Dizziness Anyone???

[grumpygirl]

Hi All- I've been on CPAP for about 7 mos. now and for the last 2-3 months I have been experiencing lightheadedness, not really being dizzy just lightheaded at times. It usually happens when I turn my head or ride in a car. I noticed too that my left ear seems to sound like the inside of a seashell sometimes, not so much now but a few weeks ago it seemed to be quite noticeable. I have an appt. with an ENT next week so I'll see what he says but I was wondering if anyone else had experienced this sort of thing. Would the pressure from the CPAP make inner ear worse?? I have terrible popping when I swallow while I'm using my CPAP. Any suggestions for remedies etc. ?? THANKS!!!

[Pineapple]

grumpygirl,

Did anything change in the last 3 months (starting about the time your dizziness started).

I developed dizziness right after my doctor increased my pressure. When I talked to my DME about the problem (the doctor basically blew the complaint off), she thought the problem might be rebreathing and changed my mask (I was using a Flexi-fit 407, close cousin of your 405) While it didn't make the problem go away, it did lessen the dizziness. Another thing I think contributed to the problem was the fact that my BP dropped down to the low normal range (first time it hasn't been high in 6 years). The dizziness did finally disapate about 2 1/2 months after it started, so mine might have been just my body adjusting to the change.

I'm not saying that the problem is not your inner ears, I'd still ask the ENT about that possiblity. Also check your BP. If the doctor doesn't find anything, call your DME and run it by them - of course I'm assuming your's is as concincious as mine.

[thimarine]

I have popping in my ears when I first put on the mask. It goes away after awhile. A few months ago, I got ringing in my ears while standing in line at a Mini-Mart. Then, I lost all the hearing in my left ear and most in my right. It happened all of a sudden. Kind of scary. By the time I got to the doctor, it had gone away. He said it was most probably inner ear and related to pressure changes caused by the cpap. I haven't had it since but do have occasional dizziness. Much less so now than when I first started cpap. My blood work is normal and I've had normal physicals since the incident. No one has ever given me a definitive answer.

[Country4ever]

I actually hear my pulse loudly in my ears, and suspect its my nasal cpap.
I have to say that I used to have problems with my eustachian tubes closing off and ever since using cpap, they have been behaving.
If you're hearing something like listening in seashells, it makes me wonder if you have a patulous eustachian tube.....meaning it is staying open all the time, instead of closing sometimes.
I don't know if its the high pressure in the nasopharynx (where the eustachian tube opening is located), or if the pressure keeps that area too dry.
You might try using a saline nasal spray often during the day and see if that helps. I make my own of 1 cup water, 1/4 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp plain salt (no additives). See if that helps. Also, be sure your humidifier is full all the time.
You might have some fluid in your inner ear.....which would be made worse by the cpap pressure. Have you tried any Mucinex? It used to help me alot when my eustachian tubes would feel closed off. Just be sure to drinks lots of water with it.

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[Snoredog]

sounds like an inner ear infection, if red they will give some antibotics.

other thing it could be is hypertension medication working too good. CPAP lowers your hypertension naturally so if you are still taking medicine to control it at the same dose, you could be hypotensive and needing adjustment to your meds.

good idea to own your own BP cuff monitor and check it regularly.

[lmmo]

Hi, I have Menieres Disease. It is an inner ear problem. There is not much that can be done about it. An ENT can usually diagnose it. When you have a hearing test, there are characteristics of the tones you hear that help with the diagnosis. I also had an MRI. The reason I bring this up is that I have ear popping every time I put on my cpap. It takes several on and offs, swallowing and yawning to rid the pressure/popping before I go to sleep. Jst FYI...A link with a bit of info:
http://www.menieres-guidebook.com
Lisa

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

[Snoredog]

[quote="lmmo"]Hi, I have Menieres Disease. It is an inner ear problem. There is not much that can be done about it. An ENT can usually diagnose it. When you have a hearing test, there are characteristics of the tones you hear that help with the diagnosis. I also had an MRI. The reason I bring this up is that I have ear popping every time I put on my cpap. It takes several on and offs, swallowing and yawning to rid the pressure/popping before I go to sleep. Jst FYI...A link with a bit of info:
http://www.menieres-guidebook.com
Lisa

[lmmo]

WOW! thanks for the link

[Snoredog]

WOW! thanks for the link

Dr. Hain is really great, he provides detailed information in a easy to understand format, I studied a lot of his work on stroke and small vessel disease because he is so comprehensive with his papers.

