Booger-Pillow eardrum blow-out question

[McSnoresalot]

The Facehugger mask collection is coming along nicely now, latest addition is my first booger-pillow mask, the Aloha.

Got it Tuesday (poker night – official non-compliance night, find if I have more than two or three beers the mask only survives a couple of hours during my nocturnal gyrations)

So last night was the Booger-Pillow sea-trials – my pressure range is up there 14-18 and I usually average about 16. I stopped using the ramp feature long ago, so when I put the Aloha on for the first time, I was completely unprepared for how hard that initial blast of pressure hit.....damn! I think I blew out an eardrum.

Question: people that switch between nasal masks and pillow-type masks do you crank the pressure down?

Slept pretty good with it despite what felt like excessive pressure - think I am going to change my range to 12-18 and see how that goes.

[chunkyfrog]

I just set the mask type on the machine to nasal pillow.
Boogers launched!

[portiemom]

Can't give any good tips for you on this, what I can attest to is that it's kind to sneezing with a FF on and getting plastered with mucus. YUCK!

[Pugsy]

Pressure sensations should be fairly easily controlled by the same manner that you use to clear your ears when flying in an airplane with the changing of the altitude.
I find a good yawn works well. If you have persistent ear pain...need to have it checked out.

[mnfe]

I actually find that yawning with my nasal pillows in causes my ears to get backed up. If I pull them out for a moment when I'm breathing normally it usually clears them.

[Starlette]

Question: people that switch between nasal masks and pillow-type masks do you crank the pressure down?

I don't

[robysue]

I find a good yawn works well. If you have persistent ear pain...need to have it checked out.

Yawning?

I haven't been able to get a good yawn in with the mask on ever since I started PAPing on 9/23/2010--almost 18 months ago.

Whenever I try to yawn with the mask on, I get a belly full of air. *sigh*

When the urge to yawn is uncontrollable, I have to turn Kaa off, yawn, and turn Kaa back on. *sigh*

[RocketGirl]

If I don't use the ramp, I notice the surge of pressure and it sometimes will make my ears hurt. As long as I start out with a nice gentle ramp, my ears adjust with no problem.

Pugsy, Robysue, do you have any idea how many times I have had to yawn while reading this thread?!?

[Pugsy]

I haven't been able to get a good yawn in with the mask on ever since I started PAPing on 9/23/2010--almost 18 months ago.

Whenever I try to yawn with the mask on, I get a belly full of air. *sigh*

So sorry. I can yawn with my mouth closed and it will clear my ears and tongue prevents chipmunk cheeks. Or I can do open mouth yawn and tongue blocks air from exiting mouth.
I tried to explain "yawn with mouth close" to someone back when I first started therapy and they just couldn't see how it could be done. I guess it is more of a stifled yawn...like one would do if they were in a meeting and didn't want anyone to see them yawn....or if someone was boring you to death and you didn't want to yawn right in their face.

Maybe it is the stifled part of the yawn that clears my ears. I don't know...just that it works for me.
It rarely happens now that I even need to clear my ears. Some people have good luck with swallowing to relieve ear pressure.

I have been lucky with the aerophagia thing. Only had it happen really bad..twice. So I do understand and wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Back to Mac's question. I never needed to reduce the pressure using nasal pillow mask. Of course I have never use an over the nose mask. One shouldn't need to lower pressure due to ear problems.
If there is significant problem with clearing of the ears that standard remedies don't work..then one needs to seek professional help to make sure nothing bad is going on.

[chunkyfrog]

I read somewhere that a yawn is a reflex due to oxygen depletion.
If that is so, why is anyone yawning on cpap?

[pgr]

I read somewhere that a yawn is a reflex due to oxygen depletion.
If that is so, why is anyone yawning on cpap?

I don't think we know. Try these links.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/search.php?terms=yawn

this is the best link on the page.
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/question572.htm

[pgr]

I find a good yawn works well. If you have persistent ear pain...need to have it checked out.

Yawning?

I haven't been able to get a good yawn in with the mask on ever since I started PAPing on 9/23/2010--almost 18 months ago.

Whenever I try to yawn with the mask on, I get a belly full of air. *sigh*

When the urge to yawn is uncontrollable, I have to turn Kaa off, yawn, and turn Kaa back on. *sigh*

Two things.
As a SCUBA diver, I learned that if you have unequal pressure inside (your Eustachian tube) and outside, you can punch you nose and blow into it. This opens up the Eustachian tube and lets the pressure equalize.

I may have to make a new question for this... Is yawning uncomfortable? Would stopping the air flow momentarily help?

[DiverCTHunter]

I find a good yawn works well. If you have persistent ear pain...need to have it checked out.

Yawning?

I haven't been able to get a good yawn in with the mask on ever since I started PAPing on 9/23/2010--almost 18 months ago.

Whenever I try to yawn with the mask on, I get a belly full of air. *sigh*

When the urge to yawn is uncontrollable, I have to turn Kaa off, yawn, and turn Kaa back on. *sigh*

Two things.
As a SCUBA diver, I learned that if you have unequal pressure inside (your Eustachian tube) and outside, you can punch you nose and blow into it. This opens up the Eustachian tube and lets the pressure equalize.

I may have to make a new question for this... Is yawning uncomfortable? Would stopping the air flow momentarily help?

Going for a quote tunnel here, but as another SCUBA diver. PADI ('98 objectives) said to wiggle your jaw while swallowing. When using either this or the stifled yawn technique, place the center of your tongue on your palate (google the flap and glottal stop positions).

[Tip10]

Interesting -- I find almost the exact opposite -- with the Aloha I hit the mask fit and it comes up full pressure (12) and if I have it fitted right and have no leaks I don't notice ANYTHING -- have to reach up and check the exhaust and make sure the machine came on.

Yawn?? What's a yawn?? Oh yeah, that's them things I used to do all the time before CPAP -- funny, I don't notice myself doing much of that anymore......Wonder why???

[jab1972]

you can punch you nose and blow into it.

I have to punch myself in the nose to get my ears equalized? I know everything is connected, but ouch! I think I'd rather just deal with ear pressure.