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Hi all, I'm a very new CPAP user (I got my machine, a ResMed 11, last month) and I've been having a great experience so far except for two things.
I breathe through my mouth when I sleep because I have very congested nasal airways due to allergies, which means I drool a lot into my full-face mask. (Airfit F20 small) At first it wasn't too bad, but I've been waking up in the morning covered in saliva. It's gross, to say the least. Are there any solutions to this besides getting something to keep my mouth shut?
Also, I apparently swallow a ton of air in my sleep, because I wake up with stomach cramps and bloating from gas. A GasX usually fixes it but I'd like to know if it's just something I need to get used to or if I need to change some settings. Thanks all.
I like it a lot! I think I was chosen as a sort of "beta tester" for it because my provider said it hasn't been fully released yet. This is my first machine so I don't have any other experience to compare it to, but it seems very nice. The app is helpful for keeping track of my progess and amount of sleep.
Interesting. I have an AirSense 10, and my wife has a ResMed S9 which is about due for replacement. Debating over buying an AirSense 10 or waiting for the 11. They are not available yet in Canada from the on line stores. About the only thing I don't like about the AirSense 10 is that they have buried the Prewarm feature in the Options Menu. To turn it on each night you have to go into the menu, scroll down and select the prewarm to start it. It would be really handy to have a physical button on the machine to start it, instead of having to go through the menu system. Do you know if the 11 is easier to initiate the prewarm?
I don't think there's a physical button, there's just the main start/stop button and then the touch screen menu interface. I'm not sure about the prewarm feature but my machine does have automatic humidity settings which may be tied to it. I'll check it when I get the chance.
My late series Gen 10 Airsense for Her machine has an auto-on feature: as soon as I breathe into the mask it goes on. Prevents you from putting on the mask and then possibly falling asleep without the machine being on. Also, the machine automatically goes off when you remove the mask. Doesn’t yours do that?
Yes, the auto-on feature is called SmartStart. I do use that. On the My Options menu if you scroll down there is another option called "Run Warmup". You have to manually select it to get the machine to warm up the humidifier reservoir before you go to bed. It takes about 15 minutes or so and then goes into a hold mode for a bit longer. I turn it on when I get to our bedroom and start to get ready for bed. I had a F&P SleepStyle machine on trial that had a hardware button on the outside of the machine to start the warmup. That was convenient, but about the only thing I liked about that machine.
Waking up in a puddle of drool is not only inconvenient, but it may also be embarrassing and smell bad. If you find yourself doing this frequently, you may have a drooling problem. Your sleeping positions may make you more prone to excessive drooling. Two sleeping positions that may be contributing to your problem are sleeping on your stomach and sleeping on your side. I also experienced the same issue while not using the right CPAP mask, so I changed my mask now it is alright. It is important to use the correct fit mask.
So much of success in treating Sleep Apnea is about have the right mask with the right fit. Never hesitate to experiment with different masks, until you find one that works. And it helps to also have an alternate model in mind. The time may come when the manufacturers stop making your favorite. (That happened to me.) Then an alternate model still in production will come in handy.
Another option is to to use a nasal mask and mouth taping. It allows mouth breathers to use a nasal mask, which tends to be more comfortable than a full mask. See this video on How to mouth tape for a better sleep.
I think the OP was complaining of mouth-breathing due to congestion. The first order of business in that case is to overcome the congestion. The OP needs to a good allergist if he hasn’t already done so.
I prefer chin straps over mouth taping for safety reasons, but to escape the necessity for a full face mask he will first have to be able to breath through his nose, and it sounds as though he will need more than simple saline.
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