Amara view and a chin strap?

[Controlshift]

Has anyone ever tried using an Amara view along with a chin strap? I'm gonna try it tonight as I'm getting very bad dry mouth after 6hrs of sleep

[Esme]

Have you tried increasing the humidity? I used the Amara View for awhile, but dry mouth wasn't a problem because technically it's a full face mask. Eventually the mask started to leak so much I had to give it up, and the increased leakage I seem to recall brought on some dry mouth. Not sure a chin strap would help with dry mouth caused by leakage though.

[Okie bipap]

Have you tried a soft cervical collar? This is where I found the collar: https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=dmi firm foam cervical collar

[CTcentrals]

I've used a chin strap with the Amara View with mixed results. It worked sometimes, but usually it slid around on the top of my head, which made it slide fore and aft under my chin.

I had the same experience as you describe with dry mouth, which you can definitely get with a FFM regardless of humidity level. My dry mouth started when I increased EPAP pressure from 5cm to 6cm, so that can pressure can have an influence.

I didn't want to use a collar, but in the end I finally give in and it works perfectly and I don't actually mind it. Fit is important, loose enough that it doesn't affect your airway, but not so loose that it rides up over your chin pushing the mask up. It also helped reduce positional flow limits from chin tucking down towards chest and reduced unflagged events that I suspect were positional issues.

[Controlshift]

My sleep doctor told me a collar would cause my neck muscles to deteriorate over time. I'm will to try one now at this stage.
My ahi is 9. I put the dry mouth down to when I stop breathing either the air coming in my nose is rushing out my mouth. I had the same problems with the Dreamwear nasal mask.
Or when I stop breathing the air from the mask circulates in my mouth.
I had the humidity at 4 last night. Dry mouth wasn't bad. But ahi still high.
Lat night I used the chin strap over the headgear.
Humidity at 5 causes the machine to run out after 6 hrs

[Controlshift]

Any recommendations for a collar which is available on eBay or Amazon?

[luvsbluberries]

I read this recommendation for fitting yesterday:

You are looking for a comfortable fit 2-inches larger than the circumference of your neck and just tall enough to support the jaw when your head falls out of alignment (measure your neck from collarbone to jaw and subtract 1".

Hope it helps.

[CTcentrals]

If your sleep doc is an orthopod or neuro-muscular specialist, I would give it due consideration. Mine's a pulmonologist, so not so much in the neck muscle/nerves area. I've had extensive experiences with cervical spine orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, and lots of experience with collars (hence, my initial desire to avoid them). I've never read or heard where lying down at night with cervical collar causes muscle atrophy. Could have missed something, but it doesn't make much sense. We're not supporting weight of head or actively balancing it with spine and body when we're lying down. It does increase alignment of spine, give muscles opportunity to relax, and help airway remain as full open as possible, as well as keeping jaw from dropping too much. On the other hand, I would definitely wear with caution while being even somewhat upright - we do know that will cause atrophy over time.

I had a bunch of extras so can't attest to any new purchases, but I've read good reviews on OTC via Amazon and it comes in different sizes.

I think the measuring criteria offered by luvsblueberries makes good sense.

Good luck

ct

[luvsbluberries]

I should have mentioned the source for the fitting tip - it was another board's wiki article for helping newbies learn about masks. (don't know if it is okay to link to it)

[skylark40]

Hi, all. I'm back with my CPAP after we took time off from each other.

I'm a mouth-breather. I love the Swift For Her nasal mask, but you can guess my problem with that mask. I have taped my mouth, but I'm very sensitive to adhesives and really hate having irritation around my mouth. I also felt taping your mouth (or worse, denture adhesives!) was a dangerous thing to do.

So, I put my CPAP away and waited until mask technology moved on.

I purchased the Amara View mask and have been using it for almost a week. Since it is a hybrid full face mask, the mouth is covered. I thought this would be my solution, but my mouth still opens and the hurricane rushing through it dries my mouth out entirely.

I don't like chin straps because they seem to pull my jaw backward instead of straight up. So after reading through this thread yesterday, I remembered I had a cervical collar and tried it last night. My mouth stayed shut and things went much better. I think I bought this neck support from SkyMall a few years back, so it's not a medical grade cervical collar, but is smaller and softer.

I'll keep you posted.

[Controlshift]

I used a collar last night for the first time and got great results on the machine. Time will tell tho as good ahi on the machine doesn't always relate to improved health.
I went to a local medical supply center and got one. I'll post the brand and how things progress shorty.

[Controlshift]

Two good night's in a row now. Ideally it take me 3 night of crap sleep to get used to a new mask, etc so this is going very well.

[skylark40]

Two good night's in a row now. Ideally it take me 3 night of crap sleep to get used to a new mask, etc so this is going very well.

Shhhh, don't speak of it. The CPAP gnomes will sneak in and ruin everything.