CPAPtalk.com

OkyDoky wrote:...

where have YOU been hiding!!!

I have problems with dry mouth also so I use orajel and chin up strips. Here's the link
http://www.drugstore.com/chin-up-strip- ... tid=183127

I've tried it all, chin straps, neck brace, different masks and humidity settings and nothing has worked. The orajel and the chin up strips are the only solution that has worked for me. I just squirt the orajel in my mouth, move it around with my tongue then apply the chin up strip. I wake up the next morning with a moist mouth. If I had to choose between the two due to the costs I would go with the chin up strips. Good Luck.

Hi! I went to download the SleepyHead software and Norton flagged it as having a Trojan.

Norton has made this mistake before. False positive on Norton's end.
Norton just doesn't know what SH is...so it calls it bad.

palerider wrote:

OkyDoky wrote:...

where have YOU been hiding!!!

+1

rosevader wrote:Hi, I'm a real newbie. I have some questions. (Big surprise, huh?) I'm using a Respironics Dream Station Auto CPAP with A Flex with heated humidifier and a small Amara view full face mask. Its been about 10 days of using it 7 hours per night. I wake up each morning with a horrendously dry mouth/throat, even though I've turned up the humidity to 5. I'm a mouth breather which is why I chose the full face mask, but it doesn't seem to help.It gets so bad it wakes me up a couple times per night.

Welcome. You have some of the same problems I had starting out. You also use a mask similar to mine.

Here are the steps I advise to address dry mouth.

1. Try lowering the humidifier setting. Too high settings may cause nasal congestion which causes more mouth breathing. (CPAP humidifiers are very good at preventing dry nasal passages. They are not good at addressing dry mouth because they cannot deliver enough moisture to that large of an area.)

2. I've worn a firm foam cervical collar for years to keep my jaw from dropping at night. Many other members wear them also. This is a big help with dry mouth, and also allows my APAP machine to run at lower pressures and achieve a very low AHI. At the end of this comment, I will post info on the collar I use.

3. Use Orajel For Dry Mouth - http://www.drugstore.com/orajel-dry-mou ... tid=340685

I use this every night - a bit between the gums and teeth lasts all night. Put a dab on the end of your tongue and work it between your lower teeth and gums. Repeat for upper teeth. Apply it just before the mask goes on and try not to suck it down before you fall asleep.

I once used Biotene Gel, but the company was sold, and the new company changed the formulation. IMO, Orajel is a superior product compared to both the new and old formula Biotene Gel.

Of course, I won't be without my SleepyHead software!

All your problems are common and can be solved. Good luck.

I like the DMI Universal Firm Foam Cervical Collars -
http://www.walmart.com/search/?query=DM ... %20Collars

The firm works better and lasts longer than the soft. There seems to be no loss in comfort with the firm over the soft.

The cells in the foam break down over time. One lasts me about four months.

Typically the 3-inch width fits a smaller person, and the 3.5-inch fits a larger person. Some may need to change the size up or down on the second order.

Walmart ships free to your closest store for customer pickup.

-CG

rosevader wrote:I think that I have always had a little bit of congestion, especially during allergy season (in spite of using allergy meds). The congestion hasn't gotten either worse or better since I started using CPAP that I can tell. Maybe I should have an ENT check it out?

I also have a bit of congestion going on all the time. Often I can only breathe through one nostril, but I'm still a nose-breather. What has really surprised me is how much more easily I can breathe with my CPAP running. Two nights ago I woke up, took off my new Dreamwear mask to go to the bathroom, and could not breathe through my nose at ALL. When I came back to bed, I debated switching to my full-face mask, but decided not to. Put the Dreamwear back on, turned on the machine, and I could breathe through my nose again.

So even though you're someone congested all the time, there's a good chance you could train yourself out of mouth breathing while using your CPAP.

Good luck to you! And remember . . . attitude and mindset are a huge part of this effort . . . stay positive and determined to make it work for you!

Pugsy wrote:Norton has made this mistake before. False positive on Norton's end.
Norton just doesn't know what SH is...so it calls it bad.

Same with Kaspersky, which I use.

ChicagoGranny wrote:

palerider wrote:

OkyDoky wrote:...

where have YOU been hiding!!!

+1

Thanks for asking. I've been on the road working and haven't had much computer time. In the winter, when I'm home by the fire, I can spend a lot of time here but get busy working during the summer. I check in sometimes but don't have time to respond usually. I know things are in good hands here.

Last night I had an AHI of 25 with CPAP , that seems pretty ridiculous, and higher than I had with the home sleep study! I'm going to call the sleep center and talk to the doctor, as the tech I talked to last week seemed pretty clueless.
My husband wasn't happy about downloading software that Norton says has a Trojan. Has anyone downloaded Sleepyhead recently?
Thanks for all the input on dry mouth. I've ordered the Orajel. Once I've got the doctor to figure out why the CPAP isn't working, I'll try the cervical collar. I tried to keep my tongue wedged behind my teeth, but it ain't happening after I fall asleep!

I just downloaded the latest SleepyHead today (had been using the first 1.0 Beta version so today got the second updated version which is the most recent)...I don't have Norton. My anti virus program was all quiet.
If you don't want to get SleepyHead then get Encore instead.

If you are using DreamMapper...I have seen some people show their Dream Mapper reports where it shows at least the 3 categories of events...what does yours say?

Under AHI 25 it says 13 clear apneas, 110 obstr, apneas, 20 hypopneas (5.43 hours) 100% mask fit

Your AHI is primarily obstructive apneas...your pressure settings are sub optimal...you need more minimum pressure. The starting point you are using now is too far from what is needed to get the job done and it takes too long to get there.
These machines don't go up all that fast...not like most people think anyway.
I have no idea how much more minimum because that's why we need to look at the software reports especially the pressure graphs.

So I talked with the sleep tech just now, who says, "I usually tell the patient to change the mask, or to use Benadryl, or to take melatonin, etc." What??? How does that help if the pressures are wrong? I feel totally awful today and I was so cranky with her on the phone she made an appointment for me with the doctor on Thursday. Is this a normal response from a sleep tech? Very frustrating!

Wow. If that is the kind of advice they are giving you then I'd suggest you cancel that appointment and focus on taking control of your own therapy.

I've gone to these Sleep Centers and gotten some rabbit hole advice. Finding this place was a Godsend. I bought a new machine, monitored my own stats with the forum member's help and gotten some great sleep behavior advice. I had dry mouth as well although I use nasal pillows so my sich may be a bit different than yours. For me the key was to keep my yapper shut and the solution was a soft cervical collar. Since using the collar I have had ZERO nights where I wake up with a dry mouth. I've extended my use of the machine from 4 hours to nearly 7 hours a night.

I'd follow the advice you have been given here and see if you can rectify the problems without being lead down a rabbit hole.

That may save you some coin in the long run.