Help....I have sreaming ear ache

Fifi · Post by **Fifi** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 3:40 pm

I have never had ear ache before and suddenly out of the blue it has hit me. It was so bad that yesterday I could not even close my mouth or open it for that matter.

I am taking huge quantities of painkillers and I still cannot sleep. My fixed pressure cpap is so painful in my ear when I exhale I was awqake all night and I feel terrible. My pressure is 13.

I thought I could borrow/loan a bipap while I have this problem but I do not know much about them and even if I could get hold of one not sure if it would help.

I am in excruciating pain anybody have ant tips ideas?

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 3:51 pm

If its that painfull see a Doc ! It may be serious. You might try an OTC antihistimine such as Drixoral .
Try equalising the pressure by closing your mouth, clenching your jaw and making suction while trying to open your jaw. Till you feel it at the back of your throat. This should relieve any pressure caused by your cpap. Or, just suck really hard on your finger.

That sucking sound you hear is your ear clearing or .....American jobs going abroad

:twis ted:

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zart · Post by **zart** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 5:09 pm

I have a similar concern... although I am not in as much pain as Fifi describes When I am just laying down to sleep, all cuddled up with my mask and hose, my mouth starts to water for no particular reason and I have to swallow. That makes my ears pop and it is uncomfortable for a few minutes. It feels like what happens when you are flying. Sometimes I find that I have to remove my mask and swallow again to get the pressure to release. It is an uncomfortable feeling. I would be interested in what others are doing about this or if I am just wonderfully unique in this problem.

My pressure is set to 10 I have the option to use the ramp feature from 4 to 10 over a 30 minute period. Swallowing means that I have to start all over again.

I'd love to hear a few other opinions about this...

Fifi · Post by **Fifi** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 5:51 pm

Yes went to doc said I have severe ear infection and just gave me ear drops.

However this does not really help me with my cpap and the huge pressure I feel when I exhale against the pressure of 13.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 5:19 am

Fifi,
In ordet to help you you we have to know a number of things:
How long have you been on CPAP?
What kind of machine do you have?
Have you always had trouble exhaling against the pressure?
Do you have allergies that might have acted up recently?

Did you discuss the CPAP with the doc. who diagnosed you ear infection? (Do so if you haven't yet). Did he make any suggestions?

O.

bman · Post by **bman** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 6:23 am

as your eustachian tube is connected to the middle ear compartment I am not surprised if the cpap pressure is high, it can inflat your ear drum ie ever seen people with smoke coming out of the ear

the good news is you will get used to it slowly,

it is quite common to see the eardrum traumatised to the extent like otitis media with air travel,

drops is often for outer ear infection like otitis externa or swimmer's ear or tropical ear

often if your eardrum is red and inflammed, oral antibiotics would be more appropriate

i am not sure whether one should use cpap when there is an ear infection, i am not aware of any study + you really cannot carry out any double blinded prospective study on this

medicine is always grey and to get the benefit one would have to accept risks. it is unfortunate that many people can only accept perfect solution and cannot accept risks associated with one's treatment like cpap for example.

your option would be as follow(my opinion as a fellow cpap user):

1. reduce cpap pressure slightly and then increase it when you are able to tolerate it better

2. stop using the machine and keep trying again when things are better

3.take analgesics, antihistamine, benzos, nasal sprays etc

etc, anyway it is a short term problem and patience will bring you success

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 10:35 am

Did you tell your doctor that you're using a cpap?

Cpap is contraindicated with middle ear infections, if that's what you have.

Check it out. I'm not a doctor.

Fifi · Post by **Fifi** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 11:55 am

Ozij I think I have been on cpap approx 7-8 years but I am not sure.
Resmed Sullivan S6 Elite.
I find exhaling often very hard work and somewhat exhausting but I put it out of my mind so I do not think about it.

With the outer ear infection however it is totally intolerable, it is causing me huge pain as I exhale.

No allergies that I know of. Yes I reminded doc I was on Cpap but they made no comment and just said stop using it for a while.

I stop breathing big time without my machine, so I really do not want to not use my machine. That really isn't an option for me.
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ozij · Post by **ozij** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 12:26 am

Hi FIfi,

I find exhaling often very hard work and somewhat exhausting but I put it out of my mind so I do not think about it.

If this is what you feel after 7-8 years on CPAP, you might want to consider changing your machine.

There are newer machines nowadays - the Respironics Cflex series -that give relief on exhale - you might want to consider them. Some people find them wonderful (I haven't exprienced cflex presonally). Another kind of new machine is the self adjusting kind. You will also find many threads in this forum discussing the pros and cons of self adjusting (auto) machines. One major advantage of these is that they raise pressure to a maximum only when that is necessary, but otherwise maintain a lower pressure.

