Hi Dr.
2 or 3 days per week, I awake with a dull pressure-headache in my forehead, fullness in left eustachian tube, slight nasal congestion, malaise, very dry mouth, and scratchy throat.. The symptoms usually reduce a by the afternoon. I have noticed that this usually happens even after full night's sleep. In fact, if I sleep only 5 hours at night, then I don't get these symptoms. However, if I sleep a full 7-8 hours, I get the symptoms. I find this strange! I do feel a little day-time drowziness and fatigue, but I''ve felt this way for as long as I can remember, even before my current symptoms started.
I've this problem for many months now after a bout of Otitis Media in Oct 2008. In October I was told that I had an underlying sinus infection and was put on Flonase for 6 wks. This did not help. I was then sent for Sinus CT scan that showed all sinuses clear, except a mild mucosal thickening in maxillary. I was then put of 3 rounds of antibiotics by my ENT, first Cefuroxime, and then 2 rounds of Azythromycin (6-Pak). Didn't. The ENT also did endoscopy of sinuses and this was normal.
In early Jan 2009, I went to an Oto-neurologist, who sent me for Brain MRI, which showed no problems in brain or mastoids. It did show mild mucosal thickening of Ethmoid and Maxillary Sinus, which the was dismissed as insignificant and unlikely to cause my symptoms. This doctor says I had some ET dysfunction left-over from the Otitis Media, and that my headaches are either tension headaches or I have SLEEP APNEA. I have since been put on Astelin nasal spray and told to just 'wait out' the headaches. If the headaches don't clear in 2 weeks, he wants to send me for a sleep study and put me on Effexor anti-depressant. First, I would rather not take Effexor, because I'm not depressed. Second, I'm not convinced that I have sleep apnea, because I don't snore (although, i sleep alone, so can't be sure)
Do my symptoms indicate sleep apnea? Is sleep study worth it?
thanks,
Akshay