Confused about mouthbreathing :/

Sinister_Girl · Post by **Sinister_Girl** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 10:37 pm

As some of you know I am new here. New to CPAP as well. I don't THINK I mouthbreath, because when I fall asleep I am breathing through my nose. I'm just curious though.........if you do mouthbreath, are you getting the therapeutic level of CPAP needed?

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 5:20 am

_Girl,
You really don't have to be a mouth breather, to lose treatment pressure through your mouth when using a nasal interface. many people who are not mouth breathers lose air out their mouths as soon as they doze off.

The symptoms are sore throat and dry mouth. Quite often the noise will alert you to the problem.

The many aids for this problem are: chin straps, mouth pieces, tape, and
full-face masks.

I hope you can overcome all the obstacles in CPap'town....

MandoJohnny · Post by **MandoJohnny** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:02 am

I would think that if you were a mouth-breather, it would have shown up on your sleep study titration. Your doc would have that info. Also, I have tried intentionally mouth-breathing with the CPAP on, just to see what would happen, and the rush of air is so startling I know it would wake me up if I did it during the night. Finally, if your machine gives you efficacy data, problems should show up there if mouth breathing is causing a problem.

My machine does give me data and after some adjustments agreed on with my doc, my data is right where it should be. My personal choice is that I am not going to start gluing or taping my mouth shut at night until there is some evidence I need to. I wonder that if, in general, there isn't some over-reaction to the mouth-breating hazard.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:13 am

My personal choice is that I am not going to start gluing or taping my mouth shut at night until there is some evidence I need to.

An who wouldn't react just like that?

O.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:39 am

It's not what happens in the sleep study that matters, the sleep study has too many variables, such as, did they care enought to watch you, did you sleep normal (who could).

What counts is what you do on a nightly basis. You are asleep when you mouthbreath, so it's not always apparant you are doing it. Without taking measures to control mouthbreathing, you are taking for granted you are doing treatment correctly, but you may be incorrect. I don't take chances, I make it work, and it does if done correctly. Jim

Snoozin' Bluezzz · Post by **Snoozin' Bluezzz** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:31 am

I'm with Jim (Goofproof). I can not speak for others in terms of over reaction, I can only report my experience. Until I taped (or Poligripped) I had dry mouth, sore throat and the famous "flu like" symptoms reported in the general literature as an indicator of mouth breathing or mouth leaks. Like RG said, open mouth breathing while awake with the xPAP on makes it seem impossible but having woken up with my mouth gaping open and everything else in place and functioning seems to indicate a different story. Even with chinstraps I would wake up gaping. The first time I taped I slept through the night 8+ hours, the first time in more than 15 years. So, my experience does not indicate an "over reaction".

David

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:34 am

..what David said..

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:02 pm

What if the "numbers" stay about the same with or without taping? I've tried poligrip, chin straps and taping because I have occasional mouth leaks, but the My Encore readings are little changed from those without any taping (eg. AHI is less than 1 either way, snores, leaks etc are also pretty much the same) Does this mean I don't need to worry about taping or I am missing another benefit by not taping.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:06 pm

It's not the numbers.
It's how you sleep at night, and how you feel on the day after. Arousals caused by mouthleaks will not necessarily be registered on the machine. But they effect how we feel.

O.

Snoozin' Bluezzz · Post by **Snoozin' Bluezzz** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:18 pm

Anonymous wrote:What if the "numbers" stay about the same with or without taping? I've tried poligrip, chin straps and taping because I have occasional mouth leaks, but the My Encore readings are little changed from those without any taping (eg. AHI is less than 1 either way, snores, leaks etc are also pretty much the same) Does this mean I don't need to worry about taping or I am missing another benefit by not taping.

IMO this is where we can get in trouble by focusing on the numbers. Bill does a good job of correlating his xPAP numbers to his Desats and, most importantly, to - "how he feels".

I would tend to the other way - I don't feel as well - why?

If I felt fine, was more or less sleeping through the night and more or less rested the next day then I would say my therapy is working, within reason, fairly well. Of course it can always be improved, perhaps, but our sleep patterns are complicated things, especially as we get older so the entire thing has to be put together.

If your numbers remain constant and your subjective sense of well being remains constant then focusing on mouth leaks is a waste of time, again IMO.

David

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:39 pm

Welcome, Sinister_Girl! A full face mask will get around the mouth breathing issue, but many do not like them. Taping or using Poli Grip strips can help or solve the problem, but some have problems with skin/lip tears and residue. Properly done, though, they may be your answer.

With all due respect to Snoozin Bluezzzz, I would like to say that if you have been sleep deprived for a long time, even some therapy (i.e. therapy being compromised by mouth leaks) may give you such improvement that you feel much better than you did. Thus, you would not realize that greater improvement was possible or needed if you only went by your feelings. So I think some attention should be paid to the numbers, but not to the point of obsession. If you are feeling better/good, AND your leak numbers are low and/or not changing, well and good. If you start to feel worse, or your numbers spike, that would be a clue that something needs attention.

Good luck!

Sinister_Girl · Post by **Sinister_Girl** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 1:28 pm

Okay, I think you guys have definitely answered my question! Thanks alot! From the beginning of my CPAP therapy I trained myself to breath through my nose because breathing through my mouth felt weird, with the rush of air and all. Anyway, I have been using my IQ Nasal Mask lately, rather than my Nasal Aire II and I actually have started to like it much better. I think it's preventing leaks better, it doesn't irritate my nose and I am able to get a better nights sleep. I remember when I first tried the IQ I felt clostraphobic, but I'm getting more comfortable with it each night.

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:41 pm

actually, the really talented of us at mouthbreathing can have mouth leaks even with a full face mask. so a full face mask can be only a partial answer. yes, i bought the moleskin today. now, to attach it somehow so that my bottom lip doesn't slip under the mask....

caroline

Barb (Seattle) · Post by **Barb (Seattle)** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 7:13 am

chdurie2 wrote:actually, the really talented of us at mouthbreathing can have mouth leaks even with a full face mask. so a full face mask can be only a partial answer.
caroline

Uhmm...yes, but when your mouth opens with a full face mask, then the air can push through your mouth, keeping your airway open. It's funny though, with normal nasal masks, my mouth pops open immediately...with the full face one, my mouth stays closed...go figure LOL

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Avg. AHI .4

Mask

Additional Comments: Large mask collection

Confused about mouthbreathing :/

Confused about mouthbreathing :/

Ask your doc