Another Newbie to the form

[sleeplessguy]

Hi! Another Newbie on board - at least new to an APAP and the forum! I've used a M Series Plus for 3 years now. My wife & I like to travel to Mexico as often as we can, so wanted to get a travel machine. Found the form and cpap.com about 4 weeks ago. Decided to take control of my own therapy and bypass the DEM and insurance this time. Purchased the Devilbiss Intellipap APAP, about 2 1/2 weeks ago after reading all the good reviews on the forum. Love it and have made it my main machine, but still looking for the "holy grail" of settings, as most Newbies to APAP seem to be doing. My Rx pressure is 15. I'm up to 14 for the low and 17 for the high as of last night. Seems OK, not great. I feel more rested, so I'll give it a few more nights on that setting. Didn't buy the software (big mistake) so I'm checking my progress on the cpap.com site for now. Will probably buy the software sometime soon.

Thanks to everyone for the tip about the denture strips to keep your mouth closed. I'm a classic mouth breather and have a beard, so tape is out (ouch!). I tried the denture strips last night and cut my mask leaks in half! That's a keeper!

It's great to have a bunch of helpful people like yourselves get me started on taking control of my own therapy! My previous DEM only seemed interested in selling me stuff, and I could never figure out exactly how much they were charging me. Never had anyone even ask to pull the smart card out of my M Series in 3 years!

Thanks again to everyone for all the help!

[WindFlyer]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

[sleeplessguy]

Thanks WindFlyer!

[pdean44]

I have been doing the denture strips as well. Struggling with sinus issues from cold and allergies. It does seem to work and help on the leaks.

[sleeplessguy]

I think I'll stick with the denture strips for a while. I didn't realize there were strips for uppers and lowers when I picked them up. I got the uppers which are more material. Perhaps the lowers work better? What do you use? Also, do you use a chin strap? If so, which one do you use?

I have the Sullivan chin strap by Resmed and I can't seem to keep the darn thing on. I just got the Swift II nasal pillows mask, and am trying to work the Sullivan into the headgear. No success yet. BTW, love the Swift II so far, if I can keep my mouth shut!

[oldestof12]

Please tell me about denture strips...I am a struggling newbie. I love my Activa LT nasal mask, but can't keep my mouth closed. I hate to add a chin strap to all the other straps on my head every night. I also have to use earplugs and some nights I feel like my head will burst!

[echo]

Please tell me about denture strips...I am a struggling newbie. I love my Activa LT nasal mask, but can't keep my mouth closed. I hate to add a chin strap to all the other straps on my head every night. I also have to use earplugs and some nights I feel like my head will burst!

All the info you could ever want about mouth taping, denture strips, and other fancy ways of keeping our traps shut at night:
Links to: Mouth leaks - Air Leaks - Tape - DIY Guard

... scroll down a few paragraphs until you find Using Poligrip strips

I personally never got them to work for me, so I use the tape method (with 3M micropore tape).

[sleeplessguy]

Sorry for the slow reply. This is my 1st forum and I'm still learning. I use the Seabond denture strips (for uppers) and just moisten them and stick my lips together. Works pretty well if they don't dry out. I've found you can lick them if they unstick and get them to stick back pretty well. Works for me most nights. I also got a new premium chinstrap and have been using it the last 2 nights with the strips. 1st night was bad. Last night, I had 1% mask leak! and my other numbers were good too! Chin strap is wider than my old one and will take some getting used to, but if I can bring my leaks from 30% down to 1% it'll be worth it!