Nose Plugs - Oracle or other

I am experiencing a couple of problems using nose plugs for mouth breathing.
1. The oracle nose plugs seem to leak around the edges. Are there any suitable modifications that can be made to these. I have resorted to using cotton balls and tape to prevent the air leaks.
2. While I am awake, there is no air flow through my nostrils. But the minute that I relax, about to fall asleep, air rushes into my nostrils and I then wake up.
Are you supposed to relax and let the pressure build up in your nostrils before trying to sleep? Or does it just come and go during the night? So far, I haven't fallen asleep with the nose plugs.

Any advice or experience relating to this.

Pressure at 11-12.

I have the oracle and understand your frustrations. I only use it when I have a sinus infection, so I'm not the most experienced person, but I'll share my thoughts anyway.

The nose plugs never worked for me. I pretty much had to do what you are describing where I put something in my nose like tissues or whatever and then tape my nose closed. Not very practical...

As far are the whole air pressure in your nose thing.

IMO, its best to try to get everything as similar to how it will be when you are asleep as possible. That means getting comfortable and letting all the muscles in your face, throat, neck, mouth, etc relax completely. Yes, your mouth might inflate a little bit, and you may feel your nasal passages open up a bit, but if you can do that, and get used to the sensation, it will eliminate the problem of you waking up when it inevitably happens during your sleep.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions.
so do you feel pressure in your nostrils before falling asleep or during, or does it fluctuate?

JuanBoy wrote:Thanks for the comments and suggestions.
so do you feel pressure in your nostrils before falling asleep or during, or does it fluctuate?

Thats a hard one for me to answer. I think its "yes" but considering that I only use the mask when I have a sinus infection, it its hard to know for sure since I already have sinus congestion and pressure.

I think its easy to accidentally do this thing where you "plug your nose" using the mucles in the back of mouth at the top where the sinuses connect to your throat... its hard to describe. anyway, if you are doing that when you try to fall asleep, eventually those mucles are going to relax and then the pressure will flood into your sinuses unexpectedly and wake you up. so yeah, it think its best to have that happen when you are already awake.

Have you considered other mask options as well? If you used a FFM (full face mask) it would eliminate the problem of nose plugs. Is there a specific reason you are using a mouth only option?



With the Oracle, my biggest problem is having a incredibly dry and soar throat when I use it. Even with my humidity cranked to 5, I still have issues with the air being too dry since my sinuses arent treating the air before it hits my throat.

Makes sense, just hard to get used to I guess.
I have three different masks: a full face, a nose, mask, and a converted nasal pillow mask with the pillows blocked.
Currently, I have fairly severe nasal congestion and nose breathing seems to make it worse the following day. My sleep doctor claims that the heated steam is good for the sinuses and opens the ostia, which maybe true. However, that isn't my problem and he seems to be confused: it is nasal congestion with swelling in the nasal membranes and shutting off before the ostia.
I have also seen papers that suggest that there are sensors within the nose that may be activated by air flow - possibly for vasomotor types.