Even taping doesn't work !

[TrueBlue]

I've had my CPAP for almost 2 weeks now and wake continually with it. It lets me drift into sleep and then I wake with a start with air pouring out my mouth. I figured this meant I needed a full face mask as opposed to the nasal mask I have at present, and am scheduled to see my sleep tech this week but in the meantime decided to try taping to keep my mouth closed hoping this would work as a temp measure. No luck at all, waking just as much last night as before even though my mouth was firmly closed. Waking continually with a start and air trying to gush out through my closed mouth. I'm sure the mask isn't leaking. Do you think it could be the pressure? Sleep Clinic say the pressure is correct and does not need adjusting. It seems crazy that my sleep is worse with the CPAP than without it. Desperate to get this sorted. Any ideas ??

[Eric_M]

i had the same issue... not to the extreme, but problems with mouth leaks. I changed from the pillow style to the hybrid (1/2 mouth / 1/2nasel pillows) style mask. They say it is a love or hate thing. I think it is working for me, if this red ring around my mouth would just go away. LOL

[kteague]

Having sleep get worse before it gets better is not uncommon. It can take a while to get used to the equipment and work through the ins and outs of optimizing the therapy. It may be a bit too soon to predict the outcome, but if you can't stop the mouth leaks, you may find it easier to just go with a full face mask, even though it seems from reading here they can present challenges of their own (leaks).

Some (like me) seem to over time be able to train themselves to keep their mouth sealed with the aid of a chinstrap, Polident, and/or other measures. I still can't trust myself enough to stop using the chinstrap, but have been able to use it alone for over a year now. It has crossed my mind to wonder if a full face mask might be easier, but that's vanity speaking. I hate what the chinstrap does to my hair.

Hope you figure out what works for you and start getting some good sleep.

Kathy

[LaurieJ31981]

I am a mouth breather... Have been on CPAP for 3 weeks now... At first my mouth opened a lot, and the force of the air rushing out of my mouth would wake me up... I started off 4 hours, 6 hours, now I am up to 8 hours and my leaks are low my AHI has been lowering every night. I rest my tongue at the roof of my mouth, and I don't seem to have any issues with the air filling up in my mouth. I do use tape every once in awhile, but I end up taking it off after so many hours..

I went today for a mask fitting, and loved how the full face one felt... so my Dr is sending in a script for that and i'll have it soon. I feel like I am doing ok with the Nasal mask, but i'd like the FF one just for a back up.

It gets easier, I absolutely love my machine now... I hated it at first lol... and I am only 3 weeks in!! I feel great! Everyone at work is like wow I can see a huge difference in you, especially the color in my face...

Keep at it, and if you end up needing a FF mask, that's ok too... you'll have both and can work out the kinks...

What is your set pressure?