How do I know if I'm mouth breathing?

onecoknower · Post by **onecoknower** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:51 am

So, two nights ago I would have sworn on a stack of Bibles that I don't mouth breath at all. But last night I woke up in the middle of a dream feeling like I was suffocating. At first I thought the power went out on the apap. Nope.

So I wonder if I was breathing through my mouth and that's what woke me up. My leak rate is low (.06) and my ahi was 1.1 - right average for me on apap.

Now that I think it through, I wonder if what woke me up was an apnea event.

Today I feel like I've been hit by a bus - more tired and groggy than usual.

Your thoughts?
Donna

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:02 am

Unless you have someone to watch you sleep all night, the only way to tell is to use a FF mask or tape your mouth shut. Try it for a few nights and look at the results.

Brenda

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:19 am

Donna,

There are tell-tale signs of mouth-breathing:
- dry mouth
- you can see spikes in your overnight data (requires software)
- wake up to rushing sound
- wake up with cheeks puffing out
- oximeter data shows desaturations

Don't count on your APAP to catch the apneas which happen if you are mouth breathing. My Remstar-auto often doesn't.

Regards,
Bill

Berniem · Post by **Berniem** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:50 am

A littile off subject, but how do you find out what your leak rate or AHI is.
Does that machine tell you?

Bernie

RichCMH · Post by **RichCMH** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 10:17 am

You could also turn on the Leak Alarm, I am sure the Vantage has one. It's in the Clinical Menu.

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 10:32 am

Berniem wrote:A littile off subject, but how do you find out what your leak rate or AHI is.
Does that machine tell you?

Berniem,

Yes, in Donna's case the machine tells her that. A lot of us think the data is important for therapy, but docs, DME's, and insurance companies don't always agree. .

Regards,
Bill

GeneS · Post by **GeneS** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 5:48 pm

I do not know much about your mask. If it doesnt have a strap to eliminate your mouth from opening you could try one of the wide chin straps that are available. If you think you may be mouth breathing there is a good chance that you are. I agree that if you have access to a full face mask that will work for you try it. I have never tried mouth taping but I know other people say they use it. You have to eliminate mouth breathing for your cpap to work.

GeneS

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:20 am

onecoknower wrote:My leak rate is low (.06) and my ahi was 1.1 - right average for me on apap.

Now that I think it through, I wonder if what woke me up was an apnea event.

Brenda, you may very well be right about what woke you up in the midst of a dream in which you felt you were suffocating.

I doubt you're mouthbreathing with a leak rate that low. With resmed machines, a leak rate that doesn't get over 0.4 L/s (Liters per second) is fine.

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 6:39 am

Just to be clear...I think Rested Gals response was to Donna, not me.

Brenda

How do I know if I'm mouth breathing?

How do I know if I'm mouth breathing?

Re: How do I know if I'm mouth breathing?