Symptoms...CPAP Related?

[VABeach]

Seeking Opinions..

First a little background....I have been on APAP for about 18 months with excellent compliance and average nightly usage of about 7+ hours. AHI averages 4.1, AI averages 0.9, HI averages 3.2 over a 1 year period. This data comes from the APAP machine's digital display and not any software. Age-55.

Over the past 6-8 months, I have noticed an increased sensitivity to sounds, especially high pitch sounds. Also, I have noticed increased sensitivity to inhaling through my nose, especially colder air. (and yes, I all most alway breath through my nose )

I have been wondering if these sensitivities are related to the APAP therapy? It seems plausible to me that the pressure may be causing these sensitivities since the affected areas are my sinuses and ear drums.

Before I experiment and stop APAP, I wanted to ask those on this forum for thoughts and opinions.

Has anyone ever had similar symptoms?

Dose anyone think there is a possibility that there is a relationship of the symptoms to APAP therapy?

My gut suggests that my doctor will just dismiss the symptoms, and refer me to an ENT, but I will ask anyway and go to an ENT doctor.

Thank you in advance for any thoughts!

[BlackSpinner]

Slight sensitivity of the nose is no reason to stop cpap therapy. Maybe you need to play with your humidity.
Have you thought that maybe these passages are healing due to breathing clean humidified air 8 hours a night?

[VABeach]

Slight sensitivity of the nose is no reason to stop cpap therapy. Maybe you need to play with your humidity.
Have you thought that maybe these passages are healing due to breathing clean humidified air 8 hours a night?

I don't believe it's healing as it is not pleasant and fade during the morning hours. The sound sensitivity is more of a concern since it does not improve during the day....I just try to avoid high pitched noise.

I have tried many settings on the humidifier and no change.

thanks anyway for the thought.

[OutaSync]

I've always been sensitive to high pitched sounds, so I can't blame it on CPAP. Having three little girls in the house make me want to wear ear protecting headphones. I also hear a constant medium pitched hum that nobody else seems to be able to hear.

I hate to complain about anything to doctors because they always say something like, 'Well, you are getting older, you know." Yeah, thanks for the reminder.

[cflame1]

I'd go with the visit to the ENT... and maybe a hearing test while you're there.

I'm thinking that it's sinus/ear related.

[Country4ever]

Maybe you've had this problem for awhile, but now that you use cpap, it might be keeping your Eustachian tubes more open.??
I have really loud pulsatile tinnitus that has gotten much worse since I've been on cpap, but I have no idea if its just aging or if the cpap is just keeping my sinuses clearer. It really has helped my sinuses.