I am one of those people who use a sleep apnea machine. About two years ago, I got a new by-pap machine and couldn't keep the machine from causing air to blow past the mask. If you use one, you know what I'm talking about. I continually would ask medical providers to turn down the pressure so that I wouldn't be woke up several time throughout the night by my face getting slapped due to the mask vibrating on my face. Several times I had to get eye drops because of wind burns to my eyes. Still no help from the medical providers I saw. I eventually went to a newly recommended sleep specialist (Pulmonary Specialist). He prescribed a new self diagnostic c-pap machine to determine what setting would be appropriate. After about four weeks of usage, the morning came to see him again for his determination of new settings.
That same morning I woke up with significant blood coming out of my right ear, I latter learned that both ears had bleeding problems. The bleeding stopped so I decided to address the problem when I saw the pulmonary doctor that day. When the doctor saw me he immediately ordered the settings changed. The settings went from 16/12 cen. H2O of pressure to 13/9 13 cen. H2O. A considerable change. He also advised me to go to a urgent care center for diagnosis and treatment as to why my ears were bleeding.
I'm sure he knew the answer but wasn't sharing with me. At the urgent care center, I was diagnosed with Otic barotrauma. Which is a result of air being forced in through the skin in the inner ear and causing ruptures to occur. This hearing specialist stated it was not unusual for people using sleep apnea machines which were set too high. This can and often happens in the throat area too. Both can be very serious. I was given antibiotics and sent home and told to get my ears checked in two weeks. Although my hearing has been affected negatively, I am hoping it gets better in time.
Resetting the pressure on a sleep apnea (c-pap, or by-pap) machine is not so easy as turning a dial. They are coded to prevent patients from making these adjustment themselves. I now know, however, that the internet does have sites to tell you how to adjust the machine you are using. My new settings seem to be working well and I now am getting more undisturbed sleep and my ears have not shown any more sights of bleeding.
The purpose of my post is to warn others using sleep apnea machines of the dangers of too high of pressure on their machines. I hope post this might help others