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CPAP + oral appliance???
Anyone here use CPAP plus use an oral appliance so that your pressure is lower and the appliance o keep tongue positioned correctly?
Views: 984
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Russell Macmillan on
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Hi Ginny...I don't use an oral appliance, but I do use a chin strap..the ultimate chin strap for sleep apnea...I have lowered my pressure by four points and it keeps mouth posiitioned correctly...Russ
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Permalink Reply by Ginny Edmundson on
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I tried one and was not able to use it. Thanks !
Russell Macmillan said:
Hi Ginny...I don't use an oral appliance, but I do use a chin strap..the ultimate chin strap for sleep apnea...I have lowered my pressure by four points and it keeps mouth posiitioned correctly...Russ
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Permalink Reply by Dianne on
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Hello Ginny,
I am a new cpap user and decided to use a mouthpiece with the nasal pillow. Although I am a mouth breather and probably should use a mask, I simply freaked with it on my face. I previously had purchased an anti-snoring mouthpiece (actually, my husband purchased it for me pre-cpap in the hope that it would stop my sudden on-set of snoring)but never really used it.
After getting diagnosed with mild apnea, I did not think wearing a mask to sleep would be a biggie. I've been a scuba diver for 30 years and am at my most relaxed 60ft under ith a mask and tank. Apparently, my brain and psyche did not feel the same wearing a mask at sea level in my bed.
Knowing that I had 2 choices - stop cpap and continue to be exhausted and perhaps die young from heart problems like many of my relatives, or find a way to wear something minimalist on my face and find a way to keep my mouth shut. Easier said than done...
Anyway, I tried the chin strap. That was about as effective as a training bra on Dolly Parton. So, I resurrected the moldable mouthpiece, reheated it to remove the little breathing holes and it works like a charm. I even order 3 more from Amazon at $7.00 each to play around with trimming to give a more comfortable and custom fit.
Although the directions tell you to jut your jaw forward when molding to fit, it's not necessary since the objective is simply to (blunt put) plug your mouth so you breathe through your nose.
Again, I'm a newbie but this is keeping me in track. I can't say I am thrilled doing any of this but the nasal pillow seems to be the only way I may stay compliant. I use the Resmed Swift FX. Pink of course.....dianne
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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I have seen some great results with this combination. I have not seen the greatest results from the oral alone.
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So glad to hear your response. Does the device actually keep tongue positioned right? What brand or name, please. I will order one, get another nasal mask or pillows to try and give it a go. I have used CPAPLIBRARY.COM and that is a great way to try one out for only $14.
Dianne said:
Hello Ginny,
I am a new cpap user and decided to use a mouthpiece with the nasal pillow. Although I am a mouth breather and probably should use a mask, I simply freaked with it on my face. I previously had purchased an anti-snoring mouthpiece (actually, my husband purchased it for me pre-cpap in the hope that it would stop my sudden on-set of snoring)but never really used it.
After getting diagnosed with mild apnea, I did not think wearing a mask to sleep would be a biggie. I've been a scuba diver for 30 years and am at my most relaxed 60ft under ith a mask and tank. Apparently, my brain and psyche did not feel the same wearing a mask at sea level in my bed.
Knowing that I had 2 choices - stop cpap and continue to be exhausted and perhaps die young from heart problems like many of my relatives, or find a way to wear something minimalist on my face and find a way to keep my mouth shut. Easier said than done...
Anyway, I tried the chin strap. That was about as effective as a training bra on Dolly Parton. So, I resurrected the moldable mouthpiece, reheated it to remove the little breathing holes and it works like a charm. I even order 3 more from Amazon at $7.00 each to play around with trimming to give a more comfortable and custom fit.
Although the directions tell you to jut your jaw forward when molding to fit, it's not necessary since the objective is simply to (blunt put) plug your mouth so you breathe through your nose.
Again, I'm a newbie but this is keeping me in track. I can't say I am thrilled doing any of this but the nasal pillow seems to be the only way I may stay compliant. I use the Resmed Swift FX. Pink of course.....dianne
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I don't know if it positions my tongue correctly. My initial goal is to find a way to simply wear this stuff as opposed to putting it away and pretending I'm ok without it. And, so not to mislead you, I have awakened several times with the mouthpiece across the room and the nasal pillow by the bed still blowing air. I have also experimented with several different moldings if the mouthpieces to see what works best for me - meaning I keep the nasal pillow on and the mouthpiece in all night. I'm not there yet....
If you can tolerate molding the mouthpiece with your bottom jaw slightly forward, it will position your tongue so as to stop snoring. But I think the overall goal is to keep your mouth closed. I've found it to be more comfortable to just have the mouthpiece fit in without any exaggerated positioning. In other words, if my mouth is closed, and the nasal pillows are positioned correctly (which I still struggle with) then you will be breathing in and out thru the cpap.
Again, I ordered my mouthpieces online and they are inexpensive enough to experiment with.
