Just When You Think Things are Going Well

[Kairosgrammy]

*sigh* Last nite was horrible. I truly found out how hazardous it is to your sleep to forget to make sure your humidifier has sufficient water. I woke up several times and couldn't breathe. My mouth was rather dry so I'd have to assume that my mouth was probably open despite my chin strap. It took me several wake ups before my brain engaged and I realized what the problem was. At around 5 AM. Gotta wake up at 6 AM. Grrrr Nasal congestion just flat sucks.

So I figured my data would look horrible. Nope. Best readings all week. .11 AHI, can't remember what RERAs were but it was way low. I can't remember if I checked pb or clear airway. Definitely didn't reflect how I slept. Truly wished I had an oximeter. Just would have to think levels were down but things being weird, maybe not.

Although I am feeling some better now, when I woke up I was dizzy in all capital letters. I've noticed some dizziness off and on since I've been using the cpap but nothing that lasts or is bothersome for any length of time. It's almost 11:30 and the dizziness is finally fading. I do have vertigo off and on but seldom this persistent or severe. And also, usually when I have vertigo, I can't walk a straight line even if my life would depend on it and that really wasn't a problem. I was just plain dizzy as all get out. I was really thinking of calling my brother (Afraid to drive although I did drive to work) and seeing if he would take me to my GP who is about 30 miles away. (He used to be in my town but was moved by the clinic he's affiliated with. I hate the way the medical clinic is run in the town I live in so I drive the distance rather than dealing with them)

So my question is, does anyone else have problems with dizziness with their machine. Is a frequent thing? How long does it last for you? Is it the machine and being so unable to breathe through my nose or probably unrelated. Should I be concerned? It is really kinda of freaking me out. I'm dizzy which won't be the first time (I'm blonde and many who know me would say I'm dizzy all the time ) but it just didn't feel like vertigo. Can't figure it out.

[Pugsy]

Wonder if the lack of moisture (from the humidifier going dry) in the air caused a minor imbalance in the inner ear fluid levels?? You know that the Eustachian tubes have tiny passageways from the ears to the nasal cavity.

I have forgotten to add water to my humidifier and have it go dry.. Horrible sinus congestion but never any inner ear disturbance. Of course it could also be just a coincidence that the dizziness came on at same time you ran the tank dry.

[JohnBFisher]

Since there is increased (over normal) pressure within your inner ear, I would expect that some dizziness might be a common enough symptom. However, I would expect that it would lessen over time. As you adjust to the pressure, the dizziness should also lessen. If it is continuing several weeks or months after starting xPAP therapy, I would check with my GP.

Sometimes it could be something as simple as an inner ear infection. I have a neurological problem that leads to dizziness. Several months back the dizziness suddenly got worse. I happened to mention it to my GP (during a diabetes - an A1c blood test - checkup) and my doctor checked my ears. The problem - the early stages of an ear infection that I had not felt. One course of antibiotics later and I felt much better.

The lesson I learned - It's always good to check with an unusual symptom. It might not be related at all. Better yet, it might be "fixable".

Hope that helps.

[Kairosgrammy]

I hope so. LOL, I know about eustacian tubes. School based speech path by trade. That would have caused vertigo though and I could still walk straight, not usually a happenin' thing when I am vertiguous as I call it. Still can't figure out why my data looked so good. Feel like my machine lied to me.

Wonder if the lack of moisture (from the humidifier going dry) in the air caused a minor imbalance in the inner ear fluid levels?? You know that the Eustachian tubes have tiny passageways from the ears to the nasal cavity.

I have forgotten to add water to my humidifier and have it go dry.. Horrible sinus congestion but never any inner ear disturbance. Of course it could also be just a coincidence that the dizziness came on at same time you ran the tank dry.

[Pugsy]

Feel like my machine lied to me.

They do that sometimes.
Back when I was first starting therapy, after about 3 months I woke up one day feeling wonderful, amazing, full of energy...thought for sure I had finally turned the corner and had the "miracle"...that was the only time I every had that feeling till I stumbled on the BiPap...but I digress.. I finally got around to checking my data later in that evening. I thought for sure I would see some awesome 0.0 AHI . Nope...AHI 10.2. Go figure that one. This was back when I used the M series machine. Made no sense at all but I had the "miracle" day after a night with double digit AHI. So the numbers can and will lie to us.

[BadThad]

I've never had dizziness. Perhaps your pressure is too high? Excessive oxygen can also cause dizziness.

[Kairosgrammy]

I doubt I had excessive oxygen. Air getting in my nose was a difficult thing.

I've never had dizziness. Perhaps your pressure is too high? Excessive oxygen can also cause dizziness.