CPAP & Tinnitus

[Pete Hammond]

Hello All,

After along wait I have just started using my RESMDED S9 CPAP machine and have noticed that since using it for just a few days my tinnitus has become considerably louder than normal which is very worrying, has anyone else experienced this problem with thier CPAP and tinnitus?

Also I use the small mask that coverws just the nose which is a bit of a problem for me as I have been waking up many times during the night due to me subconsciously opening my mouth to breath during sleep, has anyone tried the full mask and if so does it help with this type of problem?

Any comments would be sincerely appreciated

Regards Pete

[symmit]

Hello and welcome!

The additional pressure can affect your ears, I know mine sometimes does, like a change in altitude. Mention it to your sleep tech though anyway.

Mouth opening - as you get used to the cpap it may reduce, if not you may need to tweak the pressure slightly or use a full face mask (mouth and nose) - after a while when your brain gets used to breathing with pressure you may be able to get back to a nasal mask.

[acebass]

Woah!!! Doppelganger....

How Spooky is that, some one with the same name as me joining the forum!!!

[Barely Awake]

Also I use the small mask that coverws just the nose which is a bit of a problem for me as I have been waking up many times during the night due to me subconsciously opening my mouth to breath during sleep, has anyone tried the full mask and if so does it help with this type of problem?

Some folk try chin straps to prevent mouth leak with nasal masks http://www.eu-pap.co.uk/products/chin-straps.html
Full face masks can bring additional problems - leaks, noise, etc. But I find them a must when I have a cold.

[Pete Hammond]

Hi, Thanks for the replies so far, I phoned the sleep clinic and have an appointment for tomorrow (wow that was unbelievably quick) so I'm going to try a full mask first to see how I get on with that first. I am a natural mouth breather so I'm not sure the chin strap will work for me. I also get the feeling that the machine is already a lot to contend with without the further addition of a chin strap adding even more discomfort although I guess I will get used to it like everyone else here so sorry to be a winger on my first postings.

I also find that there seems to be a lot of resistance in the nasal mask when I'm breathing out which feels uncomfortable and adds to the need to breath through my mouth and experience all that air that gushes out (keeps my wife amused if nothing else!) I'm going to raise this issue tomorrow in case there's a fault with my machine/mask.

I really really need this to work for me so I can have some sort of normal life without feeling constantly unwell and tired so I intend to persevere and I promise to come back and give some positive news soon :-)

[Tigers Fan]

Talk to the clinic about putting some EPR/Flex on. This reduces the exhalation pressure - making it easier to breathe.

TF

[Barely Awake]

Talk to the clinic about putting some EPR/Flex on. This reduces the exhalation pressure - making it easier to breathe.

TF

What TF said! Unbelievable to me now, but when I was set up years ago the tech didn't even know there was a flex facility on my machine so hadn't set it... A month later, there was me attempting to breathe out against the full wack, such that exhaling lifted the mask off my face, when the flex could simply have turned it down at the first sign my wanting to exhale. Was about to give up when I found out about it.

[Fredxx]

I had a problem with the CPAP bunging my ears up and giving me tinitus - I have sorted it out though! Yet another victory for the Sinupulse Elite for me...flushing with nice warm water solves the problem in a couple of days

[Patsyw]

Hello All,

due to me subconsciously opening my mouth to breath during sleep, Any comments would be sincerely appreciated

Regards Pete

Pete - have you considered using a snore guard or a mandibular advancement device which keeps your mouth clamped shut?

Patsy

[Pete Hammond]

Still Having Problems

Well I went back to the clinic on Monday and got a full face mask and a chin strap so I was once again full of hope, actually looking forward to wearing the masks and using the machine seems a little weird but I was.

Tried the full mask and it leaked and kept waking me up still had problems breathing out so went back to the nasal job by and chin strap, during the night after about 1 hours sleep I woke up unable to breath and really panicked as I tried to rip the mask of in complete darkens, not a nice experience and to be hoest its puty me off the CPAP a little.

I have spoken to the nurses and I have another appointment this Friday for a dehumidifier unit which they think will solve the problem, the nurses are brilliant and you get you problems sorted very quickly, a real feather in the cap or the NHS. I'm not using the CPAP until Friday so ill let you know how things progress.

Does anyone else have similar problems? Also when breathing in the intake of air gives me a very dry nasal passage with a slight burning sensation and a sore throat which I also hope the de humid unit will solve.

Also we can’t afford heating upstairs this year so the air coming through the CPAP unit once pressurised is very cold and with the full mask sets my teeth off ...... any Ideas

[ElleCee]

The dehumidifier will make the air you breathe moist and warm so should solve most of your problems but sadly not the leaking mask one.
Good luck
Lorraine

[Alan R]

I started only last week with the CPAP. Like most I followed advice by using the dehumidifier but kept it mid setting to see which level of humidification suited. I was getting the clogged sinus in the morning so have started using the top level of heating on the humidifier and have used warm water to put into the container to start with. I don't know myself since and sinus have cleared. So definitely get the humidifier and definitely play with the settings. It won't take long!

alan.