Ear pressure

I'm new too CPAP talk, but have been using the REMstar Plus M Series since 10/08 with good results! However in 04/09 I developed an ear infection and ever since the pressure from the machine seems to cause popping and altitude type pressure in my ears and I wake up feeling light headed and dizzy, just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this.

HOJO wrote:I developed an ear infection and ever since the pressure from the machine seems to cause popping and altitude type pressure in my ears and I wake up feeling light headed and dizzy, just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this.

HOJO....been there....doing that.

I have been fighting a sinus infection for almost a month.
My ears immediately got plugged from the pressure of my machine.
I lowered it from 12.5 to 10. It helped.....but my ears are still plugged.

Am taking antiB's and they are getting better.
If they are not cleared up in a couple of weeks,
doc is going to put tubes in ear drums.

This cpap stuff is an adventure.

carbonman, thanks for the reply ! Sorry to hear you're experiencing the same problem, but in some "strange"way it is nice to know that I'm not alone in my dilhema ! Let me know how it turns out for you, my ENT insists that the cpap pressure should'nt be harmful, but I'm not sure he knows how intense a 12.0 setting is on a cpap machine. DOCTORS, UGH!!!!!

carbonman wrote: If they are not cleared up in a couple of weeks,
doc is going to put tubes in ear drums.

Would that work? Wouldn't the myringotomy tubes vent CPAP pressure?

I had an ear infection a few years back, brought on by (or at least exacerbated by) my first attempt to use a Neti pot. I had the same experience as you, clogged ears and temporary hearing loss that seemed to be made worse by CPAP -- went on for nearly a month. I used both Nasonex and Zyrtec, which may have helped. (I didn't try the prescription decongestant recommended by my ENT, since I've had prostatitis in the past, and was scared that a decongestant might cause problems in that department).

Ongoing ear problems started after 3 years on CPAP - no infection however - diagnosed as TMJ by ENT a week ago. Might need to see another ENT and get another opinion.

Hojo, get checked for something called meniere's disease. Look it up and see if the symptoms sound like yours.If they do, see a specialist and get your hearing checked out.
Waking up dizzy and ear pressure sounds like it. Do your ears ever ring?

it seems lately my tinnitus has flared up using my cpap had been in remission for over 20 years but alas it has started again not sure if its my head congestion or the cpap but I have a constant ringing in my ears for the last 3 weeks i've dealt with it in the past but it can sure be annoying!!!!!!