Air,Air, & more AIR!!!AArrggh..

[sleepster]

After crying for a considerable length of time over having to wear this thing for "Life",,I have been very compliant with it(94%)..But..Ahh..Lately,I have been waking up and my head is gurgling,feels like AIR in my ear..Anybody else have this..Sorta like being in a plane for 12 hours..Wanna "Pop" my ears!!Thanks!!

[Tigers Fan]

Similarities

Hi sleepster

Sounds to me like you have hit the nail on the head. We breathe pressurised air so one side of our ear drum is under (slight) pressure and the other side is at atmospheric pressure. If your natural balance function isn't working, then you'd need to 'pop' your ears.

I think - note 'think' - the natural balance function is a small passage-way or drain (some smokers can blow smoke out of their ears) and if this becomes blocked - bingo, your problem. I guess ear drops would clear the passage.

This happens to scuba divers and sometimes we just can't clear our ears on the way down. Can't dive with a cold for this reason.

Tigers Fan

[seasidegirl]

labrynthitus

I haven't really noticed any change in pressure on my ears but I have suffered before going on CPAP with dizzyness from labrynthitus. I had a short attack last week. Does anyone know if CPAP increases the chance of this?

[leswaller]

Seaside girl
Speaking as some one who works in the NHS and is also an experienced scuba diver, breathing through your mask under pressure should make no difference to the pressure in your inner ear or to either side of your ear drum.This would only happen if the mask covered your ears as well. It sounds more to me as if the problem is being caused by a sinus issue Try some of the sinus clearing options that have been suggested on this site before anything else.