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I have taped my mouth closed with nasal pillows or a nasal mask and my cheeks still "puff". I notice when this happens that my tongue has fallen to the bottom of my mouth instead of being placed against the roof of my mouth. I am hoping for a solution for some sort of appliance that does this as I HATE the full face mask. Do you know what brand/name of mouthpiece you bought? WIll see my sleep Doc on the 29th and plan to talk t her about this. Not sure how she will react. :)
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I freak at the thought of taping my mouth shut! The ones I ordered from Amazon don't even have a name brand . Just go to sight and enter anti snoring mouthpiece. I paid 7.33 each. They come in a blue case with totally incoherent instructions. Basically you boil water in a pan. Remove from stove. Submerge the mouthpiece for about 30 seconds and then lift out (I used a bamboo skewer) place in mouth and bite down to your normal bite/mouth-closed position. Or, if you want the jaw aligned as mentioned by many, bring your jaw slightly forward and then bite down.
I did notice, in the "non-instructions" that they did caution you not to burn your mouth.
The mouthpiece that my husband originally ordered at a higher price is identical to these with 2 exceptions; 1) it came with a device to use to hold the mouthpiece while submerged in water. It's purpose aside from keeping your fingers out of scalding water is to keep a breathing hole open in the mouthpiece ( which you don't want!) and 2) instructions that sound like they were written by someone from this planet. Since I don't need the breathing hole, and since a skewer worked to keep my fingers from burning, I figured the cheaper version was ok.
I am certainly no expert, but logic tells me that if your mouth is taped shut (still freaks me out!) and your cheeks puff, it's no big deal. The flow of air is going to find it's way into any passages, including nasal/oral. I think the goal is to have your mouth closed so you are not breathing in and out thru the mouth, thus by-passing the nasal pillows.
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The problem with the cheeks puffing is that each time it happens I wake up~therefore little sleep! Grr....Thanks for all your help. Plan to ask the Doc if she thinks it may help.
Dianne said:
I freak at the thought of taping my mouth shut! The ones I ordered from Amazon don't even have a name brand . Just go to sight and enter anti snoring mouthpiece. I paid 7.33 each. They come in a blue case with totally incoherent instructions. Basically you boil water in a pan. Remove from stove. Submerge the mouthpiece for about 30 seconds and then lift out (I used a bamboo skewer) place in mouth and bite down to your normal bite/mouth-closed position. Or, if you want the jaw aligned as mentioned by many, bring your jaw slightly forward and then bite down.
I did notice, in the "non-instructions" that they did caution you not to burn your mouth.
The mouthpiece that my husband originally ordered at a higher price is identical to these with 2 exceptions; 1) it came with a device to use to hold the mouthpiece while submerged in water. It's purpose aside from keeping your fingers out of scalding water is to keep a breathing hole open in the mouthpiece ( which you don't want!) and 2) instructions that sound like they were written by someone from this planet. Since I don't need the breathing hole, and since a skewer worked to keep my fingers from burning, I figured the cheaper version was ok.
I am certainly no expert, but logic tells me that if your mouth is taped shut (still freaks me out!) and your cheeks puff, it's no big deal. The flow of air is going to find it's way into any passages, including nasal/oral. I think the goal is to have your mouth closed so you are not breathing in and out thru the mouth, thus by-passing the nasal pillows.
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I attempted to reply on my iPhone but it doesn't look like it went thru. If this comes thru twice, blame it on "smart" technology. I understand about the waking up. It seems that since I started on cpap therapy all I do is wake up. Every time I feel the hose, I wake up. Every time I turn and feel the nasal pillow i wake up. And all the waking is in spite of a Lunesta and a Xanax... I have fibromyalgia and I need to sleep. Am hoping that I will get use to sleeping with "equipment"... I can say that I have much less nasal congestion with cpap.
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On the nights my mask "behaves" I sleep well. Hard to believe with a horrible mask on, isn't it? I thought I had firbro (pain, pain, pain) Whatever it was/is I have it under control now. I do stretching exercises and other exercises as well as a Thai massage every 1-2 weeks. I feel like a different person. Now if I could find a mask to fit (my face is small) The RT at my Doc's does not think there is one that will fit me. Not sure what I can do except "limp" along on my Quattro Fx the best I can. You will find if your mask is fitting OK that you will adjust and sleep much better. Do you have trouble finding a head pillow to use? I bought all the special CPAP kinds (what a waste of $$) and now use my down/feather combo and just flatten out the side an do better then I was. I loved the Nasal pillows Swift for her. But when my pressure was upped from 8 to 11 is when the damn tongue thing and cheek puffing started. What a journey!!!
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My pressure was at 8 but was lowered to 7 as my sinuses went crazy the first 2 weeks of use. After it was lowered it helped. I had never felt such a headache!! I did consider buying all the cpap special pillows but opted to invest in a high quality down pillow. You are right in that it simply molds around the nasal pillow. I think the problem is my own sensitivity/insomnia with any change. I am a month into this and would live to finally get a full nights sleep! Good luck with your doctor visit. I'll be curious to know how it goes. Dianne
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