Well cpap users. The last time I wrote I was so fustrated that I was getting nothing out of my cpap therapy. Well I went to my sleep doctor last Monday and got a good report. I stopped breathing 53 times in an hour when I started and now 2-3 times. No leaks (although I had to fix leaks a lot.) I am use to the mask pretty much I think. lol
I told her I was using the cpap web sight and all of you keep telling me to be patient. She smiled and said "Good Advice" So I still am tired during the day and although I take a sleeping pill to help me get sleepy at night ( I have always has insomnia) I still wake up every hour and I mean every hour cause I look at clock eachtime. The doctor said it could be my mouth is opening up and thats what is waking me up. I know I need to try a chin strap. well.....Last night I did wake up once at 12:00 midnight, but I didn't wake up again til 4:00 am. I get up at 5:30 am. I was so excited to see this change! I hope it keeps getting better, NO...I KNOW IT WILL GET BETTER! I am still tied this morning, but I am feeling positive about cpap. The only advice I am looking for today is. When I woke up, my throat was SO DRY! Now I know it makes since that with all the air blowing in my throat that might be it, but it's the first time in a minth it's happened. Any advice? I thank God you all are here to talk to and get great advice....I feel love for you all....Thanks for everything! I hope I can be of help too.....Emily
First visit to doctor after one month on cpap
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Needsdecaf
- Posts: 374
- Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:58 am
- Location: Fairfax County, VA
Re: First visit to doctor after one month on cpap
Keep up the good work, it is not easy!
You have gotten onto the reason your throat is so dry...mouth breathing / mouth leaks. If you cannot keep your mouth from opening during the night, you will have ineffective therapy and also very dry mouth and throat (individual results may vary).
I suggest taping or a chinstrap. Or a switch to a full face mask, but that could be more trouble / expense than you're willing to invest.
But get that mouth closed and you will see a dramatic improvement!
You have gotten onto the reason your throat is so dry...mouth breathing / mouth leaks. If you cannot keep your mouth from opening during the night, you will have ineffective therapy and also very dry mouth and throat (individual results may vary).
I suggest taping or a chinstrap. Or a switch to a full face mask, but that could be more trouble / expense than you're willing to invest.
But get that mouth closed and you will see a dramatic improvement!
If you're waking with a dry mouth even when you're using a chin strap, you must still be opening your mouth in your sleep. Is the chin strap tight enough? They have to be quite tight for them to work properly.
If you're on nasal CPAP and you're mouth-breathing, CPAP won't work as your mouth will be acting as a big leak. You need to sort this out ASAP.
You may need to be fitted with a full face mask which covers your mouth as well as your nose. You may still suffer dryness - that's one of the few side-effects of CPAP treatment, but a humidifier will help with that.
If you're on nasal CPAP and you're mouth-breathing, CPAP won't work as your mouth will be acting as a big leak. You need to sort this out ASAP.
You may need to be fitted with a full face mask which covers your mouth as well as your nose. You may still suffer dryness - that's one of the few side-effects of CPAP treatment, but a humidifier will help with that.
Hi Irishdame,
Nice to hear from you.
A couple of things.....have you done a search to read posts on here about mouth taping or the use of poli-dent strips? I think that will help you tremendously.
Also, do you think part of the tiredness could just be the residual effect of the sleeping pills? I know I had to take a low amount of muscle relaxer for awhile along the way, and they seemed to stay in my system and make me feel more tired than usual. I know it's kind of a trade off thing.
Maybe there is something different you could try.
Glad to hear you only woke up once last night, maybe that's a good sign things are ironing out for you. I feel for you waking up hourly. That would be exhausting!
Wishing you the best, and hope you get it all worked out just right, soon!
Nice to hear from you.
A couple of things.....have you done a search to read posts on here about mouth taping or the use of poli-dent strips? I think that will help you tremendously.
Also, do you think part of the tiredness could just be the residual effect of the sleeping pills? I know I had to take a low amount of muscle relaxer for awhile along the way, and they seemed to stay in my system and make me feel more tired than usual. I know it's kind of a trade off thing.
Maybe there is something different you could try.
Glad to hear you only woke up once last night, maybe that's a good sign things are ironing out for you. I feel for you waking up hourly. That would be exhausting!
Wishing you the best, and hope you get it all worked out just right, soon!
What sleeping pill are you using for your insomnia? Perhaps another would work better for you. For instance, some doctors are still scripting, and some patients still using, low dose antidepressants, antianxiotics or anticonvulsants as a sleep medicine. They are MUCH more prone to leaving one "foggy" and "hung over" in the morning than the newer meds developed specifically for sleep such as Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata and, I think, Rozarem.
IF your leak rate is good as your doctor implied, and IF this is the only time your mouth has been so dry, then most likely you haven't been opening your mouth during your sleep. Usually if you try to breathe thru your mouth at night it will wake you, but many of us have so successfully compensated for opening their mouth by continuing to hold their tongue in position that they don't breathe thru their mouth despite it being open. But even so, your mouth would tend to dry out if you opened it often even w/the proper tongue position.
What brand and model CPAP do you have? I assume it is fully data capable since you say your leak rate was good. Was there anything in your data from last night to indicate WHY your mouth was so dry this morning? High leak rate, high AHI, etc?
QUIT looking at the clock! Turn its face away from you. Cover it w/a hanky.
Its great that you had such a good night last night despite the dry mouth this morning! Hopefully the worst of your adjustment to CPAP therapy and mask is now behind you.
IF your leak rate is good as your doctor implied, and IF this is the only time your mouth has been so dry, then most likely you haven't been opening your mouth during your sleep. Usually if you try to breathe thru your mouth at night it will wake you, but many of us have so successfully compensated for opening their mouth by continuing to hold their tongue in position that they don't breathe thru their mouth despite it being open. But even so, your mouth would tend to dry out if you opened it often even w/the proper tongue position.
What brand and model CPAP do you have? I assume it is fully data capable since you say your leak rate was good. Was there anything in your data from last night to indicate WHY your mouth was so dry this morning? High leak rate, high AHI, etc?
QUIT looking at the clock! Turn its face away from you. Cover it w/a hanky.
Its great that you had such a good night last night despite the dry mouth this morning! Hopefully the worst of your adjustment to CPAP therapy and mask is now behind you.
_________________
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Thank you all for advice! I don't have a chin strap yet, but I don't think I could handle it. I will try tape tho. I tries tape one night and my mouth filled up with air and I tried to just swallow it, but I had to open the tape and let it go on it's way....My doctor told me my mouth breathing would fix it's self. I will try different things. Thanks again
SLINKY....I take Lunesta...I also am on Wellbutrin, and 3 other meds that all say it can cause dizziness. They probably cause sleepiness too. I'm trying to take them closer to night time, but some I have to take twice a day. I tried to get my ins. co to let me have the bypass to loose some weight. They denied it. I guess they love paying so much each month for all the meds I have to take from being fat! Go figure....Thanks for advice....Emily
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