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Had a scare last night
I am using the opus nose pillows and having air leakage out of my mouth. The leakage has been enough to wake me many times throughout the night. I read a post about taping your mouth shut and decided to try the tape. I woke up in the night and my nose was clogged and full of water (rainout) and went into a panic thinking was going to smother before I could get the tape off. What actually woke me up was water running all over my face.
I have made a decision that if I cannot get used to this before long i will let the doctor do the trach. He said that this my only other option. I am past my 1st 30 day mask trade out, so cannot try the hybrid mask he suggested. DME is a real sweatheart and so is my dear insurance company.
I know for sure no more tape for me.
Views: 78
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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This a perfect example of why I do not support mouth taping. While not always practical it only takes a teaspoon or 2 of water to drown a person. That amount could result from one inhalation.
Carl call your sleep lab. Plead your case. They might have something they can loan you.
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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on
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OMG, Carl, that IS scary.....I'm sorry you had to go through that. I have mouth leakage too, but I've always been anxious about taping my mouth shut (now for the very reason you're talking about).....I'm not sure what the best solution is.
I DO agree with Rock about contacting your sleep lab. You'll be up for another mask, etc., in less than 3 months. They very well may have something you can use. My DME loans equipment out for all kinds of reasons....hope you'll find an option with one of those. I'd hate to see you go through such drastic surgery when there's so much new equipment coming out all the time.....
Shocks me to read what Rock said--that a person can drown with 1 or 2 teaspoons of water......good grief!
I'll be thinking of you, Carl, and hope you can catch up with someone who could help you out.
Susan McCord :-)
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Permalink Reply by Linda Birnbaum on
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Have you tried a chin restraint? What are your pressures? A chin restraint can help keep the mouth closed. You can easily get a prescription from your prescribing doctor for the chin strap/restraint and your DME company should easily fill it. I would also turn down your humidifier tonight. Good luck with everything.
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Permalink Reply by Carl Speas on
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I do use a chin strap and wear a dental appliance along with nose pillows. My pressure 7/12 on bipap. It is a major ordeal to get ready for bed each night. My humidifier rains sometimes and sometimes not. I change humidity levels then it starts getting real dry. I turn it back up and it is fine for a few days, then all of a sudden rainfall. I even tried a hose cover not sure it helps either. The chin strap will hold my jaws shut, but not my lips. I have a very recessed lower jaw which makes it hard to keep those lips sealed when relaxed.
Linda Birnbaum said:Have you tried a chin restraint? What are your pressures? A chin restraint can help keep the mouth closed. You can easily get a prescription from your prescribing doctor for the chin strap/restraint and your DME company should easily fill it. I would also turn down your humidifier tonight. Good luck with everything.
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Carl did this scare happen the other night when we got that warm weather by chance. It was pretty humid here for a few days. You might want to keep some notes on what the weather is like during these "rainout events". Also document your humidity settings. it may be that you need to adjust your humidity according to the weather. Just a thought. We did go from 20 degress to 50 and then back to 10 degrees in a span of 4 days. Gotta love Indiana weather.
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Called the DME today, she was out of the office again!!!! I was told I could not get a new mask for 6 more months. I also cannot change mask styles until my lease on my machine is up 10 more months. They said they would call me tommorrow with pricing for a hybrid mask, but I will have to pay out of pocket, because my 30 days are up. I am not sure I am prepared to do that. Their prices are much higher than what i have found on the internet. It might be cheaper to get a script from my doctor and order it online.
susan mccord said:OMG, Carl, that IS scary.....I'm sorry you had to go through that. I have mouth leakage too, but I've always been anxious about taping my mouth shut (now for the very reason you're talking about).....I'm not sure what the best solution is.
I DO agree with Rock about contacting your sleep lab. You'll be up for another mask, etc., in less than 3 months. They very well may have something you can use. My DME loans equipment out for all kinds of reasons....hope you'll find an option with one of those. I'd hate to see you go through such drastic surgery when there's so much new equipment coming out all the time.....
Shocks me to read what Rock said--that a person can drown with 1 or 2 teaspoons of water......good grief!
I'll be thinking of you, Carl, and hope you can catch up with someone who could help you out.
Susan McCord :-)
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You are probably right about the weather affecting my humidity levels. Sometimes there seems to be so many thing to think about to win this sleep victory. I just am lazy and do not want to jump through all hoops like i should, after all I am trying to get to bed. Sorry do not mean to whine.
Thanks for your thoughts, I will keep a closer watch on the weather.
Rock Hinkle said:Carl did this scare happen the other night when we got that warm weather by chance. It was pretty humid here for a few days. You might want to keep some notes on what the weather is like during these "rainout events". Also document your humidity settings. it may be that you need to adjust your humidity according to the weather. Just a thought. We did go from 20 degress to 50 and then back to 10 degrees in a span of 4 days. Gotta love Indiana weather.
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daily changes in humidity and weather will definitely affect your humidifier. If you live in the tri state area, weather can change on an hourly basis. With the dry weather coming up towards the end of this week you may be cranking that humidity up. Good luck with everything.
