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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Chronic CH & Sleep Apnea
        
(Message started by: Bob_Johnson on Nov 17^th, 2007, 12:59pm)

Title: Chronic CH & Sleep Apnea
Post by Bob_Johnson on Nov 17^th, 2007, 12:59pm

Refractory chronic headache associated with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.

Mitsikostas DD, Vikelis M, Viskos A.

Athens Naval Hospital, Neurology Department, Athens, Greece.

The aim was to investigate the comorbidity of chronic refractory headache with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAs). Seventy-two patients (51 women and 21 men) with chronic and refractory headaches, whose headache occurred during sleep or whose sleep was accompanied by snoring, were submitted to polysomnography. Patients diagnosed with OSAs (respiratory disturbance index > 10) began continuous positive airway pressure (C-PAP) treatment and were followed up for >/= 6 months. Twenty-one cases of OSAs were identified (29.2% of the total investigated, 13.7% of the women and 66.6% of the men). Headaches were classified into several headache disorders, medication overuse headache and cluster headache being the most prevalent (nine and six of the 21 cases, respectively). In one case (1.4% of the total sample, 4.7% of all the men), the criteria for hypnic headache were fulfilled. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that age, male gender and body mass index were associated with OSAs. C-PAP TREATMENT IMPROVED BOTH SLEEP APNOEA AND HEADACHE IN ONLY A THIRD OF THE CASES. Patients suffering from chronic refractory headache associated with sleep or snoring, in particular those who are also middle-aged, overweight men, should be considered for polysomnography. C-PAP treatment alone does not seem to improve headache, but further investigation is needed.

PMID: 17999682 [PubMed}

Title: Re: Chronic CH & Sleep Apnea
Post by rolo65 on Nov 17^th, 2007, 1:41pm

I have noticed that the O2 works much quicker for nocturnal attacks than it does for my prevalent early evening attacks. When I wake up, I will instinctively go for the regulator and the mask even if I have to pee so bad it hurts. I keep that dam M tank within arms reach of the bed. ;)

PFW's, Rolo.

Title: Re: Chronic CH & Sleep Apnea
Post by Grinner62 on Nov 18^th, 2007, 10:27am

I had hopes that the CPAP would help. My sleep study showed my O2 saturation dropped to 84%. Low O2 levels sounded like a good correlation to CH to me.
I thought I was changing from episodic to chronic because after my Spring (worse than ever) cluster, I have had shadows almost every day.
Started CPAP in July and although it helped with other symptoms associated with apnea, the beast was still waiting in the wings. Shadows didn't slow down.

The strange thing is the doc gave me some Provigil two weeks ago for the sleep apnea and the shadows have stopped. I'm curious (cautiously hopeful) if this is an accidental preventive. Provigil is a wakefulness promoting agent without the bad effects of amphetamines. Not addictive, doesn't cause jitters, etc.
Only time will tell, I'm due...