Oracle Ouchies

[Sleepless on LI]

I have been using the Oracle now since June 7th, my first attempt at CPAP therapy. I have encountered a few difficulties with it and would be interested in knowing if any other Oracle users have had the same or similar problems. First one is, it seems to have called to my attention that I must have had a dormant TMJ condition on the left side. Every morning since I've been using it, when I awaken, I can't put my upper and lower jaws together. That lasts for most of the day and eases up just about right before bedtime, when I know it will start all over again in the morning. Next is the morning "Botox" lip condition. Looks like I visited an incompetent plastic surgeon every night for an injection and he does a horrible job, putting way too much into each lip. That lasts about 30-45 mins. Then I have this feeling, especially just inside the lips, like I ate lemons all day. Very sensitive and shrivelly. I just went out and bought a tub of medicated Blistex to try to alleviate the pain. Also, during the night, even if I wear the head strap, it seems the damn thing wants to pop out of my mouth. So I'm up a couple of times a night trying to make sure it doesn't. Then I have a problem with my nose making these tiny little popping noises at 7 AM every day, no matter what I do. I try repositioning the mouthpiece, swallowing, even breathing through my nose (a no-no) to try to reset the pressure but nothing works so I get up for the day. The last thing would be the rainout. They say you have to use heated humidification with the Oracle, but the rainout even on a 2 setting is enough to cause it to drain into your mouth.
I love the idea that it's non-instrusive, non-claustrophobic and took no time to get used to falling asleep with, but all these other problems are making it almost impossible to continue to use. Any feedback, please? I could use some help. I am scheduled to see my DME tomorrow who told me to try the larger sized soft seal over the weekend and if it didn't work, to call to come in on Monday. Needless to say, he'll receive my call tomorrow morning.

[Newsgrouper]

I think you will be much more comfortable with a full face mask. I bought an Oracle, tried it once, and immediately sent it to the mask bin. I couldn't take it for even a few minutes. At least use a different mask to alternate with the one causing you so many problems.

[Sleepless on LI]

I am just so confused, and I mean CONFUSED, by what I've read about masks. I even posted a thread about ff masks and opinions on which to try. I wouldn't know where to start. I am a side sleeper and am very concerned about pain under the bottom lip, like I had in my sleep study, or on the sides of the bridge of the nose. That was why I went for the Oracle to begin with, plus my friend swore by it. I cannot believe I am experiencing this much trouble. They said it was revamped three months ago and they removed the tongue depressor it used to have, so I don't know if that's the one you had or not. But this is really giving me a run for the money. I guess a leaky mask would be better than what I'm going through with this. I can breathe through the nose, but my mouth has a tendency to pop open, too, so a nasal mask probably is not the right option. But that pain from the ff mask at the study under the bottom lip scared me off ff masks. I wish there was just a perfect mask out there that someone could just say, "Get this one. It works great!!!" And it would.

[chrisp]

Get this one it works great: Activa, https://www.cpap.com/productpage/1795 and some tape or a chinstrap to keep your mouth shut.

Cheers,

Chris

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

[Newsgrouper]

This Fisher & Paykel HC431 goes under the chin, not under the lower lip. You should not have problems with discomfort under the lip. I also have the Activa referred to above. It is a great mask but not if you have problems with air leaking from the mouth. I occassionaly use my Activa but must tape my mouth if I don't want to be continually awakened with air "puffing" from my mouth. Taping your mouth is NO fun, but it does work.

[Sleepless on LI]

May I ask you, does the F&P HC431 have anything across either the forehead or on the cheeks that could hurt, especially a side sleeper? For instance, I remember something digging into my forehead with the mask at the sleep study that made my feel like I had a migraine, which I do suffer from. And they had given me a basic nasal mask since my Oracle was on back order just to try until it came in which was a nightmare since it leaked like crazy and had this awful gel rectangle that sat above the center of my eyebrows that hurt like the devil. I even tried it again the other morning out of desperation when I was getting upset with the Oracle and it is just a no-go. I keep thinking I would be better off with a ff mask, and did look at the HC431 because of the fact that it goes under the chin, but worried about leaks from under the chin and if it hurt any other places like the forehead or the side connections. I would appreciate your feedback. I do NOT want to tape my mouth shut. Don't like that idea at all, although my husband probably would (only kidding)...

