REMstar C-Flex settings

byront · Post by **byront** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 3:41 pm

Sleepy-eyes I also have a full-face beard. As you can see I keep it fairly short, and trimmed around the lips. I have gotten to where I use just one strip of the 1 inch 3M Durapore right across my lips and that seems to work most of the time. I purse my lips together and rub it firmly onto my lips and it lasts through the night (most of the time). To remove it I just lick it with my tongue from the inside and it comes off easily with very little pulling on the facial hairs. It's important that the lips be tight together and that the tape be stuck securely because the slightest bit of moisture releases this tape, which is why it comes off so easily with a bit of moisture from your tongue. And please disregard anything that 'Guest' aka .... has to say - he is probably in the business of making money off patients like yourself and is obviously talking with his pocketbook. I'm sure you realize that Wulfman and the others on this board are genuinely concerned and informed. If 'Guest...' would bother to read the MANY other previous posts regarding the lack of concern and help offered up by dme's and sleep dr's he may think twice before posting such remarks. But that would probably take weeks of reading! Personally I hope he takes the time, it might keep him (and all his persona's) from posting such gibberish for a while. Best of luck Sleepy-eyes, it seems the board is already walking you down the right path - as they did with me. --- BT

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 3:59 pm

Okay, I just picked up some Durapore tape. I'll try my NasalAire II tonight with my lips taped. If that won't get me through the night, then I don't know what will. Thanks for all the help, folks.

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:54 am

Okay, I'm thoroughly disillusioned now!!!!!

Spent 3 hours last night trying to make this whole process work. Finally gave up and turned off the machine, took off my mask, and slept the rest of the night like a baby! My sleep study indicated I was only getting a 52% efficient sleep..............but at least I was sleeping!!!!!

The tape worked great. My lips never parted. But my problem hasn't been keeping my mouth closed..................it's been keeping my tongue in position to seal off my throat! When I fall asleep, it falls away from the sealing point and even though my lips were sealed, my mouth was essentially open. Every time I woke up to realize that had happened, my mouth was as dry as a cardboard box. I can't even imagine there is something in the arsenal of CPAP accessories to address that one! I'm so disappointed I can't see straight. I was using the NasalAire II, but guess I'll go back to the full face mask and fight the leaks.

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:45 am

I went back to my full-face mask last night. My pressure was 12 with C-Flex at 2. Ramp was 7.5 for 30 minutes. I did just fine with all the various settings and slept the full night. (6 1/2 hours) I had some slight problems with leaking from the mask, but was so tired from night's past that I guess I just tolerated it. I guess this is what would be called success!?!?!

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): C-FLEX, Ramp

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 8:23 am

Biotene mouth wash might help with the dry mouth. You can check with your Pharmacist to see if they have anything else that might work.

Brenda

OSAer · Post by **OSAer** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:29 am

Sleepy-eyes,

I'm new to the forum, so forgive me if I'm pointing out the obvious

From your description, it sounds like your source of obstruction is your tongue. I mentioned to my dentist that I had sleep apnea and he suggested to me that might try a oral "fixture" (?). Sorry, I don't remember what he called it, but its worn similiar to a mouth guard. The fixture will push your jaw forward, so that you tongue won't collaspe over your airway. There is some of test they can do to see if you're a good candidate and of course, you have to have one customize designed just for you.

Please note that the dentist who suggested this (I'm in Atlanta) happens to have another office dedicated to this purpose, so I wasn't sure if he was just peddling some magic elixir or not.

I mentioned the possibility of checking out one of these fixtures to my primary care physican due to my issues with my CPAP and he belittled the devices, saying they are expensive, wear out quickly and he knows no one who's had success with one. He suggested that I go under the knife to correct my apnea issues.

I was surprised by his negative comments about it and gave up on persuing it until I just happened to be talking to a friend about my upcoming apnea related surgery, He confided in me that he also had sleep apnea, but uses one of these oral devices in lieu of a CPAP and it works pretty well for him. YMMV.

Daffney_Gillfin · Post by **Daffney_Gillfin** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 1:01 pm

Sleepy-eyes wrote:
The tape worked great. My lips never parted. But my problem hasn't been keeping my mouth closed..................it's been keeping my tongue in position to seal off my throat! When I fall asleep, it falls away from the sealing point and even though my lips were sealed, my mouth was essentially open. Every time I woke up to realize that had happened, my mouth was as dry as a cardboard box. I can't even imagine there is something in the arsenal of CPAP accessories to address that one! I'm so disappointed I can't see straight. I was using the NasalAire II, but guess I'll go back to the full face mask and fight the leaks.

