newbie - almost at the 4 week mark

[gagging]

Hi,

Newbie here, approaching my 4th week of usage. I am using
CPAP SleepStyle 200 machine with a Mirage Swift2 nasal pillow mask.

I have my first follow up with the doctor this week. The good so far is that im ok with seal, fit, leakage, and humidification.

I do feel better than i did before CPAP.

But even though i concentrate on closing my mouth and jamming a pillow under my chin ( i sleep on my side), I KNOW I AM exhaling out my mouth.

I called my doctor last week and asked him about polygrip/ tape and he chuckled and said DEFINITELY don't do that. He was insistent that it was the wrong way to go.

He will recommend a full face mask - which sucks as i gotten very used to the nose pillows.

Also - many of you regret not getting a high end machine earlier on. Do you know if my machine is low end and what it cannot do?

How do i get him to upgrade my machine and what do i ask for?
I would want it to tell me if im leaking air (i.e. if the treatment is working).

Some of you have APAP machines..isnt that better than CPAP? i mean automatically adjusting to the needed pressure sounds..better than a static pressure. So why not get the better machine?

I wake up in the morning and i really have no idea how much mouth breathing I've done.


sorry for the rambling.

Thanks.

[bdp522]

Welcome to the forum!
Mouth breathing or mouth leaking can ruin your treatment. A fullface mask will solve the problem IF you can get one to work for you. Some also find that a chin strap helps. I tape every night, have been for over a year. I like the nasal pillow masks and am comfortable with taping. My MD knows this and is OK with it.
I have an APAP but use it as a CPAP. The changing pressures were waking me during the night, I find one constant pressure more comfortable. I do switch to APAP occasionally just to get the data and tweak pressure if needed. I think the most important thing to look for is a machine that is data capable. You need the data to tweak the treatment.
Click on the yellow light bulb above and read, read, read! Learn all you can about OSA and the options available.
Keep posting and letting know how you are doing. And of course ask all the questions you need to!

Brenda

[alnhwrd]

Unless your Dr has a specific medical reason you should not use the polident, or tape, or use a chinstrap, or a combination thereof, and you want to keep using the nasal pillows, I would do it. Finding a good interface seems to be a major hurdle for most people, and if you like what you are using now and you will remain compliant with it, that seems like the most important thing. Remember, this is YOUR therapy, your treatment, and your life, and you should be in control of it.

[Pilot_Ron]

I am a newbie too, and also use the nasal pillow. I found that by pushing my tongue to the roof of my mouth, it tends to stay there while sleeping. I find doing this and relaxing my jaw muscles but just keeping my lips closed keeps me from getting an achy jaw, and keeps my mouth shut.

[mindy]

I like the Tiara Topaz chinstrap. It doesn't eliminate *all* mouth breathing but with practice keeping tongue on roof of mouth and chinstrap, it does reduce it quite a bit.

m

[snoregirl]

Ignore the doctor. Does he use cpap himself? Tape or polident. The tape can be ripped off in a hurry if you turn under the ends.

Use the interface you are comfortable with.

As for the data collecting machine. Did you keep your prescrirption or did the doc fax it to a dme? Whichever happened get that script and consider ordering an additional machine cash online. The script is good for cpap or apap.

[snoregirl]

You ask if your machine is low end. Hard to tell exactly as F and P doesn't list a model 200

http://www.fphcare.com/osa/cpapi.asp

there are other models like 231 etc in the 200 series but no 200.

Non seem to have exhale relief and other features tend to put most of them in the "low end" category.

[RipVW]

Snoregirl, I did find that machine (link below), but I cannot tell if it is data capable (thinking it is not?):
http://www.fphcare.com/osa/cpapi.asp

[RosemaryB]

You must keep your mouth closed to prevent mouth leaks. There is no way to know if you are doing that without a data capable machine. I was sure I wasn't mouth breathing and the tech during my titration study told me I wasn't (she was NOT a good tech in many other ways, so I suspect this was not accurate). Only the FULLY data-capable machine machine told me that.

I don't know anything about your machine as it's a brand I've never heard of.

If you want some other methods to keep your mouth closed that don't involve taping or polident, you can try the link below my signature to read about some. The latest I've tried are the chin-up strips. They work pretty well from what I see.

I "mouth-puff" and use the "mouthband" to prevent this.

[Gerald]

Gagging......

I've experimented with a few tapes.....and found that blue 3M "Delicate Release" masking tape works nicely for me. I also use panty hose tights to cover the tape (to prevent "blow-off").

So that you can know what what progress you're making, you need a blower that is FULLY data capable.......with the software that will allow you to read that data.

Without the data, you're flying blind.....without instruments......you won't know where you are in your therapy.....and your doctor won't know either.

Gerald

[snoregirl]

RIP VW

All the machines shown on your link (same Fisher and P web site I had) are in the model 200 SERIES. I do not see one that is just 200 There is 231, 232, 233,234 etc but no 200. All have different features. I have no way of knowing which 200 series machine the original poster actually has.

[goose]

gagging --
Welcome to the forum!!!
I would echo the others comments -- do what you need to do to be comfortable in your treatment.

Ask your doc to prescribe you a data capable machine -- APAP would be a Remstar Auto/A-Flex M-Series (Respironics). Resmed also makes a data capable machine but I'm not familiar with that brand (others may chime in with model numbers etc.).
Data is very important to you understanding whether your treatment is working or not. An Auto machine will allow you to "self-titrate" on occasion if you want. I use my APAP machine in CPAP mode because I had an adverse reaction to the pressure change -- everyone is different!!!!

I taught myself to "nose breathe" (that's the natural way we breathe, but many of us have allergies or some other condition that constricts nasal breathing so we breathe through our mouths). I used to breathe a lot through my mouth because of allergies. Pilot Ron gave the right idea in that you press your tongue against the roof of your mouth and keep it there (easier said than done when you fall asleep and relax, but it can be done!!)

Keep at it -- you'll get it wired!!!
Keep us up on how you're doing and ask questions!!! Read, read, read....learn as much as you can (yellow light bulb and red question mark above each page)

Good luck
cheers
goose

[deerslayer]

I like the Tiara Topaz chinstrap. It doesn't eliminate *all* mouth breathing but with practice keeping tongue on roof of mouth and chinstrap, it does reduce it quite a bit.

m

newbie here also, jan.5 will be first month completed. have really taken to the nasal pillows but like others know i have some mouth breathing(dry mouth) started useing the tiara chinstrap and believe it has cut down on problem. don't know about the tongue deal.encore stats show avg. useage per night 8hr.46min. avg pressure 8.6 for 90% of time. avg.AHI 4.5 avg time in apnea per day 1min.7 sec. not sure if all thats good or bad. at least i'm tryi

[Gerald]

Deerslayer......

I'm no expert.....but, you might want to consider upping your pressure a bit to see if you can get your AHI average down somewhat.

Also, you might consider 3M blue "delicate release" masking tape over your mouth. I'm doing very well with it.....and my mouth leaks are no longer a factor.

Gerald

[Guest]

Gerald, where do you get that tape ?