How did YOU Resolve Your Mouth-Leaks? (poll)

torontoCPAPguy wrote:...

Hey, have you had your vitamin D levels checked? My level was severely deficient; it took me a yr to get them barely above normal...I was aiming for optimal (60-80). Finally, after 15 months, I got 'em to 66 (taking 8000 IU/day)...and now I don't catch everything all the time as I used to do. While labelled a vitamin, it's really a prohromone or a neurohormone intimately involved with the immune system. Since you're still recovering from all those beastly pathogens, it's not wonder your immune system is compromised...when we're sick, vit D just diappears. Anyway, worth investigating.

PS Only take the D3 form as the D2 form is not natural to the body. Now take 5000 IU/day will know if that's enough to maintain my optimal level at next bloodwork labs. No study has shown an overdose for D3; there are overdoses of D2, so be forewarned if a doc wants to precribe D2 (big pharma has convinced docs that's the ideal form to take as a supplement ).

My pressure is set at 11-14. I generally run 11-12 most of the year, and 12-13 during the spring allergy season.

I should warn you about the drool when using the DIY mouthguard. It was bad at first. That's why I continued to work towards a thinner, lighter mouthguard. The less amount of plastic I had in my mouth, the less problem I had with the drool. I started by cutting off any part that I felt was not helping to stablize the guard or my tongue. Even before I got to where I just made something for under the tongue, I think I was only using about 1/2 of the guard as it came out of the package.

Also as it gets smaller, keep choking hazards in mind. I tried to keeping it on the wide side to keep it stabilized under my tongue. I never once woke up with it out of place.

Bob3000 wrote:...try the smaller mouth piece (I use medium) but on fitting the medium really seemed the way to go...

The fitting video and my RT said use the medium...kept leaking so I'm wearing the small & it works well. Said medium with the pillows and that size leaks, went to the large...much better. I tend to get a tiny leak at the end of one of my slotted nares, so I crafted a third strap that goes in front of the mask from top shell headstrap to the other that snugs in the pillows a bit and prevents that leak from developoing. I have found that the tightness of the over the head strap will take care of a lot of the pillow leak.

Bob3000 wrote: I am not sure if a person would wake up under these circumstances.

Unless you are taking some medication that would prevent you from waking up, yes you should wake up if you aren't getting enough oxygen.

Bob3000 wrote: am not sure if a person would wake up under these circumstances.

One day at home, I plugged my CPAP to a surge protector. This Surge protector had a problem that prevented good contact between the prongs, so it was intermittently shutting down my machine. Not very often so It was undetectable for me.

I went to bed, washed my face, tapped my mouth and put my Opus 360. Later that night, woke up having problem to breath, nothing major but having to breath hard, so I removed my mask and checked everything. The machine was off, no power.

I can testify, that a normal and healthy person can and will wake up from a situation like that. You have time to remove the tape or any other measure so I say don't worry too much.

^^^^^^
Good to know!



I experimented with the DIY oral appliance, but I am not sure how it is supposed to work. The one I made looks like the ones made by snork1 and frequenseeker, but my tongue can easily sit on top - or under - the device. I know the tongue should be 'pushed back', but I am not sure how best to do this. In the meantime, I will be taping my mouth shut with blue painter's tape. I hope I get some sleep. Last night I did an hour or two with the Hybrid, but kept waking up from leaks and general discomfort, then I taped my mouth shut and switched to the Swift FX and slept for an hour or two, but again, woke up, this time because of aerophagia. I'm learning that I cannot sleep on my side unless I want to eat air (and then wake up). I will try sleeping supine tonight.

I am a tape and nasal pillow girl all the way! 3M Nexcare Water Resistant Adhesive Tape. It is a strong bond, even if you like lots of humidity and I don't get leakage through the tape like I do with paper tapes. I don't get irritation if I take it off carefully and don't take it off through the night. I just pray the neighbours never see me outside with the dog in the middle of the night!!! I also like the blue painters tape for sensitive places, but was concerned about absorbing chemicals with nightly use.

I used to be an elite nose-breathing machine and did not have any significant troubles with mouth leaks for the first 3 years. Then I lost a bunch of weight and the leaks started.

I still didn't have a selection for the poll that would fit me so I didn't vote.

Solution = PapCap plus my own fix for the lip flutters, a microfleece headband over the mouth and under the chinstrap.

And, I can confirm that I wake up if there is any break in the airflow. The power has gone off a couple of times and I woke up and took my mask off.

I use 1" wide 3M multiple surface painter's tape. At first I used medical paper tape, but it took my skin off. This blue tape is great! I can't use lip balm because the tape would slip off. I know I must blow air into my mouth but my doc says its not enough to make a difference.......but some of the things he says are suspect, so I'm not sure. And I agree its important to fold a little of each side down so you can take it off quickly that way. (if the phone rings, etc.)
I had to start wearing a MORA (mandibular orthopedic repositioning appliance) for my TMJ disorder, and I can't say if that helps me keep my mouth closed. I think as soon as I really relax, the mouth just naturally falls open. I probably should give another chin strap a try, but even with those you can blow air out your mouth. So I'm sticking with blue tape! (And its sticking to me!)

When I told my sleep doc today that I tape my mouth shut to stop leaks, she thought it was a good idea. I did not expect that! Thought she would at least cover her butt, but she was only encouraging about it.

I currently use the CPAP-CAP and find it the most satisfactory I have used. It is not perfect, but does do a good job for me.

I've always had a chronically stufy nose; it didn't bother me until I started CPAP. Then I realized I was mouth breathing at night and that created a high leak rate. I tried a chin strap. it gave me choking feeling. I thought from what I read on the posts that a ff mask would stop the leaking. For some it might, for me it didn't. I switched to the Quattro, & having the air pressure going partly in my mouth dried my mouth totally by morning.

I previously used nasal masks and taped my mouth, but I didn't like the feeling of having my mouth completely taped. After changing to the ff mask & having my mouth get so dry , I decided to try a single strip of tape vertically across the middle of my lips. I tried several types of paper tape, and used the most fragile one I could find. The tape is an inch wide, I put a piece just below my nostrils to my chin. I also put chap stick on before the tape. It is a light piece of tape but it keeps my lips closed during the night . The tape comes off readily in the A.M., and doesn't leave a mark on my skin or lips.

Some of the paper tapes I bought, were too firm, and were hard to pull off in the morning. It took a little & error to find the lightest tape -

Good luck in solving your leaks

Jan

SaltLakeJan wrote:Some of the paper tapes I bought, were too firm, and were hard to pull off in the morning. It took a little & error to find the lightest tape

What brand and model did you end up settling on?

I have solved my mouth breathing by using 3m waterproof 3 inch tape. It may sound gross but I, for some reason, drool a lot. This big waterproof tape buys me enough time to make it till morning. Heaven forbid if you need to take it off soon after putting it on. You will lose skin. All the other tapes that I have tried that others have mentioned did not work for me because of the drooling. In the morning it comes off easy enough. I have been doing this successfully for almost three years and it works for me.
thanks,
Jon