CPAP "Mouth Only" Appliance?
Edit, changed Subject to "Appliance" instead of "Mask".
I know this is a strange and likely stupid question. Let me elaborate. 2-3 times a year (like this week!), I get a HORRIBLE, absolutely nasal clogging, 100% blocked airway sinus infection. I have had surgeries, tried nasal sprays, decongestants, positional testing...absolutely nothing works when it is at its worst for 2-3 days. The infections usually clear up in 10-14 days and I can get by with nasal spray and nasal pillow mask for some of the days, but for the worst I end up sitting up in bed, mouth breathing (and not sleeping) for days on end...it is horrible. Also causes horrible coughing, chest problems etc. too.
Maybe it would not work and I am just missing something, but I have looked (not found) for some sort of mouth guard type appliance that would allow the CPAP machine to flow directly in/out of my mouth and not cover the nasal portion at all. Is there a reason there are no "mouth only" type appliance/masks - almost like a swimming snorkel mouth piece with an airflow hole in the middle?
I know this is a strange and likely stupid question. Let me elaborate. 2-3 times a year (like this week!), I get a HORRIBLE, absolutely nasal clogging, 100% blocked airway sinus infection. I have had surgeries, tried nasal sprays, decongestants, positional testing...absolutely nothing works when it is at its worst for 2-3 days. The infections usually clear up in 10-14 days and I can get by with nasal spray and nasal pillow mask for some of the days, but for the worst I end up sitting up in bed, mouth breathing (and not sleeping) for days on end...it is horrible. Also causes horrible coughing, chest problems etc. too.
Maybe it would not work and I am just missing something, but I have looked (not found) for some sort of mouth guard type appliance that would allow the CPAP machine to flow directly in/out of my mouth and not cover the nasal portion at all. Is there a reason there are no "mouth only" type appliance/masks - almost like a swimming snorkel mouth piece with an airflow hole in the middle?
