Ok to try and breathe through nose? Same effect as mouth?

Hi. I am trying to get used to my cpap. I got my cpap on this past Wed and am trying to get used to it. First I want to see if I can start breathing through my nose instead of my mouth. It's ok to breath through your nose if they tested me and adjusted the pressure when I was breathing through my mouth right? I mean, the pressure it keeping the same opening open whether I breathe through my mouth or nose? I am trying the tongue to the roof of my mouth thing. I slept last night with it off. I think I get nervous when keeping it on right now...almost as if a bit of nervousness when it's on. Last night I took it off and fell asleep without it on. I do not want to do this.

Just hard right now trying to get used to it. I know my mask is leaking air sometimes at the bottom. What do you guys think of the Escape 2 cpap machine? I want to get the best eq for what my needs call for. The respiratory tech told me that the it was fine and not to bother with the more fancy machines.

My pressure is at 16 (max of 18). What are some of the things I can do to get used to sleeping with this on?

Thanks so much for the help!

Edit: Also I've noticed when I try to breathe out, that is when the air leaks at the bottom of the mask. Breathing out only with my mouth though. When breathing out with my nose this doesn't happen. I'm wondering if using tape is ok to tape the mask to the bottom of my chin?

jarablue wrote:What do you guys think of the Escape 2 cpap machine? I want to get the best eq for what my needs call for. The respiratory tech told me that the it was fine and not to bother with the more fancy machines.

Yeah its "fine", fine and cheap and has been discontinued by ResMed. The "fancy" machines might actually give you some useful data. The Escape is the entry level basic machine. The only data it will collect is how many hours you used it and how many days. DME's promote it because the make the greatest profit margin. Insurance pays a set amount for either the basic cheap machine or a better machine. Escape data available is only hours of use. Nothing else. Compliance only to satisfy insurance requirements.

"Fancy" machines will show information that will enable you to monitor your own therapy. There is even software available to give more more details in the data.

Read a little more about it here viewtopic.php?p=307168#p307168

You need a fully data capable machine that will give useful information as to how your therapy is going. AHI, leaks, etc.
The time to make the change is now, don't wait. Otherwise if you run into problems you have no way to find out what is going on they will just tell you it takes "time"... You need at least the S9 Elite cpap.

Regarding breathing through nose or mouth. You are using a full face mouth, you can breathe through your nose if you wish but if the nose stops up you can also breathe through your mouth.

Return it and tell them you want one of those "fancy" machines....

I will. The only reason I accepted it was I had no information. Researching this forum is giving me machine gun info.

I have a follow up appoinment on the 23rd and I will call my insurance tomorrow.

Let me ask this...what is the best machine currently available....?

Hey Jara...be glad you found this forum so early on your journey. I just lumbered through 10+ years of a cheap non-data compliant machine before buying my new auto with data and having that machine with the assistance of the members here has truly been a game changer. I'm generally a mouth breather by day although I'm trying to train myself to be more of nose breather by day. That being said my doc had me on a pillow mask with no strap...go figure...I was mouth breathing/leaking all that time. For now I've opted for a papcap chin strap and for me it does the trick but as others have pointed out the full face works well for mouth breathers too.

I got an S9 Autoset and could not be happier. Super quiet, easy to navigate settings and the software has been easy too. I'm sure some others will give you their recommendations on another machine or two. Good luck and my advice is to demand they get you the best machine money can buy, it's your life not theirs.

Hi. I am trying to get used to my cpap. I got my cpap on this past Wed and am trying to get used to it. First I want to see if I can start breathing through my nose instead of my mouth. It's ok to breath through your nose if they tested me and adjusted the pressure when I was breathing through my mouth right? I mean, the pressure it keeping the same opening open whether I breathe through my mouth or nose? I am trying the tongue to the roof of my mouth thing. I slept last night with it off. I think I get nervous when keeping it on right now...almost as if a bit of nervousness when it's on. Last night I took it off and fell asleep without it on. I do not want to do this.

