Chinstrap question

Country4ever · Post by **Country4ever** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:47 am

Hi all,
When I first started noticing that my mouth opened at night, the DME sold me a chinstrap.........saying we should start out with the "simplest" one. Its just one strap with velcro. I haven't even worn it at night because it doesn't even work before going to bed. How is a chinstrap supposed to work when it only has one strap that easily slips and slides around, and doesn't even keep my mouth closed enough? I can easily relax my mouth open with it. I'm so ticked that I paid $18 for this totally useless thing.
It seems like for a chinstrap to be effective, it needs a top strap and a back strap.
Is there anything else I can do to make this silly thing work? Thanks.

Sleepdeprived · Post by **Sleepdeprived** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:57 am

Hi Country

You might want to consider poligrip strips instead of a chin strap. Some here
find it a good alternative to a chin strap. I also got a one strap chin strap from my DME which I found neither comfortsble or stable so I stay with the strips as they work well for me

Sleepdeprived

[quote="Country4ever"]Hi all,
When I first started noticing that my mouth opened at night, the DME sold me a chinstrap.........saying we should start out with the "simplest" one. Its just one strap with velcro. I haven't even worn it at night because it doesn't even work before going to bed. How is a chinstrap supposed to work when it only has one strap that easily slips and slides around, and doesn't even keep my mouth closed enough? I can easily relax my mouth open with it. I'm so ticked that I paid $18 for this totally useless thing.
It seems like for a chinstrap to be effective, it needs a top strap and a back strap.
Is there anything else I can do to make this silly thing work? Thanks.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:00 am

The reason they want to start out with the "simplest" one is because they want to make as much money off you and your insurance as possible. Why have you not dumped them yet?

The "simplest" thing to try is to get yourself a cheap Ace bandage wrap ... keeping in mind that chinstraps only work for a few people anyway.

DBoone · Post by **DBoone** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:57 pm

My DME gave me the same thing. It wouldn't stay in place for me either. It wasn't until I started using the Hurt Free wrap mentioned elsewhere that it began to stay in place because the wrap, along with my headgear strap, was helping to hold it still.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:45 pm

I love the design of my Topaz Chinstrap. See cpap.com for Tiara brand, Topaz model, chinstrap.

Stays put really well. Works excellent both as a chinstrap and as headgear for my Nasal Aire II.

The exposed neoprene edges do irritate my skin, but I'm working on that. The design itself is very good.

Cheers,
Babs

Country4ever · Post by **Country4ever** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:05 pm

I was playing around with my swift pillow headgear, and if I pull the pillow under my chin, it would work great as a chinstrap! Maybe I can do that and feed a couple straws from there to my nostrils??
I was thinking of checking out that Topaz chinstrap. Can my DME order any chinstrap, or does it have to be their "favorite" brand? I know I can buy whatever I want elsewhere, but I want them to deal with the insurance co.
Babs, had you tried other chinstraps before this one?

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:38 pm

Hi Country,

My DME first gave me Tiara Ruby chinstrap (my doc said 'chinstrap' without specifying brand or model). It helped a bit but the problem is that it has no ability to adjust it. Then my doc got into the act and had them switch me to the Tiara Topaz which *is* adjustable. It's also ugly but what the heck - if some people can wear antlers I can wear a Topaz

It's not perfect ... I can still open my mouth enough to get into some trouble but it's far better than without. For the winter I'm using a FFM but in the spring will go back to nasal pillows and Topaz.

Mindy

Country4ever · Post by **Country4ever** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:32 pm

Thanks for the info Mindy. I hadn't thought about needing an adjustable one. That makes sense.
One of these days someone is going to figure out a device to keep our mouths closed and we're going to say "Why didn't we think of that!"
Thanks again.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:52 pm

Country, the Topaz was my first chinstrap, but I've tried two others since then, and not liked them as well. The design of the Topaz really seems to suit my head shape.

You could make yourself a chin strap not unlike this one:

http://www.sleep-cap.com/

SleepyCarol just made something very similar to use as headgear to attach her NAII to. See our recent Nasal Aire II threads for her design. She didn't really need the chinstrap, that was just there for stabilization. Me, I need the chinstrap.

The chinstrap model I liked LEAST looks like this:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... hleak.html

There is just not enough THERE there to keep it from sliding off my hair.

I've also tried this one, but again, it slid around:
http://www.breathewear.com/products/halochinstrap.html

And despite their claims, it feels like the same neoprene fabric as the Topaz.

Hope this helps!
Babs

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:05 pm

Country,

Here's Carol's NAII headgear mod:

viewtopic/t26645/Nasal-Aire-Modified-Headgear.html

You could easily make this into a chinstrap/headgear combo.

Cheers,
Babs

Country4ever · Post by **Country4ever** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:30 am

Thanks Babs,
That first one you didn't like is the one that my DME first sold me. What a waste of money. Plus, the straps were about 1 foot too long.
I'm thinking of buying some wide elastic and making something that is similar to my swift nasal pillow headgear. I'm not real crafty, so it might take me a few months to make!
Thanks for your help.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:41 am

Country,

I'm crafty in the head, but lame in the hands. Not to mention I never seem to have TIME!!!!

I'm contemplating hiring Carol to do my cpap crafting for me, since she seems so good at it!!!!!!!!!! Oh Carol......

LOL,
Babs

SleepyNoMore · Post by **SleepyNoMore** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:22 pm

I was at my dme on monday as I had to order supplies, I brought up my mouth breathing thing. I told him I had purchased a chin strap online and that it didn't work at all for me as I still had mouth breathing and he said, Uh - those chin straps aren't woth a damn/NO GOOD - TOTALLY USELESS, I said YES I know and that is why people are using TAPE on their mouthes, pantyhose, etc.! He seemed a little "ed ! He said we shouldn't do that as it will make us more claustrophobic, I said what are we supposed to do especially when we can't wear a FF mask??? He couldn't come up with an alternative solution for me so I told him that I would continue to TAPE on "occasion" as needed until someone comes up with a better solution! Other than the claustraphobic thing, he had nothing else to say negatevely towars taping .. He says he knows our " JOHNNY GOODMAN" personally ! Goodluck

Country4ever · Post by **Country4ever** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 5:11 pm

I just know for a fact that if I told the respiratory therapist at my DME about taping, she would have a coronary..........so I'm debating just keeping my mouth shut.........I mean taped shut.

goose · Post by **goose** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:32 pm

I tried a pantyhose tights strap last night as a chinstrap.

<*ding*> Failed <*ding*>

I messed with it for about 30 min. to get it on to where it wasn't causing my mask to leak because it changed the angle of the dangle. I got it to where the headrest wouldn't leak, but it really didn't hold my jaw in place.
I usually don't mouth leak, but I've been stuffed up the last week or so....

It looks like the Topaz would be the ticket, but I wonder how it will work with the Headrest headgear -- mine is not decapitated.

I may try the polident strips again tonight.......
Workin' on it.......

cheers
goose

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Country4Ever :)

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