Need help with mouth leaks!

garyland · Post by **garyland** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 7:39 am

I have been using an AutoPAP for about 6 months now as a CFLEX not auto with a setting of 9cm. OK...up until last week, I have had no problems except for a VERY rare and brief release of air thru my lips for a second which might wake me up. It would happen maybe once a month. Well. starting last week I have been have a leak of air from my nose to my mouth frequently during the night which wakes me up. I hold the back of my tongue up against the back of my soft palete to seal the air from entering my mouth. I must subconsciously do that all night long, but now I am allowing air to enter my mouth while I sleep and it wakes me up. What is going on? What can I do? I was thinking about dropping down my pressure from 9 to 7 to see if that helps. When I was in auto mode, according to the software I stayed in the 4, 5 and 6 pressure all night. THe lab told me I should be at 10cm even though I put it at 9 after seeing where the auto had placed me. So any advice would be helpful.

Thanks,
Gary

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 7:46 am

Here's a thread that talks about mouth leaks. It starts out about skin allergy, but if you read the entire thread there is information on mouth leaks and tape. Click on this link:

viewtopic.php?t=6653

garyland · Post by **garyland** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:26 am

Thanks for your reply. Mouth taping is not realy the answer to my problem on. Before yes, when air was coming out my lips. This time air is entering my mouth, but not necessarily exiting it....if that makes any sense?

Gary

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:57 am

garyml wrote:This time air is entering my mouth, but not necessarily exiting it....if that makes any sense?

I don't get why tape wouldn't work. If your mouth is taped no air can exit or enter it.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 10:14 am

Air in your mouth is no problem, air exiting your mouth means no compliance. (loss of treatment)

Taping or FF Mask, whatever it takes, make up your mind you are going to do it, it's your health.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 10:14 am

Gary,

I think your alternatives are: Tape, a chinstrap, a "boil and bite" mouth guard, or a full face mask.

Good luck,

Den

garyland · Post by **garyland** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 11:37 am

I have written this question on two other groups and I don't seem to be expressing myself well, since everyone is saying to tape my mouth or use a strap. What is happening is that for a second I am losing the seal that I am making where the back of my tongue is up against the soft palete of my mouth. So for a split second air pops into my mouth but not out of my mouth. When that happens I awaken. I then fall asleep and it happens serveral times. It has not happened before in that way before about one week ago. So taping my mouth or using a strap will not work.

Gary

Bella · Post by **Bella** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:42 pm

Are you saying that the air enters your mouth from your nasal passages (or whatever) rather than entering through your lips? If so, I guess that is why the tape or chin strap won't work.

garyland · Post by **garyland** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:30 pm

Yes...that is right.

Bella · Post by **Bella** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:45 pm

I think that that is what the others are misunderstanding. I am like you and seem to be able to seal the internal leak usually. I first got a full face mask because I couldn't believe that I wouldn't mouth breath. But the leaks on it were so noisy I had to get a nasal mask. (I have the Swift.) I got a chin strap at the same time because I still couldn't believe that I wouldn't mouth breath. But the chin strap bothered me too. When I went without it, I realized that I was able to seal up on the inside and I didn't mouth breath except when I had a very bad head cold. I can understand how the feeling of the leak would be disturbing. Do you have any sinus problems right now that might be causing it to happen?

inacpapfog · Post by **inacpapfog** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 5:55 pm

Garyml, Oh, I understand your problem all right! Same thing happens to me! I use the chin strap (the stretchy, wide, white one) solely for the purpose keeping my cheeks from expanding with air. I tape my mouth closed to keep air from exiting the lips, but without the chin strap, the air just bellows into my cheecks and wakes me up! By preventing the cheek expansion, I am not being awaken with a mouth full of air!