Ear infections and CPAP

[pjadams]

I'm getting recurring eustachion tube infections in the last year. Have used a CPAP machine at level 12 for 4 years. My Dr. thinks the CPAP may be causing the infections by air pressure keeping the tube from draining, but has no advice to fix the problem. Meanwhile, during the infections I can't use my machine and can't lie down to sleep. At this time I'm not willing to try invasive remedies that I've read about , and I can't wear the jaw positioning bite device because I already have a bite plate for bruxism. Any advice is welcome? Is this common? Is it because I sleep on my side instead of my back? Is it because I wear nasal pillows?

How do you sleep when you can't use your machine? I even stop breathing when asleep sitting up sometimes, and just don't sleep well sitting anyway. Usually I only have a one nighter without machine, and can manage on temporary sleep deprivation. But this will be at least 3 nights.

Later, when the infection is cleared up, the Dr. is going to try Flonase on me, used once a day before bed, to keep the tubes open. Has anyone tried that? The next thing, if that doesn't work will be tubes in my ears. I never heard of all these problems stemming from a CPAP.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap machine, CPAP, Nasal Pillows, Bruxism

[Mimi]

ear infections can be really very painful. Ihave had some ear pain in the past and know well how severe the pain is. Though I don't have any experience of what you described exactly. Anyways you may check out this forum http://www.globalthreads.com if you want it has a wide range of discussions on health and drug related topics.

[john5757]

One possible idea is to have your ears cleaned if there accumulations in the canals. Sometimes things have a way of traveling outside of the ear and get blown in from the outside. Sometimes germs on pillows can be transfer to face and get blown in by CPAP. Just a thought and one time I had the worst ear problem in 40 years started when I use CPAP. I became completely deaf and had to use a sign language interpreter with my ENT Kaiser doctor to solve the issue and after a few treatments and cleaning of the ears the problem became solved. The theory was that there was some germs/ fungus on the skin that normally do not cause a problem could get blown in by CPAP and could irritate the eustachion tubes.

[Fifi]

I am currently experiencing persistent ear infections. Not sure what the cause may be.

Never had ear infections before. Doc says there is also a pressure problem as it looks as the eardrums are being sucked inwards.

Any body else experience this?

[Linda3032]

Weird. At odd times this past couple of weeks, I keep reminding myself to ask this same question regarding ear infections, etc.

I've alway had ear infections, ever since I was a little girl (trust me, that's a long time ago). Then about 40 years ago, I also started having sinus/allergy problems. I've taken all the medications, and the only one that works for me is Actifed. Yes, I've tried the Flonase, and it works - but it also makes me hyper (as in "unable to sleep").

With APAP, a couple of times my ear feels "plugged up, and I feel/hear bubbles in the ear canal (popping sounds like bubbles popping)". It doesn't really hurt but is very aggravating. It probably would hurt if I didn't do something about it. Here's what I do:

1. Lower the heated humidifier to 1 (or use it as unheated for awhile).
2. Change my pressure from 5-10, lower it to 4-8. I'm NOT advising you to change your pressure, but I did lower mine for a month.
3. Doubled up on my sinus medication for a month.

Between these 3 things, my ears gradually got better within a month, and are fine now.

Actually, I think the humidifier is the culprit - just my opinion. It is allowing moist air to blow into your ear canals, and most ear infections are caused by too much fluid in your ears. That's why the doctor mentioned tubes - to help the drainage.

I don't think your sleeping position or mask has anything to do with you getting an ear infection. Why can't you use the machine or lie down when you have an infection?

Don't do as I say or do - remember, I'm in rural Arkansas and don't have the luxury of decent health care/specialists in my area. I try things and if they work, great. If not, I make a 4 hr round trip to the specialist.

Good Luck.

[pjadams]

Thanks all.

Linda, you said

Why can't you use the machine or lie down when you have an infection?

Dr. said my infection was in the eustacian tube and the CPAP could drive it further in and cause a deeper infection. But he didn't say I couldn't lie down. It's just that without the machine I need to sleep sitting up.