Hi all...

I'm here again looking for help and support. (so glad I found this place)

Ok so last Weds my husband got his cpap. I was so excited and then he went to sleep that night and my excitement quickly faded. They denied my husband the chin stap for some stupid reason even though the sleep Dr ordered it. Since he is a mouth breather we have had a couple nights of home remedies for keeping his mouth closed and still not working. Hubby ordered a chin strap and we got it this weekend. Tried it last night and he STILL was breathing from his mouth with the mask on... Well his nose was so stuffy that he couldn't breath through his nose. He ended up taking everything off and sleeping on the couch. At this point with his allergies being so bad that he is afraid of taping his lips because he feels like he is suffocating.

I read through the irrigation thread and I printed the info out and gave it to him so hopefully he'll be brave enough to try it and see if it helps. He is also trying to get ahold of the sleep Dr. to see if they can offer any help. So here we are almost a week later with my poor husband not any better or any hint of relief from the apnea.    

I am totally discouraged and exhausted... Any other suggestions out there that I might have missed/overlooked?

Thanks all...



Last edited by Suffering Spouse on Wed May 21, 2008 11:37 am; edited 1 time in total

What chinstrap did he get?  The only one that works for me is the Tiara Ruby.  Some people here have luck using a leg from a pair of pantyhose.


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OSA Sleep Test 8/29/07, AHI 64/Sat. 74%
Titrated 10/1/07 and 9/30/08
BiPAP Auto M Series w/Humidifier 15/10cm
OptiLife Mask; Ruby chinstrap


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To be honest I'm not sure. He told me the name and I have forgotten. Before that he tried the ace bandage and that didn't work either. Its just a bummer because when he was in for his sleep study he had no problem with the mask and chin strap after 20 minutes of wearing it. He fell asleep and got rest for the first time in ages. Now we have pretty much the same thing and its not working... I dont get it.  

Suffering Spouse Maybe your husband should try a different type of mask, and if he has trouble breathing thru his nose, due to allergies maybe an appointment with ENT would be in order. I know I have sinus problems and my doctor recommended I  take Alavert every night. It has worked for me. I personally could never get the chin strap to work! It would seem to be OK till I got to sleep then the air would start seeping out between my lips and they would just start fluttering in the breeze! So I use the Hybrid mask. I get the air in from my nasal pillows, but if I do open my mouth it is also covered! Try not to despair, there is a fix for every problem, at least I have to believe there is anyway! It is just finding it that can be difficult! This CPAP stuff doesn't come easy for allot of us folks, and there always seems to obstacles popping up but they usually can always be over come. Keep looking for answers they're out there! Good Luck White Beard

Look into the ResMed Full Face Liberty mask with nasal pillows.  It is not too overwhelming and your husband may find this type of mask easier to deal with than a chinstrap.  There are many full face masks you could investigate.  Everyone has their favorite.  Good luck.


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ResMed S8 Elite, F&P Flexifit 406, Optilife
AHI 54/hr, Pressure 8, desat. 73

Yep....looks like he needs a diffferent mask.  Don't dispair...just a quirk to work out.


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CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO~ http://tinyurl.com/69q52a

BiPAP Auto M 13/8 Mirage Nasal Swift. 20 years+ undx'd. RLS/PLMD, Hypersomnia & more.

There are several options for mouth breathers.  Ramboaus has compiled a great list here:

List of Sleep Apnea Masks available in the market

Vicki


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That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Suffering Spouse wrote:

Any other suggestions out there that I might have missed/overlooked?

Yes...a full face mask would probably do the trick.

I would be incredibly thankful if thats all it would take to fix this problem... My worry is the claustrophobia of the full mask. My husband has been kicking around asking for a few days worth of anti-anxiety meds to get him used to the mask...

I'm waiting to see what his Dr. suggests.

Thanks for the input. I'll keep digging until we get the right combo.

You say your husband has "pretty much" the same equipment as during this study. But "pretty much" the same often doesn't "cut the mustard". This could be due to something as simple as the same mask, BUT, the DME supplier's RT wasn't as skilled at fitting a mask as the sleep tech who worked w/your husband. Similar masks are still not the SAME mask. The amount of humidification the sleep tech used might not be the same amount that your sleep tech set your humidifier at. The humidity in your home is not necessarily the same as at the sleep lab.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

I find that the higher humidity setting stuffs me up and feels claustophobic....I have to keep mine lower.


_________________

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO~ http://tinyurl.com/69q52a

BiPAP Auto M 13/8 Mirage Nasal Swift. 20 years+ undx'd. RLS/PLMD, Hypersomnia & more.

Suffering Spouse wrote:

I would be incredibly thankful if thats all it would take to fix this problem... My worry is the claustrophobia of the full mask. My husband has been kicking around asking for a few days worth of anti-anxiety meds to get him used to the mask...

I'm waiting to see what his Dr. suggests.

Thanks for the input. I'll keep digging until we get the right combo.

The Mirage Liberty or the Hybrid would be good.  I'm claustrophobic and I can wear these masks.


Sleeping

Hey guys, good news!! Last night he kept the mask on ALL night!       I think he tried the sinus irrigation because I found a measuring cup in the bathroom this morning and the syringe had some water on it still. Nothing else had changed (same mask) and his mouth stayed shut all night. He still had difficulty getting up (to be expected) but its a start! I was so excited this morning and I wanted to ask him a billion questions but I knew he wouldn't want to "chat". I'll have to wait till later when he's had some time to wake up how he slept and how he feels. I'm going to assume that he is still tired and this is the beginning of paying back the "Sleep Debt".

I think I got the best sleep that I've had in awhile too. I only woke once to check him and he was fine.   I really hope that this was the key. If not we'll keep trying but this was the first night that he was able to tolerate it all the way through. Oh I hope tonight goes as well as last night!

Thanks Everyone! I just had to share.  

[quote="Suffering Spouse"]Hey guys, good news!! Last night he kept the mask on ALL night!      

I am also a total mouth breather, have been all my life, don't know why, never checked it out!  And I am claustrophobic!

The FlexFit full face mask is working for me.  As long as I can:  1)opne my eyes and look around, and 2)yank the mask off if I need too, I have no probs w/it.


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Oldster
wheel chair person
4 x cancer survivor
If in doubt, take a nap!
***
Started CPAP 5.2.08
Full face Flexfit 431
RemStar Pro M w/heated humidifier

Well after all this time there has only been 2 nights (within a months time) that he has been able to keep the mask on due to allergies. He typically can only get about 2 or 3 hours before he takes it off. This week we're fighting to get a new full face mask from Option One once his medical group, Dr office and Option One people get their "ish" together. Its been SO frustrating getting him the equipment he needs and I am getting more fed up with everything else. His attitude still stinks because he's not getting the full benefit from his machine.

I am hoping that once he has the full face mask that he will be much more compliant and actually get some stinken sleep. This has gone on for way too long and I am ready for him to finally get improved quality of life so *I* can have improved quality of life. We still live like room-mates and most times I try to be understanding but I'm getting to the point where "enough is enough".

So thats the latest. Hopefully sometime this week we'll get the new mask. I am hoping its going to help especially with what other have posted. It renews my hope in his healing.

Thank you all for bring here when I need to vent and get advice. I'm at my wits end again...