mouth to nose breathing

hecate · Post by **hecate** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 2:35 pm

Hi,

My FF mask is defiantly to small for me. Last night, my second night, I again tried to be compliant, but just couldn't manage it. The mask is to short for me and squashes the bridge of my nose. In a fit of frustration I moved it off my mouth and just on my nose. To my surprise I got a seal and even more surprising I could breathe through my nose. This was surprising since for 44 years I’ve breathed through my mouth and I'm on the tail end of a nasty cold. I've also got allergies and a failed deviated septum operation. I'm not sure if I slept, but I went to bed at 11:00 and took of mask of my nose at 5:30 as one nostril has closed up. I know some time was spent adjusting the mask over my mouth and nose, but it didn't seem like that long. I'm going to get a bigger mask and also try a nasal mask.

My question is has anyone had experience of moving from mouth to nose breathing? I seemed to be breathing heavier, but not sure.

Thanks
Liz

Ric · Post by **Ric** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 11:27 pm

Sounds to me like a really bad fit. (I guess you already KNEW that!) Have you actually been measured for a mask and matched up with one that should work first time out-of-the-box, given the dimensions? If your DME didn't bother to do that, it's pretty easy to do by yourself. Go to the https://www.cpap.com website, find your mask, click on "FIND MY SIZE", then go through the steps to measure the critical points (5 measurements and 3 easy questions). If the mask and the face don't match, the web page will generally suggest one that will. (mask, that is)

On the other hand, I admire your creativity in using a FF mask as a nasal mask! ( SEND PICTURE! ) I tip my engineering hat in your direction.

Hope that helps.

pokey · Post by **pokey** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:00 am

I agree that it sounds like you dont have a good fit with your mask. That being said, I always was a mouth breather and when I started cpap I was given a nasal mask.......didnt work because air kept coming OUT of my mouth....tried chin strap....no help.....was given several FF masks but sealing was ALWAYS a problem. I realized that my problem was not caused by mouth breathing and that I could actually do quite well with the nasal mask, but suffered from air exhaling thru my lips . For me at least, I would rather tape my lips and use a chin strap with a nasal mask then deal with the infinitely higher number of leaks with the FF mask. I believe a lot of people who consider themselves mouth breathers CAN actually learn to breathe thru their noses ..and if they can, their treatmentwith a nasal mask simplifies things .....just my opinion. So, before you order a new FF mask, maybe you should determine if you really are a "hard core " mouth breather and try breathing thru your nose for a few nites.....good luck

hecate · Post by **hecate** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:36 pm

picked up a Resmed Swift nasal pillow today and will try that out tonight. I figured while my DME will let me I will try as many different types of interfaces I can.

Does anyone have any hints or advice on how to use the swift nasal pillows?

Thanks
Liz

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:51 pm

Hi Liz, I would have considered myself a "mouth breather" before CPAP, because my nose was always stuffed up and I snored through my mouth.

Since CPAP, the heated humidifier keeps me from being stuffed up, and I'm able to breath thru my nose instead of my mouth - I've very fortunate.

Do a search in this forum for Swift. The search button is at the top of your screen. If the Swift doesn't work for you, and you are a side sleeper, you might also want to try the Aura. Both nasal pillows are comfortable.

Good Luck

snorzalot · Post by **snorzalot** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:21 pm

I also have a ResMed Swift (Nasal Pillows) based on a suggestion from my Respiratory Therapist. I used the pillows last night to relieve the pressure off my nose I've created from overtightening on my Fisher Paykel FlexiFit Full Face.

I love the FP Full Face, but it needs a better nose/forehead adjustment to relieve pressure on the nose. I thought I had no chance of breathing through my nose with the pillows as my nose has been broken four times. I ALWAYS have at least one nostril stopped up almost completely, but I managed about 4 hours last night on the nasal pillows before switching back to my full face. My left nostril never did feel quite right with the pillows, but I've been told pillows usually don't work that well on higher pressure settings. Is anyone out there using pillows on 16 cm H2O?

My plan is to wear the full face maybe two nights in a row and then try to switch over to the nasal pillows one night to get the pressure off my nose for a bit. Maybe eventually I can use pillows alone, but right now I don't foresee my full face completely departing I like the idea of wearing just pillows full time if possible some day as they are pretty simple and definitely help with the feeling of claustrophobia.

Thanks and good luck!

Ric · Post by **Ric** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:23 pm

hecate wrote:Does anyone have any hints or advice on how to use the swift nasal pillows?

Good question. There are a couple of videos on "cleaning", and "fitting" (look at the top of the page under CPAP Videos). But "USING" ????? Maybe they suppose it is totally obvious. The Swift was my first "interface", I used it for exactly one night. My worst night ever. Maybe an instructional video would have been useful. The DME that sold it didn't really know which part went where, and which was up or down. It's possible I used it upside down. That would explain the leaks and the noise and the complete frustration. I have tried several different masks since, and my take-home advice is to spend a few hours using it while sitting at the computer or reading or watching TV. That applies to any mask. That provides an opportunity to adjust the straps and all the little things that can go wrong and deprive you of sleep during the night. And learning how to take it off and put it back on in the dark without THWAPPPPPING yourself in the face. With the Swift, the hose can connect on either side, deserves some forethought. More importantly get used to this foreign object that is literally "on your face", familiarity is important.

OK, there's my $0.02

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:38 pm

Snorzalot, I've never used a full face mask, so I don't know if this will work or not.

But, can you put a little piece of foam on the nosepiece (pharmacies have little round foam make-up applicators for $1.75)? Or would that prevent you from getting a good seal? I use foam on my Aura where it touches my forehead, and I never ever have a red mark.

Worth a try maybe.

hecate · Post by **hecate** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 9:37 am

Last night I tried the ResMed Swift (Nasal Pillows) for the first time. It was far more comfortable than the FF I was using. The only problem was that I felt breathing was so hard. My nose was clear and I could feel the pressure of the air going in so it should have been easy. It just felt that I was having to really labor to get the same amount of air as I would from mouth breathing. I'm sure my heart rate was hi too. However, that may all have been because I'm moving to nose from mouth breathing. I didn't make compliance last night, but then my bums not, as someone put it, ready for a 50k ride either.

One problem I did have was toothache after a couple of hours breathing this way. It was gone after waking up without the mask. Has this happened to anyone else?

How do you tell if you have a leak with the swift nasal pillows?

Thanks
Liz

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 9:54 am

What size nasal pillows did you use? When I tried small I felt like I was fighting for every breath, but one size up (medium) was fine.

hecate wrote:One problem I did have was toothache after a couple of hours breathing this way. It was gone after waking up without the mask. Has this happened to anyone else?

Do you have bruxism (grinding your teeth)?

How do you tell if you have a leak with the swift nasal pillows?

Oh, you'll know! It'll whistle and blow air on your lip, cheek or nose. Hard not to miss.

snorzalot · Post by **snorzalot** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 3:48 pm

Linda3032,

Thanks for the advice for the full face mask. I will swing by the pharmacy and give this a try. I managed 6.5 hours last night with the Swift Nasal Pillows, but I still miss the FF a bit. I'll probably switch back over to the FP 431 FF tonight. I need to order the card reader for myself to examine my results a little closer wearing two very different types of masks.

Thanks!

mouth to nose breathing

mouth to nose breathing

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mouth to nose