All of the sudden intolerable

Long time lurker first time poster. I’ve searched and have seen many threads about dry mouth issues but I wanted to lay out what I’m struggling with in hopes of finding suggestions or support.

Been doing the CPAP thing for maybe 6 months. No big problems until recently, actually used to enjoy using it.

All of the sudden maybe 2-3 weeks ago it’s like my machine felt like it’s pushing the air harder. I had a SoClean device hooked up and it seemed like it was causing air leaks and extra noise. I ditched the SoClean and the machine became quieter and seems to work better. Problem on that front is I guess the SoClean is a piece of junk and likely I’ll need to throw it out or find a way to fix it. Seems to me like it’s a bad design and their adapter piece causes leaks, or was causing my machine to act differently.

The persistent problem I now can’t fix is dry mouth. I hate using my device now. It’s terrible. I’m probably waking up every few hours with the worst dry mouth I’ve ever experienced. Tried cranking humidity, no help. The chin-strap sounds very unappealing because I’m worried about clenching my teeth all night. It’s like, I was breathing through my mouth for months and never got this extreme dry mouth, now all of the sudden every night. It’s a real downer and I’m exhausted. I also still feel like my machine is punishing me with too much air. I go to bed fine and then an hour later it’s just massive air coming at me and major dry mouth. Several times per night I’m removing the mask out of frustration, then strapping it on and trying again. Waking up with headaches and feeling desperate- any advice out there?

I plan on contacting my sleep doc next week- he’s closed for the weekend.

SmokeScreen wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 04, 2020 8:22 am

Problem on that front is I guess the SoClean is a piece of junk and likely I’ll need to throw it out or find a way to fix it.

Go with your first thought.

The persistent problem I now can’t fix is dry mouth. I hate using my device now. It’s terrible. I’m probably waking up every few hours with the worst dry mouth I’ve ever experienced. Tried cranking humidity, no help. The chin-strap sounds very unappealing because I’m worried about clenching my teeth all night. It’s like, I was breathing through my mouth for months and never got this extreme dry mouth, now all of the sudden every night. It’s a real downer and I’m exhausted. I also still feel like my machine is punishing me with too much air. I go to bed fine and then an hour later it’s just massive air coming at me and major dry mouth. Sever times per night I’m removing the mask out of frustration, then strapping it on and trying again. Waking up with headaches and feeling desperate- any advice out there?

I plan on contacting my sleep doc next week- he’s closed for the weekend.

What kind of mask have you got?

You might have started mouth breathing, or opening your mouth and a lot of air is rushing out.

Consider taping, or a strap, or maybe a full-face mask.

Load your data into OSCAR and look to see if your leaks have gone up since the dry mouth began.

Thanks for the response - I’ll check out OSCAR, so far I was just using the App on my IPhone.

My device is a Phillips Dreamstation and the mask is a ResMed AirFit F20. I wear a large mask and seem to get a better mask fit rating than medium size, but I’m almost between sizes. I’ve switched a few times between M and L and lately using the L size.

I also have this feeling there’s a leak in the hose where the mask connects, or something feels a bit off with my equipment. I get my stuff from Apria Health and they haven’t scored high on customer service. Starting to wonder if they sent me inferior replacement parts.

SmokeScreen wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 04, 2020 8:41 am

Thanks for the response - I’ll check out OSCAR, so far I was just using the App on my IPhone.

My device is a Phillips Dreamstation and the mask is a ResMed AirFit F20. I wear a large mask and seem to get a better mask fit rating than medium size, but I’m almost between sizes. I’ve switched a few times between M and L and lately using the L size.

I also have this feeling there’s a leak in the hose where the mask connects, or something feels a bit off with my equipment. I get my stuff from Apria Health and they haven’t scored high on customer service. Starting to wonder if they sent me inferior replacement parts.

Many sizing guides indicate that if you are between sizes..go for the smaller. Apria is a PITA, but the parts come from the manufacturer.

The 2 main causes of dry mouth....mouth breathing or medication side effects.

Has anything changed with your medications? Added something new or changed dosage on what you have been using?

Any nasal congestion going on that might be causing more mouth breathing than usual?

