Exhaling through mouth

[groovetta]

My husband tells me that I am quiet and then will start to push out air through my mouth with exhalation, and says it gets louder with each exhalation to where it is very loud (probably the machine air coming out too). Then after several breaths this way, it goes back to quiet exhalation. He tells me it is like I’m having to force air out through my mouth.
I have known for a long time that my obstruction is not upon inhalation, but upon exhalation.
When I go to the sleep med docs I am told that the data says my bipap therapy is very effective, and the machine indicates little if any mask leaks. Fairly certain I don’t sleep with my mouth open. He doesn’t see it open either.

Any thoughts on the cause of this and what I can do about it. At times hubby says he has to leave the room.

[ozij]

When I go to the sleep med docs I am told that the data says my bipap therapy is very effective, and the machine indicates little if any mask leaks.

are they looking at yor graphs, or at the final number?

Fairly certain I don’t sleep with my mouth open. He doesn’t see it open either.

In that case, how can he know it's an exhalation "forced out" of your closed mouth? Or do you both mean air forced out, lips immediately closed again, i.e. no chin drop? That is a mouth leak, not necessarily an exhalation at all. Mouth leaks can be seen on the graphs.
Have you ever looked at your own therapy graphs?

[groovetta]

I think I’ve figured it out. It seems my lower lip (not jaw) is dropping ever so slightly with breaths out for several breaths in a row, then not for several more breaths. So, do I need a full face mask?

I haven looked at detailed data in a good while.

[zonker]

I haven looked at detailed data in a good while.

this would be a good time to look at your data. and if you could share it here with us, even better.

do you use oscar software?

[ozij]

Are you sleeping and feeling well?
Is your husband bothered by mouth leak noise?
Do you suffer from dry mouth?

Whether you need or don't need an FFM - or whether you should try mouth taping depends on your replies to the above.

I'm a bad mouth leaker.
I sleep better when I use a nasal pillows mask and taping than when I use an FFM.
But there are timesI still prefer the FFM.