CPAP and horrible vertigo!

[Peppa]

started on a cpap machine 11 weeks ago , 7 weeks ago had a first ever horrible vertigo attack ! Suffered for a week ,,, gradually started to fill better , still using cpap machine thru them then a week later 2 more vertigo attacks ended up in ER to say you have bppv vertigo just go home ..had epley maneuvers to move the floating crystals ..3 weeks later bam another 3 more attacks ! Terrible feeling, I’m stopping cpap for now , really doubt its a coincidence, I’m a healthy 60 woman no other health issues ! Blood pressure, weight all good ! Help so scared to put back on and looking for a new sleep doctor’s in the middle of all this ! Feeling helpless and hopeless ..exhausted!

[Julie]

Hi - we'd like to help but have nothing to go on... which model of what machine do you use? Which mask? What are your pressure settings? Do you take meds (that could interfere with either sleep or Cpap)? Are you using the auto feature vs plain cpap?

[Peppa]

I use a ResMed N30i with a with a nasal pillow and chin strap. It’s on a 5 to 15 pressure setting. I do not take any drugs just magnesium supplements... it’s programmed to start a 5 ...can’t seem to get a new sleep doctor appointment til February 2020..it’s a ResMed autoset AirSense 10 ....ty for input

[Julie]

Others may recognize that model (and thanks for more than "Resmed") but is it an auto or ?

Have you seen your GP lately, gone over any other possibilities? Recent other changes, wt loss/gain, thyroid issues, etc etc?

[Thumper68]

Resmed N30i is a mask.

[Peppa]

Yes it is all auto .machine .no new health issues ..

[Julie]

Which C/Apap machine do you have - what does it say on the front and/or top of it?

And when you say 'vertigo' - is the room spinning or you (feel like) spinning - it matters. And is it a spin sensation as such or dizziness, weakness, etc?

[chunkyfrog]

Vertigo has no connection to cpap use.
See your doctor.

[Miss Emerita]

I can really sympathize. I had three rounds of BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) several years ago before I started CPAP, and it was really awful. I then had a lot of residual dizziness and eventually received physical therapy to retrain my balance systems.

BPPV is more common as we get older, and I'd be very surprised if yours had anything to do with your apnea or your use of CPAP. Meanwhile, it is important to treat your apnea. Here is a syndicated medical column that addresses your worry:

https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/hea ... c2844.html

[zoocrewphoto]

I had two bad rounds of vertigo in 2011, both sending me to the ER. For me, it is not positional and seems to be caused by ear problems.


I started cpap in 2012. Over the years, I have had several rounds of vertigo, though not as bad or as long as the two in 2011. Those lasted hours to days, and most are very short with actual spinning to to be less than 5 minutes.

A few weeks ago, I started having problems again. I did not want to go to urgent care, and my motion sickness medicine was limiting it but not preventing it. I learned that it can be caused by blocked eustacian tubes (which can be caused by allergies, LPR, etc). I also learned that popping my ears can help unblock eustacian tubes. So, I have been intentionally popping my ears several times a day. It may be coincidence, but I have not had any more vertigo since I started doing that.

I don't know if this will help you or not. It sounds as if you may have the positional version if the Epley maneuver works. But it may be worth trying. And I would definitely talk to a doctor about possible causes. It is pretty rare for cpap to affect ears, but if you have a blockage somehow, or maybe you are getting congestion with the humidifier?

[Peppa]

I have a ResMed air sense 10 auto set ! I went to ENT doc she said possibly it could have been caused by the cpap blowing things all around up there ...went to ear specialist, it’s def bppv vertigo, she wouldn’t confirm either way the cause ! No one seems to know .. I just find it to much of a coincidence that this all started after I began cpap treatment..otherwise TG IM A HEALTHY person !
So appreciative to all people putting their input in ..THANKS ..I’m full of anxiety now afraid to move the wrong way to set it off again..

[Peppa]

Vertigo has no connection to cpap use.
See your doctor.

Hi , my doctor has said otherwise, and I’ve seen seen my primary a ENT AND A ear specialist..still no answers ..but thank you for trying ..ENT said it could quite possibly have to do with cpap blowing things around up there ..sometime the air can go thru ears ..

[Peppa]

Code: Select all

Others may recognize that model (and thanks for more than "Resmed") but is it an auto or ?

Have you seen your GP lately, gone over any other possibilities? Recent other changes, wt loss/gain, thyroid issues, etc etc?

Hi sorry new to all this .its a ResMed AirSense 10 autoset model ..have seen 3 doctors, no one seems to b able to figure it out ..I’m a typically very healthy drug free woman ..thanks

[Peppa]

Resmed N30i is a mask.

Thank you for correction! I have a ResMed AirSense 10 autoset machine with N30i nasal pillow ..

[Miss Emerita]

Forgot to mention, though you probably know this, Peppa. You can do the Epley at home. There are clear instruction sheets available on line. I would have my husband help me by coaching me through it after we both read the instructions. He would also put his hand on my shoulder to anchor me when the first and last positions produced vertigo. My doctor said to do the Epley twice a day until the vertigo stopped for 24 hours.

Yes, the sense that moving your head will set things off again is upsetting, isn't it? I would turn over very, very, slowly, kind of easing my head along. Needless to say, this did not help me sleep well!

I'm glad you're talking with your doctors about all of this. Healthy people get BPPV, though, and often there's no explanation for why. Those darn otoliths come loose and there we are.