CPAPtalk.com

mollete wrote:

SleepingUgly wrote:Who bought Provent?

Terence999

I meant which company acquired Provent? I thought it was Theravent, but it sounds from this thread like they are two different products.

Treatment of bed partner?
Best to use a silencer!

mollete wrote:Also, Provent is an internal nasal dilator, while Theravent is an external nasal dilator.

K120665

K102404

"Internal" - where do they put it?

And SU, who tried the Provent, says it is "external."

Are they saying that one only covers up the nostrils and the other one protrudes into the nostrils?

Are they functionally different from a medical standpoint?

Nate

The Provent is external, with the exception of a couple of millimeters that enters the nostrils that has that flap door that opens and closes.

SleepingUgly wrote:The Provent is external, with the exception of a couple of millimeters that enters the nostrils that has that flap door that opens and closes.

Which makes it an internal nasal dilator.

UNPOWERED CPAP ALTERNATIVES NEEDED FOR MOUTH BREATHERS??

I snore quite loudly. The noise comes from my vocal cords, and occurs with the mouth open or closed. I can even do it while awake simply by relaxing the muscles just above the vocal cords. This is both a social issue, and a problem when camping with groups.

I have also been diagnosed with sleep apnea.

I want an unpowered alternative to CPAP machines for two reasons:

1. The machines are too noisy. I'm using the Respironics DreamStation, with a humidifier, water filled near the fill line, device placed on the floor - supposedly one of the quietest combinations available. But not quiet enough, for me, or for others in the vicinity.
2. I sometimes camp far from my car or other electricity. Yes, there are batteries, but these machines use so much power that the batteries to handles several days have to be big and expensive. And the lightest of the bunch are all lithium ion batteries - which fail permanently if they get too hot or too cold (a problem some of you have noticed with cell phones left in hot cars). There are solar chargers, but they need to be spread out over a large area - impractical for backpacking or paddling, because you don't stop until it is already dark. Add to that - the powered machines all have a relatively expensive filter, which might clog in pollen-filled outdoor environments.

So far my web searches have found a variety devices, such as Theravent, which other people here have mentioned, and the OptiPillows EPAP Mask (http://www.epapmask.com).

Theravent et al, and Optipillows are all designed for nose-breathers. I'm a mouth breather. I have tried chin straps of various sorts, but I can still open my mouth, so that doesn't work. Tightly covering my mouth with something that blocks air would obvious work - but I'm concerned about safety if my nose becomes congested.

There are "disposable CPAP, EPAP" and similar devices which require external pressurized oxygen to create the pressure. But they are impractical for backpacking.

I would love something equivalent to Theravent, Optipillows, et al, but which covers the mouth too. Or a device that simply connects to the elbow joint of existing CPAP masks.

Anyone know of existing unpowered devices, for mouth breathers?

Thanks!

Additional info:

The following 2017 study suggested that unpowered EPAP devices with full face masks can work:
https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0 ... 0/fulltext
(I've only read the abstract.)
Do any of you know of available off-the shelf devices meeting that description?

As another alternative, I seek exercises, such as those used by singers, to strengthen, stretch and tone muscles to open the airways (various parts of the throat, mouth, tongue, and nasal passages), and to prevent snoring vibration of untoned muscle tissue. Some of the sources claiming to cure sleep apnea or snoring through exercise seem a bit sleezy. Even they say that different people need to open different parts of the airways, or tone different loose muscle, so there is no simple universal cure - which might explain why many specific anti-snore and apnea devices work for some people, but not others. In addition, some involve humorous facial expressions, that might be embarrassing to perform in public.

Here are some examples from Youtube videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSdc1pKnqDY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d38V8o6uRH0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdRmsJYb8_Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYYGZuZ7hBk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTiw5jdVxIw

While exercises to open the airways while conscious are apparently used by voice teachers to improve students' singing quality, I don't know whether you can create sufficient muscle tone to keep them open while unconscious, or to prevent loose vibration. Have any of you tried any of these exercises? Have they worked for you? If so, how much time is required? Can you point me to other sources of info, preferably free?

camper wrote: ↑

Fri May 24, 2019 11:40 am

Additional info:

The following 2017 study suggested that unpowered EPAP devices with full face masks can work:
https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0 ... 0/fulltext
(I've only read the abstract.)
Do any of you know of available off-the shelf devices meeting that description?

As another alternative, I seek exercises, such as those used by singers, to strengthen, stretch and tone muscles to open the airways (various parts of the throat, mouth, tongue, and nasal passages), and to prevent snoring vibration of untoned muscle tissue. Some of the sources claiming to cure sleep apnea or snoring through exercise seem a bit sleezy. Even they say that different people need to open different parts of the airways, or tone different loose muscle, so there is no simple universal cure - which might explain why many specific anti-snore and apnea devices work for some people, but not others. In addition, some involve humorous facial expressions, that might be embarrassing to perform in public.

Here are some examples from Youtube videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSdc1pKnqDY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d38V8o6uRH0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdRmsJYb8_Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYYGZuZ7hBk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTiw5jdVxIw

While exercises to open the airways while conscious are apparently used by voice teachers to improve students' singing quality, I don't know whether you can create sufficient muscle tone to keep them open while unconscious, or to prevent loose vibration. Have any of you tried any of these exercises? Have they worked for you? If so, how much time is required? Can you point me to other sources of info, preferably free?

