Invented an apnea tongue displacement device. It works for me.

[metallikat36]

I've been off BPAP for months now. The Aveo plus some other things made it possible. But on nights when I am nauseous, the aveo makes me gag. One such night, to fight nausea, I took it off and put a peppermint hard candy under my tongue and slept with it there. Surprisingly, I breathed better than with the Aveo. This however only worked if I was also wearing my lower bite guard at the same time. At first I thought the candy was adhering to the tongue, holding it in place. But that wasn't it. I realize now that simply putting an object under the tongue depresses all the attachments beneath it, and pushes the entire hyoid bone downward. The tongue gets pulled down along with all of that. Tongue depression has been used with the zyppah and some custom dental appliances. zyppah made me gag and did not even depress the tongue much. Right now I am hopeful this concept is the most effective thing I've found for me. But, now I need to find something that does not cause cavities. Maybe a similarly-shaped xylitol hard candy. Though I also don't totally trust the safety of ingesting xylitol. Or maybe a piece of food-grade silicone shaped like a candy without any rough edges. I feel the bite guard sort of "corralls" the candy to be as far back under the tongue as it can be. I do have a little issue with it straining the frenulum, which had a preexisting tear that still hasn't fully healed after months.

Looking for suggestions of what is best way to leverage this. Where to find the right silicone piece or xylitol candy? Or maybe as a proof of concept, take a few mack's silicone ear plugs, roll them into one noodle, and snake it around the entire inside perimeter of the lower mouth, while bearing the bite guard? Or what else? It needs to not be a choking hazard

[Deborah K.]

Xyliments are a round pill shaped tablet that you would normally press against your gum: it will stick there to help prevent dry mouth. I imagine you could put one or maybe two under your tongue to see if it does the job you want done. Best of luck with whatever you try!

[zonker]

Maybe a similarly-shaped xylitol hard candy. Though I also don't totally trust the safety of ingesting xylitol.

i have been using xylimelts for close to seven years, every night.


i have never swallowed one.

i think you're trying to re-invent the wheel.

[metallikat36]

i think you're trying to re-invent the wheel.

They are not thick or wide enough. Not sure if they stick under the tongue either.

[metallikat36]

I imagine you could put one or maybe two under your tongue to see if it does the job you want done.

Not big enough. Not sure it will adhere to the belly of the tongue either.

[Rubicon]

Looking for suggestions of what is best way to leverage this.

Or maybe as a proof of concept...

Can you explain what you mean by this? Are you looking to develop a product and get a patent?

[metallikat36]

Can you explain what you mean by this? Are you looking to develop a product and get a patent?

Oh no. By proof of concept I just mean that mack's ear plugs are not a workable solution, but could let me mess around with some different shapes in my mouth. I am just trying to make something that will work for me.

[Janknitz]

I'd be scared that a big inspiratory breath before a cough or something would cause me to suck whatever I'm holding under my tongue right into my airway! I've aspirated on saliva even, when I'm dealing with my cough variant asthma. Those big, deep coughs are scary!

Thinking about old 70's orthodontia headgear. Maybe something that attaches outside your mouth like headgear with a component held under your tongue that you can't possibly aspirate. Or, as you are thinking, a bite guard with a built in "tongue lifter". Seems like Macks Ear Plug wax could too easily break off.

BTW, how do you know "it works for you"???

[chunkyfrog]

I have awakened choking on a cough drop.
Horrible experience!

[Dog Slobber]

i have been using xylimelts for close to seven years, every night.

i have never swallowed one.

Actually I'm guessing you swallowed all 2400 of them.

[chunkyfrog]

i have been using xylimelts for close to seven years, every night.

i have never swallowed one.

Actually I'm guessing you swallowed all 2400 of them.

Little by little--we hope.

[zonker]

i have been using xylimelts for close to seven years, every night.

i have never swallowed one.

Actually I'm guessing you swallowed all 2400 of them.

[ozij]

i have been using xylimelts for close to seven years, every night.

i have never swallowed one.

Actually I'm guessing you swallowed all 2400 of them.

As long a he didn't aspirate them, and is here to tell the tale....

[zonker]

As long a he didn't aspirate them, and is here to tell the tale....

actually, i'm a ghostly apparition!