a great tip and a new problem

sleepyceebee · Post by **sleepyceebee** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 2:40 pm

Hi all! I've got a great method for keeping your chin up and your mouth shut without adhesives or pain, and it was right in my barn all the time. Vet Wrap! It's super stretchy, lightweight and breathable (you can actually BREATHE through it). It's the same stuff you will find in the band-aid aisle marked as self-adhering, but it has several advantages.

1. It's cheaper
2. It comes in a wide variety of festive colors to match your mood
3. If it will stay in place while your horse runs around the pasture, you know it's going to stay in place all night. I tried the Johnson & Johnson human version first, and had trouble getting it to adhere to itself under the necessary pressure.

I pull it under my chin to about 90% of it's stretch and let the top line come just underneath my lower lip and FINALLY I can get through the night comfortably with no mouth leaks. Since most of the jaw pressure is upward, I'm not getting jaw pain. In fact, it works so well that I have develped a new problem I'm hoping you can help me with.

It seems that the reason I was leaking is because my tongue relaxes and lets air into my mouth. Now, instead of letting it out, I'm swallowing it. I have been waking up with a major belly ache every morning for the past week and it takes hours to move all the air out. Not to mention the fact that I am unfit for polite company during that time! I'd love to hear if there are any side sleepers out there that have found peace with a full face mask.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 2:45 pm

sleepyceebee wrote:I'd love to hear if there are any side sleepers out there that have found peace with a full face mask.

I'm a side-sleeper, have used a full face mask (UMFF) exclusively for about 2 1/2 years since the start of my therapy and have never had any problem with aerophagia.

Den

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:18 pm

A two inch self-stick ace bandage works, too. I don't know about on a horse!

momadams · Post by **momadams** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:28 pm

For aerophagia, have you tried Gas-X?

And may we see a photo of your wrapping?

Shari

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:32 pm

Is this the stuff?

www - amazon dot com /Gifted-Horse-Tack-Vet-Wrap/dp/B0002V47L0

Love to see a picture of you in this!!!!

LOL,
Barbara

Maryb · Post by **Maryb** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:35 pm

Sleepyceebee-
do a search in the forum for aerophagia.
I went to a hybrid mask which is a type of full face mask. Your mouth is covered. But then I was still swallowing air. I ended up with a bipap machine which has reduced the aerophagia problem down to manageable levels.
Be aware that if you aerophagia, you might have GERD (gastral-esophageal reflux disease) and a leaky les (lower esophageal sphincter).
There is alot of discussion in past posts about these issues. Just search for those words.

Maryb

sleepngo · Post by **sleepngo** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 4:04 pm

sleepyceebee, I use Saran wrap with a Liberty FF nasal pillows mask. I apply it to the mouth cushion or directly to my mouth, than apply the mask over the saran wrap. Works great, stops mouth leaking and snoring.

I found it is great for training yourself to to stop mouth breathing and snoring. I can use the saran wrap for a few days than use it without the saran wrap and not leak for several days.

I like using the saran wrap, because it prevents dry mouth and lips.

DAN

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Nasal Pillows

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 5:30 pm

I like the vet wrap! And the price is good too! I can see using this for many things. Thanks for letting us know about this stuff!

cosmiccowpoke · Post by **cosmiccowpoke** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 2:54 pm

Thanks to everyone who responded so promptly!!

1. Yes, the Amazon link is for the right product. (and the price is good too) You can also buy it anywhere horse supplies are sold. Look for "tack shops" in your area.

2. I do have GERD, and have been treated for it aggressively for some time now because I had developed Barrett's Esophagus.

3. I am convinced that Gas-X is a sugar pill. Never worked for me.

4. I'll be happy to post a picture of my wrapping technique (I warn you, it's pretty sexy!!), if somebody can tell me how to do it! I can't find instructions anywhere on this site.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:08 pm

http://sleepapnea.wikia.com/wiki/CPAPta ... ing_images

This wiki will help you learn to post here using a screen shot and a web-server and then how to post it here. Once you have done it a time or two, it isn't as complicated as it sounds!

