Ringing in ears / congestion

For the past month I have been waking up with pressure in my ears several times per night and light ringing in my ears that won't go away. I have been using a Resmed AirSense 10 for about three years. My start pressure is 6 and the humidifier is on 5. I use the unheated hose. I have been using the Resmed F30 mask for 1-2 years which improved my apnea numbers. My sleep Dr. said my apnea events were about 15 without CPAP. Now they are about 1.5 on average. I had nasal surgery two years ago to straighten a deviated septum and for turbinate reduction. It did help with my chronic sinusitis and resolving my sinus headaches and improved my apnea.

I have not been to any concerts or loud noises. I wear ear muffs when I cut the lawn use a saw, etc. My hearing seems fine. I don't notice I'm missing sounds. I have noticed an increase in my night time congestion (the reason for my surgery). I wake up several times in the night with my ears full of pressure. The only way I can release the pressure is to remove my mask, plug my nose, "suck" in and then release. Yawning and swallowing does not work. My ear pressure then returns to normal. I go back to sleep with my mask and wake up with pressure in my ears. I also noticed I have noticed almost daily sinus headaches. I have very little congestion during the day. I do not have any vertigo.

A few years ago my Resmed went bad and was pushing a constant 17 pressure. I was given my current machine. I wonder if my machine is not dropping the pressure after an event? I woke up at 3am this morning with pressure in my ears. When I removed my mask my machine did not shut off (it has always shut off when removed). The pressure was 8.8. I have researched my issue online and it says CPAP likely does not cause ringing in the ears. I'm going to also input my info on Oscar and see what the data says. I have an appointment with my ENT surgeon soon for this issue and possibly a second surgery. I'm also going to drop my apnea Dr. an email. Anyone have my issue or advice? Thank you in advance!

Ringing in the ears is likely tinnitis....If it is, it's permanent. I have had it for 25 years. The first year it bothered me...after that I don't even notice it. Yo need to be examined by an ENT, not sleep doctor. If you are concerned that your machine is not functioning properly, you need to download Oscar software. The web site is noted at the bottom of this post.

New tinnitus should be reported to a doctor. There are many possible causes. If you know it happened because of exposure to loud sounds (headphones too high is a modern day reason) then you are probably hosed. But if you don't know the cause, there are some other things that need to be ruled out as causes.

Tinnitus is a symptom. Often it is a symptom of (as I said) damage from loudness, but there are other pathways to that symptom.

I'm a longtime sufferer and absolutely congestion makes it worse (because of the ear pressure). The reason it seems worse is really that it is about the same but the congestion makes you less able to hear "real" noises, so it seems louder. Sleeping in a very quiet room can make it sounds like screaming. I actually like the slight noise I get from the cpap because it helps control it. I also listen to (low volume) music when going to sleep for the same reason. (Yes, that can backfire when your mind is thinking it's really enjoying the music, but I'm not good with white noise alone).

I think you might be swallowing air to get that level of pressure. Just a theory.

My tinnitus is limited to one ear--due to an infection as a child.
White noise helps, but a hearing aid is more effective, as the tinnitus was created
as my brain filled in for hearing loss from the infection.
The best white noise is rain or running water; though I would like a nice cat purr.

Hi, many causes for tinnitus. You state congestion.... Do you have mild/severe sinus congestion? Sinus congestion/ear infection can cause ringing in the ears (tinnitus), I suggest making an appt with ENT for diagnoses, if you haven't already. Wish you well.

I have 1 fan on 24/7 in my room and 2 fans on 8 hours while I sleep. I can't stand silence because of my tinnitus. Although tinnitus tends to be permanant the sound level is not always the same. For instance many people don't realise they even have it until they get a cold, as their ears get congested so the outer noise can no longer mask it very well, so it sounds louder.

I am a off and on CPAP user and I find, for whatever reason, my ears are more congested when using it. For instance I stopped using CPAP for the last 5 years. I have started again in the last 2 weeks and I am already getting squelching popping sounds in my ears when I chew food. I have no idea why. I always wonder if the humidification water is making its way in to my ear canals, or the air is blowing wax about.