if I could just keep my mouth shut

[mysterywaterman]

I am about 3 weeks in with a nasal pillow. Have been adapting okay all things considered but wake up several times/night with mouth leaking and have nasal congestion in morning (despite having humidifier built in to machine). Ordered chin strap to see if that helps and trying to be patient with process assuming that with more time I might be able to train myself to keep mouth closed. My numbers have been pretty good despite this I think. Pressure range 10-13, leakage might be a little high 24-30 (average is probably 25-26), but API and events per hour are good. If I can just keep my mouth shut

Questions:
1. when do I jump ship and consider FFM and which one is best?
2. what are relative pros and cons of FFM?
3. If I can hover around 24-26 does and have good API numbers etc does it matter if my mouth opens once in a while?

Thanks for any ideas or insights.

[Wulfman...]

I am about 3 weeks in with a nasal pillow. Have been adapting okay all things considered but wake up several times/night with mouth leaking and have nasal congestion in morning (despite having humidifier built in to machine). Ordered chin strap to see if that helps and trying to be patient with process assuming that with more time I might be able to train myself to keep mouth closed. My numbers have been pretty good despite this I think. Pressure range 10-13, leakage might be a little high 24-30 (average is probably 25-26), but API and events per hour are good. If I can just keep my mouth shut

Questions:
1. when do I jump ship and consider FFM and which one is best?
2. what are relative pros and cons of FFM?
3. If I can hover around 24-26 does and have good API numbers etc does it matter if my mouth opens once in a while?

Thanks for any ideas or insights.

Are you doing nasal cleansing before bedtime?
Have you tried lowering your heated humidity setting? Too much heated humidity can make nasal congestion worse.
Taping mouth shut. (3M easy release painter''s tape)

Full face mask........ You may want to keep one handy for times when you have a cold or other problems.


Den

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[Goofproof]

I am about 3 weeks in with a nasal pillow. Have been adapting okay all things considered but wake up several times/night with mouth leaking and have nasal congestion in morning (despite having humidifier built in to machine). Ordered chin strap to see if that helps and trying to be patient with process assuming that with more time I might be able to train myself to keep mouth closed. My numbers have been pretty good despite this I think. Pressure range 10-13, leakage might be a little high 24-30 (average is probably 25-26), but API and events per hour are good. If I can just keep my mouth shut

Questions:
1. when do I jump ship and consider FFM and which one is best?
2. what are relative pros and cons of FFM?
3. If I can hover around 24-26 does and have good API numbers etc does it matter if my mouth opens once in a while?

Thanks for any ideas or insights.

That's what gets me in trouble too, but mines not XPAP related.

It pays to have a fallback FF mask, my FAV in Comfort Gel FF, I like the Comfort Gel nasal mask, as long as I have my mouthbreathing under control. Jim

[LSAT]

What are your AHI (API) numbers? Why don't you fill in your equipment so we know what machine and mask you are currently using.

[starbuck]

I am a big fan of FFM. I find them more comfortable and my AHI is always better with the FFM than the nasal pillows. After trying a bunch I prefer the ResMed F10

[mysterywaterman]

Thanks all so far! I filled in my equipment and my AHI numbers have been five or below...most of the time between 1 and 2.

[GettingBetter]

I am about 3 weeks in with a nasal pillow. Have been adapting okay all things considered but wake up several times/night with mouth leaking and have nasal congestion in morning (despite having humidifier built in to machine). Ordered chin strap to see if that helps and trying to be patient with process assuming that with more time I might be able to train myself to keep mouth closed. My numbers have been pretty good despite this I think. Pressure range 10-13, leakage might be a little high 24-30 (average is probably 25-26), but API and events per hour are good. If I can just keep my mouth shut

Questions:
1. when do I jump ship and consider FFM and which one is best?
2. what are relative pros and cons of FFM?
3. If I can hover around 24-26 does and have good API numbers etc does it matter if my mouth opens once in a while?

Thanks for any ideas or insights.

I started with my cpap on Nov 16, about three weeks in myself. Keeping my mouth shut has always been an issue, but now it's important because I really want to make the cpap experience effective.

Here's what I did:

1.) Tried a chin strap purchased off amazon. You might have better luck, but for me I could not get it comfortably tight enough to keep my mouth shut. Years of working those jaws have really paid off!

2.) Surgical tape. Daughter and I played face lift with this stuff - it will hold skin in all kinds of positions - problem is it also rips off the first layer of skin. I used this and found it effective (trying both a horizontal and vertical taping of the word-hole). In the morning it would hold back the nighttime slobbering enough to prompt me to take the tape off in the shower. Also it does not hurt as much.

3.) A search on the subject here revealed that someone used denture cream to keep their mouth shut. I bought a sample/trial size. Used once. Do not recommend.

4.) In conjunction with the surgical tape I tried to keep the tip of my tongue on the roof of my mouth, creating a comfortable seal. I have a little ritual once I put on my nasal mask where I blow out air and then make the seal to find my comfy spot. It has worked for me pretty well this week and I haven't even used the tape!