[rock and roll]

sleepless on LI

Get an Activa and a viscoelastic memory foam pillow and most of your problems will be solved. You can train yourself to not breath through the mouth with an Activa as the bottom will be at your lips. IMHO and many,many others, this interface is the best out there (using averages) and is the one most of us will say "get it it works" The type of pillow you use makes all the difference.

[Sleepless on LI]

Oh, R&R, you know what I think of your opinion. Thanks for your reply. So Activa nasal mask, eh? I do have a visco memory foam topper for my mattres, but you say a pillow made of the visco, too. Are you suggesting a regular pillow or the contour one? Also, you don't have to tape your mouth? That would be a wonderful thing. Isn't the Activa the mask everyone says is good for the sleeper that moves around a lot and you keep the straps loose on? I've done so much reading on masks it's hard to remember. You know I'm going to listen to you because I really think you know you stuff. Thanks for the input.

[rock and roll]

Well bear in mind that none of them are perfect and you have to adjust to them all. With that in mind, I feel that the Activa is the best interface that we can buy at the present time. Ideally Resmed WILL GET THE MESSAGE AND COME OUT WITH AN ACTIVA FF that a lot of us have written and told them they need to offer and they would have such a market, but until then, this is it. As far as a pillow, it can be contoured or standard as long as it is truly made of viscoelastic memory foam. I don't know which bed you own, but you might have been shown that you can throw large nuts and bolts on this type mattress and lay doen on top of them and you can't feel them. This stuff is wonderful. I personally sleep on one and I sell them. Because it would not be ethical of me to sell them on the list and as I sell wholesale and by the truckload, I don't say whom I sell for but lets just say I am in the furniture business as a broker and if you have it in your home,I have sold it. Look at brands like Tempurpedic, Boyd, Hickory at Home or ones offered by name brand mattress stores such as Sealy, Simmons, Serta, etc. and expect to pay at least $49.00. I know there are some whom bought imitaions at Walmart and Target, but these will wear out fast and are much less dense.

As far as taping your mouth, I did this at first as well as using a chin strap. I hated those though tape did work and was an experience in the morning as I have a mustache. I just made up my mind to train myself away from breathing through my mouth. With the Activa and where the bottom of the diaphram touches my mouth, I was successful. It took a few weeks though and I kept a bottle of water next to my bed. Now, it is rare for me to have cotton mouth.[/i]

[Newsgrouper]

I agree with R&R that the Activa is the best available today. If only I could train myself to keep my tongue in the proper alignment (I can't), I would use the Activa every night.

The F&P HC431 has some straps and a small flexible piece of plastic at the forehead. Not uncomfortable to me.

[rock and roll]

Oh and yes, tghe activa is the one that is great for side sleepers and you wear the headgear straps rediculously loose. It's just the best mask on the market for most.



Nasal pillows are the next step to try, I like the Swift, but I would try the Activa first.

[Janelle]

I ussed to breathe through my mouth but after a month or so of using a chin strap I taped my mouth a few nights and then tried my mouth totally unbound. I haven't mouth breathed or had my jaw drop open since. What I realize I do is place my tongue tip against my lower incisors. You can try this at home with your machine on. You can let your jaw drop open and even talk with your tongue in this position and no air will leak out. The back of the tongue closes off your throat--HONEST! Putting your tongue tip on the roof of your mouth will do the same thing, but it seems much more natural to put it lower.

[Sleepless on LI]

Well, thank you all, as usual, for your caring, concern and informative input. I had the worst sleep of all last night and came to realize that these little nose snorts that happen usually at 7 AM with the Oracle on, but happened from the moment I went to bed last night, don't occur if you sleep on your back, which I DON'T DO!!! I am a side sleeper, not a back, not a stomach, a side sleeper. No alternative for me. So I will take your advice this morning and when I go see the friendly neighborhood DME, I will get this Activa and get used to keeping my big mouth shut (that should be harder training myself to do than using a CPAP machine ). If I got used to not nose breathing without plugs with this Oracle right away, I am sure I will be able to train myself to not open my mouth with the Activa. From the sound of it, loose straps and being able to move and sleep on the side sounds like this would be the next thing for me to try.
So I guess I, too, will be another CPAP-er who will start her collection of masks that didn't work. Hope you all slept better than I did. I really lived up to my name last night, Sleepless on Long Island...

[Newsgrouper]

F/Y/I.....Keeping one's mouth closed isn't the only issue regarding mouth leak. Even with the mouth closed, air can escape to the mouth and then pass through closed lips.