Still falling asleep at the wheel.....

ready2sleep · Post by **ready2sleep** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:47 pm

Hi, that was my problem, I kept falling asleep behind the wheel. My husband had sleep apnea severely and was on cpap, when I fell asleep behing the wheel of the car and crashed into the car in front of me. Minor accident, but I guess it was a good thing I wasnt on the highway. Glad to be on cpap, hasnt happened since I have been on it, and as a matter of my life, I always wear it. You guys have helped me and my husband right all, thank you.

odawa · Post by **odawa** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 12:31 pm

That was what got me tested. I told my Dr. I didnt remember the roads I took home. That I kept missing my turns, that I didnt know of any cars that I passed. Too me that was dangerous, I wasnt on my A game. I told her, I was getting afraid to drive. I put on 15,000 miles on my new car in under 8 months. Thats alot of miles too not remember.

elazarus · Post by **elazarus** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:31 pm

Last night, just for the H**l of it I raised the pressure from 8 to 8.8 and wore the nasal mask.

I woke up this morning groggy, tired and had the driest throat that I have had since I started CPAP 21 days ago.

Yes, I set it back to 8 and I am calling my doctor tomorrow to see about the different machine and chin strap......

What I cannot understand is that in the 2nd sleep study with a nasal mask, I had a wonderful nights sleep...yet I cannot duplicate or come close to it at home without the wires, a better bed etc....Strange!!!

Also, I have an S8 Escape and cannot get any data by pushing the L/R buttons simultaneously.

Regards

Elliot

Lea · Post by **Lea** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:40 pm

elazarus, I've been on CPAP about 2 months now, and I'm still tired. The doctor said that our bodies can have some changes due to apnea, our sleep cycles being one of those. I have a medical condition that might be contributing to my fatigue. It is my belief that there are those that recover quickly, but I think there are some of us who might take longer to recover. I'm trying medications that will help me out. You might want to consider the same.

Good luck!

Bamalady · Post by **Bamalady** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:50 pm

elazarus wrote:I woke up this morning groggy, tired and had the driest throat that I have had since I started CPAP 21 days ago.

The dry throat is a classic sign of mouth breathing. If you mouth breathe or leak, then you are not being treated. If you are not being treated, you are going to feel tired and groggy.

It takes awhile for everything to come together. Keep trying!!

elazarus · Post by **elazarus** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:56 pm

Thank you....

Do you mean that after a while the body "educates" itself and possibly eliminates the mouth breathing?

I hope this doesn't sound stupid.....and obviously I am not being treated since the air goes in my nose and out of my mouth.....

I would feel a lot better, mentally, knowing that in 1 month, 6 months whatever, my body will adapt.

Regards

Elliot

Wulfman. · Post by **Wulfman.** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:06 pm

elazarus wrote:Thank you....

Do you mean that after a while the body "educates" itself and possibly eliminates the mouth breathing?

I hope this doesn't sound stupid.....and obviously I am not being treated since the air goes in my nose and out of my mouth.....

I would feel a lot better, mentally, knowing that in 1 month, 6 months whatever, my body will adapt.

Regards

Elliot

Won't happen.
You either need to tape your mouth shut, use Polident adhesive strips to seal your lips or use a full face mask.

Den

elazarus · Post by **elazarus** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:13 pm

Now back to reality!!!!

Thanks

Elliot

Wulfman. · Post by **Wulfman.** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:27 pm

I don't know if you were making fun of my advice, but it's basically what Linda told you in #3 in her response to your identical post over on the ApneaSupport forum. Only difference is they don't/can't recommend forms of taping over there.

Ya gotta seal the leaks.....and the biggest one is under your nose. Until then, your therapy is non-existent.

Den

elazarus · Post by **elazarus** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:41 pm

Sorry if you thought I was making fun...I was most definitely not.

The thought of taping is not a good picture in my mind's eye.....I am not sure what the answer is.

