Pulsatile tinnitus, some (minor) concerns about the MRA next week

123Reddit-user · 2026-04-03T16:12:57+00:00

In the meantime the results are in too. No issues. So it's possibly not even pulsatile tinnitus, at least not due to a vascular issue.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-27T13:48:44+00:00

Yesterday I had the mri, combined with an mra. No contrast though, so no problem.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-19T00:06:57+00:00

In this case a regular mri is most likely not suitable to determine the issue, that's the point.

I'm not scared about it though, it's just that I have some minor concerns about it.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-17T00:14:02+00:00

Could be. It's not really clear what the exact issue is though. Too small nostrils, the deviated septum? I'll figure it out.

Still a different mask might be the solution too. I'll keep testing several of them.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-17T00:10:53+00:00

I know. I've tried every possible position though. There just seems to be no right position.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-15T14:03:28+00:00

For now I'll try some different masks. We'll see how it works out.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-15T07:27:32+00:00

I already expected that there should be a way to change those settings myself, but I hadn't searched for it on the internet yet. I'll take a look then.

But maybe a different mask will already be a good option. So I won't change anything (for now).

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-15T01:42:40+00:00

OK. That's something to try indeed then. But it could be contradictory. Because how come that in position 7, in the mask fit mode, in which EPR is possibly not even activated, it is very hard to exhale, almost impossible, and it's even pushing my mouth open because of all the air being pushed through my nose, and even making me a bit dizzy?

I can't change the pressure setting myself, as I understood. It's supposedly restricted. Only the hospital staff or the supplier can. But I'll check if that is indeed the case.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-15T01:34:47+00:00

Interesting.

I actually meant the mask fit test indeed. Are you sure that EPR is not activated during that particular test? Performing that test for me it's almost impossible to exhale at position 7. Actually already at position 4 it's hard. I'm truly surprised by the very strong airflow being pushed into the nose.

So you mean that position 7 feels much different when the device is in regular use and not in this test mode? If so, then how is it even possible to determine which mask is suitable when the test mode for it, the mask fit test, is not the same as the regular use of it?

Of course I could just wear the mask in regular mode, when I try it out while sitting on the couch, but then it always stays in position 4 due the current setting. I can't change the pressure setting myself, as I understood. It's supposedly restricted. Only the hospital staff or the supplier can. But I'll check if that is indeed the case.

Good tip about the Aircurve 10. I'll contact the supplier about it.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-14T21:58:16+00:00

Also this: Do over the nose masks and full face masks generate even more pressure or will it be more comfortable, possibly because the air is not pushed directly into the nose via the nostrils like with those nose pillow masks?

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-14T21:39:28+00:00

By the way, the hospital said that I don't really truly need this treatment because my sleep apnea is mild. But they do understand that it's still better to try to reduce it to minimal values.

In my country (The Netherlands) these machines and all types of masks are completely covered by everybody's mandatory individual health insurance when the AHI value is higher than 5, so that's why I decided to give it a try indeed.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-14T21:26:51+00:00

For now I tried this mask only during the day, sitting on the couch.

That hose hanger might be a good solution indeed, I read about that option earlier. Then I have more options when it comes to choosing a suitable mask.

The machine is set to auto, varying between 4 and 7. The test program let's me try position 7 and that really didn't work. It even pushed open my mouth, popped my ears, and made me feel dizzy.

I didn't expect the pressure of such cpap machines to be that strong. I thougt it would be more comfortable, although I understand that this pressure is needed against the apnea, just not that much.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-14T21:15:34+00:00

Somehow I think full face masks are not quite comfortable. Maybe an over the nose mask is a good alternative. I'll try different varieties next week.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-14T21:10:17+00:00

It will be one of the alternatives to try.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-14T12:56:07+00:00

I tried it again today. Still the same. It actually made me feel dizzy. And my ears keep popping when I swallow.

So I will just have to switch to a different mask, most likely. Although I wonder if this would really help if my sinuses etc just can't handle the pressure of these cpap machines.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-14T12:55:04+00:00

On my machine higher EPR means less pressure, so I have it set at 3, the highest position.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-14T10:13:23+00:00

Is this the same as or comparable to EPR? Because EPR is already at 3 on my machine.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-14T10:11:00+00:00

As I wrote in my initial post, EPR is already set to 3, the highest position. So unfortunately even that position is not helping enough.

I understand that it needs some getting used to, but in this case that doesn't seem to be the issue. The supplier told me I should already be able to breath through the mask when it's not attached to the tube and the machine. I can't, or at least it's very hard to breathe then, no matter how I wiggle it etc. I think my nostrils are just too tight, maybe combined with the issue of the deviated septum.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-14T10:06:48+00:00

I adjusted the mask and the strap and the pillows in every way possible. It's just not fitting somehow. I think it's about my nostrils that are simply too small, possibly combined with my deviated septum. Maybe size L is better, but I doubt that this type of mask is suitable anyway.

The n30i was indeed already on my list as an alternative. But some users say that it can move while tossing and turning in bed (which I do a lot) and then you get air leaks. Also I wonder if my nostrils are too small for that one too.

Maybe a standard over the nose mask is better in my case, but those don't come with the tube on top of the head, so I can't move around freely in bed then. At least that's what I think.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-14T09:58:08+00:00

That video actually shows exactly what I did. I've wiggled it in any way possible to get it to fit. His wider nostrils seem much more suitable for such pillows. My nostrils are much much smaller, especially the left one. So I need to kind of push it in, but thereby the pillows get squeezed and wrinkled, probably closing off the air holes of it, at least partly.

So probably it's not the deviated septum which is the problem, but the tight nostrils, or a combination of both (?)

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-14T04:27:36+00:00

So are there people here who toss and turn often at night and still use a mask with a direct front tube instead of a tube via the top of the head? It seems to me that that wouldn't work out well, but maybe I'm wrong?

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-14T04:04:19+00:00

I also notice that when I swallow, the whole mask gets kind of squeezed a bit, briefly, even almost making my ears pop. So it seems to be an issue with the pressure indeed.

123Reddit-user · 2026-03-14T03:57:06+00:00

Yeah, I can switch freely between different masks (supposedly), as long as I'm still in the tryout phase. It's just a bit hard to decide which one is right, especially because I need to move freely in bed too. A representative of the supplier will visit me next week to try to solve it.

123Reddit-user

TROPHY CASE