plugged ears and nasal vs pillows mask

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Elle
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plugged ears and nasal vs pillows mask

Post by Elle » Thu Jan 08, 2015 9:53 pm

Does anyone have an opinion on whether pillows would be better/worse than a nasal mask when it comes to pressure related plugged ear issues? I am finding lower pressures works somewhat but am still interested in trying the P10. I don't want to gamble with making the pressure on ears worse. I know most people don't have that problem but I thought there might be a physicist among us.

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Wulfman...
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Re: plugged ears and nasal vs pillows mask

Post by Wulfman... » Thu Jan 08, 2015 11:25 pm

Elle wrote:Does anyone have an opinion on whether pillows would be better/worse than a nasal mask when it comes to pressure related plugged ear issues? I am finding lower pressures works somewhat but am still interested in trying the P10. I don't want to gamble with making the pressure on ears worse. I know most people don't have that problem but I thought there might be a physicist among us.
I would think that the pillows might be "worse" in the sense that there's more direct pressure into the nasal passages rather than it being spread out a bit more with nasal or full face mask.


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Elle
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Re: plugged ears and nasal vs pillows mask

Post by Elle » Thu Jan 08, 2015 11:40 pm

Thanks Den, i had a feeling it might too.

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Re: plugged ears and nasal vs pillows mask

Post by mgaggie » Fri Jan 09, 2015 3:47 am

Elle, I've used pressure reducing ear plugs designed for airplane travel. I have badly scarred/damaged ear drums and quite often my ear drum would burst when I first started cpap (not a nice feeling). The ear plugs helped me, and for less than $10AUD it was worth a shot

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Re: plugged ears and nasal vs pillows mask

Post by adin67 » Fri Jan 09, 2015 8:23 am

My left ear is clogged too, no pain- no drain, no infection, just plugged. When I lean forward or my left side this sensation is gone. Doc. says, it is an Eustachian tube dysfunction but no gave me any treatment. I struggle with this situation for some time and i don't find the answer. I had the bad idea to use the machine when I was cold (stuffy nose, etc...) in this winter and then i got this...I don't know what to do.

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Elle
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Re: plugged ears and nasal vs pillows mask

Post by Elle » Fri Jan 09, 2015 9:11 am

Thanks Mcgaggie, I will look for those ear plugs.

I think lowering my pressure is helping. My AHI has gone down and I am not having as many leaks.

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archangle
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Re: plugged ears and nasal vs pillows mask

Post by archangle » Fri Jan 09, 2015 7:27 pm

I don't think the ear problem with vary much with nasal, pillow, or even full face mask. The pressure in your nose will be roughly the same since the air passages are all "connected" and the pressure will equalize pretty quickly.

The Oracle oral mask won't put any pressure in your nose or ears if you learn to use it without the nose plugs, but I found it uncomfortable.

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Re: plugged ears and nasal vs pillows mask

Post by souffoue » Wed Mar 04, 2015 12:17 pm

I am a new CPAP user (pillows) since last Friday. I woke up in the middle of the night with my left ear plugged and it is still plugged. Guess it happens with the pillows too. Good luck!!

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Re: plugged ears and nasal vs pillows mask

Post by Redonthehead » Wed Mar 04, 2015 2:48 pm

My right ear has been mostly plugged since last spring, about the time I started using the P10. main issue is a loss of hearing. No pain, but perhaps a mild discomfort when I pop it by holding my nose. No issue with the left side.

I do not blame the P10, but my theory is since I have started using it I sleep through the night and rarely move. Nearly always on my right side. Perhaps fluid drains to that side and stays there. I will try to sleep on my left side more. Prior to CPAP I flopped about all night.

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Re: plugged ears and nasal vs pillows mask

Post by Guest1 » Wed Mar 04, 2015 6:13 pm

Wulfman... wrote:
Elle wrote:Does anyone have an opinion on whether pillows would be better/worse than a nasal mask when it comes to pressure related plugged ear issues? I am finding lower pressures works somewhat but am still interested in trying the P10. I don't want to gamble with making the pressure on ears worse. I know most people don't have that problem but I thought there might be a physicist among us.
I would think that the pillows might be "worse" in the sense that there's more direct pressure into the nasal passages rather than it being spread out a bit more with nasal or full face mask.


Den

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Elle: The P10 will be a more direct pressure hit to the nostrils. But as I have found, I need less pressure on the P10 than an F10 I had earlier. My 90% pressure on F10 was 10+ cm h20. I am sleeping on a straight pressure of 8cm h20 with Alfex of 3 on my PRS1 machine with my P10 mask and my RDI was 0.0 last night. I have found that after switching to P10 from my FFM, my pressure requirement is reduced.

So the reduced pressure may help reduce your fear of ear pressure. One more thing you can try is equalize pressure in your middle ear by Valsalva maneuver or other tricks. You can read about them on the Wikipedia page for Valsalva maneuver.

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Elle
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Re: plugged ears and nasal vs pillows mask

Post by Elle » Wed Mar 04, 2015 6:18 pm

Thanks for the responses. I am dealing with lightheadedness right now that is pretty severe so I am not sure if really has anything to do with cpap. I also have tinnitus so it might just all be a vestibular thing that is not going away.

I think I will try the P10 since lowering pressure again is appealing and might help.

I think I am guilty of attributing more to cpap tx than I should. I appreciate the help

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Re: plugged ears and nasal vs pillows mask

Post by ohwhatanight » Thu Mar 05, 2015 10:42 am

Last year I had horrible whistling in my ears at night due to my CPAP & pressure build-up. I thought I would need to reduce my CPAP pressure. Went to my family doc and he suggested an OTC decongestant - that took care of the problem in just a couple of nights and I haven't had to deal with it again. Might want to give that a try before anything else.

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Logies101
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Re: plugged ears and nasal vs pillows mask

Post by Logies101 » Thu Mar 05, 2015 2:03 pm

Elle I was using the p10's faithfully for the past two months and started feeling the pressure in my ears, also lots of sneezing. Since switching this past week to F10 I no longer have the pressure in my ears and the ever present sneezing has completely stopped. I wish I could use the the P10's because of the lightweight and less invasive feeling but I'm so glad the sneezing and pressure have been resolved. Hope you will have a different experience than I did. By the way my pressure is 9 straight CPAP.

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Elle
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Re: plugged ears and nasal vs pillows mask

Post by Elle » Thu Mar 05, 2015 2:12 pm

Sheesh, I keep going back and forth. Still have not bought the P10 and I guess I will hold off. I suspect I might just have to learn to live with this and it very well may be that it has nothing to do with cpap. I appreciate all the help here.
My sister just had a titration study last night and this was the first link (cpaptalk) I sent her to get informed. I have been learning from you folks since 2006.

Side bar...I was worried my sister wouldn't be able to sleep using a mask and she had to work today but she emailed that she had a great sleep...another rescue by cpap.

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Re: plugged ears and nasal vs pillows mask

Post by VCarlton » Wed Aug 19, 2015 1:44 pm

I currently use the nasal pillows and I'm going in for a 3rd procedure, 1 puncture of eardrum to relieve fluid, 2nd procedure to insert tube, and 3rd to insert another tube. First tube lasted a year before it came out. I'm inquiring today with company that provides the CPAP and masks etc. about whether a full mask might be better since it will not be forcing air directly into the nasal passage. Waiting on their reply.