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What happens when you have CPAP on, and you open your mouth?
Hi all,
I'm less than 2 weeks with CPAP, so I consider myself new at this.
I was talking with someone this week who's been on CPAP around two months, and we were talking about opening the mouth while on CPAP, using a nose mask.
He says that when he opens his mouth, the CPAP pressure escapes, and he has to keep his mouth closed at night.
But when I open my mouth, nothing comes out. I mean, no CPAP pressure comes out! If I talk or move my tongue a certain way, I can get the pressure to escape, but then I move my tongue another way, and it shuts off the pressure.
Once the pressure's "off", I can open my mouth, move my tongue around, and no pressure escapes.
Do I have some kind of crazy thing going on? Maybe a freakishly large or otherwise weird soft palate? Wouldn't the doctor have mentioned this during my pre-sleep study exam?
I've been reading here about straps and such to keep the mouth closed at night, and I couldn't understand why that was needed...
I'm less than 2 weeks with CPAP, so I consider myself new at this.
I was talking with someone this week who's been on CPAP around two months, and we were talking about opening the mouth while on CPAP, using a nose mask.
He says that when he opens his mouth, the CPAP pressure escapes, and he has to keep his mouth closed at night.
But when I open my mouth, nothing comes out. I mean, no CPAP pressure comes out! If I talk or move my tongue a certain way, I can get the pressure to escape, but then I move my tongue another way, and it shuts off the pressure.
Once the pressure's "off", I can open my mouth, move my tongue around, and no pressure escapes.
Do I have some kind of crazy thing going on? Maybe a freakishly large or otherwise weird soft palate? Wouldn't the doctor have mentioned this during my pre-sleep study exam?
I've been reading here about straps and such to keep the mouth closed at night, and I couldn't understand why that was needed...
Views: 124
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on
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Andy, I really don't have the answer to your question. What happened to ME was I was (unknowingly) mouth breathing while I was asleep and found out I was losing, like, 65% of my CPAP treatment. It was blowing out of my mouth. I knew THAT was happening 'cause it happened before I went to sleep. It was the weirdest feeling--I mean HUGE amounts of air. I just didn't know what it meant.
I started feeling bad again, went to DME and that's how I found out what was happening. He ran my card and it was patently obvious what was happening. I'd gone back to sleeping, maybe 3-4 hours a night after doing better. Anyway, he put me in a full face mask, and I've been doing much better since then.
Maybe someone else knows why no air comes out of your mouth.....seems like it would, doesn't it?......
Guess this isn't much help to you, but it's all I seem to know!
Susan McCord :-)
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Permalink Reply by Andy on
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Hey, Susan,
I was actually surprised when my friend told me the same thing you're saying.
My nose has always been "stuffy" due to alergies, so I asumed I was mouth breathing. But with CPAP, and the nasal spray I've been using since on CPAP, my nose is usually clear, now.
I'm doing a follow-up sleep stuy in a couple of weeks, so I'll be able to ask them about this then.
No matter, though, I guess. My stats show very little to no leakage every night, so whatever I'm doig must be working!
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Permalink Reply by 99 on
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i would hazzard a guess that the correct titration has removed the blockage and now there is an equalizing of pressure through the mouth
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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i would guess that you tongue is too big/mouth too small. While you are lying down it falls backwards blocking oral breathing. Just my guess though.
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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on
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What type of nasal spray are you using? If it is an over the counter type such as Afrin, you will experience rebound with it and may make matters worse.
Have you posted your stats here for some of the more experienced users can see if you are actually experiencing low leakage?
I, too, can open my mouth with little or no leakage, and even talk normally with my machine on. But I sure wouldn't rely on that as being an indicator that I wasn't leaking once my body is relaxed in sleep. If you ask my kids, they will tell you I am able to do this due to my "big mouth". LOL
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You bet'cha! Congratulations and keep up the good work!! Whoo-hooooooo!!
Susan McCord
Andy said:Hey, Susan,
I was actually surprised when my friend told me the same thing you're saying.
My nose has always been "stuffy" due to alergies, so I asumed I was mouth breathing. But with CPAP, and the nasal spray I've been using since on CPAP, my nose is usually clear, now.
I'm doing a follow-up sleep stuy in a couple of weeks, so I'll be able to ask them about this then.
No matter, though, I guess. My stats show very little to no leakage every night, so whatever I'm doig must be working!
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Hi Carol,
Thanks for the reply.
I'm using Nasonex, prescribed by the pulmonologist. And not using it often. I did use it every day for the first week, but then tapered off, and I haven't use it in probably a week since. Nose has stayed clear, though, so no need to use it.
I'm checking my stats daily, and find litle or no leakage reported. The highest leakage was .02L/s.
It also seems that once the air starts flowing through my mouth, I have to make an effort to shut it off. So I'm guessing that if I were relaxing in sleep and letting the air flow, it would still be doing that when I awake. However, I never have air flowing through my mouth when I awake.
I intend to ask the doc when I go next, but I'll probably hear that I have some strange anatomy and structure causing this!
;)
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Oooooooo, "strange anatomy"................LMAO!
McCord :-)
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Hi 99 and Rock,
Thanks for the reply.
99: I started with a setting of 8, and haven't changed it yet. It does seem like a pretty-close-to-optimum number so far.
Rock: Mouth too small? Everyone I know would disagree! It happens in any position, though- sitting, standing, on my back and on my side. So it doesn't seem related to position...
No big deal, I guess. Whatever works, and all that.
I suppose I ought to be happy that I don't need a full-face mask!
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Nasonex is not in the same type of category as over the counter meds. Unless you use the over the counter sprays that are just saline, the medicine in the rest of them cause rebound.
I have used Nasonex before, along with some of the other script nasal sprays. They seem to do a good job with allergies and if you are battling them, they can be pretty effective. I just don't like them cause after a short period of time all I can smell is a vinegar smell 24 7. I can't deal with that (I know it is mind over matter but the smell is so strong I give up.)
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Interesting, Carol.
I had not noticed any vinegar odor.
Are you saying that the Nasonex does not rebound? I had checked into it before taking it, and thought I had read that there was no problem with rebound, nor with long-term use.
I plan on only using it when needed, which so far is not every night. I got a 10-spray trial package, and I still haven't used it all in the last three weeks.
sleepycarol said:Nasonex is not in the same type of category as over the counter meds. Unless you use the over the counter sprays that are just saline, the medicine in the rest of them cause rebound.
I have used Nasonex before, along with some of the other script nasal sprays. They seem to do a good job with allergies and if you are battling them, they can be pretty effective. I just don't like them cause after a short period of time all I can smell is a vinegar smell 24 7. I can't deal with that (I know it is mind over matter but the smell is so strong I give up.)
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To my knowledge the Nasonex does not have a rebound effect. Many of the script sprays are derived from a cortisone type of medicine and work really well. I have tried Nasonex, Flonase, and some others that I can't remember the names trying to find one that I could tolerate.
Typically one will not experience the off smell (vinegar or other strange smell) but it can be a side effect. I am hypersensitive to many chemicals and think it might be the perservatives in the sprays. I have at times smell things not there. For several years I was across the room from the home ec classroom. I would smell things cooking that no one else was able to smell such as apple pie, soups, etc. only to find out that they weren't cooking the things I was smelling. The odors can be so overwhelming to me that I will ask others if they smell them.
I know I am strange -- maybe I am an alien in disguise and that is why my "smeller" is messed up. LOL
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