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Re: New here. After jumping through hoops since my diagnosis in October, I finally got my BiPAP! I have some questions.
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 9:25 pm
by Kroldor
Miss Emerita wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 8:20 pm
Kroldor, congratulations on getting the bilevel machine you wanted! You are wise to keep trying masks until you find a type and fit that work for you. And it’s great you will soon be using Sleepyhead.
Once you have a few daily charts to post, the resident experts can get to work on advising you on your settings. I think it is very likely that your AHI will come down with some fine-tuning.
It sounds as though you are already adapting well and pretty quickly. You are already seeing some daytime benefits from therapy—it can take many people weeks or months before they really notice improvement. As your treatment continues, I believe you will feel better and better. People’s bodies often adapt on their own schedule, not the one we would like! In addition, you should expect to feel improvements due to a lower AHI and solutions to your practical problems.
Your chest may be feeling a little sore from the effort of exhaling against pressure. This is not uncommon, and it should go away within a month.
As for air filling the mouth, is your problem that your mouth opens and air comes out of it, or is it that air gets in your closed mouth and balloons your cheeks?
Thanks!
The problem with the air in the mouth is the cheek balloons. However, it usually doesn't get that far. I normally wake up as my jaw starts to lower and push forward a bit. If I let it go, it will balloon my cheeks. Since it's a problem with my jaw moving, I imagine a chin strap would fix that right up.
Re: New here. After jumping through hoops since my diagnosis in October, I finally got my BiPAP! I have some questions.
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:04 pm
by chunkyfrog
Kroldor wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 9:25 pm
. . . cheek balloons . . .
Also known as chipmunk cheeks--sounds way cuter than it really is.
It often goes away spontaneously-
-mine went at about the same time I learned to talk while the machine is running.
Re: New here. After jumping through hoops since my diagnosis in October, I finally got my BiPAP! I have some questions.
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:12 pm
by Kroldor
chunkyfrog wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:04 pm
Kroldor wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 9:25 pm
. . . cheek balloons . . .
-mine went at about the same time I learned to talk while the machine is running.
...I didn't even know that was possible lol
Re: New here. After jumping through hoops since my diagnosis in October, I finally got my BiPAP! I have some questions.
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:24 pm
by babydinosnoreless
chunkyfrog wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:04 pm
Kroldor wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 9:25 pm
. . . cheek balloons . . .
Also known as chipmunk cheeks--sounds way cuter than it really is.
It often goes away spontaneously-
-mine went at about the same time I learned to talk while the machine is running.
What is the trick. How do you do that ?
Re: New here. After jumping through hoops since my diagnosis in October, I finally got my BiPAP! I have some questions.
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:36 pm
by palerider
babydinosnoreless wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:24 pm
chunkyfrog wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:04 pm
Kroldor wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 9:25 pm
. . . cheek balloons . . .
Also known as chipmunk cheeks--sounds way cuter than it really is.
It often goes away spontaneously-
-mine went at about the same time I learned to talk while the machine is running.
What is the trick. How do you do that ?
AKA Dizzy Gillespie cheeks:
When i was in band, they told us not to do that.
Re: New here. After jumping through hoops since my diagnosis in October, I finally got my BiPAP! I have some questions.
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:39 pm
by Pugsy
babydinosnoreless wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:24 pm
chunkyfrog wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:04 pm
Kroldor wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 9:25 pm
. . . cheek balloons . . .
Also known as chipmunk cheeks--sounds way cuter than it really is.
It often goes away spontaneously-
-mine went at about the same time I learned to talk while the machine is running.
What is the trick. How do you do that ?
I wish I could explain what the trick is but I can't. If I could I would market it for about $10 and buy a new truck.
I can have my mask on and the machine blowing....and still open my mouth wide open and stick out my tongue and blow raspberries at you....and talk...and yawn...and never have the air enter my mouth at all. I never ever get chipmunk cheeks.
It's a reflex action and I can't tell you how I learned to do it...but I did and I am not the only one. Lots of people can do it.
It's such an ingrained reflex that I do it while asleep too.
Re: New here. After jumping through hoops since my diagnosis in October, I finally got my BiPAP! I have some questions.
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:43 pm
by Bookbear
bombayone wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 5:50 pm
It is conversations of this tone that discourage people from seeking help. BiPAP/Bilevel - focus on offering help.
Amen. A simple correction (precision is important in many cases, of course), but then move on. The interchangeability of terms in this case really doesn't impede offering useful help.
Re: New here. After jumping through hoops since my diagnosis in October, I finally got my BiPAP! I have some questions.
