mouth breathing question????

pdean44 · Post by **pdean44** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 7:09 pm

I have two questions I was hoping someone could shed some light on for me...

Is it possible to have plugged nasal passages and still get good readings on your machine even if you are mouth breathing?

Another question I have is when i started out i used to feel pressure actually in my mouth and I learned to keep my tongue against my teeth to keep the pressure from escaping. Lately i noticed that there is no longer pressure in my mouth. I forget the medical name of that flapper valve in your throat but is it possible that it has learned to isolate the pressure from my mouth? I was wondering how that could have changed. just thought it was a bit odd.

Tomorrow i am going to get fitted for some kind of full face mask after insiting to my doc that that i am having problems. they will be running my data so that should be interesting. I dont have the equipment to get my own data readings.

pain32 · Post by **pain32** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 7:21 pm

Hi! Does the full face mask work better? I find I'm getting buzzing and nose irritation, sore throat from the nose mask, but it does seem to work when I can fall asleep which is usually after some hours. Is the pressure on the full face mask supposed to be greater than 8.0? Also are you supposed to breathe through your mouth or exhale through your mouth with the nose mask?
Thanks!

pdean44 · Post by **pdean44** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 7:29 pm

pain32 wrote:Hi! Does the full face mask work better? I find I'm getting buzzing and nose irritation, sore throat from the nose mask, but it does seem to work when I can fall asleep which is usually after some hours. Is the pressure on the full face mask supposed to be greater than 8.0? Also are you supposed to breathe through your mouth or exhale through your mouth with the nose mask?
Thanks!

Ahh wish I could answer that. I wont get the mask until tomorrow afternoon. I have no idea which one i will end up with. I was told i had several choices and will go after the most comfortable one. Perhaps a few suggestions on what to take a look at could help us both.

I think with the full face mask whether it be a hybrid or just a nasl mask you would breathe normally and the exhaust is exhaled through the exhaust port bear the bridge of your nose. At least on my mask. Regardless if i inhale through my mouth or nose i would imagine it is exhaled through the same port. I tend to associate a sore throat with snoring especially after my wife wakes me up to complain honey you are snoring again. I would imagine that not having the ability to apply humidity could be an issue if your equipment does not have a humidiier.

I have not heard of a minimum pressure requirement for a full face mask. I am not expert just a cpap noob. So I dont want to lead you astray on your questions. I know that i am suspect i am mouth breathing as told to me by my wife. I have sore throats so i am going to get it checked out. See if i can get it resolved and feel better. I feel way better than I used to before i got my gear. I feel i can do better yet.

Good luck on your therapy!

Jersey Girl · Post by **Jersey Girl** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 8:27 pm

Dear Pain32,

My pressure of 8 was assigned by my Pulmonary/Sleep doctor. They found during my titration (second sleep study with the mask), that a pressure of 8 was what was needed to control my sleep apnea/hypopnea events. This pressure of 8 stays on the machine whether I am wearing a full face mask, a nasal mask, or nasal pillow mask. I simply change the mask setting on the machine so that it knows which one I am wearing.

When using a nasal mask or nasal pillow mask, you must inhale and exhale through your nose. If air is escaping through your mouth, then you are not getting good therapy. With a full face mask you can breath through your nose or through your mouth. My husband snores at night and then after about 20 minutes or so asleep his mouth tends to drop open. So, he found a Mirage Quatro worked really well for him. However, mask choice is a very personal thing. What is wonderful for one person is terrible for another. So, many of us have tried 3 or 4 masks before we found our personal best. It takes time and patience.

Best regards,

Jersey Girl

pdean44 · Post by **pdean44** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 8:44 pm

Hi jersey always greast to hear from you. did your hubby have any problems with the quattro? Any issues to over come i should look out for? Not sur ewhich full face i will settle on.

Jersey Girl · Post by **Jersey Girl** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 8:50 pm

Dear pdean44,

Before John tried the Mirage Quatro, he tried the Liberty (a hybrid mask) and either the nose pillows leaked or the mouth part leaked. He never could get it adjusted properly, in spite of reading about all the possible fixed here on the forum. So, he tried a Quatro. He easily adjusted the straps and the forehead piece and has slept well ever since. The only thing that we both have to watch out for is not sending the vent air into each other's faces/arms, etc.

The wonderful thing about his mask is that there is no more snoring! And, he has no periodic leg movements. So, we are both sleeping through the night. For him, it was the perfect mask.

Let me know which mask you end up with and how it goes.

Warmly,

Jersey Girl

elena88 · Post by **elena88** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:02 pm

have two questions I was hoping someone could shed some light on for me...

Is it possible to have plugged nasal passages and still get good readings on your machine even if you are mouth breathing?

Hi there..
Oh I sure wish you could get you data on the computer, I have to tell you I would never have figured out what was going wrong had I not
done this..

I know I would get my nose so plugged up, something awful, and I would mouth breath and end up with good numbers.. My mouth got
really dry, and my throat was sore, so I started taping it shut, but I cut a tiny hole in the tape for ventitlation purposes.. which really
worked great..

I hope a full face mask ends up working for you, I cant really tolerate one.. I have tried a few, and I really didnt feel as much pressure
with one of those.

Anyway, after I taped for a few weeks, I learned to keep my mouth shut without it.. and my mouth is always moist in the morning, and no
more sore throats.. I do notice that whatever side I lay on, that nostril instantly plugs up.. does that happen to you?

P.S. I have always loved your avatar, as you have such a nice friendly smile!

all the best,
elena

pdean44 · Post by **pdean44** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:11 pm

Hi Jersey, I have been leaning towards the quattro for some time. So we shall see what happens. I was hoping that i wont have some of the sore nose bridge issues and mask leak concerns i have seen others complain about. But it is all about face structure and what works and doesn't work for you individually. I appreciate the kind words.

hi Elena thanks for the kind words on the avatar.
Taping in the one thing i can not do because of the mustache i have worn forever. I think my wife would divorce me if i shaved it off.

I have tried everything else imaginable to try and get a handle on this. i love the mask I have now am very comfortable with it. i am hoping tho that the full face will put an end to the elbows in the ribs for snoring and in the process perhaps we will both be more rested.

I really appreciate the feed back.

john_dozer · Post by **john_dozer** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:16 pm

I think Nasal Masks are easier to fit. And that Mouth Breathing, especially with the drying out associated with CPAP can be bad for your teeth.

Otherwise, from what I can tell, there's no reason to not mouth breathe with a Full Mask.

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Machine	Mask	Humidifier