I have recently started using a cpap machine.?

Question

And have developed ear problems. It is almost like after leaving a concert and your ears are ringing, but no where near as bad. it is a constant now. Has anyone out there started having problems with their ears after starting use of the cpap machine? If so, did you end up going to an ent or back to the sleep doctor? Or quit using the cpap altogehter? THANKS!!!

Just for future reference, I am not overweight, thank you. I have just developed the problem of not being able to sleep well this year.

Answer 1

Don't EVER change the settings yourself; during your sleep study, the therapist titrated your CPAP pressure to the minimum effective setting. That means that if you turn it down, it will not be effective for you.

Don't stop using the CPAP machine unless your doc tells you to. There are various things they can do to help you get used to it and prevent this unpleasant side effect.

The first thing you should do is call the Home Health Care company that services your machine. If they are good, they should work very hard with you to resolve this issue. They don't get paid if you aren't compliant with therapy, so it's in their best interest to figure this out for you. Sometimes a different mask will help the ear problems; sometimes a different machine, or adding a humidifier (don't know if you have one or not). You may even just have a mild ear infection or sinus inflammation that are temporary. Your home care company should be experienced with these problems and able to guide you - they may suggest you go back to the sleep center or to your doctor, or they may have other tricks up their sleeves.

If your current company doesn't figure this out for you, call your insurance company and ask for a new Home Care provider.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I am on the net today trying to solve a very bad ear problem. I have used a CPAP machine for many years and love it. The first night I got the best sleep that I had in many years. But, over the years, I have become deaf in my right ear. The left ear is having a little problem too. It may be time to have the pressure rechecked. I have heard that there are machines that automatically adjust the pressure. I plan to check these out. Also, I don't know that the machine is involved in the problem. I would like to discontinue using it for a while to see if my hearing improves but, I don't want to give it up. The ENTs can't seem to find the problem but, suggest that it might be associated with the CPAP.

Answer 3

You might have tinnitus. Go see a Chiropractor they can treat this usually. Tinnitus is the term for noises which are heard "in the ears" or "in the head": buzzing, ringing, whistling, hissing, pulsing and other sounds which do not come from an external source. Emergence of tinnitus, usually lasting for a short period, is extremely common, e.g., after going to a disco, or listening carefully in a quiet room.It is important to distinguish between emergence of tinnitus lasting a short time and persistent tinnitus which causes distress. Persistent tinnitus is often triggered or made worse by emotional events; bereavement, work and family stress, accident/ injury (not necessarily to the ear) retirement, or moving to a much quieter environment. It may start during a period of unrelated depression or anxiety. Persistence of tinnitus usually involves the development of feelings of hopelessness and despair that nothing can be done.
Tinnitus is actually a symptom of some common medical problems, such as:
ear infection
wax impaction
noise exposure (like rock concerts)
TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders
even a side effect of medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, caffeine, or birth control pills
Tinnitus may also be a symptom of more serious illnesses such as high blood pressure, anxiety/depression, diabetes, thyroid disorders, Ménière's disease, blood vessel disorders, or tumors.


If you feel like everything is moving like you are drunk you may have Meniere's disease.

Good luck to you! :)

Answer 4

Cpap Ear Pressure

Answer 5

Don't ever take the sleeping pills route!!

1. They will damage your liver big time and you can get into serious health problems.

2. You will get hooked up on them and you won't be able to have a normal life any more if you don't take your pills everyday.

The sleeping pills industry is damaging our health by capitalizing on our ignorance, and by distracting people from effective and natural ways to deal with this problem. I had been taking prescription sleep medications [Ambien] for over 5 years. It stopped working and I simply took more. Still did not work. Nights were very difficult - medication put me to sleep but I would wake up after 2–3 hours with a strong sympathetic response (fast pulse, pounding heartbeat, wide awake alert). It was a very difficult cycle to break. I was really in bad shape due to lack of sleep.

After years of struggling I was able to cure my insomnia naturally and pretty fast. I followed the Sleep Tracks sleep optimization program, here is their official web -site if you want to take a look: http://www.insomniacure.net

Ohhh..and Good Luck!

Answer 6

If the ear problems continue, you should probably let the sleep doctor know. Perhaps your pressure is turned up a bit too high on the cpap machine. Try lowering the pressure for a couple of nights to see if that helps.

Answer 7

started cpap machine

Answer 8

How high is your CPAP set? You may need to be re-evaluated if it's too high. Normally a CPAP setting of 5-8 cm H2O is normal. Anything above that is pretty high. You need to contact your physician or contact the sleep lab. It could be due to ear infection, but is probably caused by inflammaton or fluid in your ear caused by the CPAP.

Answer 9

(34) 9-22-07 9:05 p.m. CDT
You may have developed Tinnitus.
When your ears are ringing, have you tried putting your fingers in your ears to determine where the sound is coming from?
I had sleep apnea for awhile, but discovered my major problem was the racket going on inside my head. I just turn on the TV on low & try to conk out.

Answer 10

I don't use a CPAP, but I believe that the problem that you are having is due to the pressure of the machine forcing too much air up through the eustachian tubes into your middle ear. Consult your doctor and see if the pressure can be reduced.

Another option is for you to lose 20-30 pounds and then you won't need the machine. (Almost all people use it because they are obese and the excess weight blocks their airway when they are sleeping.)