Please Help! Chipmunk cheeks waking me up despite taping mouth shut

Chris33022 · Post by **Chris33022** » Wed Apr 27, 2022 8:35 am

Hi everyone. I really need help. I'm a newbie, started using CPAP two and a half weeks ago. I've tried lots of different masks. I've been taping my mouth shut, otherwise my mouth opens. The problem I'm having is that I'll go to sleep fine (with whatever mask) and then, once I am asleep, my tongue relaxes and the "seal" between my mouth and nose unseals. I'm talking about the seal inside the body, made of tongue and flesh. This unsealing causes my mouth to quickly fill up with air and my cheeks to puff out tremendously, which wakes me up. The air does not escape out of my mouth since my mouth is taped shut. So I just push the air backwards, out of my mouth, and try to keep my mouth deflated with my tongue "suction cupped" against my palate, and I fall back asleep, but then the whole process starts over again, the chipmunk cheeks come back and wake me up, etc. This happens over and over again throughout the night and fills me with despair. I've searched this forum and haven't found anyone mentioning this exact problem. Some people on this forum have mentioned chipmunk cheeks, but not when their mouth is taped shut. I hope I'm not the only one this happens to, and I hope there's a solution. I would greatly appreciate any help!

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Wed Apr 27, 2022 10:24 am

Chris33022 wrote: ↑
Wed Apr 27, 2022 8:35 am
Some people on this forum have mentioned chipmunk cheeks, but not when their mouth is taped shut.

If you tape your mouth and use an FFM, the side straps of the FFM might keep your cheeks from ballooning. It works for me.

Chris33022 · Post by **Chris33022** » Wed Apr 27, 2022 11:20 am

Thanks very much for your response, ChicagoGranny. What full-face mask do you use?

Blaise · Post by **Blaise** » Wed Apr 27, 2022 11:53 am

I am having the same problem using the P10 and N20. Tried it the last few nights and just couldn't get that internal seal to hold and had to switch back to my F20. I also tapped my mouth each time. I started my CPAP journey 20 days ago using the AirFit F20 full face mask and quickly got used to it with no issues. I read that 80% or more of people should be using a nasal mask. I have no nasal breathing issues so I figured I would try a nasal mask. I purchased both the p10 and N20 nasal masks and can not for the life of me get either one to work without chipmunk cheeks.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Wed Apr 27, 2022 1:52 pm

Chris33022 wrote: ↑
Wed Apr 27, 2022 11:20 am
Thanks very much for your response, ChicagoGranny. What full-face mask do you use?

For the last 18 months, I have been using a ResMed AirFit F30i ( https://www.resmed.com/en-us/sleep-apne ... rfit-f30i/ ) But, over the years I have used a variety of other FFMs that also have straps that stop the cheeks from ballooning. I have heard others found this same solution, but I can't be sure it will work for you.

Chris33022 · Post by **Chris33022** » Wed Apr 27, 2022 3:32 pm

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑
Wed Apr 27, 2022 1:52 pm

Chris33022 wrote: ↑
Wed Apr 27, 2022 11:20 am
Thanks very much for your response, ChicagoGranny. What full-face mask do you use?
For the last 18 months, I have been using a ResMed AirFit F30i ( https://www.resmed.com/en-us/sleep-apne ... rfit-f30i/ )

Thanks for that info, that looks like a good mask that would hold the cheeks in well. I may end up ordering one.

Blaise wrote: ↑
Wed Apr 27, 2022 11:53 am
I am having the same problem using the P10 and N20. Tried it the last few nights and just couldn't get that internal seal to hold and had to switch back to my F20. I also tapped my mouth each time. I started my CPAP journey 20 days ago using the AirFit F20 full face mask and quickly got used to it with no issues. I read that 80% or more of people should be using a nasal mask. I have no nasal breathing issues so I figured I would try a nasal mask. I purchased both the p10 and N20 nasal masks and can not for the life of me get either one to work without chipmunk cheeks.

Blaise, thanks for your response! I went and read your interesting thread. I started my CPAP journey 2 days after you did (April 9) and it's been so difficult. I have a few different masks and every evening I'm faced with the decision, "Which torture device am I going to use tonight?" I, too, have an AirFit F20 and so far have not had success with it (though maybe a Medium was too large for me, so I recently ordered a Small). With the AirFit F20, f I don't tape my mouth shut, I have chipmunk cheeks, and if I do tape it shut and don't let the air puff out my cheeks (which I can only do while awake) the mask creates horrendous farting noises against my cheeks, unless I tighten the mask so much that it's painful. Like you, I have been watching tons of YouTube videos by those two main CPAP guys you mentioned in your thread. I don't know if you saw the video Lanky did about this other device called iNap. While watching it I suddenly had the idea that perhaps it could be used at the same time as a CPAP machine and mask. And just when I had this thought was when Lanky suggested exactly that in his video. It's at 15:50 here: https://youtu.be/_Laf-Jnw4XA?t=950 iNAP is a device that seems to create a massive suction-cup effect in your mouth and I think it might prevent chipmunk cheeks. If all else fails and if I ever become desperate enough, maybe I will try it one day (it's super expensive).

