Like you haven't heard this before: DIY Mouthpiece, Thingy!

huckleberry · Post by **huckleberry** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:17 pm

What a great resource... Thanks to all... I've been reading since I started researching OSA and Sleep Apnea after being
diagnosed in mid Jan. 2007...A bit of history: My first sleep test done at home had to be done a second time as the monitor didn't monitor correctly...Next, after doing the second part of the test and a pressure of 14 established I picked up my "STUFF" from Apria on Feb.6th which by all accounts was to be my first night of "Good & Restorative" sleep...HA.HA...From the information garnered here before picking up my "STUFF"I recognized that it would be to my advantage to have a heated hummidifer as I have had an ongoing problem with a stuffy nose and I'm also a mouth breather...Naturally, Apria was out of heated hummidifers but sent me home with the machine and a Swift Nasal Interface and chin strap, which by the way didn't help keep my mouth shut at all...Now the good part (which I learned about, by the way, on this forum at 3:00AM)... My first night
after having 4 hours of sleep and waking up to a freezing cold face uncontrollable sneezing, running nose and my eyes watering...What I learned here and Apria failed to advise was I should have been using a full face mask and a heated hummidifer...The reaction lasted three days....After becoming the "squeeking wheel" I will say that Apria rose to the occasion and addressed my concerns and issues... As a result they stayed with me till I found a full face mask that would work without major leaks, also, they got my heated hummidifer... Soooo, it is now 27 days later and I'm still tweaking my therapy but I will say, I have had some mornings that have been like "WOW" and most of the other have been pretty good as well...Although, I do think I am suffering to some degree from what some call "Sleep Debt"...All in all things are going well and I sincerely believe in this therapy...

Now for my question, I've checked all over the board trying to find the post that Rested Gal (Bless Her) made that had pictures showing her version of the DIY Mouthpiece, Thingy
I have all the links to others but this was her own contribution after trail and error...My hope is that some time in the future I might be able to switch occasionally to a Nasal Pillow Interface with the use of this Thingy...Sooo, Rested Gal if you're out there Hellllllppppp!!!

Sorry for being so windy......Pun intended......

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:52 pm

hey there, huckleberry!

Funny you should mention the DIY (Do It Yourself) guard, 'cause for the past couple of weeks, instead of my usual mouth-taping, I've been using one.

I wish I could take credit for coming up with the cool idea of the DIY mouthguard thingie to prevent mouthbreathing and mouth air leaks, but it was frequenseeker who thought of that and first posted about it. She, and snork1, and some others posted pictures in a thread she started a long time ago on another board. I never took any pictures of the ones I made. All I do is hang onto a link to it. Here ya go...

Discussion about frequenseeker's "DIY" (Do It Yourself) mouthguard:

Topic started by frequenseeker Dec 01 2004 subject: mouth leak solution, cheap DIY oral appliance
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-b ... php?t=4750

That link and many others are listed on this page:
Links to: Mouth leaks - Air Leaks - Tape - DIY Guard
viewtopic.php?t=8011

Good luck, huckleberry.

huckleberry · Post by **huckleberry** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 2:29 pm

Hi Rested Gal...

Thanks for your quick response...I knew that it was frequenseeker who conceived of the idea and I've seen Snork1's pictures and others as well....

It may have been just another senior moment but I thought in one of your postings you had elaborated about the first one not working at all but you had tried again and instead of creating a shelf for your tongue you had made a "blob" which forced your tongue back closing the air passageway...This particular posting also had pictures showing the "blob" attached to the mouthpiece...Unfortunately, I didn't copy the location cause of course I knew where it was if I wanted to look again....HA....HA..

I can't even start to tell you how how long I've spent looking thru all your links both on this board and the other board where frequenseeker started the post....Have also used the search feature.....

Soooo, if this additional info doesn't help you associate which post I'm referring to, maybe, some one else on the board may remember and could direct me to the post....Can anyone help....

THANKS AGAIN....

Daffney_Gillfin · Post by **Daffney_Gillfin** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 3:00 pm

Here is a post where Laura describes her blob, but no picture.
viewtopic.php?t=4425&highlight=diy+blob
Maybe that will help.

I've been using the DIY mouthguard since my first week of xPAP about 6 months ago. It's worked out well, and I've had several different versions, each one thinner and smaller than the one before. The best thing happened a couple of weeks ago though. My DIY broke! The shelf became separated from the part that fits on the teeth. I decided to try just going with the shelf under my tongue thinking that if it didn't work, I would get up and get my standby out of the drawer.

Well, it worked. For the last couple of weeks, I've only been using the shelf part under my tongue. I've only woke up once to find it not in place and that was after a few rounds of snooze tag with the alarm clock. I might have moved it aside on purpose thinking I was going to get up.

So maybe there is some sort of "training" benefit to the DIY. I've not been brave enough to give it up all together yet, as when I have done so in the past, I have always woke up biting my tongue and with a sore jaw.

Good luck.

huckleberry · Post by **huckleberry** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 3:45 pm

Thanks for the heads up Daffney... Actually, I have already read that post....Guess I may be beating a dead horse but I know I saw a picture of this "BLOB"on a post somewhere on the board....As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words....Especially if they're my words....

Just curious, the shelf which you said broke off and you use under your tongue, it's not so small that it could be a potential choking problem?

Thanks for your input...

Daffney_Gillfin · Post by **Daffney_Gillfin** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 5:37 pm

huckleberry wrote: Just curious, the shelf which you said broke off and you use under your tongue, it's not so small that it could be a potential choking problem?

I thought of that, too, but only after the time it wasn't in place when I woke up. Sometimes, I ain't so bright. <g> However, I don't think it is small enough to worry about. I've since moved it around in my mouth, and I feel that it is OK. It is wide enough that it actually rest on my bottom teeth. The time I found it out of place, it was on the outside of my teeth, which is where I put it when I wake up in the morning until I get the mask off, and take it out.

My plan for when I get around to making the next one is to make it a bit wider yet, so that more of it is resting on my bottom teeth. I've even considered having it fit over a couple of my bottom teeth if I can keep it thin enough. I'll be working on it this weekend, so we'll see. I'm just glad to have it off of my top teeth right now.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 5:38 pm

huckleberry wrote:This particular posting also had pictures showing the "blob" attached to the mouthpiece.

I promise ya, huckleberry, I never posted any pictures of the DIY's I've made...nor of the infamous blob. LOL!! I've never taken a picture of any of the ones I've made. Maybe I'll get around to snapping a pic of it...it's just so darn ugly.

Here are links to threads with pictures of some other peoples' work:

Picture of snork1's creation:
viewtopic.php?t=3265

Pictures of a one piece design by freelans:
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-b ... hp?t=10676