Hi there. I have been a hosehead since Dec 2005. I have used several types of machines and full face masks as well as several different types of chinstraps. I currently use a ResMed VPAP Auto 25 with a F&P Simplus mask and a non-adjustable Ruby Red chinstrap. I also have a hose-warming cover. My inhale pressure limit is 21 or 22 if I remember correctly. I normally run my humidifier temp at half. I have moved it up, but it doesn't seem to help. I would estimate about half of the time I am waking up in the middle of the night because the air pressure is drying my mouth. I have already tried Biotene products. They don't help all that much. Is there anything else I can do to solve this issue??? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance, Sleepy Scott
Not sure what Ayre is. I also wake up with a dry mouth. I keep a bottle of water nearby because there are some nights I'm up every hour. I also have dry eyes. I believe the air leaks into my eyes sometimes. I used a full face mask but switched to nasal pillows (dumb name IMO) I've kept the humidifier up all the way some nights. Then I wake up the water is dried up. I don't like the taste of Biotene so I can't say I've given it a chance. I was switched to a bi-pap and I know the pressure is through the roof but I don't know what it is at the moment. I have a chin strap but I'm afraid to use it. Claustrophobic I think. I have no idea what else to try, so we're together in this Scott. Perhaps someone here has the answer and will post. Keep the faith fellow Hosehead, Pat
Thanks for the response, Pat. Sometimes knowing you're not alone in a struggle is a great encouragement. Everything that's happened to you has happened to me. I have also unsuccessfully tried everything you've tried. Hopefully somebody in the community will give us a hand with this. I may give my DME a call and see if they have any suggestions. You might want to do that as well.
Sleepy Scott,
What is a FMM?
I am still quite the newbie, but I have been rudely awakened a couple of nights by a very dry mouth. I realized that the chin strap was not holding my mouth closed. I am using the chin strap which was provided at the start of treatment. It is a black chinstrap by BreatheWear.com that looks similar to the Ruby Red strap, but it adjustable with velcro straps on each side. Tightening my black strap helped.
More bothersome is the problem of excess air going into my closed mouth. My pressure setting initially was at 8. It has been increased to 9. In my gut, I think it is probably the right setting for me. In the past few nights, I have been collecting a "mouthful of air" over and over again in the middle of the night. This has been pretty bothersome. I think, not sure, that I might have a partial airway obstruction from the psotion of my head and neck...and that is why not all of the air is going to my lungs. I might be very wrong about that, but on the nights when I first had this problem, I realized that I was sleeping the my head tucked forward, because it was chilly in the room. When I staightened my neck (I am a side sleeper), it improved the movement of air into my lungs and I did not have "excess air" in my mouth. This problem is not yet completely resolved, and it continues to be bothersome.
Good luck...I hope you are able to resolve your dry mouth problem.
Janet
Janet,
FFM stands for full face mask. It is the kind of mask that covers both the nose and mouth. They were made to help people who have their mouths pop open in middle of the night. When I hit REM sleep, all the muscles in my face relaxes and allows my mouth to pop open. It's also the reason I use the chinstrap. I hope you get some help here with your dry mouth issues as well. Us hoseheads have to stick together!!! Take care.
Sleepy Scott
First off a couple of apologies , the delayed response, second I forgot you have a full face mask. I have a nasal mask, Ayre is a Gel that I have used in my nose for similar problems. ( also used it on airplanes to prevent dryness-infection) i have put a decent amount in my nose before "masking up". It helped with dryness from the CPAP. You can buy it in almost any drug store. Also the last time I experienced that same issue we found my CPAP was not getting warm enough. I have also ran a humidifier /vaporizer in the room to add moisture to the room air.
Good suggestion Scott about contacting my DME. I know there is a solution to this problem. Janet - I also have the problem of air pouring into my mouth. I get so much air into my stomach some nights that I wake up in extreme pain. UGH!!! I wonder if the chin strap would work for me. Something has to give here. I refuse to accept bad news continuously regarding OSA. Good luck everybody!
