Tinnitus?

[MiddleAgeGeek]

Severe apnea for a few years. About two months ago had a rough night and woke up with ringing in my ears.  Prompted me to finally get on CPAP. Went thru Lofta and now have the resmed curve auto. On day 4. Having tough time getting used to it. Getting 3-4 hours a night. App says 3-4 events per hour down from 51 in my sleep study.  

ENT looked at my ears and didn’t see any issues. Will do some follow ups. Question is, has anyone developed tinnitus from apnea and did going on CPAP help resolve it?

While I’m asking, anyone have recommended settings for this curve?

[SarcasticDave94]

Welcome to the Apnea Board.

For best answers to your setup question, it would be good to get the free tool OSCAR and post the screenshot. Also it's good to have your copies of the diagnosic and titration sleep studies in your personal health file and to post redacted versions here as well.

PS to help get used to any PAP, you may want to try using while relaxing and reading or watching TV. It does help to get used to the pressures.

[Sleeprider]

Welcome to Apnea Board. In all modesty, we have a pretty good track record in getting people comfortable with therapy, and you have an excellent bilevel machine. If you download OSCAR (free software) you will have details like you never imagined about your therapy, and we can learn what your settings and issues are. You may need a SD card in your machine (look behind the door on the top left side) and if there isn't one, any SD card from 2 to 32 GB will work. Sleep with the card in the slot, and upload using the Oscar software, then use the link in my signature to learn how to organize charts, take a screenshot and attach it to a post.

Without knowing your settings and the issues in your treatment we can only speculate at what is going on. Tinnitus can be related to VPAP therapy, however it is more often the result of chronic exposure to noise, and the onset is sometimes noticed after starting therapy. At least by looking at your OSCAR charts we can rule out excessive pressure and other problems.

[Big Guy]

I've had severe Tinnitus for decades. Long before any sleep apnea diagnosis. I'll be three years of CPAP use for me in Sept. My Tinnitus is as bad as it's ever been.

[MiddleAgeGeek]

Thanks all! The machine has a card in it. I’ll download Oscar and upload everything tomorrow. To be clear. The ear ringing started two months before I started the CPAP. I just started CPAP a few days ago.

[SarcasticDave94]

I'd forgotten to mention my own tinnitus. Mine started with a bias to the right ear but has gradually worsened in both. The tinnitus started many years before Apnea diagnosis or treatment for myself so there's no connection for these with me.

[StevesSp]

I have tinnitus but I have clinically-diagnosed hearing loss which is known to cause/emphasise tinnitus, so I suggest a hearing test. that said, my tinnitus is always worse first thing in the morning and I believe that is because my head has been 'pumped up' all night.

[Shadowpup]

Tinnitus for 51 years.  CPAP for one year hasn’t changed my tinnitus.  I’m hoping my new hearing aids will help mask tinnitus.

[Cpapian]

I can't see how a doctor looking in your ears will reveal anything. When I first had tinnitus I had a hearing test. Put into a telephone booth ? and they tested my range. I had lost some levels (high or low, I don't know) and was told this loss of range resulted in tinnitus.

[srlevine1]

@Big Guy -- Does the CPAP act the same as white noise to moderate the tinnitus at night?