Any mouthbreathers having success with Swift FX?

I'm using the Mirage Quattro and I like the mask, but there are times during the night when I'd just like to take it off. I think it's mostly because of the size. But eventually after a few deeper breaths and maybe a position change, I usually go back to sleep as I really don't want to wake my wife anymore with my snoring. (I think she's seeing more benefit from this therapy than I am). At any rate, I've tried the Mirage Liberty but can't seem to get anymore than a couple hours sleep with it before the leaks start at the nasal pillows. So I'm wondering if any of you Quattro users who sometimes open their mouths are having any luck with the Swift FX?! I'd really like to find a less restrictive mask to get me through the night. All suggestions are welcomed. I also have a papcap, but it SEEMS to drive my AHI's higher. I haven't gotten rid of it because somewhere in the back of my head I think it might help me find my ideal sleep setup. I've only been at this a little over two months now.

Well, I was going to suggest the PapCAP. I have been using the Swift FX + PAPcap for almost three years now, and I get consistently low AHI (<2.0 most nights, with AI < 0.3). I am a HUGE mouth breather. You gotta cinch that PapCAP pretty darn tight. I know I do.

SleepingDVader wrote:I'm using the Mirage Quattro and I like the mask, ...I'd really like to find a less restrictive mask to get me through the night. All suggestions are welcomed. I also have a papcap, but it SEEMS to drive my AHI's higher. I haven't gotten rid of it because somewhere in the back of my head I think it might help me find my ideal sleep setup. I've only been at this a little over two months now.

Have you thought of getting an Oracle 2 oral mask? At your pressures, you shouldn't have any problems with nasal leaks.
A couple of caveats: a humidifier is required; straps that support your chin and help keep your mouth closed are forbidden with this mask.

It's comfortable, doesn't require any extra headgear, just the mask - not straps.

If you want to try one, PM me and I'll give you all the specifics on how to adjust it, how to keep nasal leaks from driving you crazy, etc. Most DME's don't know how to help you adjust it properly.

Cheers,
JDS74

DVader,

I use a Swift FX and found out to my surprise that I am a mouth breather. My big leak problem went way down when my DME handed me a simple ResMed "Chin Restraint" but there are better chin straps out there.

I've tried a Ruby which stays in place but the straps in front annoy me as being too close to my eyes.***

If you experiment, you'll likely find the chinstrap perfect for you to enable you to use the Swift FX. It will be worth it because the FX is so liberating.

Regards, Nate

*** Talking about the Ruby made me go find it and try it on again. I am embarrassed to admit that I apparently misread the directions and was putting it on wrong! I put it on right this time and the front face straps no longer come anywhere near my eyes! I'm going to try it tonight and report back.

SleepingDVader wrote:I'm using the Mirage Quattro and I like the mask, but there are times during the night when I'd just like to take it off. I think it's mostly because of the size. But eventually after a few deeper breaths and maybe a position change, I usually go back to sleep as I really don't want to wake my wife anymore with my snoring. (I think she's seeing more benefit from this therapy than I am). At any rate, I've tried the Mirage Liberty but can't seem to get anymore than a couple hours sleep with it before the leaks start at the nasal pillows. So I'm wondering if any of you Quattro users who sometimes open their mouths are having any luck with the Swift FX?! I'd really like to find a less restrictive mask to get me through the night. All suggestions are welcomed. I also have a papcap, but it SEEMS to drive my AHI's higher. I haven't gotten rid of it because somewhere in the back of my head I think it might help me find my ideal sleep setup. I've only been at this a little over two months now.

Hi Jack...still searching for that perfect mask I see! I started with a Swift FX but my mouth breathing...or for me I think it was actually more mouth leaking, was definitely an issue. I tried a Respironics chin strap but even if I wore it fairly tight, I think my lips were still opening in my sleep and air was leaking out, compromising my treatment. I also tried one of those boil and fit mouth guards, but that didn't work either. I wasn't really interested in mouth taping so moved on to full face masks (Mirage Liberty, Mirage Quattro and Quattro FX) and the Quattro FX has been the best for me. I have an almost new Swift FX that I pieced together with multiple eBay purchases in the closet and I think I have both size medium and large pillows. If you're interested, send me a PM.

This is really good information. I've also seen posts in here about a new "3M Kind Tape" that I would be willing to try along with this if my papcap doesn't help with keeping my mouth breathing controlled. If you have information about this new tape I'd certainly be interested in hearing about that as well. What a great forum!

I use both the Quatro and the Swift FX. I was a heavy mouth breather but I trained myself not to. My GF would wake me when I would be leaking air out my mouth so I knew it was going on with the numbers as well. So I went Full face for a time but the head gear runs along the base of my skull and spine and I find I get tension migraines after about a month of use with the Quatro. So I read about how to get into the Habit of not mouth breathing and tried it. It took a few weeks but it worked. Basically, all you do is get into the habit of keeping your tongue on the roof of your mouth with a little suction all day, everyday and it become a habit. This habit will carry through from your wakeful state into your sleep over time. My numbers are good, leaks are good and the GF no longer wakes me up saying "Close the Wind Tunnel Please" !