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 11:01 pm
by Kroldor
palerider wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:36 pm
babydinosnoreless wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:24 pm
chunkyfrog wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:04 pm
Kroldor wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 9:25 pm
. . . cheek balloons . . .
Also known as chipmunk cheeks--sounds way cuter than it really is.
It often goes away spontaneously-
-mine went at about the same time I learned to talk while the machine is running.
What is the trick. How do you do that ?
AKA Dizzy Gillespie cheeks:
When i was in band, they told us not to do that.
Re: New here. After jumping through hoops since my diagnosis in October, I finally got my BiPAP! I have some questions.
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 7:12 am
by katestyles
palerider wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:36 pm
AKA Dizzy Gillespie cheeks:
When i was in band, they told us not to do that.
did they also tell you not to do that to the horn?
Re: New here. After jumping through hoops since my diagnosis in October, I finally got my BiPAP! I have some questions.
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 8:44 am
by babydinosnoreless
Pugsy wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:39 pm
babydinosnoreless wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:24 pm
chunkyfrog wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:04 pm
Kroldor wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 9:25 pm
. . . cheek balloons . . .
Also known as chipmunk cheeks--sounds way cuter than it really is.
It often goes away spontaneously-
-mine went at about the same time I learned to talk while the machine is running.
What is the trick. How do you do that ?
I wish I could explain what the trick is but I can't. If I could I would market it for about $10 and buy a new truck.
I can have my mask on and the machine blowing....and still open my mouth wide open and stick out my tongue and blow raspberries at you....and talk...and yawn...and never have the air enter my mouth at all. I never ever get chipmunk cheeks.
It's a reflex action and I can't tell you how I learned to do it...but I did and I am not the only one. Lots of people can do it.
It's such an ingrained reflex that I do it while asleep too.
Lol I wish I could do it. I've been on this machine since last October and still can't.
Re: New here. After jumping through hoops since my diagnosis in October, I finally got my BiPAP! I have some questions.
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 9:53 am
by Miss Emerita
In other threads, several members have described how they keep air out of their mouths, and I’ve found this works for me. It can take time to get to the point where this will continue working after you fall asleep, but the more you practice, including during the day, the better the odds it’ll work.
Position the tip of your tongue behind your top teeth. Then place the part of your tongue in back of the tip up against your palate. Now press and suck a bit so that you feel a seal. Sometimes it helps to swallow as you create the seal.
If your lower jaw drops, you will probably lose the seal. Chin straps are one way to keep your jaw up, but for me a neck collar was more comfortable. I like the Dr Dakota collar, though others prefer a more traditional collar. I no longer need to wear mine; it’s strange but true that the body often responds well to retraining.
Re: New here. After jumping through hoops since my diagnosis in October, I finally got my BiPAP! I have some questions.
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 11:21 am
by palerider
katestyles wrote: ↑Tue Jun 11, 2019 7:12 am
palerider wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:36 pm
AKA Dizzy Gillespie cheeks:
When i was in band, they told us not to do that.
did they also tell you not to do that to the horn?
I don't think that ever came up over in the horn section... but I'm not sure, since I was i the woodwinds
Re: New here. After jumping through hoops since my diagnosis in October, I finally got my BiPAP! I have some questions.
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 11:24 am
by palerider
babydinosnoreless wrote: ↑Tue Jun 11, 2019 8:44 am
Pugsy wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:39 pm
babydinosnoreless wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:24 pm
chunkyfrog wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:04 pm
Kroldor wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2019 9:25 pm
. . . cheek balloons . . .
Also known as chipmunk cheeks--sounds way cuter than it really is.
It often goes away spontaneously-
-mine went at about the same time I learned to talk while the machine is running.
What is the trick. How do you do that ?
I wish I could explain what the trick is but I can't. If I could I would market it for about $10 and buy a new truck.
I can have my mask on and the machine blowing....and still open my mouth wide open and stick out my tongue and blow raspberries at you....and talk...and yawn...and never have the air enter my mouth at all. I never ever get chipmunk cheeks.
It's a reflex action and I can't tell you how I learned to do it...but I did and I am not the only one. Lots of people can do it.
It's such an ingrained reflex that I do it while asleep too.
Lol I wish I could do it. I've been on this machine since last October and still can't.
Same (as Pugsy) here... my tongue has nothing to do with it... I don't know what exactly does, because it's really dark in there and I can't see
but I can do the open mouth and stick out tongue thing while breathing under pressure... or I can block off my nose and breathe through my mouth, without losing any pressure, or, if I try... I can let air rush out of my mouth from the vpap...