Eureka...more or less

[Maxie]

I started off with the nasal prongs but open my mouth from time to time during sleep so my RT put me in a full face mask and that caused sores on the bridge of my nose so my next mask was a hybrid with nasal prongs and a mouth cover. I had a lot of trouble with air leaking out. After reading and seeing others, like you, experiment and realizing that getting this to work is more up to me than not, I decided to go back to the earlier nasal prongs with the chin strap. I used a small but very firm foam pillow under my chin in addition the the strap and today I woke up feeling absolutely wonderful. I did have a few incidents of mouth breathing but I went right back to sleep so Eureka, I know now that all I need to do is get the mouth opening to not happen and I may be "there." It is very helpful to me to have something specific on which to work. Thoughts on keeping my mouth shut all night will be most appreciated.

AND...thank you for all of your comments because it has empowered me to be willing to try to figure this out and not accept less that what works!

[Pugsy]

When I first started therapy I was having some mouth opening issues myself. Not related to nasal congestion because I always breathe through my nose just fine. I likely had a mouth breathing habit from gasping for air during apnea events.

I tried chin straps and they didn't quite do the trick so I opted to tape my mouth. I taped for about 2 months then started getting lazy and would forget to tape and lights would be our so I would just let it go. I found out that my leak line was stable without the tape. I must have unlearned that bad habit of mouth breathing once my brain figured out I wasn't going to smother any more.

You may be lucky and find that after using a chin strap for a while that your mouth will stay closed too.
Though...some people never do and have to use a chin strap every night.

There are various chin straps out there and some are more comfortable than others and some work better for some people than others.

I didn't want to go down the full face mask road myself so I figured that I would have to make the nasal pillows work and it did work out great.

[Maxie]

What kind of tape did you use? I think that my mouth is probably opening like yours from the gasping for air during the SA episodes and it is a "habit" that will need to be discarded.

[Pugsy]

I used 3M 2 inch Blue Painters tape. I had some left over from a painting job. They make a "Delicate" version that is less harsh on the skin but I never really had any issues with the adhesive. Also if you do tape...the seal is really very easily broken...you can try it...a good yawn will break the seal. It doesn't set up like cement or something. Some of the other tapes the adhesive is pretty strong and not so easily broken.
I also tried Polygrip...seal is also is very easily broken but does provide some "stickiness" to keep lips shut.
Rather nasty tasting though...I preferred to tape. Tape tasted better and not nearly so messy.

If I was going to use a chin strap...I tried several without very good results...my next one would have been the pap cap instead of tape but I found taping not nearly as horrible as it sounded so I never purchased the PAP CAP.. Lots of forum members swear by it.
http://www.pur-sleep.com/products/produ ... category=6

I might still on occasion open my mouth during the night but the times are rare and short lived. I watch my leak line and it rarely comes close to large leak territory so I don't worry about minor mouth breathing.

[NateS]

I started off with the nasal prongs but open my mouth from time to time during sleep so my RT put me in a full face mask and that caused sores on the bridge of my nose so my next mask was a hybrid with nasal prongs and a mouth cover. I had a lot of trouble with air leaking out. After reading and seeing others, like you, experiment and realizing that getting this to work is more up to me than not, I decided to go back to the earlier nasal prongs with the chin strap. I used a small but very firm foam pillow under my chin in addition the the strap and today I woke up feeling absolutely wonderful. I did have a few incidents of mouth breathing but I went right back to sleep so Eureka, I know now that all I need to do is get the mouth opening to not happen and I may be "there." It is very helpful to me to have something specific on which to work. Thoughts on keeping my mouth shut all night will be most appreciated.

AND...thank you for all of your comments because it has empowered me to be willing to try to figure this out and not accept less that what works!

I too just discovered that, despite my insistence to myself that I was not a mouth-breather, adding a chinstrap to my Swift FX dramatically reduced my leakage just in the nick of time before my meeting with the MD! My DME handed the chinstrap to me on Monday, warning me that in the absence of a dramatic drop in leakage, my MD was likely to tell me I was not suitable for nasal pillows and should go to a FFM, something I did not want. It did the trick! And it was such a simple little strap.

[Kairosgrammy]

Well, I've heard a few say they tape their mouth. I don't know that I could do that. I would think that would lead to sores around your mouth. As far as I know, based on my ahi figures, my chinstrap is working to keep my mouth shut, thank heavens.

Thoughts on keeping my mouth shut all night will be most appreciated.

[chunkyfrog]

I use the poligrip, but I cut it to half-width, and then in half the other way. Half a strip (two pieces) works for one night
(not nearly as gooey)--one piece from each corner of my mouth to a gap about a finger's width in the middle.
The gap gets a vertical strip of inch wide gentle medical tape (looks like a gros-grain ribbon) run vertically from
below my nose to on my chin somewhere.
I fold the ends down so It isn't difficult to peel off, and I roll my lips inward to avoid adhesive on the pink part.
In the morning, I spit the poligrip onto the tape, fold it over and put in the trash. No mess.
I don't taste anything of either Poligrip or tape.

[squid13]

I used 2" 3M Micropore paper tape and be sure to use chap stick on your lips so it doesn't stick to your lips.

[Resister]

To keep my mouth closed, I tie a trouser sock (or cut up a pair of pantyhose, etc) under my chin and secure with a tight knot atop my head. Then I usually prop a body pillow under my chin for extra measure. Seems to work OK, but the last few weeks I am getting more leaks.

[Kairosgrammy]

LOL, and who said poligrip was only for dentures. I would never have thought of that.

I use the poligrip, but I cut it to half-width, and then in half the other way. Half a strip (two pieces) works for one night
(not nearly as gooey)--one piece from each corner of my mouth to a gap about a finger's width in the middle.
The gap gets a vertical strip of inch wide gentle medical tape (looks like a gros-grain ribbon) run vertically from
below my nose to on my chin somewhere.
I fold the ends down so It isn't difficult to peel off, and I roll my lips inward to avoid adhesive on the pink part.
In the morning, I spit the poligrip onto the tape, fold it over and put in the trash. No mess.
I don't taste anything of either Poligrip or tape.

[Maxie]

Last night I used some hypoallergenic surgical paper tape I had on hand and I was amazed but I tolerated it quite well. I'm going to try the poligrip and chap stick tonight. THANK YOU for the help!!!