Mouth Breathing?

[Dave2you]

I always start mouth Breathing. I Just can't Seem to breathe through my
nose when I put my mask on. I can't seem to get enough air, feel clogged.

Yet when I awake I am nose breathing 100% comfortably. Humidifier maybe?

I find it wierd.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier

[jabberwock]

Dave, since your profile indicates you are using a FF mask, I guess it doesn't hurt your therapy to mouth-breathe, but I suspect you might be right regarding the humidity causing congestion. You might try turning it down a little.

You could try another experiment. If you use your fingers to put slight pressure on the bridge of your nose where your mask hits, does it affect your ability to breathe freely? It does make a difference to me, so I am just wondering.

Bonnie

[Treesap]

I don't feel comfortable mouth breathing any time, so I don't think I do it. I've asked my husband, but he's not a real reliable source. He couldn't tell me if I was not breathing when I suspected I had OSA.

Anyway, I have the same problem with the mask. Sometimes I don't feel like I get enough air. So I lay on my back still until I know I am ready to go to sleep. That way I can relax and focus on breathing. Then somehow I just seem to get in to a rhythym because I don't feel that way later in the night. Even when I get up to go potty.

I told my DME about this, they turned up my starting air by 1. It used to start at 5, now it starts at 6. My machine is an automatic one, so I can't adjust the air. I can only adjust how long my start up period is. I usually set it for 20 minutes.

[Goofproof]

I don't feel comfortable mouth breathing any time, so I don't think I do it. I've asked my husband, but he's not a real reliable source. He couldn't tell me if I was not breathing when I suspected I had OSA.

Anyway, I have the same problem with the mask. Sometimes I don't feel like I get enough air. So I lay on my back still until I know I am ready to go to sleep. That way I can relax and focus on breathing. Then somehow I just seem to get in to a rhythym because I don't feel that way later in the night. Even when I get up to go potty.

I told my DME about this, they turned up my starting air by 1. It used to start at 5, now it starts at 6. My machine is an automatic one, so I can't adjust the air. I can only adjust how long my start up period is. I usually set it for 20 minutes.

Mouthbreathing while awake and mouthbreathing while asleep are two different things. Just because you don't while awake, means nothing when you are asleep.

Also focusing on your breating while trying to get use to the machine, makes it harder to get used to treatment. You probably don't need the ramp or settling. Using the correct pressure range on APAP gives better proformance. Too wide a range and treatment suffers. Jim

[Slinky]

I'm w/GoofProof, ditch the Ramp and the Settling. Start out at your set pressure rather than a lower pressure. I found it MUCH easier once I wised up and turned them off, plus I turned my EPR off as well. Of course, my set pressure is only 8 cms.

[DreamStalker]

In addition to what Jim said ... you CAN adjust the pressure on your machine. The DME may have just told you can't so you can keep going back to them and they can keep charging your insurance.

In any case, you should not change your pressure settings unless you have a good reason to and you also have data to back up that reason. Many people on this forum take control of their own treatment rather than depend upon their DME. Some are lucky and get a DME that really does care and also knows what they are doing ... many are not so lucky.

If you wish to learn more about your machine and the how, when, and why to change settings ... just ask. Many nice, experienced and knowledgable folks here. You are lucky to have a machine that provides data ... hopefully you are collecting it.

[jrfoster]

Would mouth breathing show up on the Encore Pro results? If so, how would it look? Would it be considered a leak? I need to know if I am mouth breathing or not. My AHI has been creeping up over 5 lately and I am concerned.

Jeff in TN

[Goofproof]

Treesap's machine doesn't use Encore Pro, but in Encore Pro reports, page 4 to??? (Dailies). The third graph is pressure, looking at it you can see your mask baseline, leaks above the baseline are either just leaks or mouthbreathing. If you have the mask adjusted right and don't do anything to cause leaks, then it's probably mouthbreathing. Jim

[rested gal]

Would mouth breathing show up on the Encore Pro results? If so, how would it look? Would it be considered a leak? I need to know if I am mouth breathing or not. My AHI has been creeping up over 5 lately and I am concerned.

Jeff in TN

As Goofproof said, you can see in Encore Pro if the leak rate is looking too high for the mask and pressure you're using. If the leak rate is too high, you have to be your own detective. The software can't tell you if the leak is from mask, mouth, leaky hose connection, or what. Even if you start out the night with mask sealing well, turning over or moving your head can dislodge any mask. It can be quite a challenge to figure out if it's mask leaks or mouth air leaks (if not wearing a FF mask) ....or both!

Of course there can be other reasons for AHI creeping up even if there are no leaks. Could be not enough pressure, GERD (acid reflux) acting up, tissue getting slacker with age, med side effects, putting on a bit more weight...on and on.

[jrfoster]

Last night I went back to straight cpap with 10cm, which I was titrated at last year after my sleep study. This morning my AHI was 2.9. Leak rate was 31.84, which is not too bad for the profile lite gel mask?
Thanks for the responses.

Jeff in TN