Is it OK to mouth breathe occasionally with NOSE MASK?

- I am a 2.5 week Newbie. Started with nose mask and had good stats but my nose congestion caused me to try a full face.
- I thought the full face gave me more air flow into my nose and the ability to occasionally gulp in some air through my mouth had me thinkin I found the right mask but...
- My stats became much worse, had itching problems (imagined or real not sure) and just plain slept worse.
- Just went back to nose mask during a nap, will sleep with it tonight.

- My question is; If I really want a big gulp of air from my mouth what are the implications and how should I go about that occasional breathe?
Is this sacrilege to take a breathe with a nose mask on?
Should I turn the machine off temporarily? I'll lose alot of sleep that way...
Will my AHI shoot up?
Will my Central breathing go up?

- Bathroom break. If I let air shoot out hose until it auto shuts off will that cause higher AHI's? Should I press the off button before using the bathroom?

And yes I care about keeping my scores low even if they aren't negatively affecting my health. My licensing agency will review my stats printout annually. Until I know more I can only assume higher scores = more scrutiny.

Thanx for the advice and input!

If you feel the need of a big breath (apneic gasp?) then your Cpap is not doing a good job and you should do whatever you can to fix that, not ask our permission to breathe. Forget centrals altogether for now, they're just a red herring in this. Turn off your machine if you get up. But it's not about what we think, it's what you know to be better.

Julie wrote:If you feel the need of a big breath (apneic gasp?) then your Cpap is not doing a good job and you should do whatever you can to fix that, not ask our permission to breathe. Forget centrals altogether for now, they're just a red herring in this. Turn off your machine if you get up. But it's not about what we think, it's what you know to be better.

Hey Julie

I thought it was my nose congestion problem that I've always had was causing the problem. How can a CPAP be expected to function properly into a stuffed nose? I think the reason I occasionally need a big breathe is cause my stuffed nostril is causing me to ingest less air. Eventually I just need a supplement. Then I get tired of that routine and take the mask off and get to sleep. ENT appointment is already set.

So far your advice about lower humidity has lessen my stuffed nose. I lowered it and my tube temp even more and have my fingers crossed the results are even better tonight.
Kinda strange that he respiratory techs at the VA had me increase humidity to help the congestion? Some of the techs are very experienced other not so much. So far your the correct one on that one.

Thx for advice about turning machine off for bathroom breaks, will do.

I added a line to mine after you posted...

More humidity helps some people depending on various factors.

Julie

I just had my best night yet in my 2.5 weeks of CPAP use because of your advice!
While initially enamored with the FFM I was having worse stats and less sleep. So I decided to try the nose mask again last night.

But without your advice about lowering the humidity (I put it on 3 and tube temp to 79) I would have still not been able to breathe well. Lowering humidity seemed to do the trick. I had a comfortable night
with no urge to mouth breathe. It felt like I both nostrils were clear but I was surprised to find out when I took the mask off that as usual
my one nostril was clogged. But apparently the lower humidity setting allowed me to breathe well enough to be comfortable.

The well meaning RT's at the VA including one of their most experienced ones response to my breathing problems while already at a fairly high humidity setting
was to further increase the setting as well as the tube temp. They need to take some instruction from you

Now on to more time to learn how to upload my SH screenshot.

Thanx!

As a human being, nose masks are worthless for me. Full face mask is the best solution to assure therapy. I don't know about you, but being a biological creature, I get sick sometimes and cannot breath out of my nose. Heck, depending on temp and humidity I get stuffed up without being sick, making it necessary to mouth breathe.

Sometimes your jaw also may just open a bit while sleeping, which unseals your lips making therapy less effective. If you can't tell yet, i don't see the point in nose masks unless you plan on duct-taping your mouth shut.

My nose stops up with the slightest pressure around the upper part of my nose.
I breathe best with nasal pillows.
Breathe Right strips prop my nose open so a cold cannot stop me from using my cpap.
If only they made them for where the apnea happens!

chunkyfrog wrote: I breathe best with nasal pillows.
Breathe Right strips prop my nose open so a cold cannot stop me from using my cpap.
If only they made them for where the apnea happens!

They are available :

http://www.alaxo.com/alaxostent_eng.html

chunkyfrog wrote:My nose stops up with the slightest pressure around the upper part of my nose.
I breathe best with nasal pillows.
Breathe Right strips prop my nose open so a cold cannot stop me from using my cpap.
If only they made them for where the apnea happens!

How are nasal pillows better than a regular nasal mask when it comes to congestion?

Quote :
How are nasal pillows better than a regular nasal mask when it comes to congestion?


nasal pillows apply pressure to the inside of the nose, without applying to the outside of the nose .... therefore the pressure tends to open the nose passage as well as the rest of the airway.
This has the same affect as a breathright strip.

That is why a hi-bred mask (like a Amara View) is better than a standard fullface mask

Some folks (like me) have sensitive noses, which swell up inside
when pressure is applied ON TOP of the nose.
If it does not happen to you, be grateful, as it is a huge nuisance,
and vastly reduces your mask options.
And, Ghost, I don't want THAT shoved up my nose--especially that far.
So far, I can only get pointy just past the first joint--with good nails--just forget it!

icipher wrote:As a human being, nose masks are worthless for me. ... being a biological creature, I get sick sometimes

Thanks for the validation. I always suspected that those nose breathers were sub human, non-biological entities.

grayghost4 wrote:nasal pillows apply pressure to the inside of the nose, without applying to the outside of the nose .... therefore the pressure tends to open the nose passage as well as the rest of the airway.

Agreed 100x
Nasal pillows are indeed the very best esp. at relieving nasal congestion.
Since starting cpap I have had far fewer colds and less intense when I did catch some germs when out shopping near coughing/sneezing people. The best relief came at nite with the nasal pillows open my sinuses right up.
As a result I have not used a decongestant like Afrin since being on cpap.

I have had a chronic runny/ stuffed nose for as long as I can remember. I have used a variety, over a dozen different masks, including nasal pillows, nasal, full face. my best sleep and AHI comes with a Sleep Weaver Elan nasal mask. And my kids tell me I am a biological human.
The point here is we are all different. Only personal experience will tell each of us what works best for us. It will require time, money, effort and patience. A few of us get lucky on the first or second try. Others will be satisfied with whatever they get, living in blissful ignorance and never checking their AHI or anything else. Many are chasing the illusive 0 AHI every night. I have hit zero a few times, less than one frequently and seldom over 3.

Don't stress over your AHI but work slowly to reduce it with small adjustments.