Understanding the flow...

[scoman81]

I've only done 3.5 nights on cpap so far, so this is probably a pretty basic question, but hey, I'm just not used to having air forced up my schnoz, ya know? Anyway, here goes ...

Is it just me, or can everyone on cpap do this Stupid Pet Trick where you open your mouth, don't inhale, and viola, all 15cm (or whatever your pressure is) comes shooting out your mouth? If you can all do it, then I'll call the Letterman show back and tell them "nevermind." I can even adjust my throat/tongue such that I can actually continue breathing in and out of my nose, while having a steady stream of air coming out my mouth. Bizarre. The sensation of blowing out while breathing in is just weird. Can everyone with nasal pillows do this?

Anyway, during those moments of not quite being asleep nor quite awake, my observation is that my airway does its normal thing of constricting, at which time it feels like the air pressure "builds up" (yeah, small physics problem with that term) and eventually pushes my tongue down (forward?), resulting in enough pressure to part my lips, and create El Massive Leak. This results in me waking up with the Sahara Desert where the inside of my mouth used to be. Man, I thought dry mouth from breathing in and out of my mouth was bad ... but when it's only going out, yikes - way worse.

So I'm guess this is the exact reason people have masks that cover both the nose and the mouth? Does that cause a balance of pressure between inside and outside the mouth?

I admit my choice of the mask I have was largely due to vanity (yeah, I'm new) but now I'm thinking that I may have the wrong mask?

Thoughts?

[JohnBFisher]

I've only done 3.5 nights on cpap so far, so this is probably a pretty basic question, but hey, I'm just not used to having air forced up my schnoz, ya know? Anyway, here goes ...

Good for you for coming and asking. The first step along the journey to managing your sleep is to learn to ask questions.

Is it just me, or can everyone on cpap do this Stupid Pet Trick where you open your mouth, don't inhale, and viola, all 15cm (or whatever your pressure is) comes shooting out your mouth? If you can all do it, then I'll call the Letterman show back and tell them "nevermind." I can even adjust my throat/tongue such that I can actually continue breathing in and out of my nose, while having a steady stream of air coming out my mouth. Bizarre. The sensation of blowing out while breathing in is just weird. Can everyone with nasal pillows do this?

Not sure I had quite that control, but yup. 'tis strange, indeed.

Anyway, during those moments of not quite being asleep nor quite awake, my observation is that my airway does its normal thing of constricting, at which time it feels like the air pressure "builds up" (yeah, small physics problem with that term) and eventually pushes my tongue down (forward?), resulting in enough pressure to part my lips, and create El Massive Leak. This results in me waking up with the Sahara Desert where the inside of my mouth used to be. Man, I thought dry mouth from breathing in and out of my mouth was bad ... but when it's only going out, yikes - way worse.

There's no dry quite like that dry, is there?

15cm is a fairly high pressure for just a nasal mask (or nasal pillows). You might need to try a couple things to see if it helps. Try some sort of chin strap to see if it helps keep your airway closed. You can also try surgical tape across your mouth to see if that helps. But you might need to consider a full face mask.

So I'm guess this is the exact reason people have masks that cover both the nose and the mouth? Does that cause a balance of pressure between inside and outside the mouth?

Yup. Though my mouth still gets dried out. And you don't mention if you have a heated humidifier. It will be very important for you. When I use it my mouth is not as dry. How important is that? Well a dried out mouth is also much more prone to infections. And there is a direct correlation between ongoing infections and heart disease. (It's seen as an entry point into the body for bacteria, which plays havoc with the cardiovascular system).

I admit my choice of the mask I have was largely due to vanity (yeah, I'm new) but now I'm thinking that I may have the wrong mask?

Thoughts?

Read other posts. Check the Wiki (see the light bulb at the top of the page). Lots of great information on how to mange your therapy. If it does not work for you, no matter what a professional says, it won't help you! Good luck on the rest of your journey.

[Muse-Inc]

When I started consistently losing therapy air, I had to switch from my beloved OptiLife pillow mask to the RespCare Hybrid non-traditional FFM (covers mouth and has nasal pillows). Welcome to the great mask hunt

[Sleeprider]

Is it just me, or can everyone on cpap do this Stupid Pet Trick where you open your mouth, don't inhale, and viola, all 15cm (or whatever your pressure is) comes shooting out your mouth? If you can all do it, then I'll call the Letterman show back and tell them "nevermind." I can even adjust my throat/tongue such that I can actually continue breathing in and out of my nose, while having a steady stream of air coming out my mouth. Bizarre. The sensation of blowing out while breathing in is just weird. Can everyone with nasal pillows do this?

Once you master speaking without air rushing out of your mouth, and making a noise like someone hawking a loogie, you will have graduated to "experienced" CPAP.

Other than that, you sound to be well on your way.

[PST]

Some people can train themselves to keep their mouths shut and some can't, sort of like in life itself. Not having been able to learn to keep my mouth shut on my own, either during CPAP or in public, I have had to acquire a full-face mask and get married. The full-face mask has its advantages and disadvantages, but it does control mouth leaks, since the pressure is the same at the nose and mouth.

[LinkC]

Not having been able to learn to keep my mouth shut on my own, either during CPAP or in public, I have had to acquire a full-face mask and get married.

Nice one. Been there...

[xiola]

Once you master speaking without air rushing out of your mouth, and making a noise like someone hawking a loogie, you will have graduated to "experienced" CPAP.

wait.. what?

we can talk with the machine on?

[Gerryk]

Of course we can talk with the machine on. My wife says to me I can't understand you your mumbling or the machine makes you sound that way. It sure comes in handy when I want something I know she won't agree to. I just wait till night time put my mask on and begine talking about it until she says yeah ok what ever.
How do you think I got a new laptop without her being overly upset!


Gerry

[xiola]

Of course we can talk with the machine on.

i always feel like im choking when i try to talk with it on. usually end up pulling it off and then having to redo it when im done talking.

guess i need practice

[dsm]

scoman81
Like the others, bin thru that fun

'Snake Talk'

Main reason I stick with a F/F mask
Good luck & join the club

DSM

[Sleeprider]

Its not snake talk or hissing or any of that. By letting the back of the tongue ride against the soft pallet, you can cut airflow from the nasal passages and speak normally, although it does sound a bit nasal. No air rushes into your mouth and all air from the machine exits the mask exhaust hole. You only need to overcome the positive pressure of your reading, and it would probably record as an OA event if you do it long enough.