Fifth Year Anniversary

[RogerAN]

This is a fifth year anniversary for my CPAP machine. I have struggled from the day I received my machine with leaks due to mouth breathing. I have tried every type of mask imaginable and every type of chin strap available, pretty much to no avail. Fortunately, I was doing some searching on cpaptalk.com to see if there were any alternatives and I happened to stumble on a post by someone who used a cervical collar to help with mouth breathing. This was like a light that went on. I ordered one online from Walmart. The leak number showing on my machine the last night I used my mask was 30 and "Sleepyhead" warned that my leaks were way too high. The first night using the cervical collar, the leak reading on my machine was 2.0. The last couple of nights, the leak statistic was in the 3.5-4.5 range (totally acceptable). Problem solved! But, last night my AHI jumped to 6.5. Not sure what caused that. I'll just have to give the cervical collar a few more days and see what the AHI looks like. It truly is a relief to not wake up with my mouth so dry that I can't feel my tongue!

Thanks to whoever posted about the cervical collar as a solution to mouth breathing.

[chunkyfrog]

Shortly, someone will suggest you change to a full face mask.
This is all fine and good for those whose facial shape and mental tolerance allows it.
Not for some of us.
Others may suggest taping.
For those concerned about safety, there is a product called chin up strips.
Good going, five years is a great achievement. But just a beginning.

[LSAT]

Shortly, someone will suggest you change to a full face mask.
This is all fine and good for those whose facial shape and mental tolerance allows it.
Not for some of us.
Others may suggest taping.
For those concerned about safety, there is a product called chin up strips.
Good going, five years is a great achievement. But just a beginning.

+1

[DreamStalker]

This is a fifth year anniversary for my CPAP machine. I have struggled from the day I received my machine with leaks due to mouth breathing. I have tried every type of mask imaginable and every type of chin strap available, pretty much to no avail. Fortunately, I was doing some searching on cpaptalk.com to see if there were any alternatives and I happened to stumble on a post by someone who used a cervical collar to help with mouth breathing. This was like a light that went on. I ordered one online from Walmart. The leak number showing on my machine the last night I used my mask was 30 and "Sleepyhead" warned that my leaks were way too high. The first night using the cervical collar, the leak reading on my machine was 2.0. The last couple of nights, the leak statistic was in the 3.5-4.5 range (totally acceptable). Problem solved! But, last night my AHI jumped to 6.5. Not sure what caused that. I'll just have to give the cervical collar a few more days and see what the AHI looks like. It truly is a relief to not wake up with my mouth so dry that I can't feel my tongue!

Thanks to whoever posted about the cervical collar as a solution to mouth breathing.

You can also try to consciously plant your tongue on the roof of your mouth when while awake. After a while you will develop muscle memory as well as the muscles of the soft palate which helps to seal the air out of your mouth (sort of like sealing the water out when you go swimming under water if you've ever done that). It also helps keep your mouth from drying out when or if you do any running/jogging or aerobic exercise.

[chunkyfrog]

Don't feel bad if you can not do the tongue thing. Most tongues do not behave when their owners are asleep.

[RogerAN]

Shortly, someone will suggest you change to a full face mask.
This is all fine and good for those whose facial shape and mental tolerance allows it.
Not for some of us.
Others may suggest taping.
For those concerned about safety, there is a product called chin up strips.
Good going, five years is a great achievement. But just a beginning.

Actually, I have tried full face masks, I have tried taping, and I have tried everything, but none of them worked. But for the few nights that I have used the cervical collar, I have set the chin strap aside and all has gone well with the exception of last night's high AHI. I will have to monitor that over the next few days.

Love the "chunkyfrog" moniker by the way

[RogerAN]

You can also try to consciously plant your tongue on the roof of your mouth when while awake. After a while you will develop muscle memory as well as the muscles of the soft palate which helps to seal the air out of your mouth (sort of like sealing the water out when you go swimming under water if you've ever done that). It also helps keep your mouth from drying out when or if you do any running/jogging or aerobic exercise.

Have tried that as well, but still struggle with mouth breathing. I suspect that I need to work more on that to develop "muscle memory." I'll keep you posted!

[chunkyfrog]

I have always been a fan of Monty Python.
Crunchy frog morphed to chunkyfrog, and the image felt optimistic.

[DreamStalker]

Don't feel bad if you can not do the tongue thing. Most tongues do not behave when their owners are asleep.

Well frogs should expect to have a harder time of it than normal people.