Wow! Thank you for these links! Turns out that the Dr in the first video has his office very close to where I live! May go see him- so again, thanks.

camper wrote: ↑

Thu May 23, 2019 1:51 pm

UNPOWERED CPAP ALTERNATIVES NEEDED FOR MOUTH BREATHERS??

I snore quite loudly. The noise comes from my vocal cords

That's not where snoring comes from.

camper wrote: ↑

Thu May 23, 2019 1:51 pm

. I'm using the Respironics DreamStation, ...- supposedly one of the quietest combinations available.

Not really, dreamstation produce a variable audible whine that's annoying to people with good hearing.

camper wrote: ↑

Thu May 23, 2019 1:51 pm

Anyone know of existing unpowered devices, for mouth breathers?

Nothing that actually works.

camper wrote: ↑

Fri May 24, 2019 11:40 am

While exercises to open the airways while conscious are apparently used by voice teachers to improve students' singing quality, I don't know whether you can create sufficient muscle tone to keep them open while unconscious, or to prevent loose vibration.

All of these "muscle 'tone' exercises" fail to take into consideration one important point:

No matter how strong or "toned" a muscle is, when it relaxes, as in sleep, it is then floppy.

Peony wrote: ↑

Fri May 24, 2019 12:25 pm

camper wrote: ↑

Fri May 24, 2019 11:40 am

Additional info:

The following 2017 study suggested that unpowered EPAP devices with full face masks can work:
https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0 ... 0/fulltext
(I've only read the abstract.)
Do any of you know of available off-the shelf devices meeting that description?

As another alternative, I seek exercises, such as those used by singers, to strengthen, stretch and tone muscles to open the airways (various parts of the throat, mouth, tongue, and nasal passages), and to prevent snoring vibration of untoned muscle tissue. Some of the sources claiming to cure sleep apnea or snoring through exercise seem a bit sleezy. Even they say that different people need to open different parts of the airways, or tone different loose muscle, so there is no simple universal cure - which might explain why many specific anti-snore and apnea devices work for some people, but not others. In addition, some involve humorous facial expressions, that might be embarrassing to perform in public.

Here are some examples from Youtube videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSdc1pKnqDY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d38V8o6uRH0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdRmsJYb8_Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYYGZuZ7hBk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTiw5jdVxIw

While exercises to open the airways while conscious are apparently used by voice teachers to improve students' singing quality, I don't know whether you can create sufficient muscle tone to keep them open while unconscious, or to prevent loose vibration. Have any of you tried any of these exercises? Have they worked for you? If so, how much time is required? Can you point me to other sources of info, preferably free?

Wow! Thank you for these links! Turns out that the Dr in the first video has his office very close to where I live! May go see him- so again, thanks.

He's a Chiropractor...not an MD

LSAT wrote: ↑

Fri May 24, 2019 5:25 pm

Peony wrote: ↑

Fri May 24, 2019 12:25 pm

camper wrote: ↑

Fri May 24, 2019 11:40 am

Additional info:

The following 2017 study suggested that unpowered EPAP devices with full face masks can work:
https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0 ... 0/fulltext
(I've only read the abstract.)
Do any of you know of available off-the shelf devices meeting that description?

As another alternative, I seek exercises, such as those used by singers, to strengthen, stretch and tone muscles to open the airways (various parts of the throat, mouth, tongue, and nasal passages), and to prevent snoring vibration of untoned muscle tissue. Some of the sources claiming to cure sleep apnea or snoring through exercise seem a bit sleezy. Even they say that different people need to open different parts of the airways, or tone different loose muscle, so there is no simple universal cure - which might explain why many specific anti-snore and apnea devices work for some people, but not others. In addition, some involve humorous facial expressions, that might be embarrassing to perform in public.

Here are some examples from Youtube videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSdc1pKnqDY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d38V8o6uRH0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdRmsJYb8_Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYYGZuZ7hBk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTiw5jdVxIw

While exercises to open the airways while conscious are apparently used by voice teachers to improve students' singing quality, I don't know whether you can create sufficient muscle tone to keep them open while unconscious, or to prevent loose vibration. Have any of you tried any of these exercises? Have they worked for you? If so, how much time is required? Can you point me to other sources of info, preferably free?

Wow! Thank you for these links! Turns out that the Dr in the first video has his office very close to where I live! May go see him- so again, thanks.

He's a Chiropractor...not an MD

Yes, I know. Still call them "Dr".

He's a Chiropractor...not an MD

Peony wrote: ↑

Fri May 24, 2019 5:32 pm

LSAT wrote: ↑

Fri May 24, 2019 5:25 pm

Peony wrote: ↑

Fri May 24, 2019 12:25 pm

Wow! Thank you for these links! Turns out that the Dr in the first video has his office very close to where I live! May go see him- so again, thanks.

He's a Chiropractor...not an MD

Yes, I know. Still call them "Dr".

You might call someone that teaches math at the university 'Dr' too, but I wouldn't go to them for medical advice.

My son is a PhD. Teaches math at a university. I would not ask him for advice on how to balance my checkbook. Everything is theory.