It takes some time to find you way with this stuff. You are doing good things for yourself and will find the way that suits you best!

Best of luck and take care.

[kwikwater]

My answer after 5-6 different chin straps and making my own heavier duty ones based on the store boughts, I tried the PapCap. It was magic!! The hat was a bit small for me, so I adapted a surgical cap. When I discovered that I wore out Velstretch (stretchy Velcro) strap, I started making my own. The down side for me now is the store I got my 1 1/2" Velstretch has closed.

I use the strap under the back of my jaw, so that it holds the back of my tongue up, blocking the supplied air from coming out my mouth. I can still get a drink in the middle of the night. I know it might not be for everybody, but I cant' find a FFM that seals well for me. I'll stick with nasal pillows!!

Good Luck!

[deerhound]

This Sunday, watch all the football you can with your machine and mask. Concentrate on just breathing through your nose. Pressing your tongue to the roof of your mouth at the top of your front teeth will help. After a few hours of this while awake you will retain some muscle memory that will help while you are asleep. I am a confirmed mouth breather when awake, but I have very low leak numbers while sleeping with my P10 mask. This how I trained myself to not mouth breathe at night.

Dale

[Jay Aitchsee]

I am about 3 weeks in with a nasal pillow. Have been adapting okay all things considered but wake up several times/night with mouth leaking and have nasal congestion in morning (despite having humidifier built in to machine). Ordered chin strap to see if that helps and trying to be patient with process assuming that with more time I might be able to train myself to keep mouth closed. My numbers have been pretty good despite this I think. Pressure range 10-13, leakage might be a little high 24-30 (average is probably 25-26), but API and events per hour are good. If I can just keep my mouth shut

Questions:
1. when do I jump ship and consider FFM and which one is best?
2. what are relative pros and cons of FFM?
3. If I can hover around 24-26 does and have good API numbers etc does it matter if my mouth opens once in a while?

Thanks for any ideas or insights.

1. When you decide waking from mouth leaks is preventing a restful night's sleep and/or the high leaks are degrading your therapy. Download SleepyHead and post some charts and people can help you see if the latter might be so. The "best" is determined by trial and error.
2. With a FFM, therapy will not be degraded by mouth leaks, but FFMs are generally more difficult to fit and come with their own set of leaks, typically around the cushion.
3. Maybe or maybe not, again SleepyHead charts would help answer that.

In my case, after years of wearing a FFM because of unstoppable mouth leaks, last April I switched to nasal pillows because the headgear of the FFM had become too uncomfortable pressing on a nerve at the back of my head. By practicing with tongue placement as mentioned in a few posts above, my leaks are now acceptable and non disturbing. I really didn't think this technique could be "learned", but now must admit that it can.

[yippeekia]

My experience may not be typical, but I used a chin strap for 3 months. Occasionally still had face farts, especially if I was sleeping on my back. I would consciously place my tongue on the back of my teeth so I would get a good seal. I practiced during the day. I practice breathing through my nose like this for three months while using the chin strap. One night it was warm, too warm really to wear a chin strap, so I decided to try it without it. Worked great. I now sleep without it, rarely waking with my mouth open. In fact, it feels odd to sleep with my mouth open. Worked for me, but I am a creature of habit.

[Journey to Sleep]

Are you doing nasal cleansing before bedtime?
Have you tried lowering your heated humidity setting? Too much heated humidity can make nasal congestion worse.
Taping mouth shut. (3M easy release painter''s tape)

.

I would honestly suggest you do NOT tape your mouth shut. I tried that once and caught a horrible case of angular cheilitis. Took weeks to get rid of.

[Wulfman...]

Are you doing nasal cleansing before bedtime?
Have you tried lowering your heated humidity setting? Too much heated humidity can make nasal congestion worse.
Taping mouth shut. (3M easy release painter''s tape)

.

I would honestly suggest you do NOT tape your mouth shut. I tried that once and caught a horrible case of angular cheilitis. Took weeks to get rid of.

Just to be clear, I do not and never have done it. I've never used anything but full face masks. But, there are lots of folks on the forum who have and do tape their mouths, so I was just putting that thought out there because I'm sure there may be any number of folks who will suggest it.


Den

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[PEF]

I had the same problem when I started 3 months ago. I still do, but not as bad. I really think FFM´s are awful and don´t know if I will ever get used to one and none fit me well. So I was determined to stop mouth breathing. I began by taping my mouth most of the time for about a week. This really cleared out my nose. I know now that a lot of my nasal congestion came from mouth breathing. After a week, I taped only at night, but have been taping less and less aggressively, smaller and smaller pieces of tape. Now I can sleep all night with my nasal pillows. I am so used to taping at night that I hardly notice it anymore. Better than a FFM.

Everyone is different as far as what they can get used to. It is really surprising what you can do if you are determined.

[apniac]

To Mystery Waterman. I agree with the idea of taping your mouth shut; I put a tiny piece of Hy tape vertically over the middle of my mouth; my tech says that it will 'train' my mouth to stay shut. Hope this helps.