Stupid question about dry mouth

[Elle]

My dry mouth is not about breathing with my mouth open. It is very dry before i am even asleep so i know my mouth is closed. Is it possible air flow from certain masks can cause this? I recently switched to the Wisp.

[chunkyfrog]

My very worst dry mouth was when my mouth was taped shut; so yes, I believe you.
Using a dry mouth rinse seems to help. (someone even makes a patch you stick on the roof of your mouth)
Whatever you do, avoid any mouthwash containing alcohol. (yes, read the ingredients list)
Note: there are no stupid questions; as for answers, you may judge for yourself.

[Elle]

I'm using Biotene gel but would like to know if i should switch masks. I din't have this with my old mask but i love the Wisp. I am also starting chemo and was told dry mouth will cause more sores. I assumed dry mouth was always caused by opening mouth but have discovered it with mouth closed. Wouldn't it be nice to get all the cpap problems nailed down ?

[Stormynights]

I made my own mouth guard using two youth mouth guards. I molded one for the top teeth and one for the bottom. They are not attached. They do help with dry mouth and help me keep my tongue on the roof of my mouth. They are not the perfect solution but it is the best I have found so far.

[chunkyfrog]

This product may help you with the mouth dryness:
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/quantu ... 53-product
Sending good thoughts out for your chemo. My baby (52) brother had a very easy time with his chemo.
Hoping they know more now than a few years ago.

[Elle]

Thanks Chunky, We don't have Walgreens in Canada. I use this stuff but wish it wasn't needed.
http://www.biotenecanada.ca/products.htm

[DiverCTHunter]

Zellers or The Drug Shoppe might have the mouth guards

[Elle]

I'm not able to use mouth guards but I appreciate the responses. I guess using the biotene will do or I will have to switch masks. thanks everyone.

[bwexler]

Have you tried increasing the humidity to the max on your H5i?

[Elle]

I have it at 3.5 I'll try raising it.

[Todzo]

My dry mouth is not about breathing with my mouth open. It is very dry before i am even asleep so i know my mouth is closed. Is it possible air flow from certain masks can cause this? I recently switched to the Wisp.

Today I woke up with bit of a stuffy nose and a bit of dry mouth.

I know what to do.

I simply used eucapnic breathing techniques to bring my air use volume down. The nose cleared, the mouth moisten. It works for me every time.

I know very well that when the breathing air use levels are much closer to where they should be that the crazy urge to breath too much will go away.

GERD and the like I believe are caused by a combination of nerves and hypocapnia. I think that it simply causes the valves at the stomach exit to close tight as the stomach spasms. So the stomach contents are pushed up and out.

What I have noticed is that once normal breathing is re-established as mentioned above (2-3 minutes for me) after another six or eight minutes I will notice that my stomach relaxes and will sometimes feel some of the contents move out of the stomach into the next stage. Perhaps the stomach (sometimes considered part of our “second brain”) has some of the same severe circulatory reactions to hypocapnia as does our brain.

AHI causes an upset in breathing and an increased “ratcheting up” of stress hormones which likely affect the circulation to and tension within the stomach. Ventilatory instability can cause respiratory effort related arousals with pretty much the same effects that are caused by AHI except that the oxygen starvation stems from circulatory and oxygen transport issues rather than low blood oxygen.

Several years ago a severe trauma occurred in my life which causes my tension levels to go up this time of year. So I was not surprised to see some over breathing this morning.

I do tend to over breath when I put the mask on so use eucapnic techniques to get things off on the right foot.

I think that whatever you can do to lower your stress levels is also likely to help.

And this time of year I think it is wise to check your vitamin D levels. Dr. Stasha Gominak explains in some of her YouTube videos that many parts of the brain which are key in respiratory control are sensitive to D3 “hormone” levels. Those who are working with the D3 hormone (A.K.A. Vitamin D3) (e.g. Dr. Stasha Gominak, Michael F. Holick , Ph.D., M.D.(also has YouTube(s)) , Vitamin D Council) seem to be finding that the very low side of the “normal” range of 30-100 ng/L produces a range of symptoms including OSA, pain, and infection. All believe that a level lower than 50 ng/mL is not good and Dr. Stasha Gominak recommends 60-80 ng/mL for good health.

After over a month of getting my levels a bit higher I do find that it is much easier to control my tendency to over breath this time of year. I am much more relaxed in general.

[Elle]

Thank you Todzo, I had to get out my dictionary for much of your post because I respect when efforts are made to help me solve a problem and so I want to understand them.

I do regular breathing technique exercises and more recently since I developed an open wound on my chest from a complication of bilateral mastectomies. I am not sure they make a difference in the level of moisture but they definitely help with stress levels and relaxation. I don't have dryness other than when I have my mask on. During the day when I am anticipating the arrival of the home care nurse who packs the hole in my chest is when I feel most stress and have to remind myself to breathe right is when I should be noticing more dryness if stress were the cause.

It is an ugly time of year for me as well because the anniversary of my son's murder comes up in 3 weeks. Starting chemo next week has also added to the tension but breathing right and guided imagery seem to help somewhat.

I boosted the humidity on my machine and if that doesn't do the trick I will try my old mask tomorrow.

Thanks again for all the tips. I really appreciate the knowledge and sharing on this site.

[Todzo]

Thank you Todzo, I had to get out my dictionary for much of your post because I respect when efforts are made to help me solve a problem and so I want to understand them.

I do regular breathing technique exercises and more recently since I developed an open wound on my chest from a complication of bilateral mastectomies. I am not sure they make a difference in the level of moisture but they definitely help with stress levels and relaxation. I don't have dryness other than when I have my mask on. During the day when I am anticipating the arrival of the home care nurse who packs the hole in my chest is when I feel most stress and have to remind myself to breathe right is when I should be noticing more dryness if stress were the cause.

It is an ugly time of year for me as well because the anniversary of my son's murder comes up in 3 weeks. Starting chemo next week has also added to the tension but breathing right and guided imagery seem to help somewhat.

I boosted the humidity on my machine and if that doesn't do the trick I will try my old mask tomorrow.

Thanks again for all the tips. I really appreciate the knowledge and sharing on this site.

Reminds me of the time several days and for two months just after the tramatic event (assault) that my daughter stuffed my five stab wounds.

A lot of changes are happening in your body and life right now. Whenever that happens to me anymore I take the time to spend some quality time with the machine during the day. Some while concentrating on breathing quietly and gently as I should be at rest and in bed. Some with mild distraction such as a book or light TV or music. Breathing reflexes, I think, need to be "re-calibrated" when there are major changes in our life.

[Elle]

I agree Todzo but i don't think it is related to dryness. Thanks again for your response. Sorry your daughter had to suffer the trauma of dressing your wounds. Here in Canada i get free home care nurses daily. They should never expect one's child to do that. Eesh.

[Todzo]

I agree Todzo but i don't think it is related to dryness. Thanks again for your response. Sorry your daughter had to suffer the trauma of dressing your wounds. Here in Canada i get free home care nurses daily. They should never expect one's child to do that. Eesh.

Sources of stress (pain, health concerns ...) tend to move the air use higher and so dry things out and can change blood chemistry which, at least in my case, seems to dry my salivary glands (or pinch them shut).

Yes, health care down here is not doing so well. Perhaps you guys could send a consultant team or two - I think our President and Congress could use some help right now!!

For that matter my daughter cared for the wounds of horses and other animals for years (wanted to be a vet at one point and worked for one). When she and the doctors talked it was shop. The doctor told me that when he learned what I had at home – well – I went from Surgery/ICU to out in 3.5 days.