Just hard right now trying to get used to it. I know my mask is leaking air sometimes at the bottom. What do you guys think of the Escape 2 cpap machine? I want to get the best eq for what my needs call for. The respiratory tech told me that the it was fine and not to bother with the more fancy machines.

My pressure is at 16 (max of 18). What are some of the things I can do to get used to sleeping with this on?

Do you have a range of pressures or a set pressure? I see you say the max pressure is 18 which is why I am asking. If it is a range of pressures you have the Escape II Auto. It does provide limited data via the LCD screen but you must check before noon as it doesn't save the data -- just the averages which aren't as useful.

Thanks so much for the help!

Edit: Also I've noticed when I try to breathe out, that is when the air leaks at the bottom of the mask. Breathing out only with my mouth though. When breathing out with my nose this doesn't happen. I'm wondering if using tape is ok to tape the mask to the bottom of my chin?[/quote]

I would definitely try to get the S9 Autoset or PR Sysytem I Auto.

If your pressure is 15 or higher (which you indicate yours is) you may want to talk to your doctor about a bipap. A bipap is different from either a cpap or apap. A bipap can lower the exhale pressure more than a cpap or apap. I know for most insurance and medicare to pay for it you have to "fail" cpap/apap but it might be worth checking out.

As far as breathing through your nose or mouth -- either is okay if you are using a full face mask. It is better to breathe through your nose -- but some of us are mouth breathers and with a full face mask where it covers your mouth and nose you should be okay. Full face masks are harder to get to seal as there is so much surface area. You may want to try Mack's silicone ear plugs. Roll into a thin snake or roll and place it on the perimeter of the seal where it touches your face and when you place your mask on press gentely so that the silicone can mold to your face.

jarablue wrote: Just hard right now trying to get used to it. I know my mask is leaking air sometimes at the bottom. What do you guys think of the Escape 2 cpap machine? I want to get the best eq for what my needs call for. The respiratory tech told me that the it was fine and not to bother with the more fancy machines.

As Pugsy (and others) point out: The Resmed S8 Escape II is a discontinued machine that records no useful data that will help you maximize your therapy.

Best equipment? If your DME is willing to swap the machine out request any of the following:

Resmed S9 Elite or Autoset (but NOT the S9 Escape or S9 Auto Escape)
PR System One Pro or Auto (but NOT the PR S1 Plus)
F&P Icon Premo or Auto (but NOT the Icon Novo)

And good luck in convincing the DME to swap the machine.

Finally, I'd seriously consider changing DMEs if this one gives you any grief about swapping the machine out. I'd even consider switching (if my insurance company ok'ed the switch) if the DME is willing to switch the machine out. Why? Because they obviously hoped and expected you to blindly accept a no-data brick of an outmoded machine from their old stock in order to maximize their profit. And in the process, they've set you up with a much higher than normal chance of failure.

jarablue wrote: What do you guys think of the Escape 2 cpap machine? I want to get the best eq for what my needs call for. The respiratory tech told me that the it was fine and not to bother with the more fancy machines.

It pays to know whom you are dealing with.

Be aware going forward that this RT is either:

A. too ignorant to help you

or

B. an immoral fiend

or

C. both A and B.

I would push for an APAP with your pressures. Sounds like you might have the Escape II Auto now if you have a 16 to 18 range.
Still won't give useful data though.

Bipap might be a consideration if hard to manage those pressures. It will allow more exhale relief than a person can get with EPR on the ResMed machines or the other relief features on other brands. Insurance regulations may require failure on cpap or apap before paying though. Depends on insurance and doctor wording the request.

And since you have already done your homework you know that an APAP machine can be used in CPAP mode if situation warrants.
2 machines rolled into 1.

Don't accept an S8 Elite or S8 Autoset though, the extra stuff needed to get the data off the machine to computer software is very hard to find and pricey. The S9 machines just have the SD card to deal with.

Any of the machines that Robysue mentioned would served you well. The ResMed and Respironics machines have software more easily available. F& P software harder to come by sometimes.