a shot tonight. Thank you.