Dizziness and ear problems

[JLtheDrone]

It's been a while since I last posted. I have been on cpap for about seven months. In that time I had a nasty double ear infection and recently have developed dizziness, especially when standing straight after bending forward. Coincidence? I wondered if anyone else has had similar experience.

[Julie]

You need your MD and/or referral to a neuroogist - you could have Meniere's ('disease') or labyrinthine problems (vertigo etc). We're not doctors and have no way of knowing if there's a connection to Cpap or not... but it's not likely. Are you actually having 'dizziness' or could it be a low blood pressure problem - you need to check into that as well if the standing from bending (or sitting or lying) is a problem.

[cathyf]

It's been a while since I last posted. I have been on cpap for about seven months. In that time I had a nasty double ear infection and recently have developed dizziness, especially when standing straight after bending forward. Coincidence? I wondered if anyone else has had similar experience.

Has your doctor told you what they see when they look in your ear with an otoscope? It's REALLY common to have nuisance fluid in the ears for weeks/months after the infection has cleared up. There are lots of treatments that they can use, ranging from a heating pad to surgery, if that's what's going on.

(Story for you: When my brother was in first grade, the teacher realized that he was really hard of hearing. A trip to the doc, and his ears were clogged from ear infections. The doc laid out options, including waiting a little while to see whether it would clear up on its own. One night my brother was sitting in the bathtub and suddenly let out blood-curdling screams. My mom raced up the stairs with a speed that only a mother can get, ran into the bathroom to see him holding his ear. He looked up at her and whined, "The taste!!! It tastes awful!!!" The pressure had gone down enough that it drained down into his mouth... My mom didn't kill him for scaring the heck out of her, but it was pretty close there for a minute! )

[JLtheDrone]

I have seen the doctor since my ear infection (it was a few months ago) and she said everything looked fine. The dizziness just started about a week ago. I do tend to have low blood pressure, so that may be a factor. I know you're not doctors...just looking for advice/support.

[Krelvin]

...just looking for advice/support.

Advice. See your doctor.

[Elle]

Yes, I have this problem and it is made worse by higher pressures. I wake up with plugged wet ears after sleeping with cpap. It doesn't happen when cpap isn't used.

There can be many causes and cpap tx can be one of them. An ENT doc can rule out positional vertigo and infection.

If you do a search on this forum for dizziness you will find others with a similar experience.

I hope you find a solution. It is pretty frustrating to deal with.

[Islandwoman]

I have positional vertigo and was treated with physical therapy. If it is that make sure your doctor sends you to someone with specialized training. My vertigo was gone after the first visit, returned in a milder form. I was treated again with the Epley Manuver and then have done exercises at home at any hint of return. So far so good.

[icipher]

I had a massive spell of vertigo a few weeks ago. Never experienced it before. Went to the doc, they said i had fluid in my ears and that it was caused by a virus. A few days later i got a bad cold which turned into a sinus infection. Took amoxicilin and got better, vertigo lasted about 3 days.

[Sir NoddinOff]

I noticed you are using a nasal mask, they are very comfortable and minimal but not always the best tool to get the job done. My sleep doctor tries to steer people with ear problems away from them. I took his advice and started using full face masks and all my ear problems faded away.

[Elle]

sirnoddinoff, Do you happen to know what it is about the full face mask that makes a difference regarding dizziness? I have always used a nasal mask but if full face would stop the dizziness I would try it. I just can't imagine how it would work since I sleep with mouth closed and air still just goes up my nose. thanks for any input.

[Elle]

I understand the need for medical consults but if we stopped asking members here the site would shut down. In my 8 years of "questions" I have had more reliable responses from cpap users than MDs. Thanks for the tip though..

[Julie]

It's one thing to ask about problems with Cpap equipment, another to speculate about a stranger's diagnosis because someone thinks her description of symptoms is similar to something we may have felt a few yrs ago. It's bad enough that people now go into their MD's offices with handfuls of printouts from who-knows-which websites and take offense when the MD tries to tell them it's bs, but when someone is not crazy about seeing their MD for something that was sort of discussed months earlier - from a different viewpoint - I think they should be encouraged to go back and present the new stuff, not look for our speculations when we know nothing meaningful about her medically. Sure it's fun to kick things around, but sometimes it can sidetrack a person from getting help now, rather than 'sometime'.

Don't mean to sound so stuffy or doctor-worshipping (they can be jerks like anyone else)! Not the point, but...

[Elle]

Works better for me (and no doubt many others) when you don't assume I'm an idiot.