Mouth Breathing and Snot??

[MarquisdeStyle]

Hello, again, everyone. I've been off the board for AGES, as I have been doing so well. I know I need to log on and be of some help for others, but started a new job and am rarely able to log onto the computer for fun!
I have a really nasty question, and have been reading previous posts, all that I can find, that might explain my issue. Those MIGHT be the issue, but I'm not certain, so here I go...
I am using a Swift FX for Her with a ResMed Pro whatever and heated humidifier. I have used this setup for the past 14 months with no problems. Suddenly, I am waking up with either my tongue literally stuck to the top of my mouth, or honest to goodness clumps of mucous in my mouth. It is so disgusting.
I can certainly see that mouth breathing could cause this, but the noise is horrendous when I do that, and I can't imagine I wouldn't wake up if it happened during the night! My husband also wakes up when I do it accidentally when getting ready to take a sip of water, so he would hear it and mention it to me, too, but neither of us are noticing it. I have never had a problem with mouth-breathing in the past, and can't read my card, since the last time I saw my MD, their reader was down, and sending it off to the DME and waiting/hoping they send it back would probably make me a little nuts.
In addition, I am waking up sneezing my head off every single morning. I've not had allergies to anything in the past except mold, and have been washing my tubing as well as my mask parts every single morning with baby wash, and cleaning/sterilizing with vinegar every weekend, so I can't figure out if I have just developed an allergy to something else at this stage of life (I'm 49), and that is causing the increased draininge, or if there is SOMETHING in my cleaning routine that is no longer effective?
I"m just stumped, and appreciate your wisdom!

[Pugsy]

Perhaps humidity needs have changed for some reason. Maybe need more added moisture or maybe need less.
The sneezing could just be the nasal mucosa being unhappy with current humidity and they are rebelling.
I get similar symptoms if I forget to add water to the tank and it goes dry. Others get similar symptoms if they are using too much water. You might try playing with the humidifier settings to see if it helps. Either increase or decrease....increase would be my first choice.

[chunkyfrog]

If your machine is a Remstar Plus, I'm guessing that all the available data is compliance--not efficacy--
--no use to anyone except insurance company pencil pushers. Of course, I could be wrong. ( Not a machine I know about).
Good news, your insurance may cover a NEW machine if you've had the old one long enough.
You may need full data now; luckily, it's awesome! (not all machines have it--but we have info/links to those that do; and software)
Your phlegm and dry mouth sounds like you've begun to breathe through your mouth.
Your choices are few: chin strap, full face mask, or tape/Poli-grip, etc.
Welcome back.

[MarquisdeStyle]

You are right, ChunkyFrog...it's a Remstar Plus. See...I am so blase' about things now, I don't even know my machine! (lol) I was very disappointed when the MD said this was the machine he preferred, since I researched and saw that I couldn't get any useful data from it. I have only had it since last May, so can't get it replaced now, I would think. Will have new primary insurance tomorrow, but the deductible is a whopping $2500., and my secondary insurance would recognize that my machine is fairly new.
I am going to experiment with the humidifier. I had adjusted it, but didn't notice a difference, so moved it back up again. Maybe need to head the other direction and pray I don't drown myself with rainout.
I am also hoping I have a box when I get home with some replacement parts for my old mask from several years ago, when I was first on c-pap. I am using the Swift FX for Her, and was somewhat fine with it, but now it is slipping, and I hate the marks it leaves on my face. I also hate that the exhaust air blows on my arms, the covers if I pull them up, or my husband, so am going to see if my old Breeze is salvagable. Might have to ask for something completely new, or buy it myself. Seems that the DME's mark things up so much, the insurance leaves me a co-pay that is the same as what I would pay if I just bought the supplies outright on the internet, so that's what I'm starting to do, although it would help me get some of that $2500 out of the way for the new deductible, so something to think about.
Thanks for the suggestions!

[chunkyfrog]

This forum is sponsored by Cpap.com, where I have bought several masks, and my
S9 Autoset, and I encourage you to check their prices. (the forum is free, even if you don't)
It is crazy to use a local DME at all if insurance isn't paying for anything.
Your deductible is even worse than mine, and I have gotten ALL my supplies out of network
(cpap.com and trades through the forum) this year.
Still not reached my deductible.--and getting way more bang for my buck.
Now I just get what I need, and don't worry about the time spacing.
I'm hoping to get a back-up machine before my Autoset's warranty expires.

[2kittymom]

I too wake up with my tongue pasted on the roof of my mouth. I bought some Biotene mouthwash for dry mouth and have begun using it right before I go to sleep. I think it's helping.
Lori

[Gerald?]

Is you nose blocked with mucus too, or is it just in your throat?

Before CPAP my apnea caused quite bad reflux. This would creat lots of mucus in the back of my throat. Apparently its a protection mechanism your body employs to stop your throat being burned by acid.

Any heartburn issues?

