CPAP and vertigo

[zoocrewphoto]

I have been popping my ears several times a day on purpose.

Wonder if chewing a stick of gum (sugarless) after each meal would help?

Possible. I tried that during a trip driving through the mountains but still have problems. And I had to buy gum specificially for that. I do not normally chew gum, and I can't at work anyway. But it seems to be much better since I started popping my ears on purpose. I haven't had any of vertigo spells, or even the off balance feelings.

[ChicagoGranny]

I started popping my ears on purpose.

How do you "pop" them? I've done it after flights by holding my nostrils closed with my fingers and trying to gently exhale through the nostrils.

Gramps and I always chew gum on takeoffs and landings. Often, I have to elbow him to chew with his mouth closed and quit chomping. I say it's embarrassing, but he says look at how badly other people on the plane are dressed and how badly they act.

[Peppa]

Thank you !!

[zoocrewphoto]

I started popping my ears on purpose.

How do you "pop" them? I've done it after flights by holding my nostrils closed with my fingers and trying to gently exhale through the nostrils.

That's what I do. In the past, I would only do it when I felt like my ears were plugged. But I have been doing it without feeling the need just to see if it would help. Could be coincidence, but I haven't felt the need to take meclizine for over a week now, and I was taking it 3 times a day for a couple weeks.

[chunkyfrog]

Vertigo is in the INNER ear, while popping affects the MIDDLE ear.
Any open connection between the two would be abnormal, either injury or deformity.

[zoocrewphoto]

Vertigo is in the INNER ear, while popping affects the MIDDLE ear.
Any open connection between the two would be abnormal, either injury or deformity.

That is what I previously believed, but I have been doing research while waiting for doctor appointments. I am already waiting for my referral to an ENT for LPR as I have more than GERD and it needs to be treated better. After a change in medication for the gerd (an an attempt to improve my iron absorption), and I had a huge problem with LPR. Acid reflux up my trhoat multiple times, burned my vocal cords. I missed several days of work with additional weeks of bad coughing and sounding like gravel. And daily problems with my balance feeling off with sudden waves of vertigo. Not while moving, usually, but just sitting while reading, or even while in bed. Then, I had allergy testing since my new primary doctor felt I should be treating my allergies, and the only medication that helps is one that I shouldn't be taking since it causes high blood pressure. I basically accept thedaily allergies until it gets really bad,and then I take that one medicine.

So, I was reading about LPR, allergies, and vertigo. And I was learning that that both LPR and allergies can cause ear problems. Both have been worse lately, especially the LPR. And the vertigo has been bad again. Last time it was this bad was January of 2017.

https://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/dizziness

"Among the many causes of dizziness are allergies. An allergy is the immune system’s response to a foreign substance that’s not typically harmful to your body. These foreign substances are called allergens. They may include certain foods, pollen, or pet dander, to name a few.

Allergy-related sinus congestion can lead to dizziness or a more severe type of dizziness called vertigo.Allergies affect the Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tube is essentially a tunnel that connects your middle ear to the back of your throat and helps to regulate your balance, while also equalizing the pressure in your middle ear with the ambient air pressure.

When you begin experiencing symptoms in your ears, including that annoying clogged feeling that can make it difficult to hear, it’s often because your Eustachian tube is blocked with mucus.

When it’s blocked, it’s no longer able to equalize pressure in the ear and maintain balance in your body. These middle-ear disturbances can cause symptoms of dizziness in those suffering from allergies, colds, and sinus infections.

Lightheadedness may also be a symptom of allergies. Lightheadedness and dizziness are two specific symptoms that are usually distinguishable from one another. When you’re lightheaded, you feel as though you might faint or pass out, instead of the feeling that the room is spinning (or that your head is spinning).

Lying down usually resolves lightheadedness, at least temporarily, while dizziness is generally not extinguished when you lie down.

Vertigo is a severe form of dizziness that causes you to see the room as though it’s spinning. Someone with vertigo may also feel as though they are moving when they are actually sitting or standing still.

In the case of allergy-induced vertigo, the culprit is fluid building up in the middle ear.

It’s important to note that while vertigo can be debilitating or disruptive, it’s often treatable. Your doctor will likely run a variety of tests to determine the cause.

If it’s determined that the vertigo is related to allergic rhinitis, your doctor will provide treatment accordingly or refer you to a specialist (usually an allergist or ear, nose, and throat doctor).

Since vertigo can be related to more serious issues, it’s important to seek treatment as quickly as possible once you’ve experienced this symptom."

[chunkyfrog]

Good to know.