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UPDATE ON A POST I MADE A WHILE AGO
#1
Idea 
UPDATE ON A POST I MADE A WHILE AGO
Some of you may remember that I made a post asking if other people can talk with their mask on, because I can.....the specialists said I trained myself to do it -which I know that I didn't, it just happened one day...anyway, think I now know how I "trained" myself. Had another sleep study a few weeks ago and they have suggested that I now use a chin strap...so I believe that if I am sleeping with my mouth open, that is how I naturally and inadvertently did it, by literally forcing myself to breathe with my mouth open in my sleep!

Not looking forward to the chin strap at all Thinking-about
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#2
RE: UPDATE ON A POST I MADE A WHILE AGO
Using a nasal mask you ought to be keeping your mouth closed otherwise if air escape through the mouth would affect the quality of the therapy and mouth breathing. Either use a full face mask or get a chinstrap.
I use a chinstrap with my Activa LT nasal mask, it doesn't have to be tight only a reminder to keep mouth shut more like a placebo - it works just knowing its there.
If you going to try a chinstrap, I recommend this one:
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...-old-forum
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#3
RE: UPDATE ON A POST I MADE A WHILE AGO
Hi weeble, I could always talk with or without a chinstrap. I recently switched to pillows because with the nasal mask and the chinstrap on, I found that I had too much on my face and it made me a bit clostraphobic, so to get around that, I switched. Hopefully, it'll all work out for you, best of luck.
trish6hundred
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#4
RE: UPDATE ON A POST I MADE A WHILE AGO
Thanks Zonk - will check it out.

Trish6Hundred.....unfortunately, I am unable to use the pillows because of a medical condition with my nose..long story which I won't bore you with lol!! So will see how I go!
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#5
RE: UPDATE ON A POST I MADE A WHILE AGO
Hi again weeble, I understand that, no problem. I hope the chinstrap works out well for you.
trish6hundred
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#6
RE: UPDATE ON A POST I MADE A WHILE AGO
Weeble, the chinstrap is ONLY a reminder to keep you mouth closed. You will be able to easily overcome the elasticity of the chin strap if you WANT to open your mouth. For many people, the chin strap, therefore, merely trains them to sleep with their mouth closed. Some people, after a training period of days to weeks, can stop wearing the chin strap and do well without it.
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#7
RE: UPDATE ON A POST I MADE A WHILE AGO
(07-18-2012, 08:16 AM)BabyDoc Wrote: Weeble, the chinstrap is ONLY a reminder to keep you mouth closed. You will be able to easily overcome the elasticity of the chin strap if you WANT to open your mouth. For many people, the chin strap, therefore, merely trains them to sleep with their mouth closed. Some people, after a training period of days to weeks, can stop wearing the chin strap and do well without it.

It's not just a reminder. It mechanically applies force to help keep your mouth closed when your jaw closing muscles relax in your sleep. Your jaw opening muscles can still open your mouth if you need to because there's some "slack" in the system.

As for training yourself to talk with the mask, there's a "valve" at the back of your nose. Put your lips together and blow air into your mouth like you're blowing up a balloon. No air will be coming out your nose. You've managed to close the valve at the back of your nose. This is the same thing you do to "close off" your nose with a nasal mask so that you can talk with your mask on.

Get the free OSCAR CPAP software here.
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#8
RE: UPDATE ON A POST I MADE A WHILE AGO
(07-18-2012, 08:16 AM)BabyDoc Wrote: <<...>> Some people, after a training period of days to weeks, can stop wearing the chin strap and do well without it.

And some of us are less trainable . . .

After 36 years of marriage, my spouse is still trying to get me properly trained . . . I guess hope springs eternal. :-)
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#9
RE: UPDATE ON A POST I MADE A WHILE AGO
(07-22-2012, 09:32 PM)archangle Wrote:
(07-18-2012, 08:16 AM)BabyDoc Wrote: Weeble, the chinstrap is ONLY a reminder to keep you mouth closed. You will be able to easily overcome the elasticity of the chin strap if you WANT to open your mouth. For many people, the chin strap, therefore, merely trains them to sleep with their mouth closed. Some people, after a training period of days to weeks, can stop wearing the chin strap and do well without it.

It's not just a reminder. It mechanically applies force to help keep your mouth closed when your jaw closing muscles relax in your sleep. Your jaw opening muscles can still open your mouth if you need to because there's some "slack" in the system.

As for training yourself to talk with the mask, there's a "valve" at the back of your nose. Put your lips together and blow air into your mouth like you're blowing up a balloon. No air will be coming out your nose. You've managed to close the valve at the back of your nose. This is the same thing you do to "close off" your nose with a nasal mask so that you can talk with your mask on.

If a chin strap was so good at overcoming jaws opening, there wouldn't be people taping their mouths closed. (Incidentally, this isn't a good idea because of aspiration dangers). There wouldn't be people needing full face masks, either, who have failed when trying to use a chin strap.

If it didn't work as a reminder, there wouldn't be so many people, either, who could give up using the chin strap after a "trainiing" period of days to weeks.

Yes, I know there are some people who will use a chin strap every night forever, who benefit from the chin strap and never learn not to use it.
In that case, perhaps it overcomes some minimal mouth drop and leakage. But in most cases, when the XPAP can overcomes a non-fixed mechanical nasal pharyngeal obstruction, there is no need for a chin strap, because the person breaths more easily now through his nose, and doesn't need to breath through his mouth. As you pointed out, it is difficult to do both simultaneously.

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#10
RE: UPDATE ON A POST I MADE A WHILE AGO
(07-23-2012, 03:21 PM)BabyDoc Wrote: Yes, I know there are some people who will use a chin strap every night forever, who benefit from the chin strap and never learn not to use it.
I wear the chinstrap every night and its part of the routine. Mask goes first and than the chinstrap. I wear it quite loose, no pressure at at all, it serve as a reminder and I can talk with the mask on ......no problem in this dept Laugh-a-lot

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