Headaches Caused by Headgear?

[BuddhaCat]

I'm four months into treatment for OSA and have been successfully using an AirFit P10 For Her pillow mask. I'm 100% compliant and my AHI is typically 1.4 or less.

My current problem is headaches. They feel like tension headaches (almost as if my brows were in perpetual furrowed-mode). I've had migraines for years, but these have been pretty successfully controlled; most likely, they were caused by or related to OSA (and hormones). I figured that when my OSA was under control, the headaches would vanish. Lo and behold, I'm still getting quite a lot of tension-type headaches -- several per week. Sometimes they're quite awful, like this morning.

My latest theory is that the headaches might be related to the headgear on my AirFit P10. As many of you know, that model has one-size-fits-all headgear. To loosen the fit, you widen the strap, and the top part of the strap sits across my forehead or (depending on the fit) right on top of my head.

Since I've been a kid, I've hated having things on my head or in my hair. Headbands and barrettes always gave me headaches. Even though I really like my AirFit P10, it's basically a headband that I wear all night long.

Anyone else get headaches from your headgear? What are my options at this point?

[Pugsy]

How's your cervical spine? Any arthritis in it?

Big bulky head gear with a lower back strap that is wide ....like the ones that full face masks have are a problem with my neck and will pretty much give me a headache within about 5 minutes...don't even make it to sleeping with it. Those straps are wider and also there's the tension involved with that lower strap.
So I have a bad neck and some straps do cause headaches but not the P10...it doesn't even rest anywhere near where the other back straps rest so it doesn't bug my neck at all.

I do sometimes get "neck" headaches but it's related to sleeping position and not the mask straps.

There are a couple of masks that don't use any sort of headgear straps....the Oracle and the Tap Pap.
I have zero experience with the Oracle but the Tap Pap I used successfully for almost a year until the P10 was release and I tried it.
The Tap Pap can be used with zero headgear but it does use a mouth guard to anchor and stabilize the nasal pillows...so a person has to be okay with a mouth guard.

Also.....evaluate your bed pillow. If you do have any cervical spine issues the bed pillow can make it worse.

[englandsf]

Love my P10. I find the same thing but have now figured out that the "front" strap goes just in front of vertical and the "back" strap goes down almost on my neck. Lowest pressure points I can find and just hold the pillows in (I need large ones so they kind of wedge in). I bet you have a sweet spot for strap positions too. Also take lots of care to avoid twists in the strap - that waked me up it's so painful after an hour or two.

Good luck

[BuddhaCat]

How's your cervical spine? Any arthritis in it?

Big bulky head gear with a lower back strap that is wide ....like the ones that full face masks have are a problem with my neck and will pretty much give me a headache within about 5 minutes...don't even make it to sleeping with it. Those straps are wider and also there's the tension involved with that lower strap.
So I have a bad neck and some straps do cause headaches but not the P10...it doesn't even rest anywhere near where the other back straps rest so it doesn't bug my neck at all.

I do sometimes get "neck" headaches but it's related to sleeping position and not the mask straps.

There are a couple of masks that don't use any sort of headgear straps....the Oracle and the Tap Pap.
I have zero experience with the Oracle but the Tap Pap I used successfully for almost a year until the P10 was release and I tried it.
The Tap Pap can be used with zero headgear but it does use a mouth guard to anchor and stabilize the nasal pillows...so a person has to be okay with a mouth guard.

Also.....evaluate your bed pillow. If you do have any cervical spine issues the bed pillow can make it worse.

Hi Pugsy -- hope you are well!

I do have some arthritis but it's normal age-related stuff. (I'm 48, so it's not too bad -- yet .) I agree that big bulky headgear would be a no-no for me, so I was surprised that even the P10 was becoming an issue.

Unfortunately, I can't wear the Tap Pap because I have TMJ. My TMJ doctor said "hell no" when I suggested the Tap Pap.

I wonder about the new Mr. Wizard pillow mask?

My bed pillow is a Bucky Duo buckwheat/millet pillow. I don't think that's a problem, but I can check into it.

Thanks!!

[BuddhaCat]

Love my P10. I find the same thing but have now figured out that the "front" strap goes just in front of vertical and the "back" strap goes down almost on my neck. Lowest pressure points I can find and just hold the pillows in (I need large ones so they kind of wedge in). I bet you have a sweet spot for strap positions too. Also take lots of care to avoid twists in the strap - that waked me up it's so painful after an hour or two.

Good luck

Thanks for the advice, englandsf! I love the P10 too, and hope I don't have to give it up.

I'll keep playing with the strap and hoping to find the "sweet spot." I've also wondered about putting some foam (maybe an earplug or two) between the strap and my head. Maybe that would take some pressure off?

[Pugsy]

I saw that Mr Wizard mask. I have no idea if it would be any better for you or not.
Don't pooh pooh off that "age related" arthritis thing....a little of it can cause a lot of problems and it grows into "a lot" with age which comes with potentially significant problems. I am 62 now...had surgery on my neck at age 50 and now have metal plate in my neck...it helped a lot but I still have issues.

