Hello, and Question re Mouth Breathing and AHI

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 7:34 pm

Hello, this is my first post but I have been lurking for 4 months. (The shy type, I guess). Thanks to you all for the great information you have given to all us lurkers! I have been on cpap for three months. I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea with a AHI of 12. I sleep mostly on my side. However, when I went onto my back in the study, the AHI went to 35. The RT said that I appear to go onto my back during my deep sleep part of the cycles. I have been through four masks: comfortclassic, breeze, aura(with modifications) and swift. I guess I like the Swift because I can scratch my nose and forehead. It has taken until now (about six weeks) for me to get a good night's sleep with the Swift. The Swift still moves when I switch from side to back (and vice versa), but I think I am just getting use to moving it back into place and not really waking up. I have a remstar auto with HH. I'm using Encore Pro and My Encore. My AHI is about 1.8 most nights. I haven't really felt any great energy improvement, which, of course, I was hoping for. But, pre-cpap I was not really sleepy during the day, just low energy. I am going to stay with cpap because I have a bunch of risk factors which could get really ugly if I don't keep doing this. So....
I have one question which I haven't found the answer for. I do find my mouth dry from time to time. I assume I have been mouth breathing. I don't really mind it that much and don't want to go on the strap/tape/etc. route unless I have to. The question is if my AHI remains low (less than 2) can I ignore the mouth breathing and just keep things the way they are? Thanks again for all the great information you have given. Ralph

SnoreNoMore2005 · Post by **SnoreNoMore2005** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 8:13 pm

Hi Ralph

Welcome to the boards. The people here are great and you can receive so much help just by asking and reading. You sound like me pre-APAP. I was never sleepy during the day, but I was always exhausted. I couldn't even think straight. Once I started using an APAP, I found my pressure requirements were far less than what my sleep study recommended. The "sleep specialists" said I need 20cm pressure. My APAP says I need 8cm pressure. BIG DIFFERENCE.

Once I stopped trying to force too much air pressure up my nose, I started to slowly feel better with a bit more energy every day or two.

I also use EncorePro and MyEnclore. I did learn that a lower AHI doesn't necessarily mean your sleeping better. I often have more restful sleep with a slightly higher AHI since I think I'm breathing deeper and sleeping sounder.

Give it some time. I hope you're using an APAP and not a CPAP so you'll know what your pressure should be, not what your one night sleep study suggested. Other than telling you that you have an OSA problem, IMHO, the sleep study titrations are full of _______.

Good luck to you and keep working at it.

SnoreNoMore2005

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 9:29 am

SnoreNoMore2005 wrote:... I did learn that a lower AHI doesn't necessarily mean your sleeping better. I often have more restful sleep with a slightly higher AHI since I think I'm breathing deeper and sleeping sounder.

Very important point, worth remembering!

As for you question, Ralph -(congratulations on getting over you shyness... ) only you know how many times a week, or a month you wake up knowing you've been mouth breathing. I think it's happened to me seriously maybe once a month. I do wonder every now and then about mouth taping, or mouth guarding, but at this point I'm disregarding it. My personal reaction to what's happening to me....

O.

Jan in Colo. · Post by **Jan in Colo.** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 10:52 am

Re: the Swift....

I don't know if this is possible for you (meaning I don't know the size of your face and nares), but I found I like my Swift best using the largest possible size pillows. I have rather small nares, but I'm using the large pillows and I'm able to switch positions while sleeping without any discernable leaks.....

Something to try anyway...Best of luck to you!

Jan in Colo.

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 11:38 am

SnoreNoMore2005: I guess I didn't realize that low AHI is not the only goal. Maybe if I try the strap/tape I might have more energy. I am using an APAP, not a CPAP. I haven't got the lingo down totally yet.

Ozij:I think I mouth breath about every other night. Right now it seems almost every night. The dry mouth doesn't really bother me but if it is preventing a good night's sleep, I am going to experiment with the strap/tape.

Jan: I have been using medium size pillows because they felt alittle more comfortable when I put them on. I will try a night with the large size to see if it stops the leaks when I move.

Thank you all for your replies.

Ralph

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