Nose pillows - mouth breather :(

[MicheleK]

Hello everyone - I've been a lurker for awhile, and due to some recent family issues and a few surgeries of my own I've put my CPAP journey on the back burner. Realizing I needed to get a good night's sleep especially with an upcoming surgery, I decided to get my machine picked up/set up.

I'm having a few issues and I need some advice from the experts!

I cannot stand the straps on my face, so the full face doesn't work for me, BUT I'm a mouth breather when I sleep. So while I'm more comfortable with the nose pillows, I keep opening my mouth when I drift off to sleep and I feel like I'm vapor locking or something....not sure how to discribe it. So, after a few hours of that I end up without my mask on.

Does anyone have any suggestions on either a different mask or how to keep my mouth shut??? LOL

[AuntieNae]

Michele
I am a mouth breather .. but it is getting better now that I am on cpap. I use the Mirage Liberty Mask because I am very claustrophobic ... anything covering my nose and blocking my view is enough to cause me to panic. It took some getting used to the straps across my face but the PadAChecks has made it something I can better tolerate.

Masks are quite an individual thing .. best wishes on your journey. I hope to some day be at the point where I can use a nasal mask .. but not there yet.
AuntieNae

[JeffH]

tape your mouth shut or use polident strips to seal it shut. That's the only thing I know of that works. I've used both and prefer the polident strips.

If your mouth comes open, then your cpap therapy isn't working. The air is going out your mouth instead of down your gullet.

[Babette]

I prefer a chinstrap. I find it's just enough "reminder" to me to keep my mouth shut. I use the https://www.cpap.com Deluxe Chinstrap (not the pricier name brand model). I recently bought the Ruby Adjustable Chinstrap, and like it, as well.

Many report the PAP CAP from http://www.pur-sleep.com works very well for them.

Good luck!
B.

[BleepingBeauty]

I cannot stand the straps on my face, so the full face doesn't work for me, BUT I'm a mouth breather when I sleep. So while I'm more comfortable with the nose pillows, I keep opening my mouth when I drift off to sleep and I feel like I'm vapor locking or something....not sure how to discribe it. So, after a few hours of that I end up without my mask on.

Does anyone have any suggestions on either a different mask or how to keep my mouth shut??? LOL

Hi, Michele.

Some people like the Polident strips, others use easy-release medical tape over their lips, still others utilize chinstraps or a hybrid mask (oral mask with nasal pillows) like the Mirage Liberty. Whatever works for you is good.

I love my nasal pillows mask, but discovered during a sleep study that I was opening my mouth. I still love my nasal mask and now wear a chinstrap, as well. As Babette posted above, folks are raving about the PapCap, and I may try that, myself, at some point.

Stay with your therapy, no matter what it takes to make it work for you. It's trial-and-error for all of us, but you'll get there eventually. Good luck!