Could you be attempting to exhale against a nasal obstruction, and not only your usual pressure? (Did an ENT check you nose recently?)

The pain of earaches is excrutciating - both outer ear - and middle ear. (The doctors call middle ear infections "otitis media").
I know, because I've experienced them both. Middle ear infections can be the result of bad irrigation/stuffiness in your nasal cavities, and the attempt to exhale against that obstruction.

While I understand how much you want to use you cpap, I would be very wary of using xPAP with an active ear infection, especially if you have trouble exhaling. This isn't only a question of how much pain you can stand, but what real harm this might cause your ear, eardrum, and in the long run, you hearing.

Outer ear infection don't start with nasal cavities irrigation problems, but I believe thay can result in fluid accumulating in your middle ear - and that too would be a reason to stay off the pap machine.

In the short run, can you considering sleeping (or at least resting) in a recliner for a night or two, till your ear infection is better controlled?

Fifi · Post by **Fifi** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 4:57 am

Thanks OZIJ, it looks as if I may have no other option but to come off the machine for a while.

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 7:07 am

FWIW, my sister gets earaches from time to time and she uses garlic oil(medicinal quality, not the culinary stuff) . She just puts a few drops on a cotton ball and places it in her ear several times a day, and that always takes care of the problem.

But I agree with Ozi, it sounds like maybe your pressure is too high or you are in need of exhalation relief. Either a BiPAP or an AutoPAP with C-flex might be better suited for you.

- JB

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 7:12 am

Fifi, you wrote:

Ozij I think I have been on cpap approx 7-8 years but I am not sure.
Resmed Sullivan S6 Elite.
I find exhaling often very hard work and somewhat exhausting but I put it out of my mind so I do not think about it.

I second ozij's suggestion that you talk to your doctor about prescribing either a machine with C-flex (to drop the pressure somewhat each time you exhale) or a bi-level machine (to drop the pressure to an exact cm H2O each time you exhale.)

Your determination to use cpap is admirable. You're a great example to new people who have trouble adjusting. But, Fifi, don't try to be brave by toughing it out when exhaling is "very hard work and somewhat exhausting". You can be soooo much more comfortable with a machine that drops pressure every time you breathe out. This kind of treatment can be difficult enough to put up with, without something so easy to remedy making it harder.

I would run, not walk, to get one of those machines, if I were you. Put aside all stoicism and tell the doctor that you are having great difficulty exhaling against pressure - that it literally exhausts you. If he is any kind of doctor at all, he'll readily write you an Rx for a CPAP with C-Flex, or a bi-level machine. If he won't...you need a different doctor.

Just my 2 cents. Hope your ear problem clears up very soon!

Fifi · Post by **Fifi** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 6:03 pm

I do not have insurance so it would be up to me to fund the cost of a machine.

Rested gal you tried out a bi- level machine. Was it as easy to use and set up as the auto respironics with c-flex? I read on some posts that success with a bipap was greatly dependent on the skill of the person who set it up to get the timing right for the inhales and exhales.

With a bipap can you still get the software to be able to monitor what is going on?

I have already mentioned on several visits to doc that i find exhaling exhausting and the response was 'you'll get use to it, nothing to worry about'.

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ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 7:40 pm

Wrap several elastic bandages around your doc's ribs and tell him to try using your machine for one hour!

Some doctors I'd like to wrap Duct tape around them and tell them to try it out! ARGH!!

You have to tell the doc in no uncertain terms that this is NOT working.

You have to tell the doc that you are in PAIN.

You have to TELL the doc that HE needs to change something.

You have to speak up for yourself, and if he doesn't listen, find a doc who will.Doctors are people - with families, golf dates, kids that keep them awake at night, neighbors who back into their rose bushes... people. You have to get their attention. Be assertive. Do your research and bring them information. Sound like you know what you're talking about.

On the other hand, try to invite your doc to work WITH you to correct these problems. Its a partnership. He might make mistakes, but between the two of you, maybe you both can learn from those mistakes.

Good luck to you!
- JB

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:01 pm

I have already mentioned on several visits to doc that i find exhaling exhausting and the response was 'you'll get use to it, nothing to worry about'.

After 7-8 years???!!!

I hear the following from my (then new) optometrist when he corrected a wrong ("you have to get used to it") prescription that gave me headaches:

Do you know the joke about the hanged man? He was jerked and shivered until he got used to it.

So, OK, I got used to breathing against (relatively) higher pressure after about a month or two. But 7 years???

O.

Help....I have sreaming ear ache

Help....I have sreaming ear ache

increased pressure in your middle ear compartment