YIPEE! My first AHI = 0.00 night!

[mikewithe]

Back on the 29th of last month I switched from the Mirage Quattro FFM to the Swift FX. Since then I've been having lots of problems with mouth leaks. After studying my graphs I noticed that most of my events were clustered right around the leak incidents. So, last night I strapped on the Respironics Premium Chinstrap.

It was tight.

It was hot.

It was coarse.

It was, in short, the most uncomfortable thing I have ever worn.

BUT...

It did it's job splendidly. It kept my mouth shut all night long. My leak rate bottomed out to the vent rate of the mask and stayed there for the duration of the night and I had zero events! The downside is that the strap was so uncomfortable that I only got about 5 hours of sleep. Sadly this is the only strap the VA offers.

[nanwilson]

Back on the 29th of last month I switched from the Mirage Quattro FFM to the Swift FX. Since then I've been having lots of problems with mouth leaks. After studying my graphs I noticed that most of my events were clustered right around the leak incidents. So, last night I strapped on the Respironis Premium Chinstrap.

It was tight.

It was hot.

It was coarse.

It was, in short, the most uncomfortable thing I have ever worn.

BUT...

It did it's job splendidly. It kept my mouth shut all night long. My leak rate bottomed out to the vent rate of the mask and stayed there for the duration of the night and I had zero events! The downside is that the strap was so uncomfortable that I only got about 5 hours of sleep. Sadly this is the only strap the VA offers.

Congrats on the 0's. Go to padacheeks.com, Karen is a member here and makes comfort articles for us, you can get strap covers that make the straps on the mask soooo much easier to stand.

[notyorz]

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!

+1 to padacheek. From what I've seen and read here (not a user of them myself - yet), they will do wonders for making things more comfortable.

[mikewithe]

Thanks for the info, but it is the chinstrap that is uncomfortable.

The mask straps are fine as they come with microfiber covers of their own.

But those fleece covers sure do look luxurious!

And, as a 100% disabled vet that supplements his meager disability with the pittance of an income that passes for a mystery writer's salary, I can't afford luxury. Thanks, again, for the info though.

[notyorz]

How about picking up a scrap piece of fleece and some velcro circles at a fabric store and creating your own removable cover for the part that's scratchy? (I'm assuming you mean under the chin where the chinstrap hugs your face).

You could cut a rectangle square from an old t-shirt/sweatshirt and lay that between the strap and your skin, if your sewing skills are anything like mine. Anything to reduce the scratchiness and the cotton may help with the "hot" too.

Hopefully, the tightness will ease as the fabric is used more - at least to the point of not being too bad. I hope in time you will be able to adjust to it and it becomes just another part of your routine.

Anyways, glad to see you hit the 0.00 mark! I hope to some day

[-tim]

Good job with 0.00.

When I was teaching scuba diving, new people wanted the mask tight so it didn't leak. That make leaks more likely. It also wears out the mask sooner. I can't see how a cpap mask would be different since they do the same jobs (mostly) and are made of the same materials.

If you loosen the mask, do you have the same results?

[Starlette]

Good morning mikewithe.

Idea Go to Walmart or Sally's and try a woman's hairband. For you, instead of using as a hairband, use as a chinstrap. The thicker the better, just like the Respironics chinstrap.
Just an inexpensive thought.

Starlette

[Pugsy]

Stretchy hair band good idea...also consider a cheap sports sweatband. Instead of around the forehead and back of head use it as a chin strap. Material (I see a lot of terry cloth) is usually very comfy and you will be surprised at the support it offers. Cheap at WalMart for about a dollar in the sports equipment section. I am sure there are other sources likely a little better made but when I was experimenting I always went with cheap first to see if the idea would even be worth putting more money into.

[mikewithe]

Good job with 0.00.

When I was teaching scuba diving, new people wanted the mask tight so it didn't leak. That make leaks more likely. It also wears out the mask sooner. I can't see how a cpap mask would be different since they do the same jobs (mostly) and are made of the same materials.

If you loosen the mask, do you have the same results?

I have extensive diving experience from my Navy days and believe me when I say, it isn't a mask tightness issue. It is a chinstrap tightness issue.

[Tino2You]

Hi Mikewithane,

I got the Puresom Ruby Adjustable Chinstrap and I use it every night. It is tight but not painful. Actually it is kind of comforting in a hug for my face kind of way. I am aware of it for about 3 minutes then it is just another part of my sleep experience. As a side benefit, the top strap allow me to "lock in" my fx nasal pillow with a loose fit that doesn't move when I turn my head to lay on my side!!

[-tim]

Good job with 0.00.

When I was teaching scuba diving, new people wanted the mask tight so it didn't leak. That make leaks more likely. It also wears out the mask sooner. I can't see how a cpap mask would be different since they do the same jobs (mostly) and are made of the same materials.

If you loosen the mask, do you have the same results?

I have extensive diving experience from my Navy days and believe me when I say, it isn't a mask tightness issue. It is a chinstrap tightness issue.

Some of us don't use chinstraps.

Coronado by chance?

[James1]

I also use the Swift FX, and in the beginning, I had mouth-leak issues. It was always OK for most of the night, but every so often there would be a big leak which probably disturbed me and/or an event took place.

I solved this by using the simple ResMed chinstrap, and I also tape my mouth with 3M micropore tape (check forum for discussiions on taping, there are plenty of for and against views). I use the micropore because it's quite weak and I feel my mouth would be able to open if necessary.

The combo is comfortable, I rarely have a leak issue and AHI is usually very low (0.1 to 0.3 usually).