JimmyStewart · Post by **JimmyStewart** » Thu Apr 28, 2022 10:55 am

Long-time lurker. First post…

Everyone is different and I’m not sure if what works for me will work for you, but here’s my take on chipmunk cheeks.

I never experienced them for the first few years of using CPAP. But early on, I started using a soft cervical collar to prevent positional apnea -- I was tucking my chin in my sleep and causing clusters of events.

Last year I went on an overnight business trip and forgot my collar. I’m not sure what has changed since the beginning, but I spent the night fighting chipmunk cheeks! Every time I started to go to sleep, my jaw would relax and bam, a blast of air in my mouth would wake me up. Finally got a few hours of sleep by jamming a pillow under my chin and hugging it the rest of the night.

Since then, I have tried sleeping without the collar a couple of times for various reasons, Each time the chipmunk cheeks come back.

So… Maybe try a c-collar.

Good luck!

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Thu Apr 28, 2022 11:57 am

JimmyStewart wrote: ↑
Thu Apr 28, 2022 10:55 am
Every time I started to go to sleep, my jaw would relax and bam, a blast of air in my mouth would wake me up.

It's unclear what you mean. Usually, when CPAPers say their jaw relaxed, it also means their mouth opened. With an open mouth, the pressure escapes, and there should be no ballooning of the cheeks.

Yes, cervical collars can address a variety of issues.

JimmyStewart · Post by **JimmyStewart** » Thu Apr 28, 2022 1:02 pm

I'm not sure how else to describe it. It sometimes happens when I'm "half-asleep" / partially awake, and I can feel my jaw drop a fraction of an inch.

As to the mouth opening, I have always sucked on my tongue (and chewed on my lower lip) when I was awake and stressed out, and learning to use cpap is stressful!

So, without knowing what it was, or what it was called, just naturally kind of fell into the tongue on the roof of mouth technique. Mouth may open a little, but with tongue where it is, cheeks puff up (painfully sometimes).

Actually I've always wondered why this is consistent now (without a soft collar), but can't ever remember it happening in the past. I did struggle with nighttime leaks the first year. Maybe I didn't consistently use that tongue technique when I was starting out…

cyberdreamer · Post by **cyberdreamer** » Thu Apr 28, 2022 1:09 pm

I spent 4 years with poor therapy because of large mouth leaks. Mouth would open when I fell asleep and leak thus waking me up. I only noticed these brief awakenings when sleeping in hotels.

Last year I bought the Resmed f30 which is small and feels like a nasal mask and it fixed my large leaks. Mouth dryness is comparable or better than I had before. IMO it's much more comfortable than taping, collar, chinstrap, etc.

Chris33022 · Post by **Chris33022** » Fri Apr 29, 2022 10:54 am

JimmyStewart wrote: ↑
Thu Apr 28, 2022 10:55 am
Last year I went on an overnight business trip and forgot my collar. I’m not sure what has changed since the beginning, but I spent the night fighting chipmunk cheeks! Every time I started to go to sleep, my jaw would relax and bam, a blast of air in my mouth would wake me up. Finally got a few hours of sleep by jamming a pillow under my chin and hugging it the rest of the night.

Since then, I have tried sleeping without the collar a couple of times for various reasons, Each time the chipmunk cheeks come back.

So… Maybe try a c-collar.

JimmyStewart, thank you so much for your story! It inspired me, so last night I wore a cervical collar to see if it would help. And 2/3 of the way through the night I got excited because I suddenly remembered why I was wearing the collar and realized I hadn’t gotten chipmunk cheeks once. But then in the last third of the night I did get woken up by a few chipmunk cheeks, which was a bummer. But it still seemed like it was maybe fewer than on previous nights. So I may wear the collar again tonight, but tighter, because it’s possible my chin was not held up quite well enough.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑
Thu Apr 28, 2022 11:57 am

JimmyStewart wrote: ↑
Thu Apr 28, 2022 10:55 am
Every time I started to go to sleep, my jaw would relax and bam, a blast of air in my mouth would wake me up.
It's unclear what you mean. Usually, when CPAPers say their jaw relaxed, it also means their mouth opened. With an open mouth, the pressure escapes, and there should be no ballooning of the cheeks.

Yes, cervical collars can address a variety of issues.

I've gotten chipmunk cheeks both when my mouth is open and when it's closed. The way it happens when my mouth is open is when I'm wearing a full-face mask and the air is blowing into my mouth and puffing out my cheeks.

cyberdreamer wrote: ↑
Thu Apr 28, 2022 1:09 pm
I spent 4 years with poor therapy because of large mouth leaks. Mouth would open when I fell asleep and leak thus waking me up. I only noticed these brief awakenings when sleeping in hotels.