Regards

Elliot

Bamalady · Post by **Bamalady** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:51 pm

Elliot-

I don't mouth breathe during the day, but do when I start to go to sleep. When I relax, my lower jaw drops. I wasn't successful with taping, and so I made myself a chin strap from Ace Bandage. Only instead of putting it on the chin, I place it under my lower jaw. It is fairly loose as I don't need much pressure to keep that jaw from dropping down. When the strap started slipping I put a piece of 1 inch elastic on it placed so the elastic would be just above my ears when on. I don't know if it would work for you, but I use mine every night.

new2 · Post by **new2** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 7:03 am

Why don't you surrender your license until you can stay awake behind the wheel. It's safer to fall asleep on the bus and miss your stop than to stop by way of my car.
I read a post somewhere on here about this issue and I have agree that we are just like drunk drivers when we are too sleepy.

I know I hit someone on a bycicle the year before last because I dosed off. She wasn't hurt bad, but her bike was recked. It cost me 300.00 to replace it and I got off lucky because she never called the police.

She is so lucky. I could have very easily killed her.

Craig-Tx · Post by **Craig-Tx** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:57 am

Wulfman. wrote:
elazarus wrote:Thank you....

Do you mean that after a while the body "educates" itself and possibly eliminates the mouth breathing?

Won't happen.
You either need to tape your mouth shut, use Polident adhesive strips to seal your lips or use a full face mask.

Den

I'll have to disagree. Some people can learn not to mouth breath. I have been on the hose for 6 months now. My primary mask is a nasal mask (Activa) and I don't have a problem with mouth breathing. In fact, I can keep my mouth open while I sleep. My tongue seems to block the airway. I use Encore Pro, and watch the leak rates, and the only spikes I see are when I move the mask to scratch my nose. (Can't wait to get a nasal pillow mask.)

The funny thing is that my Pre-Pap days, I ALWAYS woke up with a Dry mouth and a clogged up nose.

-craig

Wulfman. · Post by **Wulfman.** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:18 am

Craig-Tx wrote:
Wulfman. wrote:
elazarus wrote:Thank you....

Do you mean that after a while the body "educates" itself and possibly eliminates the mouth breathing?

Won't happen.
You either need to tape your mouth shut, use Polident adhesive strips to seal your lips or use a full face mask.

Den

I'll have to disagree. Some people can learn not to mouth breath. I have been on the hose for 6 months now. My primary mask is a nasal mask (Activa) and I don't have a problem with mouth breathing. In fact, I can keep my mouth open while I sleep. My tongue seems to block the airway. I use Encore Pro, and watch the leak rates, and the only spikes I see are when I move the mask to scratch my nose. (Can't wait to get a nasal pillow mask.)

The funny thing is that my Pre-Pap days, I ALWAYS woke up with a Dry mouth and a clogged up nose.

-craig

Craig,

I realize that SOME people can learn.....but I'll put my odds on the majority......it's a safer bet.
Besides, for a dedicated mouth-breather to start out on this therapy, it would be best to cover all the bases to get a BETTER start with it.
How many times have you read "My therapy isn't working....", "I've been using this machine for 6 months and I'm not feeling any better."? When you look at their profile/equipment, they have a nasal mask.
Unfortunately, and apparently, they can't seem to make the connection between "dry mouth" and the fact that they're leaking their therapy air out their mouth all night......and the DME didn't warn them either.

There can be a difference between being "compliant" and having "successful" therapy.

You're lucky you have Encore Pro and a machine to record the data......far too many people DON'T have that luxury.

I'm not trying to "beat up on you", just defending my position that this is one of the BIG (as in HUGE) reasons for non-compliance and non-success with this therapy.

Best wishes,

Den

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:54 am

As Den says, Most people mouthbreath, chin straps help some people but not many, and some people can control mouthbreathing without devices, I am one. But if you don't have the software and reader, and or don't know how to use it, you had better error on the ways that provide successful treatment. Close that hole under your nose, or cover all three holes, with a well fitting FF Mask.

It doesn't matter how deep DeNile is, if you don't hold the necessary pressure in your airway, you aren't getting treatment. Every day here we see posts from people that say their treatment isn't doing them any good, only to find that they are using Nasal interfaces, and are mouthbreathing.

A few out of a hundred can get by without taping that third hole shut, but that leaves the rest untreated, unless someone gets the word out. That's a lot of people driving on your roads to dodge. Jim

Still falling asleep at the wheel.....

Update!!!!!

WOW!!!

Re: WOW!!!

Bummer....

Hi

Re: WOW!!!

Re: WOW!!!