Side sleeping and dryness in mouth

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postitnote
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Side sleeping and dryness in mouth

Post by postitnote » Wed Feb 25, 2015 9:25 pm

I was a stomach sleeper all my life till I started cpap many years ago. Now I sleep on my side, occasionally turning to my back and then flipping to the opposite side I started with. Here's my question. When I lay on my left side, which faces the outside of the bed, I am fine. On those nights I wind up on my back or on my right side I wake up and my mouth is so dry it's almost stuck to my teeth. I typically don't move when I sleep. I suspect my cats and husband have something to do with those nights I roll. Any clue why the dryness if not on my left side?

I don't have a humidifier but will soon. My house has a whole house humidifier if that matters. I sleep in a heated waterbed. Oh, this happens in the summer too when the furnace isn't running.
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Julie
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Re: Side sleeping and dryness in mouth

Post by Julie » Wed Feb 25, 2015 9:49 pm

You may be feeling the need of more 02 on your left when asleep - it's not uncommon, so you might want to look into a FFM that lets you mouth breathe then, or else ... don't sleep on your left side?

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Krelvin
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Re: Side sleeping and dryness in mouth

Post by Krelvin » Wed Feb 25, 2015 9:56 pm

No mention as to what mask you are using.

I sleep on my stomach every night with a FFM. Only time I have dry cotton mouth typically is if I have a mask leak and my mouth is open. Sleep 80% of the time facing left (away from wall), rest of the time facing right. Occasionally for a short period of time on my right side. Basically never on my back. Use a humidifier on 2.0 setting not very high.
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strigiformes
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Re: Side sleeping and dryness in mouth

Post by strigiformes » Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:11 pm

Perhaps some anatomical reason making it more likely for you to mouth breathe on your back and right side? It's common for people's mouth to drop open more easily on the back. As for one side vs another, do you have a deviated septum, any joint or pain issues, sinus issues, or other health problems that might make it easier for you to breathe and feel comfortable on your left side vs the right?

Is there a vent or fan or other environmental situation that might cause a temperature/sensation variance in one position? For example, my husband has to have a fan blowing directly at him to sleep well. If I face him, that cold air is blowing at my face and upper body, which is occasionally good, but most times annoying since I "run cold".

Are you just more comfortable in general facing away from the other person in the bed - i.e. is it easier to position your body in a comfortable way while facing out rather than toward your spouse, like being able to stretch your arms out more/curl your legs up, prop an arm up on the side, stick a foot out from under the covers, etc...or do you just not like facing other people while you sleep/does it make you feel vulnerable or psychologically stressed in any way?

Any sort of discomfort might make you more restless in certain positions, thus increasing your arousals and tendency to mouth breathe.

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postitnote
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Re: Side sleeping and dryness in mouth

Post by postitnote » Thu Feb 26, 2015 10:23 am

Julie wrote:You may be feeling the need of more 02 on your left when asleep - it's not uncommon, so you might want to look into a FFM that lets you mouth breathe then, or else ... don't sleep on your left side?
My left side seems to be the better side for me. Not a mouth breather so not sure if a FFM would be a good choice though I have read there are issues with them sealing.
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Julie
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Re: Side sleeping and dryness in mouth

Post by Julie » Thu Feb 26, 2015 10:30 am

You might want to try something like a Pap Pillow (you can Google to see it, or look on Cpap.com).

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postitnote
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Re: Side sleeping and dryness in mouth

Post by postitnote » Thu Feb 26, 2015 10:31 am

Krelvin wrote:No mention as to what mask you are using.

I sleep on my stomach every night with a FFM. Only time I have dry cotton mouth typically is if I have a mask leak and my mouth is open. Sleep 80% of the time facing left (away from wall), rest of the time facing right. Occasionally for a short period of time on my right side. Basically never on my back. Use a humidifier on 2.0 setting not very high.
Right now I am using nasal pillows which I love! I'm sure I'm not sleeping with my mouth open.
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Re: Side sleeping and dryness in mouth

Post by OkyDoky » Thu Feb 26, 2015 10:32 am

Please register your equipment. It helps for people to see it when responding. This link will help. wiki/index.php/Registering_Equipment_in_User_Profile
If you use a Respironics machine take the water out and find the number on the bottom of the blower. REF### if it says #60 it is a 60 series machine and you need to scroll down to the section that says 60 series in the name. Also choose the 60 series humidifier.
Please use the text option as it is easier to read than the icon.
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postitnote
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Re: Side sleeping and dryness in mouth

Post by postitnote » Thu Feb 26, 2015 10:44 am

strigiformes wrote:Perhaps some anatomical reason making it more likely for you to mouth breathe on your back and right side? It's common for people's mouth to drop open more easily on the back. As for one side vs another, do you have a deviated septum, any joint or pain issues, sinus issues, or other health problems that might make it easier for you to breathe and feel comfortable on your left side vs the right?

Is there a vent or fan or other environmental situation that might cause a temperature/sensation variance in one position? For example, my husband has to have a fan blowing directly at him to sleep well. If I face him, that cold air is blowing at my face and upper body, which is occasionally good, but most times annoying since I "run cold".

Are you just more comfortable in general facing away from the other person in the bed - i.e. is it easier to position your body in a comfortable way while facing out rather than toward your spouse, like being able to stretch your arms out more/curl your legs up, prop an arm up on the side, stick a foot out from under the covers, etc...or do you just not like facing other people while you sleep/does it make you feel vulnerable or psychologically stressed in any way?