Last year I bought the Resmed f30 which is small and feels like a nasal mask and it fixed my large leaks. Mouth dryness is comparable or better than I had before. IMO it's much more comfortable than taping, collar, chinstrap, etc.

Cyberdreamer, thanks for this recommendation. I've been intending to try one of those F30 masks. They look promising.

Janknitz · Post by **Janknitz** » Fri Apr 29, 2022 12:36 pm

It sounds like the issue is relaxing your jaw and tongue. I can keep that seal and open my lips with no problem. So you don't really need the tape to seal your lips, just to give your jaw a bit of support.

If you tape, instead of taping across horizontally and sealing your lips, try one or two vertical strips to hold your lips together but not completely covering your mouth. Then when you develop chipmunk cheeks, at least you can let the air out of your mouth.

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Sat Apr 30, 2022 4:20 am

Here's an excerpt from what I posted on another thread with someone having similar issues... Once I read someone on here talking about keeping the tongue on the roof of the mouth I was obsessive with training my tongue. Eventually it began to be my natural tongue position whether awake or asleep. However, there were other simultaneous contributors besides my determination that helped me succeed. Sleep position was key. I mostly side sleep so my tongue doesn't collapse backward into the throat. A firm flat pillow will help prevent the jaw from dropping when relaxing because the pull of gravity is not on the jaw. Some use a cervical pillow to prevent jaw drop. I used to. Also, sleeping slightly off the edge of the pillow usually compresses the edge of the pillow a bit and allows the front of the face to angle slightly downward toward the mattress. This way when the tongue does relax it will fall forward and help maintain the seal instead of backward into the throat. Granted, we can't control what we do once we fall asleep, but when it works its worth the effort.

Ignatiuslayola · Post by **Ignatiuslayola** » Sat May 28, 2022 3:28 am

Chris33022 wrote: ↑
Wed Apr 27, 2022 3:32 pm

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑
Wed Apr 27, 2022 1:52 pm

Chris33022 wrote: ↑
Wed Apr 27, 2022 11:20 am
Thanks very much for your response, ChicagoGranny. What full-face mask do you use?
For the last 18 months, I have been using a ResMed AirFit F30i ( https://www.resmed.com/en-us/sleep-apne ... rfit-f30i/ )
Thanks for that info, that looks like a good mask that would hold the cheeks in well. I may end up ordering one.

Blaise wrote: ↑
Wed Apr 27, 2022 11:53 am
I am having the same problem using the P10 and N20. Tried it the last few nights and just couldn't get that internal seal to hold and had to switch back to my F20. I also tapped my mouth each time. I started my CPAP journey 20 days ago using the AirFit F20 full face mask and quickly got used to it with no issues. I read that 80% or more of people should be using a nasal mask. I have no nasal breathing issues so I figured I would try a nasal mask. I purchased both the p10 and N20 nasal masks and can not for the life of me get either one to work without chipmunk cheeks.
Blaise, thanks for your response! I went and read your interesting thread. I started my CPAP journey 2 days after you did (April 9) and it's been so difficult. I have a few different masks and every evening I'm faced with the decision, "Which torture device am I going to use tonight?" I, too, have an AirFit F20 and so far have not had success with it (though maybe a Medium was too large for me, so I recently ordered a Small). With the AirFit F20, f I don't tape my mouth shut, I have chipmunk cheeks, and if I do tape it shut and don't let the air puff out my cheeks (which I can only do while awake) the mask creates horrendous farting noises against my cheeks, unless I tighten the mask so much that it's painful. Like you, I have been watching tons of YouTube videos by those two main CPAP guys you mentioned in your thread. I don't know if you saw the video Lanky did about this other device called iNap. While watching it I suddenly had the idea that perhaps it could be used at the same time as a CPAP machine and mask. And just when I had this thought was when Lanky suggested exactly that in his video. It's at 15:50 here: https://youtu.be/_Laf-Jnw4XA?t=950 iNAP is a device that seems to create a massive suction-cup effect in your mouth and I think it might prevent chipmunk cheeks. If all else fails and if I ever become desperate enough, maybe I will try it one day (it's super expensive).

I'm also looking into alternative cpap, the noise of leaking is driving my wife mad. Where can I purchase one?

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Sat May 28, 2022 6:42 am

Ignatiuslayola wrote: ↑
Sat May 28, 2022 3:28 am
I'm also looking into alternative cpap, the noise of leaking is driving my wife mad. Where can I purchase one?

Which mask are you using now? Where did you get it?

Please Help! Chipmunk cheeks waking me up despite taping mouth shut

Please Help! Chipmunk cheeks waking me up despite taping mouth shut

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