So long P10, and thanks for all the fish...

[FrankNichols]

I gave up a couple days ago. Some of you remember that I had been trying to beat my mouth breathing into submission so I could use my P10 Pillows. Well, after all the other methods failed I had managed to get some tape that had strong adhesive on it, and thought I had finally found the solution - I would tape my mouth shut. Sadly, my mouth was not to be denied it's god given right to participate in my breathing. After a few days of seeming to work perfectly, I started having minor leaks, which grew a little more each day, until I was back to major mouth breathing leaks.

Two bad things, one was the glue was very hard on the face skin when removing the tape, irritation was getting bad. And second, if the application was less than perfect the air would find a tiny wrinkle and push on it all night until finally it would open the wrinkle enough to run free!

So, I am back to a F10 and trying to solve the problems with it when I toss and turn and bump into the pillow etc. I purchased the RemZzzz's liners and I am currently trying them.

So far the liners are not a solution, but a big help. The leaks are smaller and maybe much more importantly much quieter. In fact I managed to sleep for 7 hours last night, which may be the first time I slept all night since starting with therapy.

The Journey continues.

[green wings]

Frank,

I'm sorry that the P10 didn't work for you.

Sleeping for 7 hours last night sounds like a good thing, though.

[cate1898]

I agree, it is too bad the P10's didn't work out, but you have to do what works best. Good luck getting the right mask.

[Tuffpick]

[quote='FrankNichols' pid='162557' dateline='1463653191']
I gave up a couple days ago. Some of you remember that I had been trying to beat my mouth breathing

Hi Frank
Your story sounds like mine. Mouth breathing a real problem. I am using the P10 pillows also.
I too, tried the tape across the mouth (various types of tape - one almost took my lips off) and finally settled on an ordinary electrical insulating tape (3 strips about 20mm wide over lapping each other) which gave a reasonable balance between having enough adhesion to work, and not too aggravating on the skin. Most nights the little crease graduated into a leak as you described. I persevered for a while then tried sleeping without the tape.
What I am finding is that I am "learning" to close my throat (tongue in top of mouth etc each time the mouth breathing wakes you). I haven't completely got there yet but I believe I am getting better at NOT mouth breathing.
I'd just like to encourage you to not give up entirely, but perhaps for a short time.

[Crimson Nape]

This is just an observation. It seems that each of us has a "sweet spot" on pressure. Any higher pressure and our mouth acts as a relief valve. If your mouth breathing is waking you, you might cycle the on/off switch on the CPAP to record a break in the data. When you review your data you'll see the break and will be able to see the pressure that was being applied when this arousal occurred. If you're sleeping through the mouth breathing, then the only thing I can think of is to go to straight CPAP and increase the pressure each night until you find the maximum tolerable pressure.

Again, not everybody is cut out for a particular mask design. . . That's why there are so many out there. (I figured this out on my own!)

[palerider]

This is just an observation. It seems that each of us has a "sweet spot" on pressure. Any higher pressure and our mouth acts as a relief valve. If your mouth breathing is waking you, you might cycle the on/off switch on the CPAP to record a break in the data. When you review your data you'll see the break and will be able to see the pressure that was being applied when this arousal occurred. If you're sleeping through the mouth breathing, then the only thing I can think of is to go to straight CPAP and increase the pressure each night until you find the maximum tolerable pressure.

and, what do you do if that pressure is less than what's needed to prevent apneas?

[Crimson Nape]

Devise a plan "B" if that happens.

[Luvmyzzz]

Devise a plan "B" if that happens.

Question; can mouth falling open be recorded by the Resmed 10 autoset as an "event"? As my daily records sometimes say I have like say 0.4/1 "events" during sleep

[Crimson Nape]

Luvmyzzz,
Good question! The only thing that I can think of is for it to show up in the Leak Rate chart. (pause) Looking back at my data seems to indicate that the mask type will play into the reporting of this. Using a nasal pillow, mouth breathing shows up as a major leak and is flagged as such. A similar event when using a FFM shows up only as a spike and isn't flagged. I would be interested if others see the same trait with this.

[FrankNichols]

My problem is I don't wake when my mouth opens - most of the time. So, I can't take any actions. I do see the large leak event in SH, and when I tape my mouth shut, I see no large leak events. When I use my F10, I see few or no large leak events. So, I am 90% certain my mouth is opening and screwing things up for me.

I have a six month supply of P10 pillows, so I will be trying it again later. For now I am going to try to get my F10 to submit to me and get my leaks, burps, buzzes, and whistling under control.

My AHI is creeping down slowly and is around 6 now... so, I am going to work on the full face mask and getting everything stabilized, then I will fiddle with the P10 and trying to teach myself to keep my big fat mouth shut. I am considering paying my wife to sit up at night and poke me when I open my mouth.