beginner with cpap

Illinois guy little lost right now.
started cpap 2 weeks ago
using air sense 10
dreamwear gel pillows mask ( put on me at sleep study test )
chin strap.
waking up because mouth drops open even with strap
waking up because I seem to push valve forward and pillows loosen blowing air.
I did go about 6 1/2 hrs 1 night and was encouraged by that but last 2 nights lost ground due to above
because my mouth drops open should I go full mask ?
all comments good/bad appreciated

I am one of those people that has never been able to use either nasal pillows or a nasal mask. I have always used a full face mask. I am currently using the Resmed F20 which I have been using for about 18 months. Prior to that, I used the Simplus and Amara View masks. I also use a firm, foam cervical collar when sleeping. The collar helps to keep my airway open and allows me to use a slightly lower pressure.

bristolman wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 16, 2019 12:30 pm

Illinois guy little lost right now.
started cpap 2 weeks ago
using air sense 10
dreamwear gel pillows mask ( put on me at sleep study test )
chin strap.
waking up because mouth drops open even with strap
waking up because I seem to push valve forward and pillows loosen blowing air.
I did go about 6 1/2 hrs 1 night and was encouraged by that but last 2 nights lost ground due to above
because my mouth drops open should I go full mask ?
all comments good/bad appreciated

welcome to the zoo!

please see my links below to help yourself and us out.

i use p10 nasal pillows. like okibipap, i use a foam cervical collar. AND i use this-

viewtopic/p1089718/viewtopic.php?f=1&t= ... s#p1086296

good luck!

Hello and welcome. Are you able to nose breathe when awake? One factor in determining whether you must have a full face mask is if the airways are open enough to breathe through when asleep. Some people use a full face mask by choice because the effort required to keep the mouth closed is more than they want to deal with. What is your usual sleep position? Keeping the jaw from going slack can be especially challenging when back sleeping or on piles of pillows. I've found slack jaw to be less problematic when sleeping on a firm flat pillow - removes gravity from the picture. For several years I used a chin strap, mouth taping, and/or dental adhesive to try to keep my mouth from opening. Besides switching to a flat pillow, for the most part I side sleep and tried to habituate myself to sleeping with my face hanging off the edge of the pillow just enough to tilt downward. Helps keep the tongue forward. And speaking of the tongue, there is a technique of keeping the tongue suction sealed to the roof of the mouth. Mastering this was the most successful effort in controlling mouth leaks and mouth breathing, the above described sleep position is helpful when trying to train the tongue to maintain a seal. I no longer have to use aids nor do I have to regulate my sleep position to keep my treatment air where it belongs. YMMV

Okie bipap wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 16, 2019 2:07 pm

I am one of those people that has never been able to use either nasal pillows or a nasal mask. I have always used a full face mask. I am currently using the Resmed F20 which I have been using for about 18 months. Prior to that, I used the Simplus and Amara View masks. I also use a firm, foam cervical collar when sleeping. The collar helps to keep my airway open and allows me to use a slightly lower pressure.

Almost the same here.

Started with a nasal only mask, quickly found THAT wasn't going to work, so went FF, now alternating between an AirFit F20 and an AirTouch F20. The AirTouch is slightly more comfortable, but doesn't last long enough, so I change every 3-4 days, and I'm doing great now. Since changing my lower pressure from 11 to 12 in early March, I have not had a single day even near 2 events per hour, most days I'm at .3 or less, had 3 days this week at ZERO, and and average over the last month of .3

As Zonker says, trying a collar is probably you best next move. Most people like the same kind he recommends; me, I prefer the Dr. Dakota (google it).

Oddly enough at a certain point I didn’t need a collar any more, though I still use tape to keep my lips closed. Before long I’ll see if I can do without that too.

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 16, 2019 7:52 pm

As Zonker says, trying a collar is probably you best next move. Most people like the same kind he recommends; me, I prefer the Dr. Dakota (google it).

Oddly enough at a certain point I didn’t need a collar any more, though I still use tape to keep my lips closed. Before long I’ll see if I can do without that too.

and how long will it be before you can do without cpap altogether?

Well, let’s see, I’m 70 now, so maybe in 40 years??

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 16, 2019 9:31 pm

Well, let’s see, I’m 70 now, so maybe in 40 years??

it's good to have goals, eh?

I went straight to full mask. Took a lot of getting used to, but a year in and it’s fantastic to get 7 hours of sleep and really feel well in the morning. My thoughts are that the brain had to get used to the straps and mask pressure.

Russ

Rwhb12 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 17, 2019 7:43 am

I went straight to full mask. Took a lot of getting used to, but a year in and it’s fantastic to get 7 hours of sleep and really feel well in the morning. My thoughts are that the brain had to get used to the straps and mask pressure.

Russ

remember, though, that each of us is just that much different. what worked for you may not necessarily work for the OP.

thx to all for suggestions , made 7:15 minutes before I pushed the valve at top of the head forward last night . I just need to work on pillow for head situation but I think I can do this , at least I keep telling myself that . another plus from last nite I didn't have to get up to use bathroom , I'm hoping this cpap machine is contributing to this . I'm seriously considering purchasing a full face mask to try . heck of an expense but at 75 how much do you want to take with you . still shout out to all of your suggestions to help a beginner out . thank you all so much .

bristolman wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 18, 2019 11:00 am

thx to all for suggestions , made 7:15 minutes before I pushed the valve at top of the head forward last night . I just need to work on pillow for head situation but I think I can do this , at least I keep telling myself that . another plus from last nite I didn't have to get up to use bathroom , I'm hoping this cpap machine is contributing to this . I'm seriously considering purchasing a full face mask to try . heck of an expense but at 75 how much do you want to take with you . still shout out to all of your suggestions to help a beginner out . thank you all so much .

"how much do you want to take with you." hey, if i can't take it with me, i'm not going.

you CAN do this.

and yes, that not getting up in the middle of the night to pee IS a benefit from cpap.

good work!!

Yes...nocturia is a well known side effect of untreated sleep apnea.
Obviously there are other factors that can also cause it be when sleep apnea is the primary cause....getting good cpap treatment will usually make the nocturia go away.

Before cpap I was getting up to pee just about every hour on the hour with a full bladder.
That stopped immediately once I had my therapy optimized. That alone would have been enough for me to continue with cpap.

There is a medical reason for nocturia and sleep apnea to be related but I am sorry...don't have time to go into those details at the moment. I am on my way to the dentist office.....YUCK.

have finally started doing well with cpap . tried a full face mask and had a few issues . looking at results on the machine realized I had not changed mask type to full . what a dummy . everything fixed again and will be using full again . this is just in case of head cold . nasal pillows and chin strap are working for me.