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Permalink Reply by Steven Y. Park, MD on April 7, 2009 at 6:37pm

It's hard to say why you're drooling, since it started 3 months after you started using your chinstrap. Chinstraps usually help people who drool. Another thought is that if your nose is more congested for whatever reason, the pressures may be inappropriate. Is your leak rate any different? I'm assuming you're using CPAP without dentures, right? Did you ever try CPAP with your dentures? Also, sometimes the chinstrap can slip and pull your jaw backwards, rather than upwards, which leads to less effective pressures, try adjusting your strap. Sorry I can't help anymore. This is a difficult issue for many people who have this issue. You may need to do some more detective work.

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Permalink Reply by Judy on April 7, 2009 at 9:08pm

My leak rate improved greatly w/the chin strap. Most nights 95th percentile is 0.0 and median well below 0.24, maxium seldom much over 0.24 if over at all.

I keep my top dentures in but usually remove the lower. It doesn't seem to make a difference if the lower is in or not, except for teeth clenching but not for the drooling.

I'll work on the angle of the chin strap pressure, the pressure settings are another possibility as we've not come up w/the right pressure(s) yet. First titration resulted in IPAP 13, EPAP 8 (Mar 08), second titration (Oct 08) resulted in IPAP 10, EPAP 5.

Thank you for the suggestions! I did recently replace my Simplicity simple nasal cushion w/a new Simplicity and new chin strap of the same and might not have the chin strap positioned right.

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Permalink Reply by Judy on April 12, 2009 at 2:39pm

THANK YOU, Dr Park! I "think" we've found the problem. Following the ONE CHANGE AT A TIME for ONE WEEK AT A TIME its only been 5 nights - but - no drooling since the second night of changing IPAP to 11 and EPAP still at 5 w/ PS left at 5. knock, Knock, KNOCK!

IF it is just coincidence I'll try readjusting placement of the chin strap angle next. But - fingers crossed - the pressure adjustment appears to have done the trick! AND while my AHI was good before there's some small improvement in that too! Especially the HI. Its hard to believe such a MINOR pressure adjustment could make the difference, but never look a gift horse in the mouth and never knock success, right?

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Permalink Reply by Mike on April 13, 2009 at 12:13am

that's great news Judy. i'm always amazed at how the smallest modifications can mean all the world in the treatment of sleep apnea.

Judy said:

THANK YOU, Dr Park! I "think" we've found the problem. Following the ONE CHANGE AT A TIME for ONE WEEK AT A TIME its only been 5 nights - but - no drooling since the second night of changing IPAP to 11 and EPAP still at 5 w/ PS left at 5. knock, Knock, KNOCK!

IF it is just coincidence I'll try readjusting placement of the chin strap angle next. But - fingers crossed - the pressure adjustment appears to have done the trick! AND while my AHI was good before there's some small improvement in that too! Especially the HI. Its hard to believe such a MINOR pressure adjustment could make the difference, but never look a gift horse in the mouth and never knock success, right?

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