Hello Guest, Welcome to Apnea Board !
As a guest, you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use.
To post a message, you must create a free account using a valid email address.

or Create an Account


New Posts   Today's Posts

Mouth Breathers, do you know why you are doing it?
#1
Mouth Breathers, do you know why you are doing it?
Didn't have a great night with the FF last night. Ended up taking it off half way through the night and giving up but on the few other nights I have tried FF masks I have been ok so i know I will get used to it better.. But i had become quite frustrated before i went to sleep when I first thought i had lost part of the mask and then I kept hearing some knocking sound on my mask when I put it on but couldn't quite figure out what it was, not to mention that my machine turned off a few times, so I don't know what i was doing wrong but it seems i not setting it up correctly

BUT.......I go to sleep breathing through my nose but woke up feeling as if I had cotton wool in my mouth as I was by then, breathing through the mouth.

I noticed, for the first time, that my nose seemed plugged. I tried right away to breathe though my nose but it wasn't as easy to do as I do normally, so, I am not sure now IF the stuffed nose is causing me to use my mouth, or the open mouth is causing my nose to stuff up.

In any event, discovering this has me wondering how nasal pillows might work?
If the nose is stuffed up, would the nasal pillows force the air up into my nose or would I just resort back to opening up the mouth and breathing this way?

Are there arena FF mask users that can comment from experience what might happen if they tried using the nasal pillows?
Post Reply Post Reply
#2
RE: Mouth Breathers, do you know why you are doing it?
I think my FFM crimps my nose (or at least one nostril), so it makes nose breathing an issue for me. Plus, I have a partially deviated septum and other nasal issues, so I just don't fight nature and primarily mouth breathe even during the day.

There are studies out there claiming that mouth breathing is not healthful and people should really be nose breathers.
Post Reply Post Reply
#3
RE: Mouth Breathers, do you know why you are doing it?
The tech during my titration tried nasal pillows out on me. I could not get them to quit leaking and neither could he. Actually, I have subsequently found out that my therapeutic pressure is too high for the current nasal pillows. I use the Mirage Quattro FFM and I am getting used to it and liking it more and more as time goes on. I have to have it quite snug on my face to keep it from leaking but at least it is possible to keep it from leaking. The first FFM that I had could not be made to seal short of super glue but part of that was due to 20 cm/H2O pressure. Anyway I am quite happy with my current FFM.

I have had the problem you describe with my nose getting partially stuffed up. I am a confirmed nose breather and used to get a little panicky if my nose felt a little stuffy. I try to just work through it and go back to sleep. If that does not work, I use a saline nasal spray and that usually works.

Best Regards,

PaytonA

Admin Note:
PaytonA passed away in September 2017
Click HERE to read his Memorial Thread

~ Rest in Peace ~
Post Reply Post Reply
#4
RE: Mouth Breathers, do you know why you are doing it?
Your mileage may vary but this is generally what might be expected with Nasal Pillows:

You must get your nose and passage clear enough to breath comfortably TO START.

THEN the nasal pillows MAY help keep your nose open enough to make it through the night.

A few months ago at the start, my congestion was VERY BAD and even if I started out clear, my nose would clog up completely sometime during the night.

After the worst of the congestion cleared (Flonase, Saline lavage, and STOPPING the sinus spray helped) I am now making it through the night with no trouble and by now my sinus trouble would formerly have returned.

Sweet Dreams,

HerbM
Sleep study AHI: 49 RDI: 60 -- APAP 10-11 w/AHI: 1.5 avg for 7-days (up due likely to hip replacement recovery)

"We can all breathe together or we will all suffocate alone."
Post Reply Post Reply
#5
RE: Mouth Breathers, do you know why you are doing it?
(03-27-2014, 10:40 AM)ShelaghDB Wrote: I noticed, for the first time, that my nose seemed plugged. I tried right away to breathe though my nose but it wasn't as easy to do as I do normally, so, I am not sure now IF the stuffed nose is causing me to use my mouth, or the open mouth is causing my nose to stuff up.
[Image: mouth-leak-cycle-english.jpg]
The Mouth Leak Cycle http://www.resmed.com/au/clinicians/comp...clinicians

I tried full face mask with no success and didn't like nasal pillows either. Nasal mask and chinstrap works for me ... everyone is different

There is long list of CPAP adverse side effects including: drying of the nose, mouth, or throat and sinus discomfort. See ENT specialist for evaluation to see whether the problem CPAP related or if there is an underlying sinus condition that need to be treated
(not uncommon among OSA patients)

Experiment with humidity setting +/- and make notes of how you feel so you can find your sweet spot


Post Reply Post Reply
#6
RE: Mouth Breathers, do you know why you are doing it?
Ok, so Herbs message suggests to me that congestion might be t he reason for the stuffy nose.
If so, I am a smoker, albeit about to quit any day.
I am presently on the Champix and have quit on it once before and know how easy it is to quit.

The problem is most people are in fear that they can't quit, but the real problem is not in quitting, for that on Champix is easy, but in remembering that what you must focus on is not picking up the first cigarette and starting again.
But as a heavy smoker, if I can quit using Champix, anyone can. I just made that crucial mistake and smoked a cigarette later on. This coming time, I won't make that same mistake.

In any event, if that is the cause, than perhaps with the end of smoking, the nose will be less stuffed up but i don't notice it during the day and only paid attention last night and realized this is happening. I never thought about it before as i had no reason to notice it happening.

