Posted by EnglishEric on March 20, 2010 at 15:52:33:In Reply to: Toxins, Hypopnea, CPAP and more! posted by columbo on March 08, 2010 at 12:54:13:
Hello Columbo, I was pleased to read the large number of helpful responses you got to your post and I don't want to cover any of those - unless I have missed it there is one whole paragraph which has been ignored - it is the one where you wrote :-
****"One problem I am having during the night is that the little "valve" that controls the airflow from your nose into your lungs "relaxes" and the air is allowed to enter my mouth! That makes my cheeks puff out, then eventually makes my lips open and let the air leak out. I don't know how long that goes on, but when my mouth is really dry, it wakes me up!! Then I salivate some and go back to sleep. Repeat 1/2 dozen times a night or more. The DME rep said he never heard of such a thing, even when I demonstrated it to him with the CPAP ON! My doctor only suggested a chin strap, tape, or full face mask, but did not even seem familiar with the condition I am explaining! She said that my jaw MUST be opening FIRST, but that I'm just not aware of it. Chin strap will not stop it because my jaw does not open! Tape over the mouth? Then I can't yawn! And my cheeks will still be puffed out like Dizzy Gillespie! Full face mask? Tried one and can't get it to seal. Normally I have some slight upward pressure of my tongue in my mouth. That's just the way I am! If I relax my tongue while I'm awake using CPAP, I can make this same thing happen. So just what is happening that my tongue is closing off this "valve" normally, but when I sleep, this muscle relaxes and allows air to fill my mouth? The machine registers this as a mask leak of course, but that's not what is happening." *****
This happens to me all the time and I get the same stupid remarks from the British Medical people, I am used to it now because I gather it is one of those innocent things which is kind of harmless but really weird. When I describe it to other people they tend to associate it with a sort of comedy sketch of someone snoring because stage and film often depict this and I have actually seen it when people fall asleep in garden loungers - and it does look funny when someone breathes in through their nose and exhales by mouth. Anyway I use an auto machine and this happens when the pressure rises too much (although I guess the machine knows best) so my simple answer is to turn off, restart with low pressure and use the ramp for 20 minutes and it works for me. It may or may not help you but at least you should know that this is not unique to you, probably thousands who haven't responded to your post. All the best and listen to all those wise forum members who have already written. English Eric
- Re: Toxins, Hypopnea, CPAP and more! columbo 16:47 3/20/10 (0)