Trying An Experiment with the Aveo and a MAD

[Loreena]

I got, I think, a potentially brilliant idea just now. I use the Somnodent every night with the cpap and that works just fine. I got the Aveo tongue restraining device last week and tried sleeping with just the Aveo and I don't think it worked because I didn't feel well the next day, plus when I woke, it felt like my breathing was "labored," for lack of a better word. So this morning I tried using the Somnodent WITH the Aveo, just to see if I could tolerate the feel of it in my mouth. And so far it doesn't seem to be a problem. So I'm going to try using just the Aveo and the Somnodent together tonight to see what happens. I'll report back with the conclusion. I am very interested to see how I feel tomorrow, or if I can even make it through the night. If I feel OK, then I'll finally figure out how to use the pulse oximeter I got a year ago and test my sleep with that. Wish me luck

[ChicagoGranny]

Are you tolerating wearing the Aveo all night? Sounds difficult.

[Loreena]

Are you tolerating wearing the Aveo all night? Sounds difficult.

Yes, just fine. That's what's so upsetting. It never popped out when I slept with it, of course I had to place the "wings" under my guns, but it wasn't a problem at all. I'm wondering if using the Aveo and the MAD together would move my tongue and jaw just forward enough to allow breathing. Of course if it doesn't, that probably means my airway is collapsing or the soft pallette/tissue is collapsing. But I gotta know if it will work.

[ChicagoGranny]

The Aveo is designed so that the wings are outside the lips. With the wings inside the gums, I would think it might not pull your tongue forward enough to have any effectiveness. You think?

[Loreena]

The Aveo is designed so that the wings are outside the lips. With the wings inside the gums, I would think it might not pull your tongue forward enough to have any effectiveness. You think?

Actually, quite the contrary. I tried sleeping with the Aveo with the wings outside the lips and it wouldn't stay in--it kept popping out. I got the suggestion to put the wings inside the mouth from the inventor. He posted a video on the Internet in which he says one might have better luck with the Aveo if you place the wings inside the mouth. If you do a search for the Aveo on YouTube you'll probably find it--sorry, I don't have it handy right now. Anyway, amazingly the tongue stays pulled forward as much as one wants it according to how much you suction it forward. There was no problem in getting a suction to pull the tongue forward as much as I wanted (and it stays put, amazingly), and it was pretty far forward. Also, I did not experience any pain, which I was surprised about because I've read that some people have pain. There's a built-in split in the Aveo on the bottom to allow the "tongue web" (it has a name, but can't remember it) freedom. If the experiment doesn't work tonight, I'm going to continue to adjust the MAD forward while using the cpap for a couple of weeks--the MAD still has a ways to go till the advacement stops. Then I'll try the Aveo/MAD combo again. It's worth a shot, anyway.

[Boyce]

That is interesting and hopeful.

Here is a competitive tongue retainer (MpowRx Snoring and Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece) which is designed so that the wings are inside the gum like you are wearing the Aveo - http://mouthguardstore.com/products/mpo ... mouthpiece

I might order one. It is unclear if I need a prescription.

This looks like it would stop my mouthbreathing and possibly allow me to lower the CPAP pressure.

My airway is so narrow I don't think the MpowRx Mouthpiece would entirely treat my sleep apnea.

Any comments on the MpowRx would be appreciated.

[Loreena]

That is interesting and hopeful.

Here is a competitive tongue retainer (MpowRx Snoring and Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece) which is designed so that the wings are inside the gum like you are wearing the Aveo - http://mouthguardstore.com/products/mpo ... mouthpiece

I might order one. It is unclear if I need a prescription.

This looks like it would stop my mouthbreathing and possibly allow me to lower the CPAP pressure.

My airway is so narrow I don't think the MpowRx Mouthpiece would entirely treat my sleep apnea.

Any comments on the MpowRx would be appreciated.

I thought the Aveo might stop my mouthbreathing too-- no such luck. I live in the U.S. and got the Aveo thru EBAy for $100, no prescription needed. It came from Canada. My airway is extremely narrow also--I saw it on an x-ray at a dentist's office and I was standing up when the dentist took the x-ray. He commented on how narrow it was even while standing. So the Aveo/MAD combo idea is a long shot, but worth trying.

[Loreena]

I woke up after only a couple hours with my heart racing, so the setup probably won't work for me, and I doubt it will even if I turn the mouthpiece out further as long as I'm at the weight I'm at now. The Aveo did stay in with the MAD in place, though, and for those whose only problem is the tongue, the Aveo might work. That said, if I lose 30 more pounds I might give it a try again. The Aveo does not stop leaking from the mouth and it is designed so that you breathe thru your nose only.

[Christine L]

A question about the Aveo and the competitive type.

The dentist says I grind my teeth and it must be during my sleep. Sleeping with my tongue stuck out what would prevent that I bite hard into my tongue?