Help me keep my mouth shut? (chin strap/mask advice needed)

[PiobGuy]

Try turning up the heat/humidity on your humidifier. I use this technique to hold my mouth closed during CPAP therapy.

I am using the Resmed S9 Elite with climate control tubing and the Swift FX For Her Nasal Pillows. I keep the heat/humidity feature at 86 degrees F every night..........

I teach my patients at the sleep clinic this technique every day. There are times when it fails, and we have to move on to having a patient use a chin strap, but I always like to try the heat/humidity option first.

I would love to know what the explanation is for this working. I keep my temperature set at room temp which is 65 in winter; I can't imagine , in my wildest dreams, raising the temperature 20 degrees.

Thanks

JJ

[SleepingUgly]

I would love to know what the explanation is for this working. I keep my temperature set at room temp which is 65 in winter; I can't imagine , in my wildest dreams, raising the temperature 20 degrees.

The humidity on the CPAP humidifier, not the temperature in the room...

[PiobGuy]

I would love to know what the explanation is for this working. I keep my temperature set at room temp which is 65 in winter; I can't imagine , in my wildest dreams, raising the temperature 20 degrees.

The humidity on the CPAP humidifier, not the temperature in the room...

Right, I set my S9 at 65deg, the DME said to set it a room temperature. If I set it at 80 I feel like I am in a sauna.

JJ

[Tino2You]

...

Right, I set my S9 at 65deg, the DME said to set it a room temperature. If I set it at 80 I feel like I am in a sauna.

JJ

I have mine set to 78 degrees, on nights I am feeling really congested, I up it to 80. But that is me, ymmv

-tino

[Jason2483]

I personally keep my jaw shut all night, but air leaks out between my lips. Great fun. I just turn the humidity up as high as I can so it doesn't dry me out. I have an autopap so it just pumps more air through to keep me breathing. I have considered taping my lips together...ha. What would happen if you put something kind of sticky on your lips? Like a thick vaseline or something.

[cosmo]

How about using a chinstrap then an Ace bandage over it.

[irahappy1]

I too have the chipmunk problem... and loose lips... chin strap doesn't help...
Is a full face mask better? My daughter has a full face mask and says I should not even bother with the nasal mask and chin strap.
But now I may have to either convince the dr to give me one or pay for it myself...

Help

[SleepWellCPAP]

Hopefully the initial poster has corrected the mouth breathing issue by now, as it's almost a year later. I would however like to throw my two cents in about chinstraps. First, think of a chinstrap like it's a training wheel on a bicycle. Hopefully, with time, you'll be able to teach yourself to keep the air contained in the circuit. When initially fitting a simple strap, get it close to the tension it needs to be and then take it off without undoing the velcro. After you've removed it, using your thumb as a guide, tighten it another 1 to 1.5 inches. This should provide a snug fit to keep your lower jaw in place without giving you a headache. For the more complex chinstraps, a little extra tension is usually needed on the top. After a day or two, omit the chinstrap, at least at the beginning of the night and see how you do. I have seen many patients able to do without the strap entirely after the "training" period.

[tuzacat]

I had months of trying to find a chin strap that worked for me with much of the same issues. Tried all of the ones mentioned. The Ultimate Chinstrap is the one that finally worked.

[psiborg]

I use two Sullivan chinstraps, I wrap sheet cotton (what the MDs use prior to casting your broken limbs.) then I wrap coban ( what they wrap around your arm after you give blood) around the sheet-cotton. The sheet cotton adds padding and bulk (causing the chinstrap to become tighter) the Coban is there for friction (I'm balding so I need this to further reduce slippage).
I've also sewn down the Velcro straps together after custom sizing the straps as tight as I can get them.
I've had great success with this method. As a matter of fact it's been too right so I have to debulk the sheet cotton sometimes.