2nd night (and drooling)

First of all, thank you everyone for your support and responses yesterday. I wish I could acknowledge each and every one but, unfortunately, my short term memory sucks and I seem to use up what I have during the work day. And, I've been noticing that slipping away, as well. Hopefully that will turn itself around, as I really hate feeling like this.

Well, after the first night, my husband tells me that he was watching me sleep and I was "blowing out through my mouth." Last night I tried taping with paper tape. Not at all as scary as I thought it would be. My hubby thought it was quite extreme...but this morning he was laughing as he was telling me he was watching the tape "flap in the breeze" while I breathed!!!! (Yes, I do drool, and was aware during the night that part of the tape was wet and coming loose)

So,
1. Once a drooler, always a drooler? Will that ever stop, am I going to need to find some sort of waterproof mouth covering? Has anyone had experience with a chinstrap stopping it? My daughters played soccer for years, and we have every imaginable size/shape of Ace bandage, I may try something with that tonite.

2. If I decide to try a FFM, what happens if/when I drool? I have visions of a scuba diver with water filling his mask

I know this is somewhat disgusting, but now that your're all in my bedroom, I figure "what the the hell?"

Thanks,
L

Hi, I had the problem of drooling when i was using tape also,i switched to a wide chin strap which holds my mouth closed much better and no drooling. I also brought my AHI way down with the chin strap! It was running anywhere from 16 to 24, now it stays below 2 !!!!!!. You might try that. good luck.

I don't know what causes that darn drooling. I wish someone could tell us. I didn't drool before CPAP, I didn't drool for a long time after I started CPAP. I don't remember if I started drooling before or after being switched to a bi-level PAP. What I do know is that I went thru a short period where I WAS drooling! Every night! And then I no longer drooled. And I have no idea why I didn't, did and now don't again. None.

Sister, what sort of chinstrap do you use? Purchased or homemade? I've seen lots of different options and photos on the forum, and I'm trying to figure out how/where to start without wasting too much $$$.

Thanks.
L

Tired Linda wrote:
2. If I decide to try a FFM, what happens if/when I drool? I have visions of a scuba diver with water filling his mask

Thanks,
L

I use a FF mask, and have drooled the last two nights. I only noticed when I woke up, so it didn't interfere with my sleep. But the minute I was awake, I ripped that mask off because of the cold puddle in the corner of my mask. No scuba diver problems, though. lol. After the mask is off, it's just a matter of cleaning it, and a lot of people clean their masks daily anyway. I like to see the bright side of everything, and the silver lining here is that if I am drooling, that means I am very relaxed and in deep, healing sleep.

I drooled a lot more before cpap when I was mostly mouth breathing. Now it seems to have mostly stopped, especially using the hybrid which keeps my mouth mostly shut. The chin strap did nothing for me - kept my teeth together but my lips were still open.

Tired Linda wrote:Sister, what sort of chinstrap do you use? Purchased or homemade? I've seen lots of different options and photos on the forum, and I'm trying to figure out how/where to start without wasting too much $$$.

Thanks.
L

hi Linda, I have many chinstraps and had found them all useless until i found this one. You can find it at CPap Xchange.com. It is a Respironics Deluxe Chin Strap
Part # AG 302425. just go to cpap xchange and then click on chinstraps,it was 18,99.it works for me and it really doesn't bother me. i think it works better for me than polident or mouth taping. i just put it on before my nasal pillows. Best of luck to you!

snuginarug wrote:

Tired Linda wrote:
2. If I decide to try a FFM, what happens if/when I drool? I have visions of a scuba diver with water filling his mask

Thanks,
L

I use a FF mask, and have drooled the last two nights. I only noticed when I woke up, so it didn't interfere with my sleep. But the minute I was awake, I ripped that mask off because of the cold puddle in the corner of my mask. No scuba diver problems, though. lol. After the mask is off, it's just a matter of cleaning it, and a lot of people clean their masks daily anyway. I like to see the bright side of everything, and the silver lining here is that if I am drooling, that means I am very relaxed and in deep, healing sleep.

You go girl,!!! That is so true! I thank GOD every morning that i am sleeping!!! I am one of those that cleans everything every day because i have severe allergies,
no problem when you are getting a good nights sleep. I try to see the positive side of everything too,makes trying a whole lot easier.lol

BlackSpinner wrote:I drooled a lot more before cpap when I was mostly mouth breathing. Now it seems to have mostly stopped, especially using the hybrid which keeps my mouth mostly shut.

Me, too. Started with a full face mask, was still drooling some. Switched to a hybrid mask, able to mostly breathe through my nose. Now don't seem to be drooling at all.

That little damp spot on my pillow is still there, though, because now I need higher humidification, and the rain-out trickles out of my mask vent holes . Still working on the rain-out issue!

Lets not forget the upside of drooling means no dry mouth!


I use medical tape and cut an eighth of an inch to quarter inch slit in the middle so I can cough if I have to, as I use nose pillows..

but you could cut two tiny slits on both sides of the tape as drool drains!


My husband, the funny guy, suggested I use spirit gum to keep my nose pillows from coming off.. no doubt
he would suggest that for the tape too! OMG.

The chin flap on my Hybrid helps to teach me to sleep with my mouth closed. If it's open , my mouth can get a little dry. Try sleeping with something that will teach you to close your mouth. It's healthier.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who drools. For me, it seems to be when I'm really tired which is still MOST of the time.
Shar:)

Tired Linda wrote:Last night I tried taping with paper tape. Not at all as scary as I thought it would be. My hubby thought it was quite extreme...but this morning he was laughing as he was telling me he was watching the tape "flap in the breeze" while I breathed!!!! (Yes, I do drool, and was aware during the night that part of the tape was wet and coming loose)

Linda,

Try looking for 3M breathable surgical tape. It comes in 2 inch wide rolls, and is about $7 per roll. I find it at the local Walgreens. I looked for it on-line, and it wasn't any cheaper, so I bought a bunch on sale at Walgreens.

-john-

jweeks wrote:Try looking for 3M breathable surgical tape. It comes in 2 inch wide rolls, and is about $7 per roll. I find it at the local Walgreens. I looked for it on-line, and it wasn't any cheaper, so I bought a bunch on sale at Walgreens.

Thanks, John. I will pass at least 2 Walgreens on the way home tonight..they are everywhere in this city. We had the blue painter's tape and I tried that last night, but ended up ripping it off in about an hour. Just wasn't comfortable for me.

L