Pat,
A chin strap might work. One word about them. If you want to give one a try, contact your DME first. f They tend to have the more basic ones (non-adjustable, etc...). You will probably have to schedule a fitting that you would need to bring your machine, hose, and mask to. When testing the chin-strap, put the chin strap on first and then the mask. If you don't find one you like at the DME, then search on the web for one. Some of the sites that sell PAP equipment also sell more deluxe models of adjustable chin straps. They normally don't cost more than $20-25. I hope that helps.
Scott
To 2Sleepy
You are a mouth breather which I am also. Before I got a full face mask, every time I would open my mouth to breath it interrupted my sleep. I've been on a CPAP for over 25 years and use a heater humidifier, heated tube and Full Face Mask. That works for me but I also have CSA (Central Sleep Apnea) which now makes me wear a non venter mask so that I re-breath my own air.
Thank you for explaining what Ayre is. Sounds like something I need to check out. Thanks for posting again. Scott - you are always a help with the best ideas and suggestions. It's apparent that you know your stuff. I never gave a "fitting" a thought. Sounds like the bi-pap is making more trouble for me. I'll check it all out. Thank you for looking out for us. Hoseheads Rock!
Pat,
Here's a bit more advice about going for a "fitting". Take your machine, hose, mask and the pillows you sleep on. When you try the different chin-straps, lie down on a table or on the floor and put your head on the pillow as you would if you were sleeping. Assess how the chinstrap feels when you are in sleeping position so you have an idea of what it feels like when you get back home. You're right - Hoseheads do Rock... and we need to stick together!!! :D
Scott
Hello I am new to this forum. I have been on CPAP therapy since November 2015. I am struggling with dry mouth as well. I use a full mask, heated tube and humidifier (set too highest) but some night my mouth is so dry I can even swallow. I have switch from a medium mask to a larger because I would wake up some nights and my mouth would slip out of the mask.
Between my provider and insurance it’s be a painful experience getting to this point.
I have almost quit using CPAP but I’m determined for it to work.
Glad I found this site!
Regards
JDARZ,
Welcome to the hosehead clan. If your pressure is high, dry mouth is a common concern. I want to let you know that to let you know you are by no means alone in your struggles. I want to commend you on getting a bigger mask because it is exactly the right thing to do if your mouth is slipping out of it. Even if you are using a full face mask and your humidifier temp is maxed, high pressure can dry your mouth enough to wake you up.
The first solution I would suggest is getting a chinstrap. Contact your DME provider and ask if you can schedule a fitting for a chinstrap. If not, most cpap websites sell them. In this sense, Google is your friend. If you get the appt, take your machine, hose, mask and bed pillow(s). When you try them on, lie down on a table or floor - head on your pillow with the mask on. This will give you an idea how it will feel when you're at home and in bed. Don't leave there until you have a chinstrap that is comfortable and offers a decent amount of resistance to opening your mouth. One other thing - normally DMEs have more basic chinstraps. You can find more deluxe models on the web.
If I can offer any encouragement, I have successfully used xPAP therapy since Dec 2005. It does work, however some people have a rough start. Don't let that discourage you. Once it starts working, you won't be able to sleep without it. I hope this gives you some idea of how things work.
Scott
A shout out to Scott once again. He knows what he's talking about. Great advice on getting the best fit by making sure it fits like a glove before you leave. Welcome JDARZ! So happy you aren't giving up on your C-PAP. Sleep Apnea is a killer. It kills your heart and you don't realize it until you're too sick to ever get better again. Keep using your machine, your heart will thank you!
Pat, Scott Thanks for the replies, until I found this site I was pretty clueless on some issues. The provider and insurence has been a struggle. Trying to get them to get the coverage and correct equipment etc. Going to look into a chin strap. I appreciate any advise. I know how important it is to use the cpap so I won't give up. Hoping it will get better. There have been some positive results, not having to get up to use the bathroom is a plus, able to fall to sleep a little better, but its the dry mouth and trying to fall back to sleep after that. Note I look at a lot of support sites and finally pulled the trigger on this one....glad I did!
Again thanks for the support!!! Jim
Sherry, I have taken up going to bed with water at my bedside. It seems a bit complicated to me with working around the chin strap. I actually didn't have a problem with dry mouth until I started CPAP on March 6. That said, I have made it through my first 30 consecutive days of using CPAP. I am determined to stick with it.
I think my daytime sleepiness might be improving, but I am still very slow with getting going in the AM.