I havent ever used Sinus Spray and won't, judging from what you said in your post. I've never used anything for it for I wasn't aware but even then I rarely use medicine.

So from what you have said, these nasal pillows might work for my nose is clear when I start. So I don't know if the stuffed nose is causing me to open my mouth to breathe or whether I am opening it for another reason and while breathing out of my mouth my nose is becoming stuffed.

I'm not sure which came first, the cart or the horse!!!


Leaking Nasal Pillows: I wouldn't have thought that they would have leaked. I seem to remember when I tried a pair just to fit, they clearly fit into my nostrils, hence, I assumed the air would naturally be forced in.
I suppose not judging by PaytonA's post Thinking-about


c0redump

Yes, I am discovering this much to my detriment that its not healthy to breathe out of your nose.

I have had perfect teeth all my life but in the past 3 years all of a sudden I am developing too many cavities and we have been trying to figure out why.
As it turns out, from this came the idea I might have Sleep Apnea which was how i was sent to a clinic.
Turns out during the night when you breathe with your mouth open and dry it out, it allows germs to fester in ways unimaginable compared to a closed mouth. Part of the reason is that its very healthy to have great amounts of saliva in your mouth which of course you don't have with a dry mouth.
I've been told to produce saliva as much as I can whenever i am sitting down, walking, or just doing whatever it is I do, that i am to produce extra saliva in my mouth to counteract the damage being done by.

You should be doing the same whenever you think of it as well to avoid dental problems later on!

If you can somehow get your mouth closed at night with a chin strap and breathe through your nose somehow, you will be much better off.
In my case this is one of the areas that I am hoping that Sleep Apnea will take care off, one way or the other!

/fingers crossed
Post Reply Post Reply
#7
RE: Mouth Breathers, do you know why you are doing it?
[quoteThe Mouth Leak Cycle http://www.resmed.com/au/clinicians/comp...clinicians
[/quote]

thanks zone....going off to read this now
Post Reply Post Reply
#8
RE: Mouth Breathers, do you know why you are doing it?
(03-27-2014, 03:33 PM)ShelaghDB Wrote: [quoteThe Mouth Leak Cycle http://www.resmed.com/au/clinicians/comp...clinicians

thanks zone....going off to read this now
[/quote]
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...Leak-Cycle

Post Reply Post Reply
#9
RE: Mouth Breathers, do you know why you are doing it?
(03-27-2014, 03:25 PM)ShelaghDB Wrote: Yes, I am discovering this much to my detriment that its not healthy to breathe out of your nose.

I have had perfect teeth all my life but in the past 3 years all of a sudden I am developing too many cavities and we have been trying to figure out why.
As it turns out, from this came the idea I might have Sleep Apnea which was how i was sent to a clinic.
Turns out during the night when you breathe with your mouth open and dry it out, it allows germs to fester in ways unimaginable compared to a closed mouth. Part of the reason is that its very healthy to have great amounts of saliva in your mouth which of course you don't have with a dry mouth.
I've been told to produce saliva as much as I can whenever i am sitting down, walking, or just doing whatever it is I do, that i am to produce extra saliva in my mouth to counteract the damage being done by.

You should be doing the same whenever you think of it as well to avoid dental problems later on!

If you can somehow get your mouth closed at night with a chin strap and breathe through your nose somehow, you will be much better off.
In my case this is one of the areas that I am hoping that Sleep Apnea will take care off, one way or the other!

/fingers crossed

You meant to say it is not healthy to breathe out of your mouth Smile I haven't heard of the dry mouth and dental issues eventually leading to an OSA diagnosis -- that's a good dentist you have there! For me, it was the obnoxious snoring keeping my better half awake -- it was either get the sleep study done, or find another room to sleep in.

I do want to get a nasal-mask / nasal-pillows at some point (I think the chin-strap would be a MUST for me). It seems like folks on this board who've been living with OSA for years all use that type of mask , I bet it is a lot more comfortable, and easier to manage leaks too.
Post Reply Post Reply
#10
RE: Mouth Breathers, do you know why you are doing it?
I don't know exactly why. I breathe through my nose during the day, but I have a deviated septum, excess adenoid tissue and other things going on with my nose. Perhaps that + the irritation of the mask is enough to make me do it.

Post Reply Post Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Mouth leak with new machine LaraM 0 31 7 hours ago
Last Post: LaraM
  How do I reduce mouth leaking? meatheadmd 6 372 Yesterday, 01:42 PM
Last Post: Old Codger
  Mouth Tape Tradegy PappaJoe 5 316 03-23-2024, 01:49 AM
Last Post: stevew168
  OSCAR flow rate assessment -- mouth leaks, palatal prolapse? manders513 9 230 03-22-2024, 06:16 PM
Last Post: BigWing
  How can I tell if my mouth is open with a nasal mask while I sleep? evenflow 15 1,078 03-08-2024, 09:55 PM
Last Post: stevew168
  Choosing Apnea Mouth Guard newtothis1 9 805 03-08-2024, 09:52 PM
Last Post: stevew168
  Dry mouth even using mouth tape Wcsleep 8 1,165 03-08-2024, 09:37 PM
Last Post: stevew168


New Posts   Today's Posts


About Apnea Board

Apnea Board is an educational web site designed to empower Sleep Apnea patients.