Any sort of discomfort might make you more restless in certain positions, thus increasing your arousals and tendency to mouth breathe.
Last year I was told by an ENT that I had a deviated septum. I also seem to have some allergies and ear and sinus problems. Unfortunately, this doctor retired suddenly and I never found a new one. Nothing shady, just retired 6 months earlier than planned. He didn't sell his practice.

No heat vents near the bed. No fans. Husband only home 1 or 2 nights a week. I think it's more about the hose because it has less room to stretch out facing towards the outside of the bed. I probably could use a 10 foot hose but when I face the other way that's when I get the dryness. We have a king size bed so lots of room though the 2 cats can take up a lot of it! My husband spoons when he is home. I don't have any problems with that.

So you think the deviated septum could be a problem? I can't recall which side he said it was on. He told me about it because he said I needed to use a nasal spray a bit differently.
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Re: Side sleeping and dryness in mouth

Post by BlackSpinner » Thu Feb 26, 2015 11:42 am

postitnote wrote:[

Right now I am using nasal pillows which I love! I'm sure I'm not sleeping with my mouth open.
Yes you are. Otherwise your mouth would not be dry like that.

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strigiformes
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Re: Side sleeping and dryness in mouth

Post by strigiformes » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:00 pm

^^^What Spinner said, regarding the mouth-breathing.
postitnote wrote:
So you think the deviated septum could be a problem? I can't recall which side he said it was on. He told me about it because he said I needed to use a nasal spray a bit differently.
It could, if you often have more trouble breathing through one side of your nose than the other - same goes for the sinus issues, etc.

Using myself as an example, I have a deviated septum and my nasal passages also have a tendency to swell when I lie down. I already can't breathe well through the right side of my nose due to the deviation. When I lie on my side, whichever side is facing up is easier to breathe through, due to gravity. If I lie down "bad side up & good side down", the "good side" becomes almost completely restricted and the "bad side" is its usual bad self. If I lie with the bad side down, it closes completely (which happens all the time anyway), but I can breathe freely through the good side and sleep kinda, sorta okay. Back sleeping for me results in bad side mostly closed & and good side moderately difficult to breathe through.

Prior to xPAP, I couldn't sleep in any position but on my right side (bad side down, good side up). Any other way turned me into a mouth-breather and disrupted my sleep. With xPAP, I am now almost exclusively a back-sleeper (cuz I can and it's easier on my joints). The air pressure opens up my bad side and decreases my swelling enough on both sides to sleep in any position, but I do still require higher pressures when sleeping on my back vs my right side, and even higher to be able to sleep well on my left.

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postitnote
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Re: Side sleeping and dryness in mouth

Post by postitnote » Thu Feb 26, 2015 4:01 pm

strigiformes wrote:^^^What Spinner said, regarding the mouth-breathing.
postitnote wrote:
So you think the deviated septum could be a problem? I can't recall which side he said it was on. He told me about it because he said I needed to use a nasal spray a bit differently.
It could, if you often have more trouble breathing through one side of your nose than the other - same goes for the sinus issues, etc.

Using myself as an example, I have a deviated septum and my nasal passages also have a tendency to swell when I lie down. I already can't breathe well through the right side of my nose due to the deviation. When I lie on my side, whichever side is facing up is easier to breathe through, due to gravity. If I lie down "bad side up & good side down", the "good side" becomes almost completely restricted and the "bad side" is its usual bad self. If I lie with the bad side down, it closes completely (which happens all the time anyway), but I can breathe freely through the good side and sleep kinda, sorta okay. Back sleeping for me results in bad side mostly closed & and good side moderately difficult to breathe through.

Prior to xPAP, I couldn't sleep in any position but on my right side (bad side down, good side up). Any other way turned me into a mouth-breather and disrupted my sleep. With xPAP, I am now almost exclusively a back-sleeper (cuz I can and it's easier on my joints). The air pressure opens up my bad side and decreases my swelling enough on both sides to sleep in any position, but I do still require higher pressures when sleeping on my back vs my right side, and even higher to be able to sleep well on my left.
That's interesting. I'm not sure how to correct this potential problem but Maybe a body pillow near my back will keep my from rolling to the bad side! Thanks!
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postitnote
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Re: Side sleeping and dryness in mouth

Post by postitnote » Thu Feb 26, 2015 4:05 pm

BlackSpinner wrote:
postitnote wrote:[

Right now I am using nasal pillows which I love! I'm sure I'm not sleeping with my mouth open.
Yes you are. Otherwise your mouth would not be dry like that.
It's doubtful that my lips would be so dry that they stick together if I had my mouth open. The same guy that has done all my sleep studies has always asked if I needed a chin strap. I used one the first time and have never needed once since then. After the first time I was told I slept with my mouth closed. Small town clinic, never had anyone there besides the tech during my stays. Guess he just watched me sleep.
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postitnote
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Re: Side sleeping and dryness in mouth

Post by postitnote » Thu Feb 26, 2015 4:06 pm

Julie wrote:You might want to try something like a Pap Pillow (you can Google to see it, or look on Cpap.com).
I might just see about one of those. Thanks!
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StuK
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Re: Side sleeping and dryness in mouth

Post by StuK » Thu Feb 26, 2015 7:34 pm

I think the humidifier will definitely help, I find that when my mask is not tight and the air leaks it is like having a blower hand dryer evaporating the moisture in my mouth. Best I can do for a comment.