After few hours, mouth full of air

beneyw · Post by **beneyw** » Fri May 05, 2006 4:05 am

Ok...starts off with 2 mg. Lunesta and sleep for a few hours...then awake and adjust mask due to nose bridge pain. I then go back to sleep and even with ramping the pressure down soon my mouth gets full of air and the only way to release it is through mouth. Almost as if someone was pumping air into my mouth and I was not breathing it in fast enough and this is all while very wide awake.

Does this make sense to anyone?

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Fri May 05, 2006 5:11 am

YES

I get leaking into the mouth. Air seeps into my mouth past the soft tissue of the tongue. If I'm careful my tongue will seal but if I'm relaxed air will leak into my mouth, like a tire leaking and my cheeks will blow up and I have to let the excess air escape out my mouth.

I used a chin strap for a while because I would sometimes open my mouth while sleeping.

I found that the chin strap compressed the soft tissue under my jaw and helped keep my tongue better positioned so I didn't have the air leaks into the mouth.

I have trained myself to keep my mouth closed most of the time so I don't wear the strap but I do still get the mouth/tonge leaks usually in the morning.

Best,

Tom

sleepylady · Post by **sleepylady** » Fri May 05, 2006 6:34 am

I got this in the beginning too...it gets better. I've been on CPAP since the end of September 2005. I found eventually that problem went away as I got more used to the pressure. I'm now able to even talk pretty normally with my nasal pillows and machine on. Just keep trying. If need be, try a chinstrap if it's really bad.

Melinda

froger25 · Post by **froger25** » Fri May 05, 2006 9:25 am

Does this always happen when you open your mouth? I don't mean to intrude on your post but I am about to switch to some form of nasal mask as well. If what the other posters are saying to you is about what I think it is then I am very encouraged.

Ok the clarifying. When I had my sleep study they started with a nasal mask and my jaw relaxed at some point and air that was blowing into my nose started to come out of my mouth. It did not bother me but they viewed it as a need for me to have a full face mask saying I was a mouth breather. (keep in mind my sleep study was completely screwed up so they may be incorrect on any of these ideas). Is this the same thing you are talking about?

The others are saying you will eventually stop having that is awesome if that is the case because I slept fine at the sleep study with the nasal mask.

sleepylady · Post by **sleepylady** » Fri May 05, 2006 10:54 am

Froger,

Some people are mouth breathers and some really aren't. If you didn't have problems before CPAP, then you may not be one. I can say opening your mouth and not having a full face mask can be a rude awakening, literally, when you wake up. Your mouth and throat will be so very dry. For me, I had episodes every once in awhile for the first two months. My last one was at the end of January. That only happened because I got drugged up while in the emergency room due to kidney stone pain...OUCH.

Just keep an "eye" on yourself. If you find it happens a lot, then you will want to look at chinstraps or taping if you want to use a nasal mask or pillows.

Melinda

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Fri May 05, 2006 11:00 am

It really depends... Sorry to be vague but it is an individual issue.

If you are a certified mouth breather then you either need a FFM or any other mask and a chin-strap or taping of your mouth.

You need to find what is the best for you.

I use a nasal mask and since I would mouth breath and tongue leak I used a chin strap for a few weeks and trained myself to keep my mouth closed "most" of the time - still happens occasionally.

In the morning I still have air leaking past my tongue and sometimes I suspect I'm swollowing air during the night - but not sure...sometimes I feel bloated in the morning.

I watch my leak numbers and everything is good on that end so I take the minor air leaks in stride - xPAP is not necessarily a "perfect" experience.

Tom

beneyw · Post by **beneyw** » Fri May 05, 2006 5:27 pm

When I had the original sleep study, they started me off with a FF mask. The results were poor and then after switching to nasal mask I was told the results were drastically improved. Now, after having been prescribed a nasal mask I have the dry mouth, full of air sensation during the latter parts of the night. Does it happen every night? No...so, the jury is still out. About the only consistent occurrence is the ##@$^! nose bridge discomfort. I will see doc next week and hopefully will get some information but all I expect is..."It will take time.."....now going on week 4.

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Sat May 06, 2006 11:06 am

The nose bridge issue is usually a matter of fitting you with the right sizr mask. Also depending how you adjust the mask on your face can effect that to.

Try the cpap.com sizing tool and see if you have the right mask size for your mask.

As far as mouth leaks - I woke up this morning very bloated and Gassey apparently I'm swallowing air through the night. Bummer. But my Xpap is working and I just got an Activa nasal mask and it is a great mask. No leaks. A nice change.

Best,

Tom

Ellen · Post by **Ellen** » Sat May 06, 2006 2:08 pm

I find, for myself, it is not a matter of mouth breathing (I am a nose breather by nature) but more a matter of that when my pressure goes above 7-8 (which is every night for at least some amount of time) the pressure through my nose breaks the "tongue in roof of mouth" seal nasal breathers use and POOF - blowfish cheeks and mouth leaks no matter what

Best answer for majority is mouth taping -

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Sat May 06, 2006 2:26 pm

I've resisted mouth taping so far but as they say, all options are on the table...

Mask

After few hours, mouth full of air

After few hours, mouth full of air

Want to clarify for my benifit....

mouth breathing