I am VERY curious about this AND the saran wrap mentioned. I may put a square of saran wrap under my chin strap tonight and bring my chin strap up over my mouth to see if that works as well as tape for me. I could really live without the tape, but so far, nothing else has worked as well!

Jen

cosmiccowpoke · Post by **cosmiccowpoke** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 4:48 pm

I was doing some more research, and I ran into an idea about aerophagia that makes perfect sense, although I can't find any research on it. A couple of people suggested that if you have GERD and/or a hiatal hernia (I have both), that the same malfunction that opens your lower esophogeal sphincter to allow acid into the esophagus can also allow air directly into your stomach. You are not "swallowing" air - you're being inflated! It seems to explain why, after almost six months on therapy, I'm having all this really terrible bloating problem now that I have solved my mouth leak problem. It seems to me that, if the LES is open, the air pressure could continue to hold it open the same way it does for your air passages. Man, that sucks! Or should I say "blows"?

For a while I tried dialing my pressure down from 10 to 7.5, and I still got gassy but not as bad. Then the other night I tried to go up to 8.5 and woke up in such pain and nausea and burping so hard I thought I was going to throw up. It lasted half the day. The next night I slept without it on at all and no gas.

I intend to play with the pressures for a while and see if I can find one that strikes a happy medium. Wish me luck.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 5:40 pm

[quote="cosmiccowpoke"]I was doing some more research, and I ran into an idea about aerophagia that makes perfect sense, although I can't find any research on it. A couple of people suggested that if you have GERD and/or a hiatal hernia (I have both), that the same malfunction that opens your lower esophogeal sphincter to allow acid into the esophagus can also allow air directly into your stomach. You are not "swallowing" air - you're being inflated! It seems to explain why, after almost six months on therapy, I'm having all this really terrible bloating problem now that I have solved my mouth leak problem. It seems to me that, if the LES is open, the air pressure could continue to hold it open the same way it does for your air passages. Man, that sucks! Or should I say "blows"?

For a while I tried dialing my pressure down from 10 to 7.5, and I still got gassy but not as bad. Then the other night I tried to go up to 8.5 and woke up in such pain and nausea and burping so hard I thought I was going to throw up. It lasted half the day. The next night I slept without it on at all and no gas.

I intend to play with the pressures for a while and see if I can find one that strikes a happy medium. Wish me luck.

Cliff · Post by **Cliff** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 6:01 pm

would love to see a pic.....

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 2:47 pm

I'd love to hear if there are any side sleepers out there that have found peace with a full face mask.

I have. Found peace from night #1, and ever since for a year now. Fischer and Paykel HC431 full-face mask. Side sleeper. Total success. No leaks, no wakeups, low treated AHI, no problems whatsoever.

Its "glider strap" and under-chin design might be helping with that. It truly is an excellent, excellent mask.

Forget about "mouth breathing" and using the oversize rubberbands around your head or the "hostage tape" on your mouth, it's pretty ridiculous. Get a full-face mask, adapt to it (usually doesn't take long), and then breathe freely through ALL THREE HOLES as nature intended you to. If your tire had three holes in it, would you just patch two and then put a big rubberband around the tire hoping to keep the third hole closed, or maybe put a piece of tape over the third hole every day? Heck no, you'd just cover all three holes, silly!

cosmiccowpoke · Post by **cosmiccowpoke** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:07 pm

Well, I turned my pressure down to 7 last night (should be 10), and slept pretty well with minor tolerable gas. I've heard some people talk about apap being better for people with GERD/hiatal hernia related aerophagia. Has anybody out there tried it with any success?

a great tip and a new problem

a great tip and a new problem

hi again everybody!

not sure this problem is fixable

Re: not sure this problem is fixable

apap solution?

Humidifier

Additional Comments: Pressure 16 cm H2O at altitude 6550ft