Sounds like you have the bed pillow situation probably optimized. That sort of pillow would be my next recommendation anyway. I use a buckwheat pillow myself and when I don't (like out of town) I am pretty much guaranteed to wake up with a neck headache.

It would be nice if you could at least try something without headgear just to see if it is the headgear that is the main culprit or not. Then you would know where to go from there.
Your choices are really limited though.

[bjl]

Would the Swift FX with Bella Headgear Loops also be an option?

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... eviews-tab

-b

[BuddhaCat]

Would the Swift FX with Bella Headgear Loops also be an option?

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... eviews-tab

-b

Possibly, b . . . I'll have to research this option. Have you tried it?

Many thanks!

[BuddhaCat]

I saw that Mr Wizard mask. I have no idea if it would be any better for you or not.
Don't pooh pooh off that "age related" arthritis thing....a little of it can cause a lot of problems and it grows into "a lot" with age which comes with potentially significant problems. I am 62 now...had surgery on my neck at age 50 and now have metal plate in my neck...it helped a lot but I still have issues.

Sounds like you have the bed pillow situation probably optimized. That sort of pillow would be my next recommendation anyway. I use a buckwheat pillow myself and when I don't (like out of town) I am pretty much guaranteed to wake up with a neck headache.

It would be nice if you could at least try something without headgear just to see if it is the headgear that is the main culprit or not. Then you would know where to go from there.
Your choices are really limited though.

Thanks, Pugsy. I will watch out for my neck issues. In fact, if I didn't do physical therapy exercises from an old shoulder problem, my neck would hurt a lot more.

I really do like the buckwheat bed pillow. Sometimes I use the buckwheat side, sometimes the millet side. Just depends on my needs that day.

Thanks, as always, for your good advice.

[Pugsy]

Good idea about the Bella Loops...I totally forgot about that one.

If you want to try them and not the other traditional headgear that comes in the total package I have some spare unused nasal pillows in all sizes except medium (that size is scarce since it probably is the most used) that I could give you to try....free except for postage which isn't much.

You would still need the short hose assembly though...and that's the priciest part of the mask.
Though sometimes you can find really good deals on EBay for that short hose (either the nasal pillow or Nano cushion hose will work) and the Loops can be purchased separately.

Maybe a way to try a low cost option to try something without burning up your insurance mask allowance.
I got the Swift FX Nano short hose not long ago for $35 on EBay.

I have used the Bella Loops...it might at least answer your question "is it the straps" that causes the headaches.
Back before the Tap Pap came out I would alternate between the Swift FX traditional headgear and the Bella Loops.

[BuddhaCat]

Good idea about the Bella Loops...I totally forgot about that one.

If you want to try them and not the other traditional headgear that comes in the total package I have some spare unused nasal pillows in all sizes except medium (that size is scarce since it probably is the most used) that I could give you to try....free except for postage which isn't much.

You would still need the short hose assembly though...and that's the priciest part of the mask.
Though sometimes you can find really good deals on EBay for that short hose (either the nasal pillow or Nano cushion hose will work) and the Loops can be purchased separately.

Maybe a way to try a low cost option to try something without burning up your insurance mask allowance.
I got the Swift FX Nano short hose not long ago for $35 on EBay.

I have used the Bella Loops...it might at least answer your question "is it the straps" that causes the headaches.
Back before the Tap Pap came out I would alternate between the Swift FX traditional headgear and the Bella Loops.

Thanks so much for this offer . . . let me see if I've got all the parts straight.
(1) I would buy the Swift FX short tube assembly on eBay as follows: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Resmed-Swift-FX ... 0961541473
(2) I would also buy a cushion like this:http://www.ebay.com/itm/CPAP-Pillow-Cus ... 1168297158
(3) I try your extra loops like these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ResMed-Swift-FX ... 0899327320

or is it that you have the cushion and I would need to buy (1) and (3)?

Sorry for my confusion . . .

[Pugsy]

I have the nasal pillows...I don't have the short hose assembly and I don't think I have a spare set of Bella Loops but let me look. I think I gave my last set away. If I have a set...you can have it and all you need is a hose.
Give me a little bit to go through the mess I call "my personal stash"...it's a big plastic tote full of crap.
And I don't remember if I have another set of Loops or not. I will let you know.

So I for sure have these in all sizes except Medium.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... illow.html

Unsure about the Loops themselves but will let you know.

I know for sure I don't have a spare short hose assembly...I think it went with the last set of Loops I mailed out a couple of months ago.

Give me a little bit of time to go look before you buy anything.

[Pugsy]

BTW that's a great price on the short hose assembly at the link you pointed to above...and free shipping too.

Off to go sort through "the stash".

[IreneN]

Or you could buy the Bella complete mask from cpap.com and get the return insurance for $12.30. That way, if you don't like it, you can send it back and it only cost you the return insurance price. But, of course, if you do like it, it's more expensive that way.

[Tatooed Lady]

another thought that might or might not be part to blame...have you adjusted the humidifier setting lately? Personally, I'm good at 2, maybe 3...but if I get up to 4 or 5, I get NASTY headaches.