New guy w/ anxiety Ear's plugged

[David T.]

Hi, I just joined up and have a questions. My first question is it normal to wake up with plugged ears? I've only had my CPAP for a few days, and I have woke up each morning with plugged up ears.

We will get to the anxiety later

Dave

I use the ResMed S9 Elite W/h5i, the Swift LT Nasal Pillow mask.

[Mary Z]

I personally have not hear of this before. It certainly seems possible. How long does it last?

[David T.]

Hi, it seems like it last untill mid to late afternoon.

Thanks,

Dave

[JohnBFisher]

Sure it is. I go through a ritual to try to "pop" my ears so they are clear before I fall asleep. But sometimes they feel as if I've been on an airplane. Normally the yawning drill helps. When that does not work, hot liquids (tea, coffee) seem to help.

[Pugsy]

You might have some plugged ears because of the tiny passageways from nasal and sinus area to the inner ear.
Should clear up with normal swallowing or yawning technique used similar to flying at altitudes and that pressure change.
If it does not clear up or continues bring this to the attention of your doctor. You can also do this while masked up and maybe ward off some of that plugged up feeling. Stifle a yawn (like in a room and you are bored and don't want anyone to see you yawn) and see if that helps.

Welcome to the forum. Anxiety? Can be common. How many hours of sleep with mask on are you getting? It is common to go through some pretty tough adjustments to all this stuff when we first start treatment. Need to make it as comfortable as possible so you won't get disheartened.

Are you going to be using the software to monitor up close your data?

[AirBreather]

I don't wake up with "plugged ears," but on some occasions when my APAP treatment pressure has been unusually high during the night I wake up a slight earache in one or both ears.

[David T.]

You might have some plugged ears because of the tiny passageways from nasal and sinus area to the inner ear.
Should clear up with normal swallowing or yawning technique used similar to flying at altitudes and that pressure change.
If it does not clear up or continues bring this to the attention of your doctor. You can also do this while masked up and maybe ward off some of that plugged up feeling. Stifle a yawn (like in a room and you are bored and don't want anyone to see you yawn) and see if that helps.

Welcome to the forum. Anxiety? Can be common. How many hours of sleep with mask on are you getting? It is common to go through some pretty tough adjustments to all this stuff when we first start treatment. Need to make it as comfortable as possible so you won't get disheartened.

Are you going to be using the software to monitor up close your data?

Anxiety, ha. I get down right freaked out. I broke out into cold sweat last night just thinking about putting the mask on. In fact I got on line to this site and started reading some and got claustrophoic and broke out into a sweat .

I want so bad for this to work.

The ears being plugged is not the same, I cant get them to "pop", it just goes away late in the afternoon. Quote} swallowing or yawning technique used similar to flying at altitudes and that pressure change{ end quote} just what it feels like they won't "pop".


Dave

[Pugsy]

If the ears continue to be stubborn, talk to your doctor about it. You shouldn't be uncomfortable that long. That isn't normal.
Don't let it go on too long till it gets checked out.

Claustrophobic huh? It is common. Try sitting and watching TV with the mask and machine on for about 30 minutes or so for a few nights to see if that helps you lessen the anxiety. If it gets real bad and you want to ditch the mask, talk to doctor about it.
Some people need a little help with meds for a short while until they get past that anxiety part. Do whatever it takes to make yourself keep the mask on. Don't let yourself get in the habit of taking it off and leaving it off during the night. This is too important to let it slide.

If side pieces are uncomfortable and the thin felt supplied by ResMed isn't enough padding, Padacheeks has some wonderful soft fleece ones that are much better.

[David T.]

Hi again Pugsy.

Thanks for the encouragement, I haven't gave up yet .

I found this last night..

http://usingcpapmachines.com/

Going to give it a go and will get a hold of the Doc. about the ears.

Man, to be young again

Dave

[KimberlyM]

Hi, I just joined up and have a questions. My first question is it normal to wake up with plugged ears? I've only had my CPAP for a few days, and I have woke up each morning with plugged up ears.

We will get to the anxiety later

Dave

I use the ResMed S9 Elite W/h5i, the Swift LT Nasal Pillow mask.

I used to have pressure in my ears also. Now I put on my mask, let the pressure rise to where it needs to be, then I put my fingers firmly in my ears and swallow. After the first time of swallowing with my fingers in my ears, the pressure isn't there when I swallow again. This may help you also.