mouth breather only when lying down

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cathyf
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mouth breather only when lying down

Post by cathyf » Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:23 pm

Normally when I am awake (and not eating or talking or singing ) I breathe strictly through my nose. In fact I notice a tendency to grit my teeth and suck my lips up tight on my teeth. (7 years of wearing braces, and, yeah, my teeth are crooked again. At least they are a lot better than they were!)

But that's only when I am awake and upright. As soon as I lie down, it feels like my nose partially closes up, and if I don't open my mouth it feels like I am suffocating. It's mostly the nostril on the "down" side (I only lie on my back).

Is there any hope at all that I could sleep with my mouth closed so that I could use some sort of nasal mask?

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Julie
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Re: mouth breather only when lying down

Post by Julie » Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:24 pm

Don't lie on your back.

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cathyf
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Re: mouth breather only when lying down

Post by cathyf » Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:30 pm

I only sleep on my side -- the side that is down is the one that feels more obstructed.

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Pugsy
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Re: mouth breather only when lying down

Post by Pugsy » Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:33 pm

cathyf wrote: Is there any hope at all that I could sleep with my mouth closed so that I could use some sort of nasal mask?
There's always hope.
All you can do is try. What do you have to lose?
FWIW...I sometimes wake up with one side of my nose plugged up but I get enough air through the other nostril so I am fine. It's always the side down that gets plugged up.
Something about the normal nasal cycle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasal_cycle

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cathyf
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Re: mouth breather only when lying down

Post by cathyf » Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:45 pm

Pugsy, that's cool about the nasal cycle thing. I just assumed that this was part of the obstructive process of the OSA, but it's a normal thing. I've got something in my body that works like normal!

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Pugsy
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Re: mouth breather only when lying down

Post by Pugsy » Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:49 pm

Yeah, it's normal cycling...but sure as hell is annoying even if it is normal.

I have a Nuance nasal pillow mask you can try if you want to. Might have a couple of nasal cushion masks....I think maybe a Wisp.
Either one interest you?

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cathyf
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Re: mouth breather only when lying down

Post by cathyf » Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:56 pm

Thanks for the offer -- but my very nice insurance lady just finished telling me that if it took 20 masks to find one that worked the insurance would pay for 20 masks. Because having the mask work is medically necessary! I really like my insurance company... (Ok, we'll see if they are as nice in practice as theory if it really takes trying 20 masks. )

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Julie
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Re: mouth breather only when lying down

Post by Julie » Wed Sep 17, 2014 3:50 pm

You do realize in the first note of this thread - in brackets - you said you only lie on your back... then in the next, only on your side. ???

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Pugsy
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Re: mouth breather only when lying down

Post by Pugsy » Wed Sep 17, 2014 3:55 pm

Well then make use of that nice DME lady and your insurance and keep trying masks till you find one you are happy with.

If something interests you...try it. Otherwise you will always be "what iffing".....what if this one is better?
I always said that I never had a mask trial that I didn't learn something from....even though sometimes all I learned was how much I hated it.

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tortoisegirl
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Re: mouth breather only when lying down

Post by tortoisegirl » Wed Sep 17, 2014 8:51 pm

I also have this issue. Sleeping at an incline seemed to help some, but not enough. I wake up with a crazy dry mouth (with or without CPAP). I've ended up with a full face mask but I really didn't give any nasal interface a fair shot for a combination of reasons, not just the difficulty breathing nasally when lying down. For one, the sensation of air going in my nose was way more annoying than it being distributed. The full face mask is oddly easier and more comfortable for me. I'd give a nasal interface a try if you want to. It might take some work, but at least then there wouldn't be a what-if of whether you could or not. My insurance also doesn't have any limits on supplies, and will pay for them as medically necessary. However, I would still end up paying my copay each time. Still better than full price though. Best wishes.

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cathyf
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Re: mouth breather only when lying down

Post by cathyf » Thu Sep 18, 2014 3:11 pm

Julie wrote:You do realize in the first note of this thread - in brackets - you said you only lie on your back... then in the next, only on your side. ???
uhhhhh.... That's because I wrote "only" when I meant "never".

Stupid keyboard! Doesn't read my mind!