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 04, 2020 8:59 am

The 2 main causes of dry mouth....mouth breathing or medication side effects.

Has anything changed with your medications? Added something new or changed dosage on what you have been using?

Any nasal congestion going on that might be causing more mouth breathing than usual?

No medications so nothing on that front... My left ear has been feeling blocked and perhaps some slight nasal congestion. I did travel a few weeks ago and came home with a cough/cold- the cough hasn't entirely resolved. The weird thing is I've thought I've always been breathing through my mouth, it's just this intense dry-mouth seems to only be a problem very recently. Feeling perplexed, I also run a humidifier in the room and the past few weeks haven't been particularly dry.

Here’s something interesting... I still haven’t got the OSCAR software running because no SD card adapter nearby, however, I did start digging into the history on my DreamMapper App.

It seems like the “90% pressure” is higher right around when my problems started.

Typical data from when everything was comfortable:
2.2ahi
95% mask fit
Min/Max pressure: 4/20cmH20
90% pressure: 12cmH20

And more recent when I’m struggling:
0.7ahi
97% mask fit
Min/Max pressure: 4/20cmH20
90% pressure: 17.2cmH20

I’m noticing my problems started when that 90% pressure jumped from ~12 to ~17. It’s the one piece of data on this app that corresponds to when I started having problems.

More pressure means more air moving through the mouth (if mouth breathing) and more air movement means more chance of drying out of the mouth.

Now what caused the more pressure.....that is the million dollar question.
Might be sleeping position worsening the OSA causing an increase in pressure needs....might be more REM sleep which can also cause worsening of the OSA....might be the machine being fooled a bit by nasal congestion thinking it is some sort of apnea airway event going on.

Really need to see those detailed reports to see just when the pressure increases and for how long.
90% pressures....all that means is the pressure was AT OR BELOW that number for 90% of the night. People often don't understand the "or below" part of the definition and they assume it means you were at that pressure for 90% of the night.
90% numbers are easily skewed upwards by a relatively short period of time at the higher number so I don't put much stock in just the number until I actually see the detailed data from the software reports.

It takes very little mouth breathing to dry out the mouth so maybe you are just mouth breathing a little more than your usual.

LSAT wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 04, 2020 8:56 am

. . . the parts come from the manufacturer.

Are we REALLY sure?
Unless the parts are packed in original factory packages, we can never be completely sure.
(And maybe not even then.)
If anyone were to handle third world knock-offs, Apria has the resources and character to do so.
Not saying they do, but anything is possible.

Wanted to update... I still don’t have my hands on an SD Card reader, but I think my problem was a damaged hose.

I felt like the hose might be leaking, swapped it out and noticed the mask-fit test looked a bit better on the DreamStation display screen. With the old hose it still passed my mask-fit, but the bar would go red a few times. Once I switched the hose is was all green the whole test cycle. Past two nights slept fine, no major dry mouth. 90% pressure was back down to 13.

I also changed the filter and started using Flonase spray, but pretty sure something was damaged on my other hose. Anyways, everything is working much better now.


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Good.
Now put the G-D soclean out by the curb, and you're all set.

SmokeScreen wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 06, 2020 7:03 pm

Wanted to update... I still don’t have my hands on an SD Card reader,

Amazon, less than 10$, delivered right to your door.

Or, bestbuy, walmart, etc if you don't want to use amazon.

palerider wrote:

SmokeScreen wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 06, 2020 7:03 pm

Wanted to update... I still don’t have my hands on an SD Card reader,

Amazon, less than 10$, delivered right to your door.

Or, bestbuy, walmart, etc if you don't want to use amazon.

I own one it’s just buried in a drawer and my new MacBook I need to dig out an adapter. Fixing the hardware felt less daunting than digging up stuff to mess with the software


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chunkyfrog wrote:Good.
Now put the G-D soclean out by the curb, and you're all set.

Yeah seems like I fell for the gimmick... what a terrible product.


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SmokeScreen wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 07, 2020 1:43 pm

chunkyfrog wrote:Good.
Now put the G-D soclean out by the curb, and you're all set.

Yeah seems like I fell for the gimmick... what a terrible product.


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You could always gift it to someone you hate for their birthday or next Christmas.

JPB