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Thanks for that information, Bret! I hope that those suggestions help pitrow and anyone else who has difficulties keeping the PAPCap in place.

Now that you mention it, I do affix the chinstrap back (more toward the ears), rather than closer to the temples, so that may be one reason why my cap doesn't slip forward during the night. I think I have a relatively small head too. Before affixing the chinstrap, I jut my jaw forward, with the bottom lip up, and that does seem to help keep the airway more open. Also, like you said, it's important not to overtighten the chinstrap. I can still open my mouth a little and the therapy air doesn't escape.

SleepGuy wrote:By the way: The PLUS model has been added back to the website. Sorry for its temporary absence.

Yay! I have never tried any other chinstraps, so I have no point of reference to compare yours to, but I have zero mouth leaks every night since using the PAPCap chinstrap! I love your products.

~ DreamOn

DreamOn wrote:Yay! I have never tried any other chinstraps, so I have no point of reference to compare yours to, but I have zero mouth leaks every night since using the PAPCap chinstrap! I love your products.

~ DreamOn

I was in denial about my mouthleaking problem before developing this chinstrap--I think everybody must experience it at least some of the time. The nasal masks just don't try to address the variable of the mouth-tongue seal.

Funny thing last night--I woke up about 5am full cotton mouth mode though everything was secure. I had to really think about what was happening--endless tinkering and tweaking to get it to work. The cap is very versatile that way....

SleepGuy wrote:

DreamOn wrote:I was in denial about my mouthleaking problem before developing this chinstrap--I think everybody must experience it at least some of the time.

What was happening for me is that my machine was showing there were leaks. I could visually see them with the software too. The leak number was small and within normal limits, but I wanted to get to the root of it (being the perfectionist that I am).

My mask wasn't leaking (that I knew of), so I figured it must be coming from my mouth. While still awake I would occasionally have puffs of air escape from my mouth and very rarely more forceful bursts of air, but that didn't seem to completely account for the leak rate. Over time I figured out that the therapy air was escaping from my mouth during deep/REM sleep, and I was apparently sleeping right through it. My mouth started to become dry. I think this started to happen more and more as my sleep quality was improving and I had more REM sleep, when the muscles (including the jaw) fully relax.

My machine pressure is low, so it's possible that is why a chinstrap works so well for me in preventing mouth leaks. I also think that my tongue is a bit larger than some, so that probably helps to block the airway. All I know is that since I started using the chinstrap the leak rate immediately went to zero and has stayed that way. One of these days I'm going to try sleeping without the chinstrap and see if the leak rate goes up again. But I don't think I'll stop using my PAPCap. It has the added benefit of keeping my head warm in the winter!

~ DreamOn

P.S. I do not know Bret personally. I'm just a satisfied customer and want to share what's worked for me, in the hope that it'll help some others as well. We need all the help we can get to make therapy comfortable and most effective!

SleepGuy wrote:pitrow, I am very interested to find out whether any of these solutions works for you. I am always trying to improve the product as well as the accompanying instructions.

Thank Bret. Glad to know that some people/companies out there still care about supplying a quality product. I'll let you know if any of the changes make a difference. Surprisingly enough, despite not doing anything different, I didn't have a problem with it creeping forward last night. Maybe the threat of switching to something else scared it into submission! lol. I'll try some of your recomendations and see if they work better for me, and/or if I can come up with a good solution.

The PapCap is working extremely well for me, I guess it's over a week!! I feel very blessed to have it, and it's playing an important role in my Therapy.

The 'Win Win' is the PapCap with the CPAP Pro. The design of the Chin Strap is well distributed which creates 'strength' and 'comfort'. The CPAP Pro has so little point of contact, low leakage, quiet, I don't even notice it...

I tried the PapCap with ComfortFusion. The PapCap and ComfortFusion became one. A very snug, comfortable combination with low leaks. Though, it's harder to sleep on my side compared to the CpapPro.

The key to any of this for me, not to tolerate discomfort. If I'm feeling discomfort with any of the CPAP apparatus, I need to start over, particularly with a mirror (when using CPAP Pro). Hard to do, when your really tired and just want to go to bed...

Sleep well,

SG

SuperGeeky, it's great to hear that you've found products that are making your therapy more effective and comfortable. You're right -- this shouldn't be torture! It can be difficult to be persistent when you're not feeling good, but it can pay off in the end.

~ DreamOn