DNA appliance and CPAP

[imaprofessional]

Does anyone use a DNA appliance or any mouth appliance that makes it hard to keep a tongue seal and a CPAP machine together? Last night was my 3rd night w the cpap machine and I realized what the problem is. When there’s just a small amount of air pressure I lose my tongue seal and air rushes into my mouth. My mouths taped so it blows my mouth up like a balloon and I wake up. I can’t see what to do about this. Also I'm not a mouth breather. Thanks! Adding I use a nasal tube mask.

[ChicagoGranny]

Some call this "chipmunk cheeks. It can be a difficult problem to solve independent of DNA appliances. Are you able to practice placing the tip of the tongue on the roof of the mouth?

You might want to read some of these threads for ideas - https://www.google.com/search?client=av ... 4&ie=UTF-8

[imaprofessional]

Thanks for responding. I'll read the attached. I naturally have my tongue at the top of my mouth. That's how it seals and when air comes in it unseals it

[imaprofessional]

Reading these links now. They're very helpful! Thanks! I think I"m not going to tape and going to get a chin strap. See how that works

[imaprofessional]

OK now I'm really frustrated. I emailed my ENT who said it doesn't sound as though this is working for you. You need to use a Mandibular Advancement Device. He had given me these 2 options initially and I said bc of the price I'd do the CPAP. I don't know if I described something that made it clear this wouldn't work or whether he always felt the cpap wasn't even a close second. I would have appreciated knowing that before putting out money and well huge hope for getting better. sorry. I'm venting

[ChicagoGranny]

I don't know if I 1. described something that made it clear this wouldn't work or whether 2. he always felt the cpap wasn't even a close second.

3.or he wanted to clear his in-box quickly.

blows my mouth up like a balloon

It's not for everyone, but my solution to chipmunk cheeks is to use a FFM. The lower straps cross my cheeks at just the right place to keep the cheeks from inflating. Works great for me.

[Janknitz]

I'm always a little suspect of a dentist who wants to sell you a MAD. They are expensive, and there's an inherent conflict of interest in that your dentist makes a good profit on them.

My dentist was quite honest with me. He said that my apnea is too severe and the MAD's are unlikely to give enough help in my situation. He says he rarely uses them, and when he does, his patients have to be vigilant about doing some jaw mobility exercises when they remove the device or they end up with TMJ issues on top of everything else. He's not a huge fan, but sometimes recommends them for someone with very mild apnea.

So you want to pursue a MAD, look at how severe your apnea is, and get a second opinion from your ENT or pulmonologist about whether a MAD would help your particular situation.

[imaprofessional]

This was my ENT. He doesn't make any money from MADs. He's a world renowned physician who deals w/ Upper Airway Resistance syndrome. Something that most physicians don't know about. But that's another subject. And yes I agree. I'd be suspicious if it was a dentist but it's not.I jsut think there aren't many who have this issue. I hope to find someone who has figured it out. Thanks!

[imaprofessional]

"It's not for everyone, but my solution to chipmunk cheeks is to use a FFM. The lower straps cross my cheeks at just the right place to keep the cheeks from inflating. Works great for me."

Sorry I forget how to quote someone.

I'll have to google FFM. Thanks for the suggestion.

[imaprofessional]

@ChicagoGranny

Oh yeah! Full Face Mask. Ugh. I went straight to a nasal tube bc the idea of a ffm seems just well awful.So just to recap, you used to have this chipmunk cheek issue to the point where it was impossible to sleep and w/ the FFM it's not an issue? Thanks again!

[ChicagoGranny]

the idea of a ffm seems just well awful

Now what reprobate taught you that??

I am still trying to figure out how to format/compose on here.

- Click "Post Reply" button on lower left

- Scroll down to the comment you wish to quote

- Highlight the portion you wish to quote

- In the box you are quoting, click on the Quotation marks in the upper right corner of that box

- Scroll back up to your comment box

- The section you are quoting now appears there

- Place your comment below that section

- If you want to quote another section, follow the same procedure

- This may be done multiple times

- Note that the section being quoted will be inserted where you last left the cursor in your Comment box

Clear as mud? Practice.

[zonker]

@ChicagoGranny

Oh yeah! Full Face Mask. Ugh. I went straight to a nasal tube bc the idea of a ffm seems just well awful.So just to recap, you used to have this chipmunk cheek issue to the point where it was impossible to sleep and w/ the FFM it's not an issue? Thanks again!

that's ONE way of solving the problem and many on the forum use them for that reason.

but, like you, a full face mask just didn't work for me. (i'm a full bearded fellah and will NOT shave it off!) so i use two main things to combat "chipmunk cheeks". one is a firm foam cervical collar. like this here on amazon-

https://www.amazon.com/Coreline-Cervica ... 299&sr=8-6

that's the one i use(granny uses it too). you don't have to get it at amazon. also available at various and sundry drugstores.

the next thing i use is jay's scunci rig, described here-

https://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php? ... s#p1086296

if that second interests you, let me know. i've done some modification on the rig and it will take some typing to explain. i'm too lazy to do all that unless you will be willing to try it.

using both the collar and the scuncis dropped my ahi significantly because no air in or out of my mouth.

whatever you decide, godd luck!

[jimbud]

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑
Wed Sep 25, 2019 11:56 am

jimbud wrote: ↑
Wed Sep 25, 2019 11:29 am
I am still trying to figure out how to format/compose on here.

Got it.

- Click "Post Reply" button on lower left

- Scroll down to the comment you wish to quote

- Highlight the portion you wish to quote

- In the box you are quoting, click on the Quotation marks in the upper right corner of that box

- Scroll back up to your comment box

- The section you are quoting now appears there

- Place your comment below that section

- If you want to quote another section, follow the same procedure

- This may be done multiple times

- Note that the section being quoted will be inserted where you last left the cursor in your Comment box

Clear as mud? Practice.

See.

If I never said thank you.

Thank you.

JPB

[ChicagoGranny]

[quote=jimbud post_id=1390496 time=1627431192 user_id=89160
See.

If I never said thank you.

Thank you.

JPB
[/quote]

[imaprofessional]

but, like you, a full face mask just didn't work for me. (i'm a full bearded fellah and will NOT shave it off!) so i use two main things to combat "chipmunk cheeks". one is a firm foam cervical collar. like this here on amazon-

https://www.amazon.com/Coreline-Cervica ... 299&sr=8-6

I just ordered this. I got the small thinking it needed to fit my narrow neck but it's to keep your mouth from opening. Hope it will be thick enough to do that. well cheap enough to get the other bigger one. Thanks!