Air leak

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
dream321
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Air leak

Post by dream321 » Thu May 19, 2022 8:35 am

I’ve been having a bad air leak for the last 3 weeks. I’ve troubleshooted my equipment. Seems fine. I took a hour nap, with no leaks. I think my mouth is opening during the night. My mouth has been dry, including just inside my lips. I’ve tried a chin strap in the past, when I first got cpap, and I find it very uncomfortable, and can’t sleep with it. Anyone know of any techniques to keep my mouth shut during the night, or think there may be another reason for the air leak?

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Pugsy
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Re: Air leak

Post by Pugsy » Thu May 19, 2022 8:49 am

Tape your mouth shut for one night and see what the leaks look like with the lips taped.
If it fixes the leak problem then you know for sure it is mouth opening/breathing and can decide how you want to address the issue.
But if it doesn't fix the leak issues then it could simply be a lot of mask movement and you would have a different issue to address.

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dream321
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Re: Air leak

Post by dream321 » Thu May 19, 2022 9:08 am

I’ll try that. Thanks

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palerider
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Re: Air leak

Post by palerider » Thu May 19, 2022 4:27 pm

dream321 wrote:
Thu May 19, 2022 8:35 am
I’ve been having a bad air leak for the last 3 weeks. I’ve troubleshooted my equipment. Seems fine. I took a hour nap, with no leaks. I think my mouth is opening during the night. My mouth has been dry, including just inside my lips. I’ve tried a chin strap in the past, when I first got cpap, and I find it very uncomfortable, and can’t sleep with it. Anyone know of any techniques to keep my mouth shut during the night, or think there may be another reason for the air leak?
Chinstraps do not prevent mouth leak, because teeth aren't air tight. Now, maybe a chin strap and a boil and bite mouth guard might.. but like Pugsy, I recommend tape.

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Re: Air leak

Post by clownbell » Fri May 20, 2022 5:38 pm

Among the several taping alternatives, may I recommend the MedVance 2" silicone tape from Amaz**. For me, it seals very well and is wide enough to mitigate the jaw dropping open. It may appear pricey at first, but you can use a piece for more than 1 day -- making it less expensive than it may initially seem. Of equal importance, it does not remove a layer of skin when you take the tape off. Pull sideways not straight out.
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ozij
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Re: Air leak

Post by ozij » Fri May 20, 2022 8:07 pm

clownbell wrote:
Fri May 20, 2022 5:38 pm
but you can use a piece for more than 1 day
How and where do you keep it the used piece between uses?
When I use other tapes -- not as gentle - I need to protect my lips with some kind of "chapstick" -- and then I suck them in. Is Medvance gentle enough to be put on and off your lips without any protection?
clownbell wrote:
Fri May 20, 2022 5:38 pm
Pull sideways not straight out.
Could you please explain the distinction?

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dream321
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Re: Air leak

Post by dream321 » Sun May 22, 2022 4:20 pm

Tape helps. Air still gets into my mouth, and blew the tape off, so I’ll put more on. I think it might be my only option. I’ve been on CPAP for 5 years without this problem. Is it common for people to all of a sudden have air leak out of their mouths, and then continue, without experiencing this problem before?

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zonker
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Re: Air leak

Post by zonker » Sun May 22, 2022 5:12 pm

dream321 wrote:
Sun May 22, 2022 4:20 pm
Tape helps. Air still gets into my mouth, and blew the tape off, so I’ll put more on. I think it might be my only option. I’ve been on CPAP for 5 years without this problem. Is it common for people to all of a sudden have air leak out of their mouths, and then continue, without experiencing this problem before?
you might try the scunci method, talked about here-
viewtopic.php?p=1089718&f=1&t=112758&p= ... s#p1086296

this in conjunction with a firm foam cervical collar has stopped mouth leaks for me.

(well, until i bought the wrong sized collar. d'oh!)
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kkwitter
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Re: Air leak

Post by kkwitter » Mon Jun 06, 2022 10:43 am

I also have been a longtime CPAP user with no mouth leak problem for the last many years. Since switching last week to the Airsense 11 from the Air Sense 10 (identical settings, identical P10 nasal pillows), I am leaking through my mouth - as I fall asleep I am awakened by a "puuh" of air through my lips. Sometimes even after I fall asleep, my husband hears a steady escape of air from my mouth. So I have had to tape my mouth (Nexcare Gentle Paper Tape) the last few nights - nasty in the best of times, and a pain to replace after needing a sip of water or a Tums. Any idea why the identical setup now produces mouth breathing?

UPDATE 6/7/22: Sorry for any fuss - I lied - the 2 CPAPS were NOT set exactly the same - I had EPR 3 on my AirSense 10, but only EPR 1 on the Air Sense 11. When I set the Air Sense 11 to EPR 3 as well, the problem was solved.


zonker wrote:
Sun May 22, 2022 5:12 pm
dream321 wrote:
Sun May 22, 2022 4:20 pm
Tape helps. Air still gets into my mouth, and blew the tape off, so I’ll put more on. I think it might be my only option. I’ve been on CPAP for 5 years without this problem. Is it common for people to all of a sudden have air leak out of their mouths, and then continue, without experiencing this problem before?
you might try the scunci method, talked about here-
viewtopic.php?p=1089718&f=1&t=112758&p= ... s#p1086296

this in conjunction with a firm foam cervical collar has stopped mouth leaks for me.

(well, until i bought the wrong sized collar. d'oh!)
Last edited by kkwitter on Tue Jun 07, 2022 9:06 am, edited 1 time in total.

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zonker
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Re: Air leak

Post by zonker » Mon Jun 06, 2022 3:30 pm

kkwitter wrote:
Mon Jun 06, 2022 10:43 am
I also have been a longtime CPAP user with no mouth leak problem for the last many years.
may i humbly suggest you start a new thread for your problem? while it's related to this topic, you may have a different enough leak cause.

i just don't want two different users in one thread as it tends to get confusing.

thanks!
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clownbell
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Re: Air leak

Post by clownbell » Mon Jun 06, 2022 3:54 pm

ozij wrote:
Fri May 20, 2022 8:07 pm
clownbell wrote:
Fri May 20, 2022 5:38 pm
Pull sideways not straight out.
Could you please explain the distinction?
By sideways, I mean hold the skin down with one hand and pull with the tape curled back upon itself -- not pulling straight out toward the mirror. In other words, pull right-to-left (or left-to-right if you prefer) NOT straight out away from the nose and toward the mirror. Hope that clarifies.
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ozij
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Re: Air leak

Post by ozij » Tue Jun 07, 2022 12:50 am

clownbell wrote:
Mon Jun 06, 2022 3:54 pm
ozij wrote:
Fri May 20, 2022 8:07 pm
clownbell wrote:
Fri May 20, 2022 5:38 pm
Pull sideways not straight out.
Could you please explain the distinction?
By sideways, I mean hold the skin down with one hand and pull with the tape curled back upon itself -- not pulling straight out toward the mirror. In other words, pull right-to-left (or left-to-right if you prefer) NOT straight out away from the nose and toward the mirror. Hope that clarifies.
Yes, it does. Thank you.

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And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Good advice is compromised by missing data
Forum member Dog Slobber Nov. 2023