New Take on Swallowing Air

[LoQ]

Well, I've been on CPAP therapy since February, and finally have experienced swallowing air the last couple of nights.

I started taping my mouth shut in August and noticed an immediate improvement in how I felt each day. But it seems that progress with my therapy never stays the same and it's always something new.

My theory on why I'm swallowing air----when my jaw relaxes during REM sleep, air fills my mouth and cheeks puff out. If the air is not expelled from my mouth, back through my nose or down my windpipe, then more air is forced into my mouth. Because of the tape, air can't really escape, and the pressure in my mouth builds. Eventually there is enough pressure in the air in my mouth that it has no place to go other than down my esophagus.

Sigh.

Short of taping my esophagus shut, I'm not sure what to do at this point. I may reduce the CPAP pressure tonight, but there's only so far I can go with that solution. I'm expecting my body to re-adjust to each pressure reduction and start swallowing air again.

[taberge]

Eww, im getting a nasal mask to avoid swallowing air frome a full face mask. Now you are telling me it can happen with a regular nasal mask? This is not good.

[echo]

Some people need to use both a chinstrap AND tape. You might try that. It'll avoid that your jaw drops, which is what's causing the chipmunk cheeks.

I even use a chinstrap with a FFM , just so that the mask isn't dislodged when my jaw (inevitably) drops.

taberge - everyone is different, with different anatomy. The things that may cause air swallowing for one may not for another. You just have to try it and see if it will work for you. (p.s. YOU might also want to try the chinstrap first, with the FFM, before going the nasal mask route).

pps. I prefer the pap-cap to the chinstrap (yes I'm just one of SleepGuy's pimps, but no I'm not paid. )
ppps. to clarify, SleepGuy, one of our beloved forum members, created the pap-cap as an alternative to chinstraps, and I could just kiss him all over for that! Pap-cap web site

[MikDee]

Hey Echo, Thanks for the tip about the "pap cap" I think I'll have to give it a try. Being somewhat new to CPAP, I started with an ultramirage 2 nasal mask, that was hurting my upper lip, teeth, & jaw, then onto an ultramirage FF which I like better, but I wake up with dry mouth. I think it must be from the forced air rushing into my mouth which I occasionally must open (subconciously), when I'm sleeping.

[echo]

MikDee -- btw if you haven't yet dared, check out the threads on mouth taping. It took me a couple of weeks to get up the courage to try it, but now i would NEVER go without it (I still prefer a FFM but I can't find one that won't stop leaking (yet)).

Since you're no newbie, i'm not going to post the links. Do some digging

Start with going to the TAG CLOUD at the top right of the screen (ok it's called Popular Tags) -> then find the DIY posts.
Actually that tag cloud is a mess, you can't find anything. So here's the link for ya: phpBBFolk.php?mode=search&tag=%22DIY%22

oops, i just re-read your post. You're using a Full face mask (UMFF) and still getting dry mouth? That could be other things (assuming the FFM isn't leaking) - for example GERD or just plain dry mouth (some people are using a special mouthwash - do a search on that because I can't remember the name Bio-something).

[LoQ]

Some people need to use both a chinstrap AND tape. You might try that.

Thanks for the suggestion, echo. I am looking into getting a chin strap, though when I've tried them in the past, they were so uncomfortable that I couldn't tolerate them.

What I have done for the moment is to tape in such a way that there is a small "port" for allowing accumulated air to escape. It would be a perfect solution if I could scientifically determine how to make the port effective only when the pressure is above my prescription. It's mostly hit or miss, so I'm thinking if it's too loose, I won't receive the benefit of taping, and if it is too tight, air swallowing will commence.