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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on May 5, 2011 at 8:21am

Am I correct in assuming that you haven't used CPAP since your abbreviated titration  session?

You would have to talk to your ENT about the sinus surgery and ear pain.  CPAP usually does not cause lung pain.  A lot of people on the forum have had sinus surgery and successfully use the machine.  You need to tak to your doctor about a different machine as you will need a prescription and he will have to justify your move up to another machine.  A BiPAP  will deliver a lower pressure on exhalation (EPAP), but your Inhalation pressure (IPAP) will be the same.  If you could not handle the inhalation pressure for longer than three minutes during your titration I don't see how a BiPAP would help.  I think you need to discuss this further with your docs and see what they recommend.  I read  of one person who had to have tubes put in his ears, but don't remember if that was associated with sinus surgery.  Good luck.  Get with those doctors.

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Permalink Reply by D. W. Conn on May 7, 2011 at 11:12am

Ms. Williams,
I do understand your issues with PPH, Claustrophobia, and CPAP use. My spouse “had” PPH and was a CPAP user. The change is another story, but I will give you some ideas how we worked through her issues.
First and foremost you need to talk in great depth with your healthcare provider regarding your issues.

My spouse was titrated in the sleep lab. She has issues with mask and claustrophobia. Our mask of choice was a full face mask. This gave her the option of breathing through mouth or nose. She was given a mask and kept it at her side for a couple days. She would place it on her face every time she thought about it. She would wear it as long as possible but not exceeding 3 minutes. The second day we had to connected to her CPAP machine. The machine was in our Family room. She would wear it as long as possible. With CPAP attached she worked up to an hour in a couple days. During this time we attempted her using the CPAP each night.
A week had past and she slept 3 hours with the mask on at night. When she awoke she had ear pain. Talking with Health care provider we established she had increased pressure behind her ear drums. This was caused by air being forced into her ear from the increased air pressure in her throat. The MD decreased the pressure in her CPAP by a selected number of cms. She did have some chest discomfort and it was “thought” to be due to increased pressure during CHF episodes.
This process took about three weeks to complete. After she was sleeping 7 hours a night with the full face mask she was taken back into the sleep lab fitted with a Nasal only CPAP mask and re titrated. In her case using the nasal mask we were able to decreased her over all pressure needed.
She did much better with her CPAP after all the hard work. She does continue to have claustrophobic episodes but is able to work through it.

I do hope this gives you some ideas on ways to become friends with your nPAP.

Please contact your healthcare provider express your concerns and report the ear and chest discomfort.

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Permalink Reply by rhonda williams on May 7, 2011 at 2:27pm

Thank you. I will be checking into testing the CPAP at home. I have issues with my ears, just by standing. I have had balance testing done and all the tests came back as normal, except my eyes and ears are hypersensitive.

 What do you mean by she "had" PPH?

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Permalink Reply by rhonda williams on May 7, 2011 at 5:42pm

How did she change and did it change her PPH?

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Permalink Reply by D. W. Conn on May 7, 2011 at 7:04pm

My wife had been diagnosed with PPH-CHF etc and had low cardiac output. It was first thought she would need a heart transplant. All of this was the result of a flu virus. She was very ill... after a year of treatment and decline went for second battery of test and second opinion. Turned out that the flu had attacked other organs and the gallbladder had died and the infections went tot he heart, lungs etc. They removed the gallbladder and a month of IV anti-biotics she has slowly recovered and her cardiac output returned to normal ranges, she still has some issues but nothing like what we had delt with for so long.

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Permalink Reply by rhonda williams on May 7, 2011 at 7:48pm

I am glad she is doing better. My health history is enough to fill a very large book. The doctors are still working on me. In 2002, I was told I was dying (PPH) and had borderline menigitis. But, after my second sinus surgery and a pic line for 3 months. I moved to FL and within 2 weeks. I was swimming, walking and working out at the gym:). I really believe all of my health problems stem from chemical allergies ( had to quit my housekeeping job, kept passing out at work). So, now back in IN with family and I am sick again. Long story, thank you for listening and for letting me know what your wife is and has gone through. Take Care.

 

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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on May 7, 2011 at 8:26pm

Conn that is great news! I have been wondering how things were going.

D. W. Conn said:

My wife had been diagnosed with PPH-CHF etc and had low cardiac output. It was first thought she would need a heart transplant. All of this was the result of a flu virus. She was very ill... after a year of treatment and decline went for second battery of test and second opinion. Turned out that the flu had attacked other organs and the gallbladder had died and the infections went tot he heart, lungs etc. They removed the gallbladder and a month of IV anti-biotics she has slowly recovered and her cardiac output returned to normal ranges, she still has some issues but nothing like what we had delt with for so long.

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