ear problem. Help.

carojae · Post by **carojae** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 10:42 am

Just wondering if anyone can tell me if Cpap use can contribute to ear infections/problems. I use my cpap machine faithfully.

About a month ago, the skin inside my ear canal started to feel different, itched, and started peeling. I've tried not to scratch it but still I do. Its been going on too long and now it is starting to ache a little. Maybe a "two" on a ten scale. It is not a open sore but sure feels like its headed that direction. I thought maybe it was some sort of ear fungus when the skin started peeling but I don't really know what it is.

I am heading to the health clinic but thought I'd get some insight first and I tell them about my ear problem and cpap use. I've never had (adult) ear problems but feel like my use of a cpap machine has caused this recent problem somehow.

Anyone have a problem like this before?

Thank you,

Jim

nanwilson · Post by **nanwilson** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:01 am

It would not be from cpap use....how about a bug bite, sounds like it could have been that or a pimple or boil...especially with the peeling skin. Definitely go to the clinic to find out the reason for sure.

carojae · Post by **carojae** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 12:00 pm

It could be from a pimple kind of thing. I remember this started out with something that really felt like a pimple - after it (the pimple) went away was when the skin started to feel different and peeling.

Thanks for answering.

Jim

archangle · Post by **archangle** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 12:10 pm

It's possible the pressure caused some air to go up your Eustachian tube to your inner ear. Sometimes, you can get an ear infection due to this.

CPAPers often get ear popping and pressure in the ears.

teachcsg · Post by **teachcsg** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 12:57 pm

I have pts that complain of ear popping or feeling pressure in their ears when they start wearing cpap but I have not encountered an ear infection. I guess its possible but have never ran into it yet. Let us know what the clinic says.
Thanks.

Suddenly Worn Out · Post by **Suddenly Worn Out** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 2:00 pm

CPAP pressure irritates my left ear. Not my right ear, but my left one. I find that the testosterone replacement therapy I am on now is helping my ear. The Androgel started making my left ear itch a lot and lately it has not been bothering me as much. I also find my ear does not hurt much when I use a Bipap or comfort features like EPR on a Resmed APAP or Aflex or C-Flex on a Respironics APAP. Unfortunately for me, I find the comfort features dont seem to provide the airway support I need and I dont feel so hot the next day when I use them, which is now, almost never.

It is just plain common sense that high pressure air blowing up your nose and down your mouth can act as an irritant to your ear, nose and throat passages.

I also find if I tighten the mask straps too tight, pressure is put on my eustacean tube on the side of my neck and I get some pain from that.

If they determine CPAP pressure is irritating your ear passages somehow, maybe consider a Bipap. Also, have to mention this but keep your gear clean otherwise it can start ear, nose and throat infections.

I assume you are using a heated humidifier on your machine.

Eric

carojae wrote:Just wondering if anyone can tell me if Cpap use can contribute to ear infections/problems. I use my cpap machine faithfully.

About a month ago, the skin inside my ear canal started to feel different, itched, and started peeling. I've tried not to scratch it but still I do. Its been going on too long and now it is starting to ache a little. Maybe a "two" on a ten scale. It is not a open sore but sure feels like its headed that direction. I thought maybe it was some sort of ear fungus when the skin started peeling but I don't really know what it is.

I am heading to the health clinic but thought I'd get some insight first and I tell them about my ear problem and cpap use. I've never had (adult) ear problems but feel like my use of a cpap machine has caused this recent problem somehow.

Anyone have a problem like this before?

Thank you,

Jim

Uncle_Bob · Post by **Uncle_Bob** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 2:21 pm

carojae wrote:Just wondering if anyone can tell me if Cpap use can contribute to ear infections/problems. I use my cpap machine faithfully.

About a month ago, the skin inside my ear canal started to feel different, itched, and started peeling. I've tried not to scratch it but still I do. Its been going on too long and now it is starting to ache a little. Maybe a "two" on a ten scale. It is not a open sore but sure feels like its headed that direction. I thought maybe it was some sort of ear fungus when the skin started peeling but I don't really know what it is.

I am heading to the health clinic but thought I'd get some insight first and I tell them about my ear problem and cpap use. I've never had (adult) ear problems but feel like my use of a cpap machine has caused this recent problem somehow.

