I've been on CPAP for about 2 months and I absolutely love it. I feel so much better and I've never had such vivid dreams. The only issue I'm having is that I think the pressure is tweaking my ears a bit. I don't have any pain but the pressure in my right ear canal always feels a little off. Has anyone had this issue???
Trouble with Ears on CPAP
4 posts
• Page 1 of 1
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sleepydoll
- Posts: 214
- Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2008 7:33 am
- Location: Sept-Iles, Quebec, Canada
I found this response at
http://www.apneasupport.org/
As an Open Water Scuba Instructor, I believe what you are experiencing is what we call a reverse block of the Eustachian tubes. These are the tubes that run from back of the throat to the middle ear. What happens is that these tubes get pressurized and then mucus usually ends up blocking the tube like a plug. Sometimes it is allergies causing the sinus congestion mucus to build up. It is okay for the Eustachian tubes to be pressurized as long as the tubes remain open so they can depressurize.
My suggestion is to use nasal irrigation every night as well as a decongestant and allergy formula like reactine prior to CPAP use. This will hopefully keep the mucus in check so that it doesn't cause the reverse block.
If you do this remedy make sure you sniff in after using the sinus irrigation bottle each nostril as this will help clear out the back of the nasal passages near the Eustachian tubes and it will flush out. I use Neilmed sinus rinse and just follow the instructions on the package.
I also recommend the plug the nose and blow technique but gently at first and continue if no pain is felt. I you do feel pain then stop. I you did it right you will feel the pop or click pressure release and your ears should be back to normal.
This is a time proven tecnique used in Scuba and here is the proper way to do it.
Valsalva Maneuver.
This is the method most divers learn: Pinch your nostrils and blow through your nose.
The resulting overpressure in your throat usually forces air up your Eustachian tubes.
But the Valsalva maneuver has three problems:
It does not activate muscles which open the Eustachian tubes, so it may not work if the tubes are already locked by a pressure differential.
It's all too easy to blow hard enough to damage something. And blowing against a blocked nose raises your internal fluid pressure, including the fluid pressure in your inner ear, which may rupture your "round windows." So don't blow too hard, and don't maintain pressure for more than five seconds.
I hope that this helps you out!
http://www.apneasupport.org/
As an Open Water Scuba Instructor, I believe what you are experiencing is what we call a reverse block of the Eustachian tubes. These are the tubes that run from back of the throat to the middle ear. What happens is that these tubes get pressurized and then mucus usually ends up blocking the tube like a plug. Sometimes it is allergies causing the sinus congestion mucus to build up. It is okay for the Eustachian tubes to be pressurized as long as the tubes remain open so they can depressurize.
My suggestion is to use nasal irrigation every night as well as a decongestant and allergy formula like reactine prior to CPAP use. This will hopefully keep the mucus in check so that it doesn't cause the reverse block.
If you do this remedy make sure you sniff in after using the sinus irrigation bottle each nostril as this will help clear out the back of the nasal passages near the Eustachian tubes and it will flush out. I use Neilmed sinus rinse and just follow the instructions on the package.
I also recommend the plug the nose and blow technique but gently at first and continue if no pain is felt. I you do feel pain then stop. I you did it right you will feel the pop or click pressure release and your ears should be back to normal.
This is a time proven tecnique used in Scuba and here is the proper way to do it.
Valsalva Maneuver.
This is the method most divers learn: Pinch your nostrils and blow through your nose.
The resulting overpressure in your throat usually forces air up your Eustachian tubes.
But the Valsalva maneuver has three problems:
It does not activate muscles which open the Eustachian tubes, so it may not work if the tubes are already locked by a pressure differential.
It's all too easy to blow hard enough to damage something. And blowing against a blocked nose raises your internal fluid pressure, including the fluid pressure in your inner ear, which may rupture your "round windows." So don't blow too hard, and don't maintain pressure for more than five seconds.
I hope that this helps you out!
Experience is what you get, when you don't get what you want!
The mind is like a parachute. It doesn’t work unless it’s open.
The mind is like a parachute. It doesn’t work unless it’s open.
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blackvelvet
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:30 pm
- Location: Idaho
4 posts
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