I have searched past posts about this subject and see nothing concerning sleep studies and apnea in the past years. As my neuro is pushing me to get one done I wondered if anyone has had the tests, found to have sleep apnea and found that the CPap machine has eased their CH.

Thanks in advance!
Judy

Judy,

This has been discussed at some length here in the past.

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Is just one example. Put Cpap in the search box above and more comes up.

Regards,

Peter.

Thanks Peter! I had read that series of posts. I will definitely have the test. My every other year 2 month cycle has gone to nighttime hits every 1-2 hours since August 2015..just finished a year with this beast. On the D3 regimen since 2012. At this point I would be willing to try anything... without sleep I feel like I have aged 10 years in the last year. O2 is my lifeline!

Judy

Judy - check your Mailbox.  I am 100% CH free (for well over a year) after a sleep study and CPAP machine.  It has been a life-changing experience, one that I recommend to anyone who suffers from night-time CH attacks.

Keith

Thanks Keith. Got your message and replied!

Judy

Hate to be cynical, but sometimes doctors sell services because they have a captive audience.  Just something to think about.  My Neuro has recommended sleep studies in passing, but not really pushed them.

My wife was in for an ultrasound before our son as born, and a doctor came in, didn't even look at my wife or say anything about the ultrasound, just went straight into a sales pitch for their local sleep clinic and we should both sign up for one.  I almost lost my cool with him, cause i was a waste of our time.

So that is why I am weary of what doctors say sometimes.

Thank you for your imput! There are studies that do show a possible correlation between clusters and sleep apnea plus specific cluster headache sufferers that have benefited from the CPAP.

Personally that's enough for this gal. As a chronic sufferer, daily, every hour or 2 every night..I am willing to try almost anything.

I wonder if Cpap will improve CH too.
Still waiting for my sleep test, over 2 years wait so far.

TeeJ - I can understand your well-placed cynicism.  And I have to admit, when my Headache Specialist first recommended the Sleep Study I was a bit cynical myself.  But her explanation was persuasive.  A clear consequence of Sleep Apnea is a lowering of  blood oxygen levels.  And we know from our own experience that Oxygen is the single most effective abortive for a CH. So it makes some sense that lowered blood oxygen levels can contribute to CH.  In my my case my hits were almost 99% at night so again it made sense.

I was reluctant to have the tests done, but I am sure glad I did.  It has been well over a year now of 100% relief.  If you are suffering from primarily nighttime hits, I would strongly recommend you have the study done. 

Best of luck.

I can imagine considering a sleep trust if the more common Cluster treatment are not effective.
===================================

Neurol Clin. 2012 Nov;30(4):1285-98.
Sleep-related headaches.
Rains JC, Poceta JS.
SourceCenter for Sleep Evaluation, Elliot Hospital, 185 Queen City Avenue, Manchester, NH 03102, USA. Electronic address: jrains@elliot-hs.org.

Abstract
Irrespective of diagnosis, chronic daily, morning, or "awakening" headache patterns are soft signs of a sleep disorder. Sleep apnea headache may emerge de novo or may present as an exacerbation of CLUSTER, migraine, tension-type, or other headache.

Insomnia is the most prevalent sleep disorder in chronic migraine and tension-type headache, and increases risk for depression and anxiety. Sleep disturbance (eg, sleep loss, oversleeping, schedule shift) is an acute headache trigger for migraine and tension-type headache. Snoring and sleep disturbance are independent risk factors for progression from episodic to chronic headache.

PMID:23099138[PubMed