It's hard to relate to Mouth Breathers since Swift LT

Shilohcane · Post by **Shilohcane** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:21 am

I been on a xpap for about 3 months now. I was told from my sleep test I was a mouth breather and had severe sleep apnea. So, I got a chin strap and started using it. After two weeks with the chin strap when I had a Ultra Mirage II Nasal mask I found out I could sleep with out the chin strap. But, if I open my mouth much or tied to talk air rushed out.

Switched over to the Swift LT and now I can even open my mouth but no air rushes out. It was strange at first. I guess the pressure is now blowing so hard (10.6 cm) with 0.0 leaks that it closes the flap of skin in the back of my throat and unless I try to talk no air comes out. I can open my mouth fully open and it's still sealed. I have to force my throat to open before air rushes out my open mouth with the Swift LT. I don't think that happen with the UM II nasal mask.

Is this normal to be air tight with a pillow mask with your mouth open?

Needsdecaf · Post by **Needsdecaf** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:59 am

I think it may be more of you getting used to the situation as it stands. I know that by the time two months rolled around, I was able to open my mouth completely with no air coming out. This is not the case in the middle of the night, when the seal does "pop"

Started out using a nasal pillow, and pressure stayed the same, so I think it's just an experience thing.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 12:08 pm

You have muscle tissue in your soft palate which helps make the seal between your sinus cavity(s) and your mouth. With time and exercise, the soft palate firms up a bit to make it easier to maintain that seal. Singing is known to strengthen and firm up that muscle tissue. Google "exercising soft palate" and you will see what kinds of exercises can be done other than singing.

For me, I have recently discovered that there is also a limit with regard to the amount of pressure I can seal against before it pops open (between 10.5 and 11.5 cm depending on sleep position).

SleepGuy · Post by **SleepGuy** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 12:17 pm

Yes--what DreamStalker said.

Yodeling might help, too.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:52 pm

DreamStalker wrote:Google "exercising soft palate" and you will see what kinds of exercises can be done other than singing.

Oh my... the imagination REELS!

LOL,
Babs

Shilohcane · Post by **Shilohcane** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:05 pm

Thanks,

I was starting to wonder how this happen to me. At one time I would open my mouth to see if the Apap started up on Auto after I started breathing through my mask. Then one day I couldn't tell by opening my mouth. I was worried my soft palate was getting weaker due to the air pressure. I like the idea I'm getting better it explains why my pressure has dropped on my Apap.

Other changes I noticed since I got my machine is my nasal sines aren't a problem since before they would drain at night a lot. My blood pressure is lower since I check it a few times a week due to heart medication. Before if I had a few alcohol drinks with friends I would have one bad night sleeping and would be laying on the coach the whole next day. That doesn't happen now.

I have just started exercising for the fist time in 5 years since now I have energy that I didn't have before I got my Apap. Thanks but I going to skip the Yodeling.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:27 pm

Anonymous wrote:
DreamStalker wrote:Google "exercising soft palate" and you will see what kinds of exercises can be done other than singing.
Oh my... the imagination REELS!

LOL,
Babs

Girl! You have way too much oxygen going to your brain

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:33 pm

How your body reacts while you are awake has little effect on what happens when you are in REM. It takes software to see the whole picture on how your treatment is doing. Jim

Moby · Post by **Moby** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:38 am

Shilohcane wrote:Thanks,

...

Other changes I noticed since I got my machine is my nasal sines aren't a problem since before they would drain at night a lot. My blood pressure is lower since I check it a few times a week due to heart medication. Before if I had a few alcohol drinks with friends I would have one bad night sleeping and would be laying on the coach the whole next day. That doesn't happen now.

I have just started exercising for the fist time in 5 years since now I have energy that I didn't have before I got my Apap. Thanks but I going to skip the Yodeling.

_________________

That is great news, Shilohcane

Hurricane · Post by **Hurricane** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 1:27 pm

Goofproof wrote:How your body reacts while you are awake has little effect on what happens when you are in REM. It takes software to see the whole picture on how your treatment is doing. Jim

Goofproof is so right, I was able to talk to my wife, while cpap in operation, but when asleep the muscles or what ever relaxed and I would be leaking air, which showed up on the software. also reported by my wife that I was making motor boat type sounds with air leakage, cured that problem by placing chin strap over my Swift 2 mask keeping everything in place.
Ed

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:14 pm

DreamStalker wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
DreamStalker wrote:Google "exercising soft palate" and you will see what kinds of exercises can be done other than singing.
Oh my... the imagination REELS!

LOL,
Babs
Girl! You have way too much oxygen going to your brain

"I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way." ~Jessica Rabbit

Humidifier

Additional Comments: ozzie heated hose.