Vertigo?

I recently got a new P10 FOR HER mask, after using the standard P10 mask for 1.5 years. The P10 FOR HER is noticeably smaller on my head than the 1.5 year old P10, which was very comfy but a little loose. The P10 FOR HER is probably too small for me, but I can use it. After using it for 2 pr 3 days, I am having symptoms of vertigo (room spinning around me, not feeling like I am dizzy and my head is spinning), even when laying down. It is not constant but any vertigo is a concern. I know I hate it when people try to blame CPAP for symptoms that sound unrelated, but I am just wondering if ANYONE has developed vertigo-type symptoms when the mask is new and/or a bit tight. I haven't changed medicines or anything else in my routine, other than the new P10 headgear and mask.

On the positive side, the leak rate after getting the P10 FOR HER is down to 3%, whereas it was in the large leak range about 30% of the time with the old P10. My conclusion is that even when headgear and mask feel fine, they should be replaced more frequently than 1.5 years if there are unexplained leaks. Medicare would have allowed me to have gotten headgear, etc. more often, but I have one of the rare DMEs who only provides supplies when you call and order them. My previous DME had an automated call system where they called every 3 months to find out if you needed supplies, and that was very helpful to me.

Thank you for any insights you may be able to provide.

It depends on where it is pressing - watch the back of the neck for pressure.

The other point where vertigo is created is in the ears. Is this new mask so different the sinuses are getting upset?

BlackSpinner wrote:It depends on where it is pressing - watch the back of the neck for pressure.

The other point where vertigo is created is in the ears. Is this new mask so different the sinuses are getting upset?

I don't think it is pressing on the back of my neck. My sinuses are not having problems.

Per Sleepyhead, it seems that my APAP pressures are higher since I started using the new P10 for Her and have at times gone into the 19 range, whereas before, they were staying in the 10-16 range almost all the time, since I got the Airsense 10 for Her 2 months ago. My APAP range is set for 10.6-20 and I am very comfortable in general with that range.

Cpap lowers BP, so if yours is now lower than it used to be, lower than normal, and you e.g. sit up quickly after removing your mask, you could get dizzy... check your BP in the a.m. and see if it's a factor.

Don't throw things at me, but it could be coincidence.
Talk to your doctor.

Julie wrote:Cpap lowers BP, so if yours is now lower than it used to be, lower than normal, and you e.g. sit up quickly after removing your mask, you could get dizzy... check your BP in the a.m. and see if it's a factor.

A cardiologist suggested BP medicine for borderline high BP, but my primary care dr. told me not to start it until another condition cleared up, so there was no confusion in case I reacted to the BP medicine, so I have not started it. I don't feel dizzy. I feel the room is spinning but I am still. It's hard to explain, but vertigo does not equal feeling dizzy (at least as I understand it).

In searching through old posts here and other sources online, it appears that vertigo has been mentioned a few times as something that may occur related to CPAP. I'm thinking that maybe the new mask is causing me to need higher APAP pressure for some reason and the higher APAP pressure may be a culprit I think I am going back to my old P10 mask to see if this clears. The leaks don't bother me as much as vertigo.

My preliminary research has indicated that it is pretty rare, but some people have reported vertigo when using the CPAP machine that goes away when they are not using the machine. Mine has occurred in episodes while both using the machine and not.

I will be seeing my primary care dr. on Thursday for other things so will add this to the list.

chunkyfrog wrote:Don't throw things at me, but it could be coincidence.
Talk to your doctor.

LOL, that would be my first reaction if someone came up with it. Ironically, I have a "new" sleep specialist / pulmonologist who I called today to confirm an appointment. I mentioned the vertigo, but not my theory that higher CPAP pressure or the new mask may be related. The office staff told me to see my primary care dr. about vertigo. The pulmonologist appt. is 2 weeks away and the dr.'s office called 2 weeks ahead to confirm the appt.

I would call the PCP. Vertigo would be in his wheelhouse.

I just a couple of nights ago changed my headgear. I had been using the regular blue/gray headgear (probably 10 months at least) and changed to a new "for Her" pink/gray headgear which of course was about an inch shorter than the other headgear which was considerably stretched out. The "for Her" headgear is a bit more snug but not uncomfortably snug. No ear issues with my recent change.

I do have a history of BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) which acts up every now and then for no apparent reason and has done this for many, many years. It can also come on suddenly for no reason to someone who has never had it before. Not saying that this is what is going on with you but it wouldn't be impossible. Might look it up. If the vertigo is really bad (sometimes I get extreme vomiting with mine) do go to the doctor as there are meds and ways to reduce the symptoms...no matter what the cause.

If you still have the old headgear you might put it back on and see what happens.

I just don't see the headgear change being the culprit but with CPAP stuff we never know for sure it seems.
If you had gone from a full face mask to nasal pillows I might be be inclined to place some blame due to the directness of the pressure up the nose and maybe making its way into the Eustachian tubes.
That could also go along with maybe the slight increase in the maximum pressure but that can happen at lower pressures too.

Labyrinthitis (inner ear problem) is classic for your symptoms vs vertigo... but whether it's Cpap related or not you'll have to find out either from your MD or people here who've had similar problems. Doctors always ask "is the room spinning, or are you spinning" to find out which is which!

I just got over a bad case of "classic" vertigo... I was down for almost 2 weeks my world was spinning terrible.
The medicine that they gave me just did not agree with me.

I would recommend you go to the youtube and do a search for the epley maneuver. After doing these exercise for 3 days
it cleared. I don't think it was your mask too tight. I didn't change anything and I got it.

I said stupid things happen to nice people..


I wish you well...

Thank you for the replies. I wish the P10 had a size in between Standard and For Her. For Her is really too tight on me and probably knocked something out of place. Any ideas on how to stretch it? I remember seeing things about putting the P10 headgear on a teddy bear to stretch it. I don't need it to stretch that much. I feel better after laying down for an hour with the old P10 and the CPAP on, even without sleeping. Thanks again.

Vertigo or Anxiety ?

~UB

Uncle_Bob wrote:Vertigo or Anxiety ?

~UB

Vertigo. I know the difference. Thank you also to Bill for suggesting the Epley maneuver.

Vertigo, would be more apt to be ear related. You say the mask leaks less, you may be getting the pressure you need for most of the time, for the first time. My ears plug nightly, and when I stand I need to touch a wall for a reference point to keep my balance.

It's a concern. but a small price to pay for waking up in the morning. Jim