Who uses a cervical collar to stop mouth openings?

[opticalpopsicle]

and if you do,

Do you like it?
Is it effective?
Do you still have to tape your mouth?
Is it the soft foam kind or is it the rigid plastic kind?

I use nasal pillows and tape my mouth, the tape is annoying. And even with the tape, I sleep with my mouth puffed up like a blow fish because my jaw won't stay put. Tried chin straps....pure torture! Made my eardrums hurt for some reason! Any suggestions?

[sylvie]

Great question. I use a cervical foam collar to keep my mouth shut. But beware that I've found there are two different heights to the collars. I have the higher one. The tag on it says Scott Specialties, Inc. and large. Checked my email and I believe the larger one is from ScripHessco, 14"-18", large. The smaller one I have is not high enough to keep mouth shut. BUT...I also use a thin smear of Poligrip on my lips. If I don't--the lips will flap, know what I mean. But this setup is way better than any other I can imagine for me. And the Poligrip really does the job. I use a pressure of 11.5....BUT....I can only use that pressure with my bed elevated with 4" bricks and then 5" wedge pillows stuck under the mattress. I cannot tolerate any higher pressure than 11.5, but this setup I have learned to adapt. Since I don't use my Somnodent oral appliance anymore, my pressure had gone way up. (I had to retitrate myself without using the mouthpiece as I'm readying myself for the palet expander oral appliance I am soon to get; and don't let anyone tell you adults can't acquire palet expansion--I'm going to believe it's possible until I find out differently--stay tuned.) If I lay in a flat bed, with no elevation, the pressure I need is 16, which is horrible for me; one morning I laid in a flat bed and I felt, I guess, the little "tubules" behind my eyes being blown by the pressure--scary. Do I wake up sometimes having slid halfway down the bed.....yes... but I'm still on a slant and hasn't caused a problem, meaning AHI is good to go. To me, the name of the game is keep the pressure low as possible. If that takes sleeping on a slant, I will do it.

[arete123]

I have used one for several months due to mouth opening and dry throat/mouth. It works great. It doesn't sweat. It is washable and breathable. I don't use anything else to keep the mouth shut.

[opticalpopsicle]

Great question. I use a cervical foam collar to keep my mouth shut. But beware that I've found there are two different heights to the collars. I have the higher one. The tag on it says Scott Specialties, Inc. and large. Checked my email and I believe the larger one is from ScripHessco, 14"-18", large. The smaller one I have is not high enough to keep mouth shut. BUT...I also use a thin smear of Poligrip on my lips. If I don't--the lips will flap, know what I mean. But this setup is way better than any other I can imagine for me. And the Poligrip really does the job. I use a pressure of 11.5....BUT....I can only use that pressure with my bed elevated with 4" bricks and then 5" wedge pillows stuck under the mattress. I cannot tolerate any higher pressure than 11.5, but this setup I have learned to adapt. Since I don't use my Somnodent oral appliance anymore, my pressure had gone way up. (I had to retitrate myself without using the mouthpiece as I'm readying myself for the palet expander oral appliance I am soon to get; and don't let anyone tell you adults can't acquire palet expansion--I'm going to believe it's possible until I find out differently--stay tuned.) If I lay in a flat bed, with no elevation, the pressure I need is 16, which is horrible for me; one morning I laid in a flat bed and I felt, I guess, the little "tubules" behind my eyes being blown by the pressure--scary. Do I wake up sometimes having slid halfway down the bed.....yes... but I'm still on a slant and hasn't caused a problem, meaning AHI is good to go. To me, the name of the game is keep the pressure low as possible. If that takes sleeping on a slant, I will do it.

Great advice, I may order one tomorrow. Although I have no clue what size to get, luckily they are cheap enough that I can order maybe 3 different sizes. And maybe also I will try the poligrip. How do you get your lips unstuck in the morning?

[sylvie]

Optical,

I actually have 2 smaller collars. PM me your address if you want and I'll send it to you and you can just keep it. I think I only used it once. As soon as I get up in the morning, I hop in the shower and let the water hit my lips for 10 seconds and then I pick up any "remnants" of the poligrip off my lips with tissue paper and then apply chapstick and I'm good to go--it's really no muss, no fuss.

[Lizistired]

I used a collar for awhile. Wallgreen's, $14. It worked at reducing my leak but it got uncomfortable and hot. I just got fed up with the hassle. I couldn't stand taping. I'm using nasal strips now and having equal improvement with them. It seems that if I can keep my nose open, my mouth stays closed on it's own. Just something else you might try.
Good luck.

[Kenneth P.]

I discover'd the lower air leak when I had cervical surgery in May..It work'd for a while..But,just got back to the old..Use a chin strap..The problem with the collar is heat.It get's hot&then you sweat in it.Then it get's to smelling..I cut a sock&put on collar..but,honestly the chin strap work's the best..You just have to find one that work's.

[retrodave15]

Right now i am gettin ready for ACDF for two ruptured discs in my neck. I have not been using a collar right now, but in two weeks after surgery I will be in a hard collar for 4-6 weeks. I am not sure what I am in for completly, but I guess i will soon find out if I can sleep in a collar. Currently I am transitioning from my mirrage quatro to a swift fx as the straps on the quatro will not fit around the occipital pad of the hard collar. I am using a chinstrap right now, but bassed on the pictures I have need of the Miami J collar, the chin support will keep my mouth closed.

[Kenneth P.]

That's how I found out about the collar..I could not wear a chin strap with the collar..It does fine..It will take sometime to get use to it.Since you can only sleep on back & side.No stomach sleeping..I found that out one night..Does not work to good.Good luck on surgery..I had c-4&5 inter & outer.. back in May..Was in a soft collar for a month.Was out of work for 9 week's..Been back working since July..Drive a truck&work local for a major LTL Company..I have my moment's.But,all in all it was worth it..My feet&hand's hurt all the time..Tingle&felt like they were asleep all the time..Been having shoulder burn alot now.Doc. say's everything is fine..But,,you know doctor's are alway's right..lol..But, anyway Good luck Again..

[49er]

I used a collar for awhile. Wallgreen's, $14. It worked at reducing my leak but it got uncomfortable and hot. I just got fed up with the hassle. I couldn't stand taping. I'm using nasal strips now and having equal improvement with them. It seems that if I can keep my nose open, my mouth stays closed on it's own. Just something else you might try.
Good luck.

Very interesting Liz.

Currently, the only way I can wear a full face mask and keep the pressure down (like around 9) with an acceptable AHI is to wear a neck collar. Otherwise, it skyrockets to about 15.

I would love to be able to wear my nasal pillow mask but have only worn it once due to pesky nasal congestion. So I will give your suggestion a try since I also find it a royal pain the neck to keep my mouth closed using various remedies.

49er