Will higher EPR setting help . . .

[hobbs]

with air blowing out of mouth? Wife has had no problem getting used to new cpap, but she does have a tendency to have air escape from her mouth at times during the night. It does not seem to be actual mouth breathing, just escaping air. She has only been on it for a week and half. She is not enthused with the idea of a chin strap or tape, but will try them if that is what it takes. Good thing is, even with the leaks, she feels better than pre cpap.

[Bookbear]

It would only help if the air leaks were during exhalations. EPR reduces pressure for the duration of an exhalation. As soon as you begin to inhale, the pressure returns to the fixed setting (EPR works only in cpap mode, unless you have the new Autoset II model). It can't hurt to try it, though. Chin straps rarely seem to work (most posters on the forum have had little luck with them) as they only hold the jaw up -- the lips can still open. Taping gets directly to that but is not always practical. Suggest to your wife that she visit the forum and do a search on 'taping' or 'mouth taping' or 'polident strips' to get some ideas and suggestions.

Good luck to you both!

[Snoredog]

my suggestion:

1. address any nasal congestion with a saline rhino rinse, if you can breathe through your nose you are less likely to breathe through the mouth.
2. Have her practice keeping her tongue planted into the hard palate, this positions the tongue in the proper place where the soft palate can seal against the base of the tongue. If she had her tonsils removed as a child that may be why she is having difficulty sealing.
3. I don't like chin straps either especially the elastic ones, most pull the jaw back making things worse. Have her try the Pur-Sleep Pap-Cap, it is vertical held in place by the cap so it doesn't pull the jaw back. It simply supports the chin and keeps it from dropping, one of the first things that happen before that seal is lost and you begin to mouth breathe. The Pap-Cap is a lot more comfortable than most chin straps.

[DSM oseas]

with air blowing out of mouth? Wife has had no problem getting used to new cpap, but she does have a tendency to have air escape from her mouth at times during the night. It does not seem to be actual mouth breathing, just escaping air. She has only been on it for a week and half. She is not enthused with the idea of a chin strap or tape, but will try them if that is what it takes. Good thing is, even with the leaks, she feels better than pre cpap.

I am using my own S8 with EPR this week while away from home - I run it at EPR=3 & I like it as it is the 2nd best thing to
to using my Bilevel. The EPR does adjust itself as you start to sleep. At 1st the breathing out seems firm but then quickly softens & runs like a bilevel.

More later

DSM