Figuring out that you're not necessarily a mouth-breather

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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raisedfist
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Figuring out that you're not necessarily a mouth-breather

Post by raisedfist » Tue Jul 11, 2017 6:14 pm

I've been going back and forth between the nasal pillows (P10) and FFMs for many months now. At first it was just an obsession on getting low leak numbers, which I did manage to achieve with the F&P Simplus FFM (although I don't find it to be a very comfortable mask). With the P10 pillows I've done chin straps, cervical collars and mouth taping; none excite me.

I finally figured out the cause of my mouth opening with nasal pillows was not a outright lack of heated humidity, or an inadequate pressure, but an inadequate level of humidity. I bought a climateline hose for my S9 and let it stay on AUTO. For the last week of testing I have had basically zero leaks and I feel no dryness when waking up.Before I would get a 95% value (which is not the end all number to look at, certainly) of anywhere between 10-25 m/L and some spikes to +30 m/L of leak.

I guess the main point is that it's worth experimenting with humidity levels to see if it helps with mouth-breathing.

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Pugsy
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Re: Figuring out that you're not necessarily a mouth-breather

Post by Pugsy » Tue Jul 11, 2017 7:19 pm

I hear you but don't be surprised if you get some sort of backlash from the advocates of "you breathe the same air all day and don't need any extra moisture so why do you think you need it with cpap at night".
I get the same backlash when I mention my desire to snort water to keep my nasal mucosa happy.
I have long said that if I couldn't use the humidity that my nose needs then I simply wouldn't use the cpap because the symptoms I get from not enough moisture make me feel sooooooo much worse than the sleep apnea symptoms made me feel.

The cold hard fact is that humidity needs or preferences are strictly personal choice and what works well for one person may not work well for the next person. I have known husbands and wives in the same household both using cpap and one will prefer the most moisture they can get and the spouse prefers little to none added moisture. Go figure that one. They both breathe the same air all day long but something causes the difference in preferences when cpap is used.

Don't let anyone make you feel like you are the oddball out with your humidity preferences. If my own unscientific poll was any indication the majority of cpap users used humidity just above to medium setting to the high maximum setting range. Those that used less than a medium setting or none amounted to about 1/3 of the people who responded to my poll. We are in the majority and the others are in the minority. There is a reason that humidifiers are commonly prescribed along with the blower unit...more people need them than don't need them.

Glad you got your issues sorted out to your satisfaction because after all....you are the one you need to make happy.

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raisedfist
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Re: Figuring out that you're not necessarily a mouth-breather

Post by raisedfist » Wed Jul 12, 2017 7:33 am

It definitely pleases me as the nasal pillows are so much quieter...I've had a better time falling and staying asleep so far, and I can sleep in more available positions. With the FFM I tend to have my mouth open a lot when I sleep, which of course doesn't cause me to lose therapy, but it's gross when I wake up to gunk built up in the corner of my mouth, and sometimes it makes me drool as well so moisture builds up. The FFM is also hard to stay sealed when the pressure support increases above a certain level.

With nasal pillows I've noticed smoother respiratory rate and tidal volume graphs, higher tidal volumes for the same pressures, lower average IPAP used for the night, and what appears to be more steady oxygen saturation levels thus far. I normally take quick, shallow breaths, and I think the nasal pillows help me to take slower, deeper breaths. The spontaneous cycle percentage % has increased as well so I have been naturally falling into the Ti Min and Ti Max range more, instead of prematurely cycling from IPAP to EPAP.

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Figuring out that you're not necessarily a mouth-breather

Post by chunkyfrog » Wed Jul 12, 2017 9:21 am

Raisedfist: thank you for putting so well words to the truth that so many of us have known for years.
Yes, yes, YES! It can really work, as long as we pay attention to our own reactions to changes in our therapy.
Not everyone needs the same combination--we just need to work to find the best one for each of us.

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nickdanger1
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Re: Figuring out that you're not necessarily a mouth-breather

Post by nickdanger1 » Thu Jul 13, 2017 12:19 pm

I'm very much of the school "do what works." We're all different with different needs. I'm glad you've found the combination that works for you!!!