Anyone have a problem like this before?

Thank you,

Jim

Are you sure its skin and not dried ear wax? Maybe its just wax and your need your ears syringed or just some over the counter ear wax remover.
I had some mild discomfort a week or so ago in my ear along with what i thought was swimmers ear, as i had just spent the weekend at a water park.
I tried the dry ear drops and and they did nothing. So i went to my doctor office and they syrigned my ears and wrote me up an Rx for antiboitices for general fever.
I can still feel some pressure but at least the fluid on the ear sensation has gone, that was driving me nuts especially on the CPAP.
This has been my first ear problem in over 3 years on CPAP therapy.
Good luck
~UB

-tim · Post by **-tim** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 6:26 pm

If your external ear is irritated, the wax production increases. That also drys out the skin. It could be your trying to fight some sort of infection.

Get it checked out. Never use ear drops if there is a chance of a hole in the eardrum.

I find that swimmers ear drops help but you can't use those until you get it checked out. It turns out they are great for killing off the crud that wants to live in the ear but it will burn. There are a few things that live in ears and most are bacterial or fungal but there are some larger things like types of mites that can set up home their but they are unlikely unless you work at an animal shelter. I knew a vet that would keep a dogs flea collar in his pocket. Dust mites can also set up shop in there.

SuzyFor2 · Post by **SuzyFor2** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:18 pm

Cpap use can aggravate eistachian tube insufficiency leading to middle ear infections. I developed my first middle ear infection six months into CPAP tx and am now needing surgery to rebuild my middle ear again. This will be my third such surgery.

TiredTex · Post by **TiredTex** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:21 pm

I am having a simalar problem. My ear conals feel moist in the morning. Clean my ears with qutips every morning. I talked to my primary care Dr. I was told it had nothing to do with cpap. I was given ear drops but they have not helped. Not sure what it is but definity think it is related to cpap.

Suddenly Worn Out · Post by **Suddenly Worn Out** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:25 pm

SuzyFor2 wrote:Cpap use can aggravate eistachian tube insufficiency leading to middle ear infections. I developed my first middle ear infection six months into CPAP tx and am now needing surgery to rebuild my middle ear again. This will be my third such surgery.

No doubt about it, while I am 100% CPAP compliant and cannot function without my CPAP gear, the high pressure air is an irritant to the ear, nose and throat passages. Sinuses, ears especially, I think.

I think Bipap puts probably the least irritation on ENT passages, but Im speculating there. These are other reasons to use a nasal steroid spray like Nasacort AQ regularly. And use a heated humidifier and clean your humifier chamber with soapy water and vinegar solution regularly. And wash the mask regularly.

Eric

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:28 pm

I've had a lot of ear infections over the past couple of years. And multiple sets of temp tubes. Have scheduled an appointment to get longer term tubes to try and get my ear issues straightened out.

But then again I had ear problems prior to xPAP

archangle · Post by **archangle** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:02 pm

teachcsg wrote:I have pts that complain of ear popping or feeling pressure in their ears when they start wearing cpap but I have not encountered an ear infection. I guess its possible but have never ran into it yet. Let us know what the clinic says.
Thanks.

I get ear infections every so often, even before I started CPAP. Probably every 5-10 years or so.

It would seem that blowing air (plus whatever's in that part of your nose) up the Eustachian tube into the inner ear on a regular basis would tend to increase the frequency of ear infection. It would give the bacteria more chances to get into the inner ear.

Does that make sense, or is that not the way ear infections work?

JerryU · Post by **JerryU** » Fri Jan 16, 2015 12:42 pm

I get moisture in my right ear and I know it has been since I got my new CPAP. It is a Respironics unit with a heated humidifier. I use the ramp function and usually set the humidity level at 3 or 4. I end up using 1 or 2 Q-tips to absorb the moisture and have not had any ear aches or infections, at least not yet. I do keep the unit clean and use soap and white vinegar weekly. From what I've read in these posts, it seems like I should probably get used to it?

Krelvin · Post by **Krelvin** » Fri Jan 16, 2015 4:04 pm

JerryU, you restarted 2+ year old post.

Suggest you see an ENT about your issue.

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