Misadventures of a Mouthbreather...

Hello all,

So I'm still fighting the mouth breathing issue. In my case it usually happens around 2-3am, when I'm most deeply asleep I would guess. My jaw drops and whoosh: mouth maelstrom, twister in my teeth, cyclone on my cheeks... This is possibly the one big disadvantage to APAP, it tries to compensate for leaks by pumping more air so when the mouth is your "leak" you just get a stronger and stronger wind tunnel.

My leak rates never show as very high (0.2Ls or 0.4ls on the Respond) but I think I keep getting aroused over and over again by them. Also, my wife is often woken up by it and actually closes my mouth. She just wishes it was that easy to get me to shut my mouth when I'm awake.

So here's the list of things I've tried...

1. DIY tongue guide. Not really that handy. Unless I can hammer a nail or attach a screw to it, I just can't seem to build it. I did manage to create one but it just seemed to push out my upper lip and make me uncomfortable. But cheap to try at least...

2. Thought to myself "Okay, so I can't make one, but I'm sure Dr. Sue can..." So 88$ later and I'm still gagging on it. The device certainly fit better but I just cannot get used to having a mouth piece in my mouth all night.

3. So onto the ACE bandage. Uhhh, nope no way. To dang hot for me and I was very uncomfortable. But cheap to try at least...

4. So okay, I'll buy a "real" chin strap. 20$ later I've got this strip of velcro and elastic. Again, not the most pleasant thing to wear but it did seem to work somewhat. That is when it didn't slide off.

5. "Training your tongue" - Yeah right. Maybe some people can figure this out but I sure can't. My subconcious just doesn't want to play that game. But really cheap to try.

6. So I tried the tape route. Thanks to RG for detailed instructions on what to use. So I'm off to Walgreen's to buy the tape. They, of course, do not have any of the stuff in the proper sizes. A helpful clerk comes by and asks if she can help. I then ask for the specific "Tegaderm patch" that RG suggests. She asks what I'm going to use it for. I say, "To tape my mouth shut...". The conversation degraded from there... Anyway, I find the smaller version of the J&J waterproof tape and use 2 1" pieces overlapping. It works surprisingly well. But again, it's not perfect. I'm worried about possibly throwing up at night. (Okay so maybe that's paranoia, I've never ever done that but it only takes once to kill you). I'm worried that my lips will get ripped off by the sticky tape one morning. And my wife now thinks I look like H. Lecter...

So what have we learned? I just don't think there is a great solution to mouth breathing. I guess I could cough up more money to try a FF mask but I hear of many complaints about them, so I'm hesitant to go that route.

I guess for now I'll stick with the tape route. It seemed to work and was the least uncomfortable for me. But man this mouth leakage is a real pain. I feel like I'm real close to making this xPAP stuff work really well if I could just fix this issue.

I think mouthbreathing (MB) is probably one of the biggest issues with xPAP therapy. If it's not causing outright reduction in treatment, it's causing multiple arousals to get you to close your mouth. Isn't multiple arousals just what we are trying to avoid?

Sorry just "venting" a bit. (Get it? Venting? Yes, I can certainly amuse myself at least.)

I will keep using that devilish machine. It does prevent my snoring so my wife can finally get a good night's sleep and I have to assume that it is helping me get better sleep as well.

Ehusen,

Thanks to RG, I learned about Tegaderm. It is by far, IMHO, the best way to tape your mouth. I tried both. You don't have to double up on the Tegaderm if you buy the larger ones and cut them in half as they are large enough to prevent any leaks at all. Plus, they don't have to be ripped off like a band-aid, but rather peel off since they're stretchy.

I would swear by the Tegaderm. Yes, they can get expensive if you use them nightly, but when it comes down to sensitive skin from ripping off tape every day from your face, AND preventing the loss of pressure and ensuring proper nightly therapy, I'll spend the extra money to keep my skin intact.

ALSO...very important, the best trick I found was to turn your lips inward before you place the patch over them. It's like adding a double lock to your door, a little extra security. Works great.

Thanks sleepless. I did look for the Tegaderm stuff first. I did finally find it but only in the smaller size. Any suggestions on where to purchase the Tegaderm. Also, do you do the tape solution every night?

E,
When I was on the Swift, yes, I did it every night. Since getting the Aura, no mouth breathing or anything like that. My leak rate is steady and low and I don't wake ever from it anymore. I really don't think I mouth breathe at all now.

You can look for Tegaderm in Eckerd's, CVS or even Walmart. You might get the best price at Walmart, too. When I used the small ones, I would cut another small one in half just to secure the sides since they just reached the outer corners of my lips, where they meet. If you can find the larger ones, you can cut them in half and not need to double up like that.

Good luck.

Ehusen,

Your story is not an uncommon one.

There is a search on among many of us to find the device that can do the following

1) Keep the chin in a reasonable position (best seems to be the Ruby Chinstrap ! but ti is only part of the solution)
2) Keep the lips sealed & in place (The only way today seems to be tape)
3) Do whatever it needs to enourage our tongue to stay in the right place (Dr Sue's device has not done that for me while sleeping)

I am putting a lot of thinking into a solution & although it may take time I will get there.

My line of thinking is to work on the chin strap & see if I can add something like a minature Oracle 452 (but a lot less bulky), that does what is needed to hold the lips firm on both sides without hurting and while allowing us to have minimal intrusion into the mouth (unless with a small ramp that can help keep the tongue up).

There are many complications to overcome

1) Chin must be kept within a particular range that still allows easy swallowing
2) Need soft but firm material around the outside of the mouth to hold lips firm
3) Need (seems a requirement) a soft but firm material inside the lips to help the outside bracing material (like a minature Oralce 452)
4) Need to allow the mouth to be as closed as is normal
5) Need to keep mouth cavity uncluttered
6) Need to provide comfort for the tongue


Mouth breathing is the *bane* of xPAP

Cheers

DSM

Whay won't you use a full face mask?