Will try a chin strap first, rather than a new mask

needzzzzs · Post by **needzzzzs** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:12 pm

I went to the DME this afternoon. Gave my data card to the respiratory tech, who looked at the same info I posted here yesterday. She thought some of those centrals might be mouth leaks, and suggested trying a chin strap first. She didn't have a hybrid mask for me to try, and she showed me a mask that fit over my nose and mouth, but wasn't the right size (I have a small face, and all she had in her office was a medium), although she could have gotten the small out of the warehouse. I could have sworn they had more masks the last time I was there. Thanks to cpaptalk.com and its members/sponsors, I know where to get other masks if she doesn't have them.

We decided to try a chin strap first, before proceeding to a new mask, and she'll send the data from the card to the doc (he's away this week) and let him say whether tweaking my therapy is necessary.

So that's where I am at the moment. We shall see what happens with the chin strap. Fingers crossed!

Debbie

Country4ever · Post by **Country4ever** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 6:22 pm

Why not try taping?

needzzzzs · Post by **needzzzzs** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 6:45 pm

Country4ever wrote:Why not try taping?

I have bad reactions to adhesives from tape.

Debbie

jjborders · Post by **jjborders** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 7:13 pm

Chin strap worked for me. It took a couple of nights to get used to, but it wasn't as bad as the CPAP.

Country4ever · Post by **Country4ever** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 5:25 am

Have you tried the blue painter's tape?

bayourest · Post by **bayourest** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:03 am

If you are going to try tape, try 3M micropore surgical tape or Scotch 3M blue painters tape #2080 (for delicate surfaces)
I am allergic to adhesive tape and neither of these has bothered me....I posted a thread about this last week.
I elected to try tape rather than chin strap.
you might search the archives here and see what people say about these options to see what might work best for you.
There was also a suggestion of smearing a light coat of milk of magnesia on your skin and letting it dry before applying tape.
the tape still sticks but the MOM protects your skin. I havent tried that yet but I plan to. check for a thread of allergic to mouth taping

needzzzzs · Post by **needzzzzs** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:12 am

Without looking at my data, I can't be 100% sure, but last night, with chin strap, I don't remember waking up at all (nor do I remember dreaming). I actually woke up ready to go, not groggy as I sometimes am in the morning.

Will post later after I check my data to see if my hunch is confirmed.

Debbie

ladyhen · Post by **ladyhen** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:45 am

I got a chin strap due to being a severe mouth breather. After just 2.5 weeks, I have apparently been trained to not mouth breath! I ditched it 4 nights ago! Woot!

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:05 am

ladyhen wrote:I got a chin strap due to being a severe mouth breather. After just 2.5 weeks, I have apparently been trained to not mouth breath! I ditched it 4 nights ago! Woot!

Isn't that a good feeling? I taped for about 2 or 3 months and then sort of blew it off and it was so nice to see a decent leak rate line.

needzzzzs wrote:Without looking at my data, I can't be 100% sure, but last night, with chin strap, I don't remember waking up at all (nor do I remember dreaming). I actually woke up ready to go, not groggy as I sometimes am in the morning.

Maybe the chin strap was enough to support the mouth and maybe without it your sleep was maybe being disrupted due to small leaks or snores? Just a thought. Sometimes just the least little disruptions can have a huge impact on how we feel. Hopefully your good feelings last today.

bayourest · Post by **bayourest** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:45 am

what kind of chin straps do you recommend? I am wearing a FFmask anyway but the mouth breathing made my mouth so dry that taping kind of feels better.

sagesteve · Post by **sagesteve** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 12:54 pm

Just in case you are not aware of the Fisher Paykal mask. It takes care of any "chin strap" problem! You don't need one. It's all in one and the most comfortable mask I have ever used. I have tried 3 other masks. The CPAP PRO, The Quattro Full and the Soft Cloth...this is by FAR the best mask on the market:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... -mask.html

NO LEAKS and when you get it adjusted just right, it feels like wearing nothing.

needzzzzs · Post by **needzzzzs** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 5:23 pm

If I need a full-face mask, I will keep this in mind. Thanks!

Debbie

sagesteve wrote:Just in case you are not aware of the Fisher Paykal mask. It takes care of any "chin strap" problem! You don't need one. It's all in one and the most comfortable mask I have ever used. I have tried 3 other masks. The CPAP PRO, The Quattro Full and the Soft Cloth...this is by FAR the best mask on the market:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... -mask.html

NO LEAKS and when you get it adjusted just right, it feels like wearing nothing.

jbenenson · Post by **jbenenson** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 5:35 pm

I went to the dentist today to have my teeth cleaned and the subject turned to CPAP (because of the red mark on the bridge of my nose?) The technician said that there are dental problems associated with using a chin strap: it can cause increased sensitivity over time because the surface enamel wears faster than normal due to the constant pressure. Just thought I'd pass this along to this thread as it seems relevant.

needzzzzs · Post by **needzzzzs** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 5:43 pm

Checked my data. AHI 5.8. Not terrible, but not as good as I was hoping for, BUT...I slept over 6 hours without waking up. That's a *first*! And I feel good today. Not sleepy at 5 p.m., as I sometimes am.

Still seeing what looks like a lot of centrals, and one good OA.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/G ... directlink

Here's a link to the data, if anyone wants a look. BTW, it looks small, but you can enlarge it. Click on the little magnifying glass (at the top right of the page). This will open a new window. Then, to enlarge the page, there's a plus sign (+) at the top left of the screen. Click on that, and you can make it as big as you want.

Thanks for opinions/suggestions, etc.

Debbie

needzzzzs wrote:Without looking at my data, I can't be 100% sure, but last night, with chin strap, I don't remember waking up at all (nor do I remember dreaming). I actually woke up ready to go, not groggy as I sometimes am in the morning.

Will post later after I check my data to see if my hunch is confirmed.

Debbie

GrayGhost · Post by **GrayGhost** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 6:42 pm

After losing 70 pounds for some reason my mouth started to fall open at night. At first I thought my pressure was to high but after several tests I found out it was fine. I tried a chin strap it worked great. My mouth stays shut. The chin strap I use looks like a big ace bandage. The next problem. My wife started to complain about me motor boating at night. To solve that I made a mouth piece using a cheap boil and bite. The mouth piece holds my tongue against the roof of my mouth. I used the combo for about two weeks then went to the dentist and showed him what I was doing. He told me he didn't see any problem with it. If I had any problems come in and see him right away. I have now been using the combo for about three months with awesome results. Every so often I try a night without it and my wife wakes me up and tells me to put the mouth piece in and put the strap on.

Will try a chin strap first, rather than a new mask

Will try a chin strap first, rather than a new mask

Re: Will try a chin strap first, rather than a new mask

Re: Will try a chin strap first, rather than a new mask

Re: Will try a chin strap first, rather than a new mask

Re: Will try a chin strap first, rather than a new mask

Re: Will try a chin strap first, rather than a new mask

Re: Will try a chin strap first, rather than a new mask

Re: Will try a chin strap first, rather than a new mask

Re: Will try a chin strap first, rather than a new mask

Re: Will try a chin strap first, rather than a new mask

Re: Will try a chin strap first, rather than a new mask

Re: Will try a chin strap first, rather than a new mask

Re: Will try a chin strap first, rather than a new mask

Re: Will try a chin strap first, rather than a new mask

Re: Will try a chin strap first, rather than a new mask

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Resmed HumidAir 11 for humidifier

Mask	Humidifier

Additional Comments: CPAP Pro No Mask,Full Quattro Mask, SleepWeaver cloth mask InvaCare Oxygenator 2.5L bleed, Control III, M Series