I tried the straps, 3m tape, fixadent, and all the other things first too. In the end I just had to buckle down and practice NOT mouth breathing period. Oh and my pressure settings for my Apap are 14-18 with 16 being the sweet spot.

Hades, that's interesting. You actually trained yourself to get away from mouth-breathing! I'm pretty sure I've been doing that all my life so it's interesting to learn that we can train away this behavior. Do you remember where you read about this? I would like to know more about it. And thanks for bringing that up!

There use to be a Collective Wisdom thing on this site and I am pretty sure I read about it there. It seems though they moved or did away with it. The idea is pretty simple though. Just practice not mouth breathing all the time. Suck the tongue up to the roof of your mouth and keep it there. Over time I got use to doing this and now do it without even realizing I am. You don't need a lot of it no need to try to suck the roof of your mouth through your jaw. This "habit" will follow into your sleep. I'll keep looking though maybe someone else can post what they did with that info.

I wear a halo chin strap with the swift fx. I can't wear a nasal or ffm due to claustophobia issues. I tried for 3 weeks straight before giving up on a nasal mask and I'm sure if a nasal mask gave me heart palpitations and anxiety, ffm would do it even worse. Won't even go there. I even tried a hybrid and that still made me feel anxious. I think if I wanted to devote the time, I could get used to it but the fx with a chinstrap is working for me. My data looks really good. My average AHI is less than .5. I have heard others here talk about taping their mouths but honestly, I'm not sure I could do that.

SleepingDVader wrote:I'm using the Mirage Quattro and I like the mask, but there are times during the night when I'd just like to take it off. I think it's mostly because of the size. But eventually after a few deeper breaths and maybe a position change, I usually go back to sleep as I really don't want to wake my wife anymore with my snoring. (I think she's seeing more benefit from this therapy than I am). At any rate, I've tried the Mirage Liberty but can't seem to get anymore than a couple hours sleep with it before the leaks start at the nasal pillows. So I'm wondering if any of you Quattro users who sometimes open their mouths are having any luck with the Swift FX?! I'd really like to find a less restrictive mask to get me through the night. All suggestions are welcomed. I also have a papcap, but it SEEMS to drive my AHI's higher. I haven't gotten rid of it because somewhere in the back of my head I think it might help me find my ideal sleep setup. I've only been at this a little over two months now.

Here is a link I found in a few minutes of Googling.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/87301 ... breathing/

How to Correct Mouth Breathing
Aug 24, 2010 | By Sharin Griffin

Mouth breathing has many causes, from sinus problems, sleep apnea, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, to obesity. This type of breathing is dangerous, increasing the risk of coronary disease, anxiety and dental problems in children. To rid yourself of mouth breathing, you can take steps at home that will help you retrain yourself to breathe through your nose instead of your mouth. Surgery is offered for those who do not find non-invasive treatments helpful. However, surgical procedure should only be considered after exhaustion of all other options.
Step 1

Treat colds and allergies as soon as symptoms become apparent. Blockage in the nasal passage worsens mouth breathing, especially during sleeping hours. Take an antihistamine or sip hot fluids, such as tea, to help loosen mucous and unblock nasal passages.
Step 2

Practice breathing through your nose several times during the day. In time, this becomes a habit, and you will automatically start breathing through your nose instead of your mouth during waking and sleeping hours.
Step 3

Sleep on your back. This opens your airways and takes pressure off the sinus cavities, stimulating air exchange through the nose instead of the mouth. Sleeping on your back also aids nasal secretions to drain properly.
Step 4

Sleep while wearing a breathing strip or chin strap. These can be found in drugstores. Breathing strips open up nasal passages, while a chin strap keeps your mouth closed, forcing you to breathe through your nose.
Step 5

Perform breathing exercises throughout the day. Inhale deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth several times. This will help ease anxiety and stress while promoting proper breathing technique.
Step 6

Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet of whole grains, lean meats, vegetables and fruits to lose weight. Obesity and overweight put a constant strain and pressure on your lungs and nasal passages due. Losing weight will ease this pressure and make nose breathing easier.
References

Optimal Breathing: Nose Breathing
Sarkissian, DDS: Mouth Breathing

Article reviewed by Lana Gates Last updated on: Aug 24, 2010

After ages of taping plus chinstrap with my Profile Lite, I changed to a ComfortGel FFM and I think it is actually working!! I had tried the Quattro and that hadn't worked for me.

"Sleep on your back. This opens your airways and takes pressure off the sinus cavities, stimulating air exchange through the nose instead of the mouth. Sleeping on your back also aids nasal secretions to drain properly.
Step 4"


Odd. This is exactly the reason I mouth breath. Gravity drops my jaw down when I'm on my back. All my nighttime wakeups are when I'm on my back as well. I guess we are all different.

tape and Poligrip strips.
very easy to open in case of a sneeze.

I recently tried switch from a mirrage quatro to a swift fx and halo chin strap. I was trying somthing different, but I stopped and went back to the ffm when my AHI kept creeping up each night. the halo was not keeping my mouth shut and I would wake up with a horrible dry mouth.

I decided to give up and go back to the ffm and my AHI went back down to normal.