[Todzo]

Hello, again, everyone. I've been off the board for AGES, as I have been doing so well. I know I need to log on and be of some help for others, but started a new job and am rarely able to log onto the computer for fun!
I have a really nasty question, and have been reading previous posts, all that I can find, that might explain my issue. Those MIGHT be the issue, but I'm not certain, so here I go...
I am using a Swift FX for Her with a ResMed Pro whatever and heated humidifier. I have used this setup for the past 14 months with no problems. Suddenly, I am waking up with either my tongue literally stuck to the top of my mouth, or honest to goodness clumps of mucous in my mouth. It is so disgusting.
I can certainly see that mouth breathing could cause this, but the noise is horrendous when I do that, and I can't imagine I wouldn't wake up if it happened during the night! My husband also wakes up when I do it accidentally when getting ready to take a sip of water, so he would hear it and mention it to me, too, but neither of us are noticing it. I have never had a problem with mouth-breathing in the past, and can't read my card, since the last time I saw my MD, their reader was down, and sending it off to the DME and waiting/hoping they send it back would probably make me a little nuts.
In addition, I am waking up sneezing my head off every single morning. I've not had allergies to anything in the past except mold, and have been washing my tubing as well as my mask parts every single morning with baby wash, and cleaning/sterilizing with vinegar every weekend, so I can't figure out if I have just developed an allergy to something else at this stage of life (I'm 49), and that is causing the increased draininge, or if there is SOMETHING in my cleaning routine that is no longer effective?
I"m just stumped, and appreciate your wisdom!

Hi MarquisdeStyle,

First, let me encourage you along with others to establish feedback (the use of night to night PAP data!!). We do not drive with our eyes closed, I do not think we should use PAP with our eyes closed either!

You mentioned:

started a new job and am rarely able to log onto the computer for fun!
Suddenly, I am waking up with either my tongue literally stuck to the top of my mouth, or honest to goodness clumps of mucous in my mouth.
mouth breathing could cause this, but the noise is horrendous when I do that
I am waking up sneezing my head off every single morning.

Now, when I read all of this it points in a familiar direction. I would be stressed, I would breath more, my "under CPAP" breathing would become unstable - and - tend to lock in the breathing too much mode so it would dry out my airway passage - the airway passage would become irritated from being too dry and too cold - and tend toward infection - and if all that were not bad enough the extra breathing would wash out my CO2 levels to the point where vascular constriction would occure along with frustrated oxygen transport - and - all that breathing would cause arousals so the end result was a nasty case of "hit by a truck" feeling syndrome.

If I were you I would:

Do what I could to reduce stress. Take a break - this is so much more important than we give it credit for!
Take some long walks. Some fast some slow. Exercise is good!
Eat anti-inflammatory foods.
Eat anti-oxidant foods.
At least practice breathing quietly. Myself I use a pulse oximeter to find the breathing level which yields the lowest heart rate while holding exertion constant.
Practice breathing quietly during the day with your machine - at the desk or couch and laying awake on your bed. Go to sleep willfully breathing quietly.
Stay away from carbs before bedtime.
Stay away from violent media (TV, movies, video games).

FWIW

Todzo

[dougaross]

I don't know much about this stuff. I would start by cleaning humidifier, hose, filter, mask

[MarquisdeStyle]

Thanks to everyone for your feedback. I have adjusted the humidifier, and have an appointment to also get another mask. I got my Swift FX for Her 15 mos ago, and it is not holding it's tabs well over my head. I think the rubber is stretched enough that I just has to go. Hopefully, I'll find a nasal pillows mask that I like as well, but that doesn't leave strap marks on my face, and doesn't exhaust that air straight out onto my spouse or my arms, covers, etc. Interested in taking a look at the Aloha, the Opus 360, and the Headrest, which appears to be the newer version of the Aura that I used years ago, and loved.
I think I also need to talk to my MD about different allergy meds. I swapped from Claritin to Zyrtec a few months back, since the Claritin couldn't keep up, but the Zyrtec doesn't last its promised 24 hours. I take it in the am, since I am sneezing my head off, but it just doesn't last through the night. That may be why all of the extra mucous here lately. I even tried Zyrtec in the am and a Claritin at night, but that isn't working either.
I can't see from this page who posted the response about the Biotene mouth rinse, but I got some, and think it is helping, too! Thanks!
You guys are so helpful and so giving, and I learn so much from you, even when just lurking.
You all make a difference for a LOT of us!

[Exterminator]

I even tried Zyrtec in the am and a Claritin at night, but that isn't working either.

Same here, today I started the generic Flonase spray. I'll let you know how it works out.

[zoocrewphoto]

Call your doctor and ask if you can take the clariton or zyrtec twice a day.

Recently, at my doctor's appointment, I told her I had tried both for a week at a time (not at the same time), and I had not felt better with either. She suggested I try either one twice a day even though the box says once a day. I would ask to be sure in case you have something else that might be bothered by it. But it sounds like it would be safe for most people to take twice a day.