Dr Sue also replied to me & says the material is very strong (but as he says don't let your dog get a bite on it )
He says he has had some users go through college with the same one.
I guess I am just going to have to resist biting it
Also I will wait before triming it - when set up just right the tongue is supposed to get locked in place by suction & that in turn seals the throat & thus opening the mouth doesn't cause a problem as the throat is well sealed.
DSM
Question about Nosebreathe device
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Guest
Hey, DSM & Kermit,
Hate to be negative about it, but last night I had a much better night by using Tegaderm. For some weird reason, too, my leak rate came down.
Kermit, I don't know why mine is loose-ish, but it is. And I have been using toothpaste. Maybe that is my mistake. It just gets so grungy, I have to use something more than water with all the saliva I still produce from it.
Last night, I finally slept great again, waking maybe twice. So I feel so much better today, I'm happy to report. Thank goodness, even this early in the AM, I feel already like I have been feeling on my therapy.
And, DSM, go by your own experiences with the NB. I'll still use mine, but not every night.
Have a great day.
PS: I know why the leak rate is better. Iti's a bit early to think, I guess...I reset the machine again, out of desperation to feel better, to 8-12 and so the pressure was a bit lower than my usual 10. Perhaps that is why.
Hate to be negative about it, but last night I had a much better night by using Tegaderm. For some weird reason, too, my leak rate came down.
Kermit, I don't know why mine is loose-ish, but it is. And I have been using toothpaste. Maybe that is my mistake. It just gets so grungy, I have to use something more than water with all the saliva I still produce from it.
Last night, I finally slept great again, waking maybe twice. So I feel so much better today, I'm happy to report. Thank goodness, even this early in the AM, I feel already like I have been feeling on my therapy.
And, DSM, go by your own experiences with the NB. I'll still use mine, but not every night.
Have a great day.
PS: I know why the leak rate is better. Iti's a bit early to think, I guess...I reset the machine again, out of desperation to feel better, to 8-12 and so the pressure was a bit lower than my usual 10. Perhaps that is why.
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Sleepless on LI
- Posts: 3997
- Joined: Mon May 30, 2005 6:46 pm
- Location: Long Island, New York
I may not report fully for a few days. Today I decided to trim the tongue ramp but the edge is now too course & I am not sure how to get a smooth edge on this material. I will probably contact Dr Sue.
1st night I tried it with my Mirage f/f mask but that was a mistake - it didn't work at all.
No excessive saliva though
Last night I tried my ACTIVA - but while it was sortof ok it was not the best night (but not the worst). I kept finding my tongue not in the ramp & me being woken by mouth leaks.
Dry mouth & no trace of saliva .
Today I decided to trim the ramp a bit but until I smooth the tongue ramp edge I may not use it again. It looks like heat is needed but I don't want to destroy it proving that one way or the other.
I think it has potential but still can't pass a serious opinion either way.
Cheers
DSM
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): mirage, activa, Ramp
1st night I tried it with my Mirage f/f mask but that was a mistake - it didn't work at all.
No excessive saliva though
Last night I tried my ACTIVA - but while it was sortof ok it was not the best night (but not the worst). I kept finding my tongue not in the ramp & me being woken by mouth leaks.
Dry mouth & no trace of saliva .
Today I decided to trim the ramp a bit but until I smooth the tongue ramp edge I may not use it again. It looks like heat is needed but I don't want to destroy it proving that one way or the other.
I think it has potential but still can't pass a serious opinion either way.
Cheers
DSM
_________________
CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): mirage, activa, Ramp
xPAP and Quattro std mask (plus a pad-a-cheek anti-leak strap)
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Sleepless on LI
- Posts: 3997
- Joined: Mon May 30, 2005 6:46 pm
- Location: Long Island, New York
DSM,
Hi. Dr. Sue told me, in no uncertain terms, never use heat. I guess that's because that's what's used to shape it initially and you risk disfiguring it, so to speak, and perhaps compromising the fit, which you don't have right now anyway. Perhaps a dremmel with a fine sand paper tip? Sounds like you're having a real "great" start with this device. Dr. Sue always answers his email, so if you write, he will respond.
