New to CPAP - Ear Pain

I’m new to CPAP therapy. I have mild apnea, but my oxygen gets down to 82% in the middle of the night. Slept with it the first night… I felt like I was constantly moving the mask (nose and mouth) because light wind was coming out by my eyes. Machine said the seal was good though. Other than that, no issues sleeping with it… Before I knew it, I was awake and it was light out. I noticed a huge difference in how I felt when I woke up. I actually got excited until I felt the ear pain and pressure. It’s been a week and I haven’t gone back on it because I’m afraid to cause more problems I didn’t have before. It took a good 5 days for the pain to dissipate. The pressure started at 5 and went to only 9 during the night. I really want to use this. What can I do? Did anyone else experience this? I don’t have ear infections.

It takes a while to get your sea legs. Set a pressure of 7cm CPAP... not APAP... don't let it grow, just get used to 7cm. Pain is not supposed to be a part of this. Needless to say, take the mask off to yawn... doing anything to open the eustachian tubes while under pressure is a no-no. You can work the pressure up later. Welcome to the hose.

You might need to play with the humidifier a bit to find the sweet spot that doesn't cause congestion that can put pressure in your ears.

Also something to try, it might work: Put an earplug (e.g. silicone earplug) in ONE ear. Sometimes that helps relieve the pressure. I'm not sure why. Certainly if it doesn't help or makes it worse, don't do it again.

Janknitz wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 26, 2024 12:43 pm

Put an earplug (e.g. silicone earplug) in ONE ear.

I wonder whether the flight ear plugs would help. https://www.cvs.com/shop/earplanes-ear- ... id-1010997

You may want to look into a viatome O2Ring - it constantly monitors at night and you can add the data into Oscar if you use it.

I plumet into the 70s without suplamental oxygen at night and am perfectly fine in the day. I am on an aircurve 10 ASV and I use the Oxyline heated hose that has an oxygen port at the end next to the machine. I am on 2L/min of oxygen at night while I sleep.

FYI - I live at 9144ft altitude in colorado.