Dry mouth and extensive air pressure

[Selone]

I have been on a ResMed AirSense 10, nasal pillows going on 2 months. I have the climate control with humidity and heated tube features. I have two issues 1) the sleep medicine doctor prescribed pressure setting of 8. When my machine ramps up to 8 it feels like a shop air pressure hose streaming into my esophagus. Should I adjust the settings to something lower like 7 or 6? Am I jeopardizing a clinical opinion by doing this? 2) I have dry mouth using the machine and this continues even after I awake and get into my day. I have the humidity setting on 5. When I adjust it to 6, moisture builds up in the mask and my nose is full of liquid like I have a cold. Between the dry mouth and the high air pressure my throat feels like a parched ball of cotton. I looked through several of the topics listed in your forum and couldn’t find any “dry mouth” issues from others. Thanks

[Julie]

Have you ever tried a 'full face' mask (it only covers your nose and extends down to cover your mouth... not your whole face)? That's what's usually used for mouth breathing that's responsible for dry mouths.

[mike1953]

Dry mouth is because you sleep with your mouth open. Cpap by its self will not cause dry mouth.

[Comfortably Numb]

I have been on a ResMed AirSense 10, nasal pillows going on 2 months. I have the climate control with humidity and heated tube features. I have two issues 1) the sleep medicine doctor prescribed pressure setting of 8. When my machine ramps up to 8 it feels like a shop air pressure hose streaming into my esophagus. Should I adjust the settings to something lower like 7 or 6? Am I jeopardizing a clinical opinion by doing this? 2) I have dry mouth using the machine and this continues even after I awake and get into my day. I have the humidity setting on 5. When I adjust it to 6, moisture builds up in the mask and my nose is full of liquid like I have a cold. Between the dry mouth and the high air pressure my throat feels like a parched ball of cotton. I looked through several of the topics listed in your forum and couldn’t find any “dry mouth” issues from others. Thanks

I'm less experienced that you, but I'm wrestling with some of the same issues. I also have the Airsense 10 with heated tubing, etc. When I did my sleep study, I requested a nasal mask because I wanted the least intrusive thing out there. They gave me a ResMed Airfit N10. I really liked it but I was awakened throughout the night with air escaping through my mouth and my throat was parched the next day, apparently from mouth breathing. Also, they did not provide ANY humidity the entire night. When I went back to my doctor, I told him about this and we decided that an Amara View full face mask would be a good option for a mouth breather that wanted minimal "confinement."

My DME set the auto pap between 5-9 as indicated on my Rx. I have everything else on the machine set to auto. I use almost an entire tank of water each night, but I have not experienced dry mouth/throat with the Amara View a single time. I do have some issues with fitting the mask properly but the dryness is totally gone. Humidity and heat set on auto with a very low profile full face mask might be something for you to try.

I still want to be able to use a nasal mask, and I've ordered a chin strap to see if that will make this possible. Even if I'm able to do this, I will still leave my Airsense 10 settings on auto for now. I realize there is more management, fine tuning, etc. that is made possible with manual settings, but auto worked for me.

[Pugsy]

Using a full face mask may or may not help with the dry mouth but it would help with any potential therapy pressure lost due to excessive mouth breathing.

We have a lot of forum members here who use a full face mask and still have dry mouth so bad that they have to add some sort of moisturizing product to their nightly routine in an effort to reduce the dry mouth. So just going to a full face mask is no guarantee that you won't have dry mouth.

For condensation in the mask or hose from higher humidity settings....increase the heated hose air temperature is the easiest fix for preventing the condensation.
You can have the hose air temp and the humidity setting so that each is available separately...just change the hose from "auto" to "manual".
Instructions in the manual.
https://sleep.tnet.com/home/files/resme ... -guide.pdf

[maskuser]

I use a ResMed Aircurve-10 ST, with a Fisher & Paykel "Simplus" Full Face Mask, size large. I also had severe dry mouth, caused by my mouth falling open once I was asleep. I now use a chin strap (off Amazon) and it has solved my problem. Must say it's no fun adding one more piece of gear to the head, but no more dry mouth!

[NadiaK]

I use a full face mask and still get terrible dry mouth. I tried using the Biotene gel which did not help at all. My sister in law who is a nurse recommended that I try using Xylimelts. Just picked some up at the CVS earlier today. Hopefully they will help.

[D.H.]

A pressure of 8 is no super-high. As far as I know all CPAPs sold today go up to at least 20 (the one I had eighteen years ago only went up to 18). Also, my prescription was never lower than 11 (it's 13 now) and that's not really super-high. You really need to find the right mask. You should consider nasal masks, full face masks, and nasal pillows. Keep trying until you get the one that works for you.

[2kittymom]

Dry mouth can be caused from medications too, especially blood pressure meds. And, I read that if you take 3 or more medications, you have a very high chance of dry mouth. Unfortunately, I suffer from it too, and I use mouth wetting lozenges before I go to sleep, but still wake up with dry mouth. Tonight I have a sample of a gel that I'm going to try. I sure hope that helps. Not sure if I open my mouth while sleeping, but if I do, it isn't enough to have air escape.