Mouth breathing back sleeper needs guidance

[RonMatson]

I've been on CPAP 9 months. Nose pillows did not work due to the fact I am largely a mouth breather. A full face mask appeared to work very well, provided I slept on my side. I was recently diagnosed with rather debilitating tendonitis in both shoulders. The doctor told me it was from sleeping on my side every night and that I should not do it in the future. I get good AHI results sleeping in a modified stomach position, but it feels awkward and think it may give me neck problems in the future. On my back I have about 20 AHI/hr -- much too high.
I need advice from others that may have experienced this problem. I have seen discussions about cervical collars in this forum but don't know much about them. Also, have heard there are masks that can hold up the chin to stop the mouth from opening. (Note: I have tried several chin straps and they do not improve the AHI as I think I can still drop the chin to mouth breath). Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

[Julie]

Soft (lots smaller too than whiplash ones) cervical collars are worn to keep your head from falling forward and help to keep your airway open... you should be able to get them at the drugstore, or one that also sells special equipment (at the back, if you know what I mean ). Chin straps can't keep your mouth entirely closed, only tape can do that (or a FFM). I also sleep on my stomach but have cut a big chunk out of my mem. foam mattress into which my mask dips diagonally and so saves my neck from trouble. Not suggesting you do that, but if you're interested and have a turkey carving knife, let me know.

[JDS74]

Ron,

Take a look at my link in my signature block on the Oracle 2 mask.
It may work for you.

Ii use a cervical collar I got from Amazon. It almost entirely eliminates jaw drop. Even if the Oracle mask won't work for you, the collar should help with leaks with your FFM. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

[Tino2You]

Ron,

Not saying this is the case, but you may be experiencing higher AHIs while on your back because your pressure is too low. I have an AutoSet and when I am on my side, the pressure is around 10, when I sleep on my back it goes up to 14 ish. You may want to pull your data card and have a look.

-Tino

[RonMatson]

Julie said that the cervical collar would keep the head from falling forward which may help the AHI. Does this mean that one might have fewer apnea problems if they were to sleep on their back with no pillow?

[Nick Danger]

Sleeping on your back (with or without pillows) generally will result in an increase in AHI and a need for higher pressures as compared to sleeping on your side or stomach. The gravity that isn't messing up your shoulders when you sleep on your back is pulling your tongue further back...

[Julie]

If you're on your back, a collar probably wouldn't be necessary to keep your head off your chest, so not much point in doing that.

[lido14]

Ronmatson

I wasn't sure if you tried your chinstraps with the ffm's? I need to use them with my ffm. Maybe try taping as some people do.

[archangle]

Sleeping in a recliner would be a good experiment to try.

[RonMatson]

Julie said "I also sleep on my stomach but have cut a big chunk out of my mem. foam mattress into which my mask dips diagonally and so saves my neck from trouble." I am curious about that. Does that mean she sleeps totally prone on her stomach with arms to side and no pillows for her head?

[palerider]

Julie said "I also sleep on my stomach but have cut a big chunk out of my mem. foam mattress into which my mask dips diagonally and so saves my neck from trouble." I am curious about that. Does that mean she sleeps totally prone on her stomach with arms to side and no pillows for her head?

I dunno, but every time I hear about her mattress.... I get this image of her stalking her mattress and the "Psycho" eee eee eee eee eee shower scene music *lol*

[Julie]

Ron - picture a massage table set-up... it's kinda like that only not so much. Never use a pillow exept if I do turn to sleep on a side (rarely, and only if already awake). If you want a better description, I can PM you because others here have heard the whole thing at other times... let me know (in a PM).

And don't listen to PR, he hasn't been well lately !

[palerider]

Ron - picture a massage table set-up... it's kinda like that only not so much. Never use a pillow exept if I do turn to sleep on a side (rarely, and only if already awake). If you want a better description, I can PM you because others here have heard the whole thing at other times... let me know (in a PM).

And don't listen to PR, he hasn't been well lately !

LATELY??? I'm not the one chasing my mattress through the house waving a carving knife *lol*

(among other things, because that would be VERY messy, given that it's a waterbed)

[BleepingBeauty]

To the OP: Search the forum or Google for the "Falcon Position." It's a stomach-sleeping position (with no pillow) that might work for you.

I've had surgery on both shoulders, and I can sometimes sleep on my sides (but not for long). I spend the vast majority of my nights on my back, and my therapy works just fine. I do use a FFM and rarely wake up with a dry mouth, so I tend to breathe through my nose with no problem. But when I started therapy (nearly seven years ago), I was given a nasal pillows mask, and I tried everything to make it work - chinstraps, taping my mouth, etc. I'm happier with my FFM, which features a chincup that keeps my mouth shut. I honestly think the chincup has trained me to nose-breathe.

Best of luck.