Dry lips / mouth started after 5 years on APAP

[SnoreNoMore2005]

I've been using CPAP for 5 years and all of a sudden I'm getting really dry lips and dry mouth. My first thought was mouth breathing causing this but it seems strange because I haven't done it before and I'm a 5 year user. I already use a heated humidifier.

Could there be another problem at work here? Sometimes I'm lying in bed and an air bubble escapes between my lips. Does that mean something?

I've tried chin straps, tape, and full face masks but to no avail.

Could I have a machine malfunction?
Does anyone have any other suggestions as to the cause or cure?
Could my machine settings now be too high?
It's really messing with my sleep.

Thanks for your help.
SnoreNoMore2005

[harry33]

roll lips inward and put wide tape on skin above and below the lips double end over to form tear off strip

[Gerryk]

A bubble coming out your lips would be air leaking out. Has anything changed with you recently health wise? How about stress has your stress level gone up. Those would be two likely changes I would think of first that would cause you to mouth breath after five years of not.

Gerry

[SnoreNoMore2005]

I tried using a nasal pillow for a few days but could not get it to seat in my nares well. So I'm back to my trusty Activa.

I've never had the dry lips before. Could that be caused by anything other than mouth breathing? My mouth is really dry too so I know it sounds like I'm mouth breathing all of a sudden. This has increased my stress level but it's a chicken or the egg story. Which came first?

Other than tape, chin straps, and full face masks, has anyone found anything to help them with mouth breathing??

SnoreNoMore2005

[Gerryk]

I use a full face, but I find that I mouth breath less when my sinuses are open. Usually sinuses being blocked cause most people to mouth breath.

[MamaJo]

Dry mouth and lips could possibly be caused by mouthwash..... have you maybe switched to a mouthwash with alcohol in it? that's of course, assuming you use mouthwash!!!!

[JohnBFisher]

... I've never had the dry lips before. Could that be caused by anything other than mouth breathing? My mouth is really dry too so I know it sounds like I'm mouth breathing all of a sudden. ...

Does your mouth seem really dry most of the rest of the day? Do you need to drink more than you used to? If so, a couple things come to mind. The most likely would be possible issues with blood sugar, which will dry you out. The second would be Sjogrens (see http://www.sjogrens.org/).

I'm certain there are other causes. The key is that if you have more problems during the day as well as the night, your issue might not be with the xPAP therapy. If it is only during the night, then you should focus on the xPAP therapy.

[SnoreNoMore2005]

I found out what my problem was and I wanted to report it here in case anyone else experiences the same situation:

My 5½ year old Respironics M Series Autopap was malfunctioning and blowing a much higher pressure than my setting required. This was causing me to open my mouth when it would normally be closed. It was as if I set the pressure too high on my machine. I found this out by using my spare machine and immediately noticed the difference in air pressure even though the settings were the same.

I never even considered that I might have an equipment malfunction since it was such a gradual change I am sure. So I guess the take home lesson is people should probably get their machines calibrated every so often if they start having problems after using the machine successfully for a long period of time.

Good luck to all. I hope this helps someone else.

SnoreNoMore2005

[ozij]

I found out what my problem was and I wanted to report it here in case anyone else experiences the same situation:

My 5½ year old Respironics M Series Autopap was malfunctioning and blowing a much higher pressure than my setting required. This was causing me to open my mouth when it would normally be closed. It was as if I set the pressure too high on my machine. I found this out by using my spare machine and immediately noticed the difference in air pressure even though the settings were the same.

I never even considered that I might have an equipment malfunction since it was such a gradual change I am sure. So I guess the take home lesson is people should probably get their machines calibrated every so often if they start having problems after using the machine successfully for a long period of time.

Good luck to all. I hope this helps someone else.

SnoreNoMore2005

I'm sure it will, SnoreNoMore2005. Thank you for reporting it.

O.

[Gerryk]

Thanks for the heads up. I will make sure they set mine at a pressure next time and check it for that pressure. Mine is an auto machine so they checked it at the lower pressure.

Gerry