Oh, but there is something! It's called the DIY mouthguard. I use it every night. It works so well that you'll have a great abundance of wetness in your mouth. So much so, that it runs out the side!

If you want to check it out, see
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-b ... php?t=4750

There are more related links at viewtopic.php?t=8011

I've been using one of these for a couple of months, and I prefer it way over tape. My lips still part a bit after I fall asleep, but there's no air flowing through, as my tongue seals the back. I just made my 2nd mouthguard, and kept working the guard until it was real thin and small. It feels like it's going to fall apart in my mouth, but it's held up for several weeks now. That has alleviated the drool problem. I'm considering taking it to the dentist to see if there can be something made even smaller.

It doesn't cure the apnea, but it has cured the mouthbreathing problem.

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 3:46 pm

"Tongue seal" is my problem when using the NasalAire II. I'm not sure how the guard would keep me from dropping my tongue. As far as moisture in the mouth, the lack of it is due to the tongue dropping and letting my mouth act like the belly of a whistle. (Now if I could just sew my tongue to the roof of my mouth at night!)

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): seal

Daffney_Gillfin · Post by **Daffney_Gillfin** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 6:09 pm

Sleepy-eyes wrote:"Tongue seal" is my problem when using the NasalAire II. I'm not sure how the guard would keep me from dropping my tongue. As far as moisture in the mouth, the lack of it is due to the tongue dropping and letting my mouth act like the belly of a whistle. (Now if I could just sew my tongue to the roof of my mouth at night!)

The little added "shelf" on the modified mouth guard is what holds the tongue to the roof of the mouth. I figured my tongue would drop from the "shelf" while I slept too, but it's being cooperative.

It will cost your about $2 to buy a couple of boil and bite mouth guards at wally world, and about an hour of your time to find out. For my second attempt, I bought the youth size guard as I thought it would have less bulk to eliminate. It took several boil and bites to get it right, but I'm very pleased with it.

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 4:33 pm

Sleepy-eyes wrote:I went back to my full-face mask last night. My pressure was 12 with C-Flex at 2. Ramp was 7.5 for 30 minutes. I did just fine with all the various settings and slept the full night. (6 1/2 hours) I had some slight problems with leaking from the mask, but was so tired from night's past that I guess I just tolerated it. I guess this is what would be called success!?!?!

I did exactly the same thing last night, with the same results. So things must be getting closer to what I can tolerate. Just hope they are what I need! I plan on doing the same again tonight. We'll see....................

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 5:40 pm

Sleepy-eyes wrote:
Sleepy-eyes wrote:I went back to my full-face mask last night. My pressure was 12 with C-Flex at 2. Ramp was 7.5 for 30 minutes. I did just fine with all the various settings and slept the full night. (6 1/2 hours) I had some slight problems with leaking from the mask, but was so tired from night's past that I guess I just tolerated it. I guess this is what would be called success!?!?!
I did exactly the same thing last night, with the same results. So things must be getting closer to what I can tolerate. Just hope they are what I need! I plan on doing the same again tonight. We'll see....................

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:56 pm

I don't usually have any problem getting to sleep within the 30 minutes of ramp. And the ramp pressure of 7.5 is both what was prescribed, and is just fine. I'm at 12 on my full pressure and my RX is for 15, so I need to work my way back up. My only real problem at this point is mask leakage..............but with a full beard I guess I'm just going to have to fight with that one. I'm too ugly without to remove the beard! Oh, I do have another problem................the mask keeps destroying the tissue on the bridge of my nose. I've tried everything. Tonight I'm going to lather up with Bag Balm and see if lubrication helps stop the abrasion.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 11:53 pm

Daffney_Gillfin wrote:Oh, but there is something! It's called the DIY mouthguard.

Daffney's right. If you can make it right (took me several tries) the DIY (Do It Yourself) homemade mouthguard really does prevent mouth air leaks and mouthbreathing.

I usually use tape every night, but I have a DIY I made last year that I recently got back out to use for 3 nights. Had used Nexcare tape because I was almost out of my usual J&J tape. Got a rash around my mouth from the Nexcare and needed to not use tape until it healed.

Leak rate using the DIY was down nice and low. Worked fine.

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:21 am

Just an update:

Had another good night. Slept almost 8 hours under the mask. Very few mask leaks. If there were any, they didn't wake me. I'm going to leave all the settings the same for one more night. Then we are leaving on a camping trip, for two nights, where we won't be able to use our machines. But when we come back, I'll start stepping up the titrantic (sp?) pressure to get back up to my RX. I used Lantiseptic on my nose, under the mask, and it worked great. No further abrasion...........and it is already showing signs of healing.

It's a good world!!!!