Does this happen to you????

HeidiHose · Post by **HeidiHose** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 8:35 pm

OK...I use a Remstar C-Flex with a pressure of 18, along with a Mirage Activa nasal mask.

I wake up every morning around 4am, and my mouth is filling with air. It's like a balloon being inflated, and I have to release the air thru my mouth. I notice that the mask is also fully inflated (the Activa has a moving "bladder" that contracts & expands with breathing).

My upper teeth & tongue get very dry. I know that this is mouth breathing, and I haven't been able to find one method yet to keep my mouth closed. BUT, what is this "ballooning" of air with my mouth? And, now the mask is starting to all of a sudden leak in one area at this time!

Arrrrrrggggghhhhh!!!!!!!!

inacpapfog · Post by **inacpapfog** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 9:27 pm

You are in good company about the air ballooning thing!
Though I'm no expert here, my best guess is ......you're in a deep state of sleep around that time of the night and all of your muscles are soooooo relaxed that when the cpap air diverts to your mouth, it quickly expands those super relaxed cheeks. Then, it's like an automatic thing to just blow it out your mouth! Do you use a chin strap? While they do not stop all lip leaks, the particular I use does stop cheeks from ballooning. It's the wide white stretch/velcro one (premium chinstrap?) Cheap and works well, for me!

HeidiHose · Post by **HeidiHose** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:30 pm

[quote="inacpapfog"]You are in good company about the air ballooning thing!
Though I'm no expert here, my best guess is ......you're in a deep state of sleep around that time of the night and all of your muscles are soooooo relaxed that when the cpap air diverts to your mouth, it quickly expands those super relaxed cheeks. Then, it's like an automatic thing to just blow it out your mouth! Do you use a chin strap? While they do not stop all lip leaks, the particular I use does stop cheeks from ballooning. It's the wide white stretch/velcro one (premium chinstrap?) Cheap and works well, for me!

Colorado Jan · Post by **Colorado Jan** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:40 pm

I don't have any answers, just sympathy. That same thing happened to me the other night when I was trying to go to sleep with my Aura. From the first breath I took, my mouth was just full of air. I kept trying to breathe "naturally" (if you can do that with CPAP, lol), kept trying to relax and get into the rhythm of things, but I was just overwhelmed with all that air and my mouth was always full of it. Weird. And my titrated pressure is 9 (but I was using APAP 8-13 setting).

I switched masks to the Swift....and everything was normal again. Haven't tried the Aura again since.

I can't explain it at all....just wanted you to know I knew what you were talking about!

Jan in Colo.

HeidiHose · Post by **HeidiHose** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:46 pm

[quote="Colorado Jan"]I don't have any answers, just sympathy. That same thing happened to me the other night when I was trying to go to sleep with my Aura. From the first breath I took, my mouth was just full of air. I kept trying to breathe "naturally" (if you can do that with CPAP, lol), kept trying to relax and get into the rhythm of things, but I was just overwhelmed with all that air and my mouth was always full of it. Weird. And my titrated pressure is 9 (but I was using APAP 8-13 setting).

I switched masks to the Swift....and everything was normal again. Haven't tried the Aura again since.

I can't explain it at all....just wanted you to know I knew what you were talking about!

Jan in Colo.

allen · Post by **allen** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 6:52 am

HeidiHose,
I've experienced the mouth-balloon phenomenon several times. I don't remember waking up because of it, though, because it's happened to me when I've first put on my mask. I think I've only experienced it with my Full Face mask, but I may not be remembering correctly.

Since it's not something that has awakened me, I've kind of enjoyed it as a new and different sensation--just as a mild interested kind of thing, rather than a concern.

Hang in there,
Allen

HeidiHose · Post by **HeidiHose** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 11:03 am

allen wrote:HeidiHose,
I've experienced the mouth-balloon phenomenon several times. I don't remember waking up because of it, though, because it's happened to me when I've first put on my mask. I think I've only experienced it with my Full Face mask, but I may not be remembering correctly.

Since it's not something that has awakened me, I've kind of enjoyed it as a new and different sensation--just as a mild interested kind of thing, rather than a concern.

Hang in there,
Allen

Hi Allen,

"kind of enjoyed it as a new and different sensation..." Never thought of it that way...I like the way you think!

another_guest · Post by **another_guest** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 2:38 pm

about 3/4 the way down this page are a couple of pictures of homemade chin straps for ideas -

http://www.talhost.net/sleep/cpap.htm

Colorado Jan · Post by **Colorado Jan** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 2:44 pm

Oh, I was VERY concerned about all that air in my mouth! Because...if you weren't going to mouth-breathe, then what are you going to do with all that air? Swallow it? And THEN, just what do you have to look forward to the next day? Huh? No sirree, not going to happen to ME! Fortunately for me, changing masks stopped the situation or I would have been forced to sleep without CPAP that night....I do not need extra air in my internal plumbing thank you very much!

Jan in Colo.

another_guest · Post by **another_guest** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 2:51 pm

but if you could harvest it and then use it to heat your house -

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nodding off · Post by **nodding off** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 3:14 pm

Hi HeidiHose,
It's all in your tongue. While you are asleep, it forgets its job (sealing off your mouth) and you mouthleak. The chin strap was a good suggestion. Also, some people use tape to keep their mouths sealed all night. I found that over time mty brain finally remembered to keep my tongue up there and the problem wernt away. Sleep well!

Mask