Looking for advice. I am a new CPAP user.

[DingerTater]

Hello all,
I am a newly diagnosed OSA patient. I originally discovered my apnea by chance. My snoring was rattling my uvula, it swelled so much that it was sitting on the back of my tongue. My ENT doctor stuck a camera down my throat and looked around and he said everything looked perfectly fine, he just wanted to get a look at my snoring problem. Turns out my AHI is 31 so I am not that bad, but still severe. I found out at a seperate appointment that I also have high blood pressure. (Really High for a person not overweight and 35 years old.)
Anyway, I have been on CPAP for exactly 7 days and have a ResMed S9 with the nasal pillows. I can't really tell whether or not I am feeling better because my sleep is interrupted all night. I wake up every night at 4 am.
Here's why: I am a nose breather, and I find the pillows to be actually quite comfortable. But as my ResMed unit ramps up to a 10, the pressure created in my mouth behind my lips makes the air come shoot out in the middle of the night creating a strange face vacuum, that wakes me up and startles me. The first few nights, I awoke with EXTREMELY dry throat. After a few more days, my uvula swelled up again.

Has anyone had this airflow problem through your mouth? I try to keep it close but it always blows open.

[bap40]

Yes indeed many people have this problem me included. A lot of us "tape" our mouths shut to prevent this. I use a paper tape and it works wonderfully. There are many suggestions on this board on different ways to keep one's mouth shut. The other option is to use a full face mask. Although those can be harder to keep leak free. I started out taping my mouth right from the start. Then about a year later I stopped and low and behold I was keeping my mouth shut on my own. Then about 6 months ago my leak rate went up and both my husband and daughter said I was making all kinds of noise, air type of noise so I started to tape again and that stopped.

[DingerTater]

Wow. What an odd solution. I figured there might be something a little more "medical" that would do it. Do you suppose a bandana rolled a few times would do the trick, I have facial hair and don't know if the tape or full mask will work.

Thanks in advance.

I can say that I believe CPAP is working for me thusfar. Minus the mouth problem.

[Pugsy]

Where would you put the bandana? Over the mouth? Nice thing about tape or even polygrip, is that while it is easy enough to blow the seal should the machine stop working (power outage) it is secure enough for most normal sleep.
If the bandana was used as a chin strap of sorts it would be safer.

Polygrip is somewhat nasty tasting but I found I could use it despite my initial OMG no way reaction when I first read about it.
Tape is cleaner but facial hair will get in the way some. But you could give it a try.

I either taped or used polygrip for about 2 months before I started letting it slide and found out that I seemed to have eliminated the mouth opening issue. Not everyone can get their body to relearn that it doesn't have to have the mouth open to breath but many have been able to. Worth a try since FF mask would be PITA with facial hair.

[acc0mpl1ce]

Sorry, I have since signed up for the CPAP community. I am DingerTater no longer.

I figure at least I can breathe through a bandana in worst case scenario. Tape kind of freaks me out.
It should just add the gentle pressure I require to seal my lips. I will report back tomorrow.

[Julie]

The proper solution is to wear a 'full face' mask - not one that covers your whole face as a 'total' mask would, but one that just extends a bit lower than a regular nasal mask to cover your mouth, so that if you breathe with it open, you won't lose the Cpap air. Taping is a choice for some people, but by no means the ideal answer. Look into Cpap.com (go to masks, then full face masks) and find e.g. the Quattro FX, or Hybrid, or Ultra Mirage II, which are all popular. It's the most common way we deal with needing one, and many people who otherwise use a nasal mask also have a FF one for times they're congested with a cold.

[Pugsy]

Good luck. Yes, please report back. Never thought of using a bandana. Never know, you might start a trend.

Masked CPAP user.......means entirely something different.

[OutaSync]

I would think that tape would be a whole lot more comfortable than a bandana, but then, again, I've never tried a bandana! I tape my mouth shut every night and wear a chinstrap to keep my jaw from dropping and losing the seal on my tape. It did take awhile to get used to, but it's not scarey any more. I fold back the end so I could rip it off quickly if I needed to, like to sneeze! I've been doing it for 3+ years and haven't had a problem with not being able to breathe even once. My friends and family know not to call me after I've masked up.

[dtsm]

Wow. What an odd solution. I figured there might be something a little more "medical" that would do it. Do you suppose a bandana rolled a few times would do the trick, I have facial hair and don't know if the tape or full mask will work.

Warm welcome to cpaptalk.
Suggest you visit your profile and edit your equipment.

Some folks are successful with just a chinstrap - the gold standard is made by pur-sleep, the papcap plus http://www.pur-sleep.com/products/produ ... category=6
Some folks, including myself use 3M Blue painters tape, 2 inch wide, model # 2080 [make sure to get 2080 and not 2090]… http://www.amazon.com/3M-2080-2A-Scotch ... -1-catcorr
Some folks use micropore medical paper tape - personally, I find adhesive way too strong and painful when removing each day: http://www.amazon.com/Micropore-Paper-T ... B000GR0156

PS-i don't bandana will work, but panty hose 'might' [i'm not joking]

My friends and family know not to call me after I've masked up.

Perfect excuse for not answering late night business calls from overseas

[acc0mpl1ce]

Success! The bandana worked like a charm. It did slip off once during the night but otherwise, i slept all night long.
It might have been the first good night's sleep I have had in 10 years. I have this overwhelming sense of calm this morning.

Thanks for the suggestions, I will check them out. I may just stick to my bandana though, taping my mouth kind of freaks me out.

[Pugsy]

Good to hear that you have reported success.

Now, regarding your machine shown. The Escape will not ever show any meaningful data to you. I would strongly suggest that you check out the "Elite" as it will give you some meaningful data even without the software. Might come in handy down the road even if you don't feel the need now.

Sometimes you can just ask the DME to swap the Escape for the Elite, sometimes it takes an act of God, sometimes it take a new DME. Lots of info about the advantages of data capable machine here on this forum and also users trials that they have gone through to get one.

Time to get the swap is now while you are just starting the treatment. Before any trial period ends.

[gnomoney]

I am confused still after a little over 5 years of using CPAP if the flow of air must flow through the nose for best results? I had tried a nose only mask but because of congestion went to a full face mask. However, I heard from one therapist that unless the flow enters the nose the mask will provide benefit. Another therapist stated that a full face mask was fine.
I would appreciate any help on this question, thanks

[Pugsy]

I am confused still after a little over 5 years of using CPAP if the flow of air must flow through the nose for best results? I had tried a nose only mask but because of congestion went to a full face mask. However, I heard from one therapist that unless the flow enters the nose the mask will provide benefit. Another therapist stated that a full face mask was fine.
I would appreciate any help on this question, thanks

Gnomoney,
I responded in the thread that you started with this question. I see that you have registered here, please go to the equipment page in your profile and add your equipment. It will help others help you better.

Regarding your question here, All mask types will offer effective therapy if they are fitted properly. Full face mask is quite effective if it fits properly.

[sewsleepy]

I vote for the tape also. It is very lightweight and peels off easily (turn a corner under so it's easy to grab onto) but it's enough to just stick your lips together so air doesn't leak out and that's all you need. Other solutions have got your jaw cramped in an abnormal position and even with a chin strap on your lips can still open. And a full face mask can be so overwhelming.

I found that after I used the tape for a few weeks, I didn't need it anymore. My cpap nurse says it is common that your mouth "learns" to sleep in the right position. I dunno, but it worked for me!