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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> CPAP Machines?
        
(Message started by: Margi on Feb 2^nd, 2005, 12:03pm)

Title: CPAP Machines?
Post by Margi on Feb 2^nd, 2005, 12:03pm

Anyone out there using a CPAP machine for sleep apnea?

Does it make a difference for your clusters?

Title: Re: CPAP Machines?
Post by miapet on Feb 2^nd, 2005, 3:10pm

I asked about a CPAP and was told that it didn't give a high enough flow of o2.
*positive light and energy*
miapet

Title: Re: CPAP Machines?
Post by Margi on Feb 2^nd, 2005, 3:25pm

thanks, Mia - yes, I'm thinking it's not going to do a ch sufferer much good either. But the question was asked of me, so I passed it on.

Title: Re: CPAP Machines?
Post by Gator on Feb 2^nd, 2005, 3:28pm

I've seen people on this website say that it helped with the night time attacks, but did nothing for daytime hits. I've also seen people here say it didn't help at all. If sleep apnea is an issue, it couldn't hurt to try the CPAP. The worst that could happen is it wouldn't work. I've seen testimonials, that had nothing to do with headache, say that the CPAP helped them sleep better and feel more rested and resulted in more energy and mental sharpness the next day.

Title: Re: CPAP Machines?
Post by BikerBob on Feb 2^nd, 2005, 3:28pm

I used a CPAP for sleep apnea several years ago. It got a lot more air into me throughout the night. I stopped using it after a couple weeks because it was uncomfortable.

I wasn't in cycle so I don't know its effect on CH.

However, I was told that you can get equipment to attach O2 to the CPAP and vary the O2 content from 28% to 100%.

Bob

Title: Re: CPAP Machines?
Post by nani on Feb 2^nd, 2005, 3:35pm

on 02/02/05 at 15:28:52, BikerBob wrote:

I stopped using it after a couple weeks because it was uncomfortable.

Bob

The mask can be a trigger for me. It's very uncomfortable.

Title: Re: CPAP Machines?
Post by Redneck on Feb 3^rd, 2005, 11:19pm

I had to quit the cpap during this cycle, didnt help, night attacks came like clockwork. Not sure if it triggered attacks, think it may have. This cycle has wound down some so back on the cpap. I was told originally that apnea could contribute to clusters, but never heard anything about it preventing cycles and it damn sure dont work in place of 02.

Title: Re: CPAP Machines?
Post by brewcrew on Feb 5^th, 2005, 12:00pm

I've been on CPAP therapy for 2 years now, and it has made a positive difference in treating my apnea. Unfortunately, it has made no difference in the frequency or intensity of CH. I was hoping it would, in that there are theories linking the onset of CH to disruptions in sleep patterns, but alas, no dice.

It sure is nice to feel rested when I wake up, though (when I'm not in CH cycle, that is).

One other thing - there are two little nozzles on the front of my CPAP mask that are normally covered which can be used to attach an oxygen feed. (I guess some really severe cases of apnea require extra oxygen as it's the drop in blood oxygen levels that cause the patient to awaken sometimes hundreds of times a night.)

Title: Re: CPAP Machines?
Post by ex_pat_asia on Feb 5^th, 2005, 7:37pm

There is clearly some misunderstanding on the board about the role of CPAP and the probable role of sleep apnea as a concomitant disorder that can aggravate cluster in a cluster patient. First you have to accept that If you are a clusterhead, then there are going to be things that aggravate your condition. These include the well known (to us) triggers like alcohol, chocolate, changes in barometric pressure, and so on. These are pretty widely accepted on the boards here as known triggers of an attack and each of us have our personal list. Not as widely understood is the role of seasonal changes, sunlight, time zone changes, and smells. You can add to the list sleep apnea.

CPAP is the preferred treatment for sleep apnea. Prevention of apneas from occurring, may very well reduce or eliminate cluster attacks altogether. The connection is well established in the literature if not in your Neuroligist's oeuvre of knowledge about cluster.

For a start here is an article link: http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleepdisorders/Snoring_apnea_cluster.htm

And still another reference to the same study:
http://www.respiratoryreviews.com/sep00/rr_sep00_clusterheadaches.html

Finally, here is a link to an earlier study performed by the neurologist (Kudrow), who referred me to the sleep clinic to confirm the apnea diagnosis. This page has the abstract but also has a link to the full text of the study.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=6713522&dopt=Abstract