(05-11-2016, 09:45 AM)Sleeprider Wrote: Frank, if you're interested in "training" without the goop, I've got a couple ideas for you. I dare you to try to take a breath through your mouth with your tongue even lightly resting on the roof of your mouth. It simply can't happen, and the successful use of a nasal interface is nothing more than maintaining this placement, even when you sleep. It's dead simple, or should be. Play with that concept a bit.
If you're game, put on the CPAP with pressure and play with controlling the pressure while awake. You should be able to control the air from entering your mouth, even with your mouth open. The seal just moves back in the throat a bit. Using this control, your should be able to talk by managing the pressure that will try to rush out, but you can stop that and speak clearly. Try taking a drink through a straw and swallowing without dumping water all over yourself. This is all pressure/air management. Practicing this and mastering it may translate into something you can maintain in your sleep. I don't know, but worth trying, and could be really amusing to watch.
Thanks for the suggestion, and I agree that is "All" I have to do, the other things I am trying are to ameliorate the situation until I have learned to "keep my big fat mouth" closed.
The test you suggest almost works. In my case, I can put my tongue up against the top of my mount with the tip against the back of my upper teeth and then can't not breath in - until I "curl" the back of my tongue - then in rushes the air, or more importantly out rushes the air in the case of the CPAP is on.
I frequently use that to test whether the machine is still working or not when I wake in the middle of the night. I can not tell from breathing, the pressure does not affect me at all, but if I curl the sides of the back of my tongue, or lower the back of my tongue the air will rush in and inflate my cheeks, so I look (I assume) like a chipmunk with their cheeks full of nuts...
I play with moving my tongue around and seeing how I can hold it to stop the air leak, while waiting to go to sleep. I focus on trying to pay attention while sleeping to mouth leaks. But it is all for not. Last night I slept for 3 1/2 hours with my mouth open (per my SH chart) and it was sound sleep with no issues. Sadly my wife didn't fair as well, the roaring sound of the air exhausting from my mouth woke her several times.
But, I agree, the LONG term solution is to learn to not leak by tongue control. It's how to get there in my case that is driving me crazy.
Thanks for the suggestions.
I am not a Medical professional and I don't play one on the internet.
Started CPAP Therapy April 5, 2016
I'd Rather Be Sleeping