CPAP linked to middle ear issues / tinnitus?

[easyheimer]

Hello all. New here to the forums. Looking for some answers for some recent issues I’ve been experiencing. Around August of last year my left ear plugged up. I went to the doctor and found out I had an ear infection along with sinusitis. After the infection went away I still had the clogged ear and my Eustachian Tube wouldn’t equilize. I was diagnosed with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction along with Serous Otitis Media (basically fluid in my ear that won’t go away). When I first developed this I had a low humming in my ear which has now moved on to a high pitched sound in my ear. This is driving me nuts and keeping me from sleeping which is when it’s the loudest. I have a very hard time falling asleep and also staying asleep. Before all this I could sleep like a baby and the machine was a godsend. After trying a bunch of decongestants and learning I have a high sensitivity to basically all of them I started looking for more answers. That’s when I turned to questions about my CPAP machine.

Surprisingly with a simple google search of some of my symptoms and CPAP there seems to be a lot of other people having very similar issues. People were pointing out that their tinnisus would lessen or completely disappear after sleeping a couple nights WITHOUT the machine on. They were saying that the CPAP machine seems to be creating unequal pressure in the middle ear creating, prolonging or making worse the symptoms of ETD or ear infection / issues that people like me are having. I figured I’d come to a place like this where there are so many other people who also use CPAP and see if I can possible find someone else who has also been through this. Basically I’m just looking for some answers so I can get my life back on track and get a good nights sleep again that I was so accustomed to having for the past 10+ years.

I do use the ResMed 10 with full face mask just for a little background.

Thank you in advance!

[Thumper68]

I have a very mild case of tinnitus. I only rarely get any ringing in my ears, maybe a couple of times a month and the ringing only lasts for a few seconds. I started CPCP in Sep 2018. I have not noticed any change in my tinnitus symptoms one way or the other.

In regards to your Serous Otitis Media, I have suffered from fluid trapped in my ears that would not drain. I ended up, by first having temporary Eustachian tubes placed in my eardrums. They fell out in about 18-24 months. About 18 months after they came out, I again had fluid trapped in my ears. I ended up getting permanent Eustachian tubes put in last year prior to starting CPAP. My ears have been good since the tubes were installed. I don't have any ear issues using CPAP with the tubes. I have searched for information on CPAP and tubes, but didn't find much. The general consensus seems to be that there is slight air leakage from the tubes while using CPAP, but the diameter of the Eustachian tube is so small, that the leakage is nothing to worry about.

[easyheimer]

I have a very mild case of tinnitus. I only rarely get any ringing in my ears, maybe a couple of times a month and the ringing only lasts for a few seconds. I started CPCP in Sep 2018. I have not noticed any change in my tinnitus symptoms one way or the other.

In regards to your Serous Otitis Media, I have suffered from fluid trapped in my ears that would not drain. I ended up, by first having temporary Eustachian tubes placed in my eardrums. They fell out in about 18-24 months. About 18 months after they came out, I again had fluid trapped in my ears. I ended up getting permanent Eustachian tubes put in last year prior to starting CPAP. My ears have been good since the tubes were installed. I don't have any ear issues using CPAP with the tubes. I have searched for information on CPAP and tubes, but didn't find much. The general consensus seems to be that there is slight air leakage from the tubes while using CPAP, but the diameter of the Eustachian tube is so small, that the leakage is nothing to worry about.

Thank you for your reply. The ringing might just be related to the fluid then as that seems to be one of the symptoms. Just didn’t know if my CPAP machine was keeping it around for longer than it should. Did you also have the fullness / ringing / always having to pop your affected ear? It’s literally making my life miserable right now. Hoping for some relief soon. Go for an ENT visit Wednesday. We’ll see what they say.

[realshelby]

It will be interesting to hear what your ENT says. I have developed tinnitus in both ears. Having been on cpap for just about 6 or 7 months when it started.

Be prepared for some licensed Doctors on the forum to say there is absolutely nothing related between cpap and tinnitus.

But it sure seems a big coincidence. No matter how small the Eustachian tubes are, they will allow that side of the ear to be at higher pressure under cpap therapy. Is that a cause? Don't know for sure. Not wanting to go off cpap for a few days to see if it changes things, at least right now.

[easyheimer]

It will be interesting to hear what your ENT says. I have developed tinnitus in both ears. Having been on cpap for just about 6 or 7 months when it started.

Be prepared for some licensed Doctors on the forum to say there is absolutely nothing related between cpap and tinnitus.

But it sure seems a big coincidence. No matter how small the Eustachian tubes are, they will allow that side of the ear to be at higher pressure under cpap therapy. Is that a cause? Don't know for sure. Not wanting to go off cpap for a few days to see if it changes things, at least right now.

I have read and heard of doctors saying that the machine wouldn’t have any affect on the ears so I hear where you’re coming from. Who knows, maybe it’s just the fluid and pressure already in my ears that’s causing the tinnitus like symptoms or ringing in the affected ear. I’m hoping it is. I also understand not wanting to come off the machine to test it out as I’ve never slept better when using it.

[Thumper68]

I have a very mild case of tinnitus. I only rarely get any ringing in my ears, maybe a couple of times a month and the ringing only lasts for a few seconds. I started CPCP in Sep 2018. I have not noticed any change in my tinnitus symptoms one way or the other.

In regards to your Serous Otitis Media, I have suffered from fluid trapped in my ears that would not drain. I ended up, by first having temporary Eustachian tubes placed in my eardrums. They fell out in about 18-24 months. About 18 months after they came out, I again had fluid trapped in my ears. I ended up getting permanent Eustachian tubes put in last year prior to starting CPAP. My ears have been good since the tubes were installed. I don't have any ear issues using CPAP with the tubes. I have searched for information on CPAP and tubes, but didn't find much. The general consensus seems to be that there is slight air leakage from the tubes while using CPAP, but the diameter of the Eustachian tube is so small, that the leakage is nothing to worry about.

Thank you for your reply. The ringing might just be related to the fluid then as that seems to be one of the symptoms. Just didn’t know if my CPAP machine was keeping it around for longer than it should. Did you also have the fullness / ringing / always having to pop your affected ear? It’s literally making my life miserable right now. Hoping for some relief soon. Go for an ENT visit Wednesday. We’ll see what they say.

I didn't notice any additional ringing when I had fluid trapped on my ears (both of them). However I totally understand your discomfort. I also had fullness and popping my ear drums provided only intermittent relief (when I could actually pop them). I also had greatly diminished hearing. TV, radio, etc volumes almost had to double normal levels for me to hear. I had trouble hearing normal conversions, etc. When the tubes were inserted I had instant relief from all of those symptoms.

[MtnGroveTigger]

I have been on CPAP for a year and a half. I have had problems with my left ear feeling stopped up in the morning for most of that
time. It has gotten worse in the past few weeks and now I am hearing the "ringing" referred to as tinnitus. I have never experienced
this before. I just turned 64 so age may have something to do with it. Any suggestions?