CPAPtalk.com

Had an interesting visit to my ENT Doctor yesterday. Seems I have developed TMJ since starting CPAP.

His theory is that the left side of my face feeling cold using the Swift Pillows was a coincidence. The pain in the left side of my face was more than likely caused by me either clinching my teeth or just getting used to sleeping with my mouth closed using CPAP.

I tend to agree with his diagnosis. So for the short term, no gum, no chewy foods etc.

By the way I have used the Swift Pillow mask for a week now and think that is the mask for me. Still keeping it on all night, but waking several times a night. I keep telling myself "Rome was not built in a day"....

RH,
There are a couple of things that you can get for TMJ that are OTC... won't cost major $. If you go the dentist route they'll want you to get a splint, which when I bought my last one was fairly pricey.
Try going to the local drugstore... the Walgreens around here has a boil and bite splint. Otherwise try splintek.com and they've got one that I actually like better. It's basically a piece of plastic for your mouth that'll keep your teeth separated and put less stress on your jaw.

RhinNC - Last night was night 7 on APAP and I am EXHAUSTED. Maybe tireder than before APAP - BUT the two nights I have slept well, I really could see a difference and know it will make a difference so I, like you, will stick this thing out for the long haul..........

I have a Mirage full face mask and I notice pain in some of my teeth - one of them an old root canal tooth, but was done 3 years ago and now started hurting again after APAP - I also notice what must be a "pressure headache", as I am not prone to headaches at all, but this gives me one.

I had two good nights and now seem to wake up after 3-4 hours and not be able to get back to sleep.

Am waiting now to receive Swift nasal pillows so I have more than one unit to try and so when one is causing sore spots across nose, forehead, I can go to another one - suggested by Rested Gal who really knows her equipment and is incredibly helpful. I wouldn't have gotten through past week without her support.

Hang in there if you can - I used to have a lot of problems with sinus infections, then started nasal irrigation with very warm saline solution and 1/2 dropperful of liquid Colloidal Silver (antibacterial). Am please to say I just don't have problems with sinus's anymore.

Am wishing you the best of luck - I see these people on the board whose lives are changed after first night on CPAP but I think that is not the norm and that most of us go through a very exhausting and exasperating beginning.

Hope you get through this - will watch for your progress on board.
Ellen