Rigid cervical collar?

[katestyles]

Soft collar, FFM, tape, mask liner, etc... depending on you, the mask, AHI, etc, etc.

Oh. I thought you meant something new. I can't imagine anyone would try a rigid collar unless all those other ideas had already failed.

[CPAPSteve]

I got mine through a local spine clinic. Normally they'd need a prescription for a rigid collar but I explained to them that I need something to keep my jaw shut and that was why I was looking for a collar. They looked at my neck and said a regular should fit just fine without any issues.

That being said, I am fairly confident that I won't have any muscular/circulatory issues using it. While it is stiff and awkward it is quite comfy and I certainly don't feel any pinching or anything weird with my nerves or my neck.

Perhaps if I had some spinal or neck issues then I'd be reluctant to use it but honestly, it's a pretty safe bet in my case and I'm grateful it works so well!

[CPAPSteve]

Soft collar, FFM, tape, mask liner, etc... depending on you, the mask, AHI, etc, etc.

Soft collar - they tend to get too soft over time and lose their efficacy. This method worked well BUT it was very hot and uncomfortable. I dialed the heat right down low but i still manage to break a sweat and yank it off in the middle of the night.

FFM - this is what I'm using now and I find I still breathe from my mouth at times in my sleep which then dries the living hell of my mouth.

Biotene rinses and xylitol tabs - sadly they didn't work all that great for me and they're a bit costly.

Mask liner - I use this with my FFM to prevent leaks and to keep my mask seals clean and new (I have a memory foam cushion that can't be washed).

Tape - I have a weird sinus issue that jams up my nose when I sleep on my side or on my back for the first 30 minutes after lying down. I can't breathe properly through my nose and thus need to breathe through my mouth for the initial bit until I fall asleep.

Tongue training - I'm a LOT better at keeping the back door of my throat closed so that I'm not mouth breathing but despite my efforts (which had promising results for quite a long time) that as of recent my mouth is dry as a dessert and it is so bad that it wakes me and I have to get up to get water. I even drink a bunch of water before bedtime to be sure I'm well hydrated.

So I believe I have tried the most logical things that I can try and the last and most extreme resort is to use a rigid collar that supports my lower jaw to keep the mouth closed. I do have a tiny bit of dry mouth still but nothing compared to sleeping without the rigid collar.