Rock Hinkle said:Carl did this scare happen the other night when we got that warm weather by chance. It was pretty humid here for a few days. You might want to keep some notes on what the weather is like during these "rainout events". Also document your humidity settings. it may be that you need to adjust your humidity according to the weather. Just a thought. We did go from 20 degress to 50 and then back to 10 degrees in a span of 4 days. Gotta love Indiana weather.
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Permalink Reply by Walt Service on
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Holy Smokes Carl!! Over the years, I have had only one patient actually try this....I'm very glad you've decided not to venture down this path.... If you don't mind me asking; what other masks have you tried and how many retitrations have your had? Many times, I found while titrating a patient, that if they are having issues with mouth breathing...they need MORE pressure. I can't tell you the number of times I thought I would have to use a chin strap on a patient but instead I increased their pressure by 1cm and bingo...the mouth closes and stays shut. Keep us informed.
Walt
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Permalink Reply by Andy on
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Hi Carl,
Sorry to hear about your scare.
The odd thing is that we never seem to have the same kind of scare when we stop breathing with OSA! If we did, I'll bet people would seek treatment a lot sooner...
Here's what I'd do:
1) Try to find another DME, and see what the procedure would be to switch over to them. It shouldn't be a major problem for you to find someone who can do this.
2) Once you find another DME, call your current one, and ask for more cooperation. Your DME is out of the office again? She has a supervisor. And the supervisor also has a supervisor. Don't take lack of concern on their part as an answer! Your DME is a huge national company? Even better. Track down the name of the President/CEO on their website, and call his/her office directly. You will get help.
3) No cooperation? Don't threaten! Just politely mention that you've found another DME, and you'll be transferring over to them soon, so the current one should be watching for the paperwork. Mention that if they have any trouble collecting on the insurance after today, to let you know, and you'll try to handle it.
4) Call the company that makes your CPAP machine/mask. Ask them what they have available for you. Past the 30 days? They shouldn't make a big deal about that. Just mention that used is used, and to them it's trash no matter when it goes back. Logic is a great tool!
5) Go to your sleep center, and see what they have. Mine uses "one-time-use" masks, and I was able to get one from them for free.
6) Remind whomever you talk with that satisfaction is key to you wanting to work with them from this point on. Let them know how young you are, and how you'll be using their products for the next 30 years or so!
7) Post back here and let us know.
8) Don't give up!
9) I have more tricks if the above don't work. But I'll bet they do...
;)
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I believe part of the problem is i have had surgery to correct my sleep apnea that did not work. there is nothing to keep the air out of my mouth. my throat is an open cave. I do not know if more pressure would work or not. the doctor seems to think less would be better. he is not ready to make any adjustments.
I have tried the opus and the oracle masks at present. I am now using the opus, the oracle blew air out my nose. The doctor suggested the hybrid mask and i am trying to get that, but dme is a pain.
3 years ago before surgery i had a full face mask that almost ate my nose off. It was an open sore from top to bottom and my eyes swelled shut. we thought i was going to loose my nose. it took several weeks to heal.
I have had no retritations. When are you suppose to have them?
Walt Service said:Holy Smokes Carl!! Over the years, I have had only one patient actually try this....I'm very glad you've decided not to venture down this path.... If you don't mind me asking; what other masks have you tried and how many retitrations have your had? Many times, I found while titrating a patient, that if they are having issues with mouth breathing...they need MORE pressure. I can't tell you the number of times I thought I would have to use a chin strap on a patient but instead I increased their pressure by 1cm and bingo...the mouth closes and stays shut. Keep us informed.
Walt
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I am considering looking for a new DME. My concern is the insurance is so unhelpful. i need to look more in to this. The DME is suppose to call me back tommorow, I am waiting to see if it happens.
I also filled out a survey for their customer service dept. I let them have it both barrels. This a family owned company and been in the communty for many years. I thought i would get better service there rather than some big national compny, how wrong i was.
Andy said:Hi Carl,
Sorry to hear about your scare.
The odd thing is that we never seem to have the same kind of scare when we stop breathing with OSA! If we did, I'll bet people would seek treatment a lot sooner...
Here's what I'd do:
1) Try to find another DME, and see what the procedure would be to switch over to them. It shouldn't be a major problem for you to find someone who can do this.
2) Once you find another DME, call your current one, and ask for more cooperation. Your DME is out of the office again? She has a supervisor. And the supervisor also has a supervisor. Don't take lack of concern on their part as an answer! Your DME is a huge national company? Even better. Track down the name of the President/CEO on their website, and call his/her office directly. You will get help.
3) No cooperation? Don't threaten! Just politely mention that you've found another DME, and you'll be transferring over to them soon, so the current one should be watching for the paperwork. Mention that if they have any trouble collecting on the insurance after today, to let you know, and you'll try to handle it.
4) Call the company that makes your CPAP machine/mask. Ask them what they have available for you. Past the 30 days? They shouldn't make a big deal about that. Just mention that used is used, and to them it's trash no matter when it goes back. Logic is a great tool!
5) Go to your sleep center, and see what they have. Mine uses "one-time-use" masks, and I was able to get one from them for free.
6) Remind whomever you talk with that satisfaction is key to you wanting to work with them from this point on. Let them know how young you are, and how you'll be using their products for the next 30 years or so!
7) Post back here and let us know.
8) Don't give up!
9) I have more tricks if the above don't work. But I'll bet they do...
;)
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