CPAP and a mouthpiece?

[mrcrayola]

So my journey continues. I don't know all the medical jargon, so I'll just use plain English. Since I haven't employed any external devices (is a wedge pillow a device?) to keep me off my back while sleeping, my events - obstructives, hypops, occasional centrals - continue to cluster during supine slumber, and my CPAP machine can't address it. I have found that, when I'm exhaling while on my black and endeavoring to push out a medium or higher volume of air, the back of my tongue pops up to the roof of my throat, forcing me to exhale via my nose. Since I have a deviated septum and corresponding perpetual nasal congestion, that adversely impacts the quality and consistency of my sleep.

Dental appliances move the jaw slightly forward, thereby lessening the likelihood of tongue blockage. I've tried them pre-CPAP and they did seem to work up to a point, but the jaw discomfort was a little disconcerting for me (granted, the strap of my CPAP mask cuts across my upper teeth and has already knocked out a crown ). Nevertheless, I'm considering trying a mouth appliance again, albeit this time in combination with my machine.

For those whose CPAP machine alone was insufficient and who also tried combining machine and mouthpiece, what was/has been your experience? What worked? What didn't? Most importantly, did it reduce the number of your events and improve your quality of sleep?

Thanks,

MC

P.S. Please don't suggest that I post my charts. What I have written above should suffice.

[katestyles]

My medical people just told me to do this - use a mouth device as well as straight CPAP.

I am very reluctant.

I know that when I tried mouth devices in the past I found it harder to fall asleep, and often would finally remove the device so I could sleep.

I am also really not comfortable to tape my mouth with a mouth device, so I will need a full face mask, which means I will get leaks, which means I will wake up frequently,.....which is kinda the whole point.

Whatever you can tolerate.....

[LSAT]

Why do you assume you will get leaks? They shouldn't leak if they are sized and fitted properly....if they do, there are mask liners.

[katestyles]

Why do you assume you will get leaks? They shouldn't leak if they are sized and fitted properly....if they do, there are mask liners.

When I fall asleep, my jaw drops down and back. That causes the mask fit to be different to how it was when I was awake, and I get leaks.
When I sleep on my side I knock the mask ajar and I get leaks.
When I roll over onto my back, I need more pressure. I get events.

If I tape my mouth under the FF mask, I can sleep.

[Barbee]

Why do you assume you will get leaks? They shouldn't leak if they are sized and fitted properly....if they do, there are mask liners.

When I fall asleep, my jaw drops down and back. That causes the mask fit to be different to how it was when I was awake, and I get leaks.
When I sleep on my side I knock the mask ajar and I get leaks.
When I roll over onto my back, I need more pressure. I get events.

If I tape my mouth under the FF mask, I can sleep.

I adjust my mask fit with my mouth flopped open.