Chinstraps: good or bad?

[ddk]

I finally slept with a chinstrap last night. Today I feel almost as bad as I did before I got my machine. It didn't prevent sore teeth and it made the bloating worse by a factor of about ten thousand. Unfortunately the Respironics models don't show you an AHI on a per night basis but rather an average so I can't tell how bad last night was without looking at the data and I don't have a PC to do that on (unless there are Mac versions of the software?). It also didn't prevent dry mouth, is very uncomfortable, and I woke up four times instead of 0-1 times without it.

So my question is: do you think chinstraps are a good idea and have you had bad or good experiences with them?

[xenablue]

I used a chinstrap for the first 18 months of CPAP. The only time my teeth were sore was if I felt like my teeth were clenched too tight, not because of the chinstrap.

The chinstrap helped me train my brain (yeah, OK... it DID take a while) to keep my mouth shut so I could use nasal pillow masks. Finally I was able to get rid of the chinstrap/s. A good thing as now there's one less thing strapped to my head.

I can't say whether they're good or bad - that's an individual thing. I did prefer the PapCap chinstrap though.

cheers,
xena

[jencat824]

I am in the beginning stages of 'chin strap hell'. I found out I was mouthbreathing (from this forum- learning from my data) and therefore loosing much of my treatment. I have used a homeade chinstrap, a generic chinstrap & the Optilife mask with a chinstrap on it. Optilife is out for me, I cannot get any decent sleep with it. Both homeade and generic chinstraps seem to be doing better, according to the numbers, but I keep waking up with headaches from the tight straps. When I loosen the straps before I fall asleep, they are off the next morning.

I've just called DME & they are sending me a 'Quattro FX for Her'. Now, I never thought I would try a FF mask, but I am eating my words on this, it may be a solution. So far, my favorite mask is the Piliaro, but if I am going to leak or wake up with a headache, its not worth it just to stay with that mask. I also tried a idea from a forum member using a 'mueller elastic bandage' from Walmart - that didn't work at all, since my claustrophobia kicked in. Could not get out of that fast enough. Maybe I'm not using the right chinstrap. My DME would not send chinstrap, said ins would not cover (that's weird, since they send me anything else I ask for), so I'm going to order one recommended by another forum member (the topaz) from cpap.com.

So far, my vote on chinstraps is that I'm not having a good experience, but its something worth trying to get the leaks under control.
Jen

[Always tired]

Have you tried the chin strap in different configurations? Under the mask, over the mask, and an over/under combination with the mask straps? It's taken me a year to get used to the strap and I still fight it sometimes. Have some parts on order for a total FF mask and want to do some testing to make a determination of which is worse/more effective--the dreaded strap or the dreaded FF mask. The things we do to try and get a good nights sleep.

[ddk]

Hmm, how much to trust the data?

I just got SleepyHead and reviewed the data and according to it, I have had my best night ever 0.o

I admit that I feel a lot better now that I've gotten up and moved around but on waking I felt awful.

The Ruby (the new Topaz) chinstrap looks good but unfortunately it doesn't seem to be available anywhere in Australia. Every search I've done turns up only a few types (and it seems there's a lot of consistency in which types) or shop I've rung says it's not sold here.

[archangle]

The Archangle Ace bandage chinstrap is cheap and easy to try, and you can customize it to some degree.

Check the "Links" link in my signature line.

[2 B Sleeping Soundly]

ddk,

For me a chin strap has been a really good thing, but like xenablue said, it certainly is an individual thing (like most of the 'tools' we use to assist us in treating our sleep apnea) and what works for me... well, you get the picture.

Being a severe mouth breather for at least 15 years before starting PAP treatment (at night and even in the day time), I knew that I would have to use something other than just my PR Easylife Nasal mask. The Kaiser RT gave me an Respironics Premium chin strap to go along with my mask and I have never looked back. I could possibly skip using the chin strap now after over a year on the hose, but everything is working so well for me now that I don't want to change anything and take the chance of messing it up. Seven nights a week it is: - 1. Fill/top off humidifier, 2. Put on chin strap, 3. Put on nasal mask, 4. Hook up hose to machine and mask, 5. Turn on machine... Ahhh, lights out, good night world, zzzzzzzzzzz!

John

[chunkyfrog]

Papcap: good, but slides over my eyebrows because it is too large for me and too slippery inside.
Also too hot in summer.
Any elastic chin strap made me nauseous within minutes.
Everyone is different. Try a bunch if you can; then go DIY if the otc stuff is not working.
(or tape)

[2 B Sleeping Soundly]

I don't care what anyone says, that Frog is sure a sly one...

[kaiasgram]

I finally slept with a chinstrap last night. Today I feel almost as bad as I did before I got my machine. It didn't prevent sore teeth and it made the bloating worse by a factor of about ten thousand. Unfortunately the Respironics models don't show you an AHI on a per night basis but rather an average so I can't tell how bad last night was without looking at the data and I don't have a PC to do that on (unless there are Mac versions of the software?). It also didn't prevent dry mouth, is very uncomfortable, and I woke up four times instead of 0-1 times without it.

So my question is: do you think chinstraps are a good idea and have you had bad or good experiences with them?

Maybe one night is not enough to conclude it won't work? As hard as the mask is to get used to (for most of us ), the chinstrap is no piece of cake either. Do you think you might have been 'fighting' with it during your sleep? If so that could explain the bloating, dry mouth, etc. Plus most chinstraps still allow for quite a bit of leaking sometimes which can definitely disrupt your sleep.

I had to give up on relying 100% on my chinstrap to keep my mouth closed. I was cinching my chinstrap so flippin' tight in an effort to prevent mouth opening that I gave myself TMJ pain, and I still woke up too many times with air pushing out through my lips. What I've been doing lately is using light taping and the chinstrap. Now the chinstrap is not tight at all and mostly serves as backup in case the tape comes off. It does work for me.

BTW, I have many days, still, when I have a very difficult time waking up but find I start feeling a little more human once I'm up and moving. Hang in there.