Compressed ear drums

I've been having trouble with my ear drums, went to the doctor he told me I have compressed ear drums and then he asked me if I had flown recently, I haven't and the only difference was using the cpap. I was wondering if anyone has this problem and what can be done?

Air pressure at 5,000 feet is about 60% of sea level and poblem are caused by a differential between outside air and air inside your eustachian tube. That's why you swallow or cough during take-off or landing to equalize the pressure. It is my understanding that 5,000 feet is the pressure typically used for aircraft.

CPAP pressure is much less than this differential so it could possibly cause some distortion outward with the ear drum. It seems unlikely but each of us has our own reaction to environmental changes.

Did your doctor mention which direction the compression is taking? If it is inward, then CPAP can't be contributing. If it outward, then the CPAP may be contributing. You'll need to speak to your ENT or sleep doctor to see if they think your pressures can be part of the problem.

Maybe you could try this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_5nHV8FJyI

chunkyfrog wrote:Maybe you could try this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_5nHV8FJyI

Very funny, CF. Classic Odd Couple. I occasionally get some minor inner ear inflammation in my right ear, but only if I use nasal pillow systems like the Swift FX. Since I switched to a Wisp nasal mask, I don't have many ear problems anymore. (BTW, the Wisp mask was my sleep doctor's suggestion) Also when I ride my bike I use an ear plug to keep the constant wind out of my right ear.... this earplug idea probably won't do the OP much good, however the Wisp mask might help (or some product like it). OP, list your equipment in your profile.

Changing altitude from sea level to 5000' reduces pressure by 2.5 pounds per square inch. Running with a CPAP pressure of 20 cm/H2O represents a pressure of 0.28 pounds per square inch (see: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/air-a ... d_462.html and http://www.convertunits.com/from/cmH2O/to/psi ).

For a healthy inner ear I try to keep hydrated, deal with stress, be healthy, and keep my D hormone levels up in the winter time (check out the work of Dr. Stasha Gominak, Michael F. Holick, Ph.D., M.D., Vitamin D Council).

Todzo wrote:Changing altitude from sea level to 5000' reduces pressure by 2.5 pounds per square inch. Running with a CPAP pressure of 20 cm/H2O represents a pressure of 0.28 pounds per square inch (see: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/air-a ... d_462.html and http://www.convertunits.com/from/cmH2O/to/psi ).

For a healthy inner ear I try to keep hydrated, deal with stress, be healthy, and keep my D hormone levels up in the winter time (check out the work of Dr. Stasha Gominak, Michael F. Holick, Ph.D., M.D., Vitamin D Council).

Thanks for sharing that Todzo... you do good research However I've never heard of D hormone levels, but I'll check out those citations.

Sir NoddinOff wrote:

Todzo wrote:Changing altitude from sea level to 5000' reduces pressure by 2.5 pounds per square inch. Running with a CPAP pressure of 20 cm/H2O represents a pressure of 0.28 pounds per square inch (see: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/air-a ... d_462.html and http://www.convertunits.com/from/cmH2O/to/psi ).

For a healthy inner ear I try to keep hydrated, deal with stress, be healthy, and keep my D hormone levels up in the winter time (check out the work of Dr. Stasha Gominak, Michael F. Holick, Ph.D., M.D., Vitamin D Council).

Thanks for sharing that Todzo... you do good research However I've never heard of D hormone levels, but I'll check out those citations.

When you do you will understand.

Pop some popcorn (I just found out it is high fibre - yea!!) and watch the YouTubes!

Todzo wrote: Pop some popcorn (I just found out it is high fibre - yea!!) and watch the YouTubes!

Stale popcorn, the breakfast of champions and those too hungover to face cornflakes. Not that I actually know anybody like that.

I've been told that cornflakes are excellent when you have a few swimming in Jack Daniels.
--not that I've ever tried it!

Todzo wrote:Changing altitude from sea level to 5000' reduces pressure by 2.5 pounds per square inch. Running with a CPAP pressure of 20 cm/H2O represents a pressure of 0.28 pounds per square inch (see: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/air-a ... d_462.html and http://www.convertunits.com/from/cmH2O/to/psi ).

For a healthy inner ear I try to keep hydrated, deal with stress, be healthy, and keep my D hormone levels up in the winter time (check out the work of Dr. Stasha Gominak, Michael F. Holick, Ph.D., M.D., Vitamin D Council).

Wow! Try converting PSI to cm of water using the tire pressure of your car and you realize just how low the pressure is from our PAP machines.

For those who don't know D hormone = vitamin D. It is used in so many processes in the body that many people think it should be classed as a hormone, rather than as a vitamin.

Sir NoddinOff wrote:

Todzo wrote: Pop some popcorn (I just found out it is high fibre - yea!!) and watch the YouTubes!

Stale popcorn, the breakfast of champions and those too hungover to face cornflakes. Not that I actually know anybody like that.

For speed, portion control, and freshness I make my popcorn in a 10" frying pan. I use very little oil - heated to "just smokin" and add a 1/2 tsp slice of a butter stick held on top of the 2 oz of popcorn kernals ready when I see the smoke. Pop until it stops with great agitation at first then directly into the big bowl, toss and salt lightly.

With my gas stove this is very fast and very nary an unpopped kernal.

SleepyToo2 wrote:

Todzo wrote:Changing altitude from sea level to 5000' reduces pressure by 2.5 pounds per square inch. Running with a CPAP pressure of 20 cm/H2O represents a pressure of 0.28 pounds per square inch (see: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/air-a ... d_462.html and http://www.convertunits.com/from/cmH2O/to/psi ).

For a healthy inner ear I try to keep hydrated, deal with stress, be healthy, and keep my D hormone levels up in the winter time (check out the work of Dr. Stasha Gominak, Michael F. Holick, Ph.D., M.D., Vitamin D Council).

Wow! Try converting PSI to cm of water using the tire pressure of your car and you realize just how low the pressure is from our PAP machines.

For those who don't know D hormone = vitamin D. It is used in so many processes in the body that many people think it should be classed as a hormone, rather than as a vitamin.

The other thing is that like any hormone it is dose dependant. You have to have enough of it to make things work.

I think all with OSA should have thier levels checked if possible.

The work of Dr. Stasha Gominak along with my own experiance so far make me wonder if most of the CPAP failures relate directly to a lack of D hormone. If you are tired you stay inside away from the D producing sun. The obese absorbe only about half as much as those who are not.

I think most of the people who fail CPAP do so because it makes thier breathing unstable. After a month or so of supplimentation it is easier for me to breath eucapnically (normally - I tend to over breath) and my nighttime CPAP data shows more stability. This may be a good answer to UARS and some kinds of centrals.

Runningwolf,
Another thought. Eustachian tubes from middle ear to the back of your throat should normally be clear. But cpap, and in particular humidification levels can increase congestion in nose and pharynx. So you might try some humidity level changes to ease that and your ear drum pressure difficulties should ease. I don't use any heat and have minimal congestion...but that's me in my environment.
Good luck,
J