When you say no saliva and dry mouth, that would make me think you are still mouth breathing. I have taken a breather (no pun intended) from the device for awhile because, as you read, I needed to get back to basics to get my energy level back, which thank goodness has happened. I have stuck to the Tegaderm for the past three nights and have done very well.
I am so reluctant to go back to the device again since I spend a lot of the night wakeful from one thing or another as a result of wearing it. If it's not over-production of saliva, it's biting down hard on the device or feeling it may be starting to drop down, or even waking to make sure my tongue is where it should be...it just got to the point that I just needed to sleep better, so I walked away for a few days. Don't know when/if I'm going back. I know I have it and will use it when the time seems right.
As far as you, my friend, email him today. If I were you and didn't feel comfortable about doing it myself, do you think maybe there is someone in your neck of the woods who specializes in this area who could make the repair for you, like a dentist or whatever they call these types of doctors who make these devices? An orthodontist maybe? Just a thought.
Well, sorry to hear it's not working too well for you, either. Keep me posted, please.
Hi. Dr. Sue told me, in no uncertain terms, never use heat. I guess that's because that's what's used to shape it initially and you risk disfiguring it, so to speak, and perhaps compromising the fit, which you don't have right now anyway. Perhaps a dremmel with a fine sand paper tip? Sounds like you're having a real "great" start with this device. Dr. Sue always answers his email, so if you write, he will respond.
When you say no saliva and dry mouth, that would make me think you are still mouth breathing. I have taken a breather (no pun intended) from the device for awhile because, as you read, I needed to get back to basics to get my energy level back, which thank goodness has happened. I have stuck to the Tegaderm for the past three nights and have done very well.
I am so reluctant to go back to the device again since I spend a lot of the night wakeful from one thing or another as a result of wearing it. If it's not over-production of saliva, it's biting down hard on the device or feeling it may be starting to drop down, or even waking to make sure my tongue is where it should be...it just got to the point that I just needed to sleep better, so I walked away for a few days. Don't know when/if I'm going back. I know I have it and will use it when the time seems right.
As far as you, my friend, email him today. If I were you and didn't feel comfortable about doing it myself, do you think maybe there is someone in your neck of the woods who specializes in this area who could make the repair for you, like a dentist or whatever they call these types of doctors who make these devices? An orthodontist maybe? Just a thought.
Well, sorry to hear it's not working too well for you, either. Keep me posted, please.
L o R i
So I did my fitting of the device and have mailed it back to Dr. Sue. Ironically, in the meantime my chin strap showed up. Even though I hated the idea of wearing one I tried it anyway. for the last 5 days I've had zero leaks reported. So for me, at least initially, it seems that just a chin strap is enough to keep my mouth sealed.
I'll still try the Nosebreathe when it shows up. I'm a gadget freak anyway, so I like to experiment.
Don't know if I'll ever figure out this CPAP stuff and if it does any good. About the only real solid datum I have is no acid reflux events since starting it. And I don't snore which has probably already saved my life as my wife has not gone insane and strangled me in my sleep. (Okay, so she dealt with it for 10+ years already, but I think she was running out of patience...)
I'll still try the Nosebreathe when it shows up. I'm a gadget freak anyway, so I like to experiment.
Don't know if I'll ever figure out this CPAP stuff and if it does any good. About the only real solid datum I have is no acid reflux events since starting it. And I don't snore which has probably already saved my life as my wife has not gone insane and strangled me in my sleep. (Okay, so she dealt with it for 10+ years already, but I think she was running out of patience...)
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Sleepless on LI
- Posts: 3997
- Joined: Mon May 30, 2005 6:46 pm
- Location: Long Island, New York
Sleepless on LI wrote:Sounds like the last paragraph of your post is pretty good so far, no acid reflux and no chance of being murdered by your wife (at least for snoring)...not a bad start.
Yup, you got me. The cessation of snoring and acid reflux should be enough in and of itself to motivate me to continue. (And I will. I complain a lot but I'm also very stubborn, which in this case helps a lot. )