Has anyone experienced a tingling sensation (just under the scalp) along the side of your head from just below the jawbone up to the crown of your head?  It's like the feeling when your foot or hand is going to sleep.  Now that I've gotten somewhat accustomed to sleeping with my CPAP, frequently during the day I experience this tingling sensation.  Not only is it irritating or troublesome, but I also wonder what's causing it.  I googled tingling sensation on side of head and only came up with the possibility of having had a small stroke (TIA.)  I'm hoping it's the overnight pressure of the chin strap combined with the nasal pillow headgear that's causing this tingling.  I surely don't want to to have been a small stroke.  If anyone out there reads this and has had the same problem, please respond to this post.  Thanks.

what a strange feeling that must be.

I haven't had that, but I have had a TIA.  Mention it to your doctor so he can be more alert for problems.

Once issue I HAVE had, that you may find useful, is that in the areas where the straps set on my scalp, I've had a horrible outbreak of psoriasis.  Which itches like crazy.  So perhaps your scalp is sensitive to the mask fabric, or the rubbing.  Have you had someone actually look at this spot (I don't imagine you can see it yourself) to see if there is any redness, scaling, raw skin or whatever?

note:  I had the psoriasis before starting CPAP, but it was just in a few spots.  Now it covers a large portion of my scalp, right along the lines where the mask sits.

Heartbreak of psoriasis, they got that right!


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Give peace a chance

Petmama - - - Thanks for response.  I have had no problem with psoriasis in scalp and my scalp feels fine.  The tingling is definitely under the skin.  I've decided to try sleeping 2 nights without the CPAP to see if it is what's causing the problem.  If the tingling continues, I will call the doctor and go in.  I'm sure that the heartbreak of psoriasis is indeed true.  Thanks for sharing.

I have had this exact sensation only right before falling asleep when on cpap. I'm thinking it's something to do
with the facial nerve but have no idea what. I think of it as my getting more oxygen feeling although I don't
know what it is. I hope I haven't had a stroke.

I was thinking about this.

I wonder if the release clip, or some other part of your mask, presses against a certain nerve.  So that it tingles for quite a while after you wake up.

You might find that just cushioning the clip area, or adjusting the mask so the straps set a bit differently, could keep it from pressing there.

I hope it's nothing more serious than that.


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Give peace a chance

I have been using CPAP for over a year with good results, except my scalp breaks out in pimples under the places where the straps fit. I think its related to your psoriasis problem because there's pressure against the skin

It's been 7 months now and the tingling continues.  I don't think it's where the mask touches me because I'm now on my 3rd mask.  The first one they included with my CPAP machine was too big; the second one was a nasal pillow and it broke me out all around the outside of my nose and between my nose and my upper lip and also caused me to have a W. C. Fields nose (big and swollen kind of like a cauliflower) upon awakening every a.m.  This 3rd mask is much more comfortable, although I doubt any of them are totally satisfactory.  I have a petite nasal mask; it's a little large, but I can deal with it.  The last one I purchased online.  Anyway, I just live with the tingling, although it isn't as frequent as it was.  The other thing I wanted to address is the psoriasis.  So glad to read about someone having it.  I don't know if that's what I've gotten but I've never had scalp problems or even dandruff.  Now, the side of my head that tingles is broken out, itches and feels "different."  I'm positive this is from the mask straps.  I'm not sure at this point that a good night's sleep is worth using a CPAP, but I will continue trying.  Thanks to each of you who have responded to my messages.

JSM wrote:

It's been 7 months now and the tingling continues.

Surely in the last 7 months you have asked your Doctor about this.

What did he/she say?

" I'm positive this is from the mask straps. I'm not sure at this point that a good night's sleep is worth using a CPAP, but I will continue trying. Thanks to each of you who have responded to my messages"
      JSM think about this statement that you wrote, CPAP and all of it's components, can and often do cause problems, but most are small and somewhat trivial compared to Sleep Apnea, and what it can do to you. Try to figure out what is actually causing the tingling sensation, I know I have issues with the straps on the back of my neck, the pressure from the straps causes me to have muscle spasms in my neck and I also get pain and some numbness and tingling in the back side of my head and right ear and jaw.  It is caused from the pressure of the strap on the nerves in my neck. I haven't completely fixed it yet, but a folded over wash cloth under the strap does help a bit. Also washing your head gear straps frequently, might help with the skin irritation. Talk to your Doctor, just don't give up on your CPAP. Having a really good nights sleep is more than worth putting up with the few minor problems that pop up now and then with CPAP. Fix the problems as they come up, just don't throw out the machine and the treatment! Just keep trying! Good Luck to You

White Beard - thanks for your input.  I won't give up, although I do occasionally for 2 or 3 days; then I grit my teeth and go back to it.  It just may be that, hard-headed as I am, I am placing too much emphasis on the small problems because I so hate to have been diagnosed with apnea.  I fully realize how much more alert and wide awake I am during the days when I've used the CPAP the night before, so I know it truly is something I must continue using.  There are so many of us suffering from apnea that it's sad to think no one has come up with a really comfortable way to connect with a CPAP, although I know the technology gets better all the time.

JSM just stick with it, I know there has been many times I have felt like pitching it all out but I don't! I agree with you, it certainly would be great if they would improve on the comfort level, especially on the masks and head gear! I have often thought if they could just treat XPAP Masks and head gear like they do limb prosthesis,  custom made  for each individual face  but at a reasonable price. What an improvement that would be! But that is not the here and now, so we just have to make do with what we have, and do our best! I sure am glad they have this forum though! You are right the technology  it is improving all the time, hopefully things will only get better!!

White beard, I wish our masks could be custom made also, but I don't see it happening at a "reasonable price". My son uses an eye prosthesis, and that thing is just a small piece of silicone . It cost my insurance about 2000 bucks 5 years ago. A Leg prosthesis can run 5 times as much.  These people are highly skilled, a combination of medical provider, counselor, engineer, and artist, and are worth every penny they get.  Virginia


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Resmed elite , 17, mirage quattro ff . 25 + years of untreated OSA

virginia57 I don't see it happening either, at least not any time soon, but one can alway wish and hope! And it sure would be nice, imagine a mask that is made just for your own face!!! Now that is a dream worth wishing for!

I'll put it on my prayer list. I have a pretty good record.  Last year, I was having so much trouble with leaks, that I prayed that the Lord would show me a way to fix them. The very next day, a thread was started on ways to get full face masks to seal better. Which led to someone posting about their doctor's recomendation to use Mack's silicone ear plugs, which has pretty much solved my probem with the Quattro.  Virginia


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Resmed elite , 17, mirage quattro ff . 25 + years of untreated OSA