How did YOU Resolve Your Mouth-Leaks? (poll)

[NateS]

That is wonderful! I've never been able to achieve a flat line like that. Here is the best I get: <snip>

Happy New Year,

Happy New Year to you also, Nate.

That variability on the mask would likely drive me nuts. But I will note that the differences between our charts may stem from the fact that mine is set to a pretty narrow range (which is what works to control my events), whereas you appear to need somewhat wider a range. Plus, what controls your events does seem to be a pretty widely variable pressure.

I do use a homemade "brandy keg" chin strap. Well, I suppose it's a chin strap. It's a 4" diameter cylinder of hard foam that I bored a hole through, wrapped it in fleece, and added a strap to. (Half of a dead CL2 strap.) Strap goes around my neck, and the cylinder tucks under my chin to hold it up. Much better than more straps over my head.

(I also have to wonder what the same data would look like in the same software. We could be comparing apples and oranges here. Oh, well, have to wait until I can get a newer machine that Sleepyhead works with.)

The brandy keg is an ingenious idea! Very creative of you!

As for my Leak scale, I am really unaware of the variances. Except for about 3 times a night when I have to slide my Wisp nosepiece down a couple centimeters as it tends to creep up.

I agree with you that the graph presentation can significantly affect the appearance of the variations. If I raised the top of the leak graph, the line would appear to be flatter.

Best wishes, Nate

[Kiralynx]

The brandy keg is an ingenious idea! Very creative of you!

As for my Leak scale, I am really unaware of the variances. Except for about 3 times a night when I have to slide my Wisp nosepiece down a couple centimeters as it tends to creep up.

I agree with you that the graph presentation can significantly affect the appearance of the variations. If I raised the top of the leak graph, the line would appear to be flatter.

Well, I realized after my titration (I woke up part way through it with my mouth open) that I had mouth breathing issues, though in common with most people, I didn't want to admit it.

I already knew I had issues with straps all over my face, ie, 95% of all nasal pillow or nasal masks. Adding still more straps wasn't going to help. Plus, I can't afford the air conditioning bill to keep from sweating to death with half a dozen straps all over me. I tried taping, and my events went up because of the stress.

So, I had to come up with SOMETHING that would work. And did.

I think it's great that you've adjusted enough that those shifts don't appear to bother you.

<wry grin> Now that Wisp mask, which works well for you, would drive me stark, screaming bonkers.

[lullaby]

My mouth only seems to drop open in the last hour of sleep. More annoying than anything else and my leak rate is still small.