Air flowing through ears???

[terryann1111]

I'm asking this question for my friend who doesn't have internet but just got diagnosed with apnea and was put on her ResMed VPAP III a month ago. She is at a pressure of 17 and has the problem of air flowing through her ears sometimes!!! Anyone else ever experienced this and should she be alarmed? I use a CPAP at a level 6...never have experienced this and don't know what to tell her...but doesn't sound good to me...YIKES!

Please don't suggest that she just go see her doctor as she is severely disabled, has no money and no insurance. Charity paid for her sleep study...someone generously donated her equipment for her. We just need some input about the air flow.

THANKS in advance for any input!

Terry Ann

[RiverDave]

Terry Ann,

All that plumbing is connected (ears, nose, oral cavity) via the eustachian tubes. Are you sure the air is flowing through the eardrums and not just "inflating" the eardrums (putting pressure on the inside of the eardrum)?

To test for the inflating, you can (do this gently!) pinch your nose shut and try to exhale through the nose. You should hear/feel your ears pop and your voice will feel louder to you, especially when you hum. You can get rid of the pressure by swallowing or pinching you nose and gently try to breathe in through your nose.

If it is just "inflating" the ear drum, it can be a nuisance and can potentially cause an ear infection. Swallowing can relieve the pressure buildup, but thats a temporary fix.

If it is flowing through the eardrums, thats a bad thing (an eardrum has probably ruptured, unless she has tubes in her ears).

I don't know of a fix for any of this. Sorry

[Fredman]

If air is flowing from her ears, she may have a hole in her eardrum.

I had a perforated ear drum once from an acute inner ear infection. I only knew because of the blood on my pillow in the morning and then confirmed by my family doctor looking into my ear. The doctor advised to go off CPAP for at least a couple of weeks and then she took a look again to ensure that the eardrum had healed before I was allowed to use the CPAP again.

If I continued to use the CPAP, the hole wouldn't have had a chance to heal...not sure what the outcome would have been long term.

But I am not a Doctor! She does need to see a doctor just to confirm that all is ok. I know it's hard to find funding, but it was done for her sleep study and equipment. All she needs is a quick look into the ears. Maybe her DME can suggest something or someone who will do pro bono (free work)?

[Fredman]

I have had tubes in my ears for since I was a child.

The procedure RiverDave describes I have used to clear my eustachian tubes when they are blocked. Divers do the same. I am not confident that this is a good thing to do if her ear(s) have potential holes or tears in the eardrum.

Unfortunately, she needs to see a doctor to confirm everything. We can guess here about the cause. The only fix is to let the eardrum heal. It won't heal if air is forced through the hole or tear.

If it doesn't heal, it requires surgical repair of the eardrum where a very thin layer of upper skin is harvested from your body and placed over the hole as a patch. My son had that done, remarkable procedure.

Again, the costs for this would be significant.

[RiverDave]

Fredman,

You are probably correct.

I figured if it is done gently, there wouldn't be further damage and some information would be gained.

[terryann1111]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm afraid you are all probably right. She probably has a perforation in one of her eardrums for whatever reason. I'm going to make some phone calls tomorrow around her county to try to find a sliding scale clinic where she can maybe be seen and confirm this. She is severely disabled from arthritis and can barely walk across the room and (unfortunately) has been awaiting a hearing before an SS judge for nearly TWO YEARS here in Georgia to get on SS and finally get on Medicare!!! Maybe she'll get that hearing soon!!!

Just FYI, that sleep study was paid for by chairty...the equipment was donated to her by a lady who just refused to use it! I don't think the people at the sleep study clinic would be any help...they flatly refused to set her equipment for her, but someone at a local hospital did that for her for free...GOOD GRIEF!

In the meantime, maybe she needs to stop using it temporarily. On the other hand, I hate to suggest such a thing as she has severe COPD along with the sleep apnea...just got out of a month-long stay in the hospital from pneumonia...this VPAP may be keeping literally keeping her alive.

[RiverDave]

terryann,

Over here in TX, th larger supermarkets have what they call Rediclinics. Staffed with nurse practioners. They are cheap and you can get at least get a diagnosis. Not sure if this is done in GA, though.

[NeedinZs]

TerryAnn,

Wow, that's a tough situation! I don't have any words of wisdom for you, but she is LUCKY to have such a caring friend looking out for her!

I wonder if you could find someone willing to come to her house, just to take a look at her eardrum? A family friend who knows a nurse practitioner or such?

I wish you both WELL!

[Fredman]

RiverDave we are starting to have Nurse Practitioners as well, suppose to relieve a bit of the stress of the system. We don't have enough doctors - baby boomer doctors retiring and many head to the States to make big $$. They complain here that they don't make enough given their eductation. I have also had a doctor say his colleagues in the states see half the patients he does and makes more than double what he does!

Nurse Practitioners make sense to me if they can diagnose the basic stuff...and charge less.

My son went to College in North Dakota and played football there. The College nurse was the first call that college kids made before seeing a doctor because of costs, even the kids with reasonably good insurance coverage.

TerryAnn my hopes and wishes are with your friend and maybe it's best that she not go off VPAP if she is that badly off. I think the ear thing is a smaller issue as opposed to breathing and living I am sure she will get on SS if she is that badly off. Sounds darned difficult...she is lucky to have a friend like you!

[greatunclebill]

the subject line reminds me of the old tv series the beverly hillbillies. on one episode, granny who thought of herself as doctor was giving jethro a physical exam. she held a candle next to his ear, blew in the opposite ear, and it blew the candle out. too funny. sorry, had to say it.

[Pugsy]

Old post resurrected by spam which was spam removed...in case anyone is wondering how this thread came back to life.
Looks like for some reason it didn't go back into the archives like it should have (that happens sometimes) and then someone posts a response and here it is.

[avi123]

Old post resurrected by spam which was spam removed...in case anyone is wondering how this thread came back to life.
Looks like for some reason it didn't go back into the archives like it should have (that happens sometimes) and then someone posts a response and here it is.

Comment,

It's interesting regardless. The above "advice" of closing nose and trying to inlate reminds me that the air could also come tru the eyes like this:

[chunkyfrog]

IMPORTANT!
Under no circumstances try this at home!
This is obviously a stupid human trick only possible by a few individuals with unique anatomy.
Others could hurt themselves.