sleep apnea & headaches

[cathy5578]

I have sleep apnea. I am 42 years old and is not over weight. My problem is I am having headaches durning my sleep. When I wake up fully I don't have headaches. This happens all night long. I don't know if I am having dreams of having a headaches but the pain in my head feels real.Then I wake up and it gone. Does anyone know what going on with me?  

[cuddles2015]

Diane , i thought you might like to read this info

[KatEyes]

11 years without a follow-up study is common but NOT normal, if that makes any sense. People change, our bodies change. Most insurances cover a new study every few years and sooner if there's medical indication for one. I personally would want another sleep study, sooner better than later. You could get an auto adjusting machine with data to check the effectiveness of your treatment. One time when I had a dataless CPAP, my doctor ordered a 2 week trial on an auto to redetermine my pressure needs. That's one route you can take, short of another study. Check the exact name of your machine in case it has data in it that can be retrieved. Is your doctor aware you are having nighttime headaches? It's one thing to not do another study when a patient is symptom free and all is well, but the development of new symptoms merits further investigation. Also, machines should be checked periodically to make sure it's delivering the proper pressure and not malfunctioning.

[cathy5578]

yes i am treating my sleep apnea. Before the CPAP I would wake my husband 25-35 times a night gasping for breath. When I had my sleep study I was told I stopped breathing 102 times durning the night.  I have been sleeping with the CPAP everynight for 11 years. The headaches are new. I have been getting them for about 3 months not everynight but most nights I awake with the headaches. I had my sleep study 11 years ago but the doctor have never had me go back for a new sleep study and the CPAP has never been adjusted is that normal?

[KatEyes]

Are you treating your sleep apnea? If not, that could be a source of your nighttime headaches. If so, are you certain your treatment is effective? Some machines record treatment data that reports how well the treatment is working for your apnea. Also, if you are on CPAP, some masks have straps that are too tight around the lower back of the head and hurt the muscles of the neck that connect the head and shoulders.