(09-13-2015, 05:55 PM)SleepyDude Wrote: The DME said a FFM would be the next step if the chin strap doesn't fully help. I'm curious if perhaps a regular nasal mask vs the pillows would be a reasonable next step? Just wondering if the directed jets of air up my nose are perhaps drying things out more than perhaps a nasal mask would? Anyone have any thoughts or experience along these lines?
hi SleepyDude,
great ideas above to try and address the mouth breathing. Hope that solves it.
If it does not, then nasal mask is not a useful next step because it doesn't cover the mouth. In order to prevent mouth leaks you will need a mask that covers nose and mouth. The FFM is the next step. If that doesn't work there is a Total Face Mask (TFM) option. In my short five months in therapy I have not known of anyone who uses a TFM but I and lots of other mouth breathers have done well with the FFM.
Also, regarding chin straps... Retired Guy once advised in a post that the chin strap is more about gentle pressure to hold the right position rather than tightness to clamp the mouth shut. He suggested a too tight chin strap could cause you to wake up with a headache because of jaw muscle tension and potentially cause other problems. The idea of the chin strap he said is to keep your jaw from relaxing and dropping out of place as you fall asleep, and a gentle support in the right place is all it takes.
Don't know how that might play into your recent chin strap strategy, but it suggests to over tighten may be counter productive. Maybe there is something in that idea to work with in order to regain the success you once had with the chin strap.
I am a mouth breather who had limited success controlling air leaks until I added a chin strap. That has worked so well for me that I just set aside my Simplus FFM to give the P-10 a try and see if I can use the nasal pillows which was not an option for me coming out of the titration study.
After two nights I am loving the P-10, although I had not considered how often they have to be replaced (what is the normal recommended replacement inerval for these?).
My 90% pressure has dropped four points from 15.x down to 11.x and sleep is more comfortable. No more waking up during the night to wiggle my chin or nose or tug on the mask in order to close little leaks that spring up as I moved around. Uninterrupted sleep is sweet sleep and more is better.
So I have become a new fan of the P-10.
Having come from FFM to pillows, I would try some things before I would go back. But if you have to go to FFM it's not the end of the world. I tried the F-10 and had better luck with the F&P Simplus. The Simplus has lots of silicon air cushion to mold itself to your facial structure. That worked better for me, but you may have to play with different FFMs to find the right one. Hope you don't have to go there because the nasal pillows are such a lighter weight solution.
Saldus Miegas