Survival Techniques when you can't use CPAP

[Fredman]

It has been quite a long time since I last posted. My cpap therapy is working great and I love my S9!

For the second time in 5 years since I started using a CPAP, I have been told to discontinue use until my ruptured eardrum can heal.

The last time I suffered through. Tried to sleep in a reclining chair to avoid events -that helped a bit, but no way did I get a restful sleep. I would then go to bed and of course get a rotten sleep.

Compounding my OSA is that when I don't use my CPAP, I experience sleep paralysis on a frequent basis at least once a night or every other night. Sleep paralysis is a frightening event where your brain awakens from REM sleep and your body remains asleep and non responsive. I often feel that I can't breathe during this time. It quite possibly is that my airway has collapsed and I am getting restricted flow.

I have tried Breathe Right strips, and a special nasal (septum) clip that is supposed to reduce snoring. So I am wondering what has worked for those of you that may have had to suspend your therapy?

[Rebecca R]

I can imagine that using cpap with a ruptured eardrum would be painful, as well as inhibit healing. How long did your doc say it should take to heal?

Hopefully some of the many knowledgeable people around here will have some suggestions for you. Besides sleeping on your side or stomach or the recliner, I don't have any ideas. Just sympathy. Not a good situation. I hope your ear heals fast.

r

[mstevens]

Obviously, this is not medical advice.

I ruptured an eardrum diving about a year ago. It healed fine while using CPAP at 12cm every night.

I am completely unable to sleep without CPAP, but I also really like diving. It would be very hard for me to choose, but I'd probably continue CPAP if I felt I had to choose one over the other.

A big factor is your personal eustachian tubes and whether they transmit much pressure when you sleep. Mine rarely do, but for some people this happens a lot and could slow or completely prevent healing of a perforated eardrum.

[avi123]

Fredman, are there no neurologists in Alberta, Ca?

[Fredman]

Fredman, are there no neurologists in Alberta, Ca?

Yes, with two large cities, one has more than 1.3 million people and Edmonton where I leave has a million people so we have quite few neurologists, ENTs and other specialists problem we have is large waiting times to see them.

My Ear, Nose Throat (ENT) also advised not to use the CPAP while my eardrum healed. That was with the first rupture a few years ago.

[Fredman]

Obviously, this is not medical advice.

I ruptured an eardrum diving about a year ago. It healed fine while using CPAP at 12cm every night.

I am completely unable to sleep without CPAP, but I also really like diving. It would be very hard for me to choose, but I'd probably continue CPAP if I felt I had to choose one over the other.

A big factor is your personal eustachian tubes and whether they transmit much pressure when you sleep. Mine rarely do, but for some people this happens a lot and could slow or completely prevent healing of a perforated eardrum.

I actually lowered my pressures first upon recommendation of the doctor. She said if that didn't work I should discontinue. This morning more blood on my pillow. I use APAP 5-13. I lowered it to 5-9. I do have problematic eustachian tubes, often had ear infections as a child with tubes inserted in my ears for keeping the pressure equalized. Even had them as an adult. So I fear I may have to do without any pressure. Or maybe try at cpap of 5.

[KatieW]

I don't have personal experience with this, but a friend of mine, bought a oral device on-line to treat her sleep apnea, until she gets a cpap. I'm not sure it totally prevented apneas, but it did decrease her snoring.

[cortez356]

I am also a Canadian and aware of the long wait times. But you really should head to the nearest emergency room and have them contact a neurologist. Or maybe an urgent care.

Bob

[ariana]

I don't know if this would be of any use, but what about a device that measures desaturations and beeps a warning when they occur? Ideally there would be someone available to help you out in case the paralysis has set in at that point.

Please let us know how you do. Rooting for you.

[rosacer]

Maybe this is a crazy suggestion but here it is.

I read the middle ear is connected to the throat via the Eustachian tube, aka the auditory canal. The other side of the Eustachian tube is the eardrum.

I imagine the pressure from the CPAP is trying to pass through your broke eardrum, why if you try to block your ear with an earplug made with the wax you buy at the pharmacy to make earplugs? Maybe this could reduce the pressure over the broken eardrum if the ear plug is bigger enough to go close to the drum like the ear aids. Only an idea it maybe works who knows, in your situation I would try it.

[Fredman]

I don't have personal experience with this, but a friend of mine, bought a oral device on-line to treat her sleep apnea, until she gets a cpap. I'm not sure it totally prevented apneas, but it did decrease her snoring.

I thought of this as an option too. I should talk to my dentist...whatever I can do to help try to keep my airway open will make sleeping more restful. My OSA is considered moderate to severe, lots of hypopneas and arousals and didn't have any stoppages of breathing....but the results were from a home test.

Thanks I think I will call my Dentist on Monday to see if I can get in quickly.

[Fredman]

I don't know if this would be of any use, but what about a device that measures desaturations and beeps a warning when they occur? Ideally there would be someone available to help you out in case the paralysis has set in at that point.

Please let us know how you do. Rooting for you.

This would be great, I am not sure but I think an oximeter does this...this might be helpful. My wife has heard me try to wake up with the sleep paralysis but not always. Either I make a kind of muffled sound and my legs may move as I try to move them to wake up.

Someone suggested that I seek ER assistance or some other care, but the last time I talked to the ENT with the first ear drum rupture he said there are no other options and that I would have to "manage" as best as I could.

[mstevens]

... you really should head to the nearest emergency room and have them contact a neurologist...

Why a neurologist?

[archangle]

I wonder if there's any way to get a "whole head" CPAP "mask?" i.e. covers the ears as well as the mouth and nose. Or pressurized "headphones" connected to your CPAP mask.

Seems like the physics would work in terms of the ear problem.

I'd be a bit afraid to "roll your own." Sounds like a good way to suffocate if you do it wrong and don't get the exhaust ventilation wrong.

[Fredman]

I wonder if there's any way to get a "whole head" CPAP "mask?" i.e. covers the ears as well as the mouth and nose. Or pressurized "headphones" connected to your CPAP mask.

Seems like the physics would work in terms of the ear problem.

I'd be a bit afraid to "roll your own." Sounds like a good way to suffocate if you do it wrong and don't get the exhaust ventilation wrong.

Agreed! But that is a good idea, maybe if someone from resmed or respironics is lurking around maybe someone will develop one...I'd imagine it would look quite funny, but it would be a god send for my condition!