[deerslayer]

i can relate ! am now (hopefully) coming out of another sinus infection/strep/drainage from he** thing.have been fighting for over a month. last few days i have felt like i took a hefty punch to the head. hard to explain except a woozy, lightheaded feeling. probably some inner ear, but since my scuba days all i have to do is swallow and my ears snap like the swingin doors on the longbranch saloon. .. Va has started me on this Niaspan 500mg stuff for cholesterol & blood thinner, don't guess it's messin with the Simvastatin ..can't wait to get my strength back and feeling human again.sleeping good,AHI is decent..anyone else take this crap Niaspan ?

[Guest]

1

Hi All- I've been on CPAP for about 7 mos. now and for the last 2-3 months I have been experiencing lightheadedness, not really being dizzy just lightheaded at times. It usually happens when I turn my head or ride in a car. I noticed too that my left ear seems to sound like the inside of a seashell sometimes, not so much now but a few weeks ago it seemed to be quite noticeable. I have an appt. with an ENT next week so I'll see what he says but I was wondering if anyone else had experienced this sort of thing. Would the pressure from the CPAP make inner ear worse?? I have terrible popping when I swallow while I'm using my CPAP. Any suggestions for remedies etc. ?? THANKS!!!

[TXLadybug]

To: Deerslayer

Niaspan is wicked - contains about 500 mg of niacin. That's the stuff that will make you flush and burn all over after you take it.
My hubby had Advicor- which contains lovastatin and 500 mg of niacin. He finally quit taking it (with Dr.'s okay) as he could no longer take being wakened from sleep 30 minutes after taking it and being red, flushed, and sweating all over. This happened at least 3-4 times a week.

To: Grumpygirl: I still have the popping in my ears and/or hearing/feeling my pulse in my ears. My lightheadedness or better described - feeling out-of balance (not dizzy) has been happening a lot. Last night it was even worse. I had used my prescription nasal spray, blew my nose, bent over to put the tissue in the trash and when I stood up, I felt like an octopus with my arms and legs wanting to go everywhere. I believe it was vertigo, way more than out-of balance. I grabbed hold of a chair, hubby grabbed hold of me. It lasted about 30 - 60 seconds, then I was fine.

[katzby]

Hi All- I've been on CPAP for about 7 mos. now and for the last 2-3 months I have been experiencing lightheadedness, not really being dizzy just lightheaded at times. It usually happens when I turn my head or ride in a car. I noticed too that my left ear seems to sound like the inside of a seashell sometimes, not so much now but a few weeks ago it seemed to be quite noticeable. I have an appt. with an ENT next week so I'll see what he says but I was wondering if anyone else had experienced this sort of thing. Would the pressure from the CPAP make inner ear worse?? I have terrible popping when I swallow while I'm using my CPAP. Any suggestions for remedies etc. ?? THANKS!!!

, finally

Hi Grumpygirl YES i too have had dizzyness or as i prefer to call it "loss of balance" for 3 mths since starting cpap.
Yesterday my GP found the problem for me. My eustachian tube that runs from the nose to the middle ear is blocked, very simple for a GP to diagnose and treat. I have had so many falls over the last 3 mths.
Finally my GP who also uses cpap did a very simple test on me and discovered the problem.
I am under going treatment with a nasal spray to try unblock this tube now.
I hope you find the answer to your problems as i certainly know how disturbing this problem is.

[elena88]

If I close my eyes in the shower, I tend to end up against a wall pretty fast..

when I went to the primary doc, he siad I had "the tiniest ear canals he had ever seen in an adult"

My ears always feel like they would feel BEFORE they are about to pop.. so always that muffled feeling, however at a certain altitude
about three thousand feet, I can hear perfectly.. any higher or lower, and back to muffle..

doc just shook his head..

this was before apap, but its worse now..

[snore no more]

Hi all,
I've found when using my CPAP machine and waking in the night while I wait to fall asleep again I get very dizzy from to much air?
Does anyone else find this, my doctor said its normal, but often its quite bad and effects my vision.
I have an illness called Mal de Debarquement Syndrome witch may cause this dizziness to be more extreme?