"Blowfish" Syndrome

Lee Lee · Post by **Lee Lee** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 11:03 am

I wonder if you guys are as sick of me and my problems as I am of myself?
But, I digress.
Last week, I was feeling horrible again after 9 months of good APAP therapy.
I followed some excellent advice to change the pressure on my machine, and for the next few nights, all was well again.
This week's dilemma is that I'm waking up several times in the night with "blowfish syndrome", in which my cheeks are puffed up with air.
I am a mouth taper, but apparently still can't keep my mouth shut. (which my husband has pointed out on many occasions) I have tried to keep my tongue pressed up on the roof of my mouth, but I guess I'm not sucessful at the higher pressure.
The question is, would that affect the AI's, HI's, and AHI's? They are back to being high. And I'm sleepy.

snoozie_suzy · Post by **snoozie_suzy** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 11:27 am

LeeLee,

I wish I had some solid advice to give you, except on the rare occasion I do tape (use Hybrid, so don't need to), I occasionally get the puffed face, I tried a chinstrap months ago, but where I have bad TMJ I don't dare keep my jaw in a posistion where my teeth are clenched together all night, so I haven't been able to come up with any solutions myself.

Hopefully someone else will post soon with some tips.

I sure hope you find a solution soon.

Suzy

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:44 pm

May want to check out CPAPhappy's quote of Ellen in this thread -

viewtopic.php?t=12876

Dunno if it works but I was thinking of trying it just to see if it works ... gotta wait awhile and save up so I'm not in a big hurry right now.

- roberto

Lee Lee · Post by **Lee Lee** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 2:03 pm

Thanks, I did see that post.
I couldn't locate it on the site she provided , however.
Maybe I'll Google it.

roster · Post by **roster** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 2:22 pm

I was a taper (+Swift nasal pillows) but have switched to the Hybrid with excellent results. Please search some of my posts and others' posts for additional details.

Before I got the Hybrid, I also bought a NoseBreathe mouthpiece. It is a good product and my compliments to Dr. Sue for developing it. I slept with it quiet a few nights but could not get it to stop all of the mouth leaks. It was also more uncomfortable than mouth taping.

The NoseBreathe comes with a money back guarantee. Even though it did not work for me I am hanging on to it. It is a good enough product that I will keep it just in case something unexpected comes up.

A few, such as Ellen, have excellent results with the NoseBreathe. It seems that most on this forum who have tried it do not continue to use it.

inacpapfog · Post by **inacpapfog** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:32 pm

My experiences are very similiar to rooster's!
The Nose Breathe device does work , I just could not tolerate it beyond 3-4 nights in a row! Too uncomfortable for me as I felt like my teeth/ bite shifted!
The "blowfish" effect was a huge problem for me when I was using Swift and mouthtape for the simple fact of the constant arousals caused by the happening! I would be awaken 5-10 times a night as my cheeks would expand with the cpap air. Yes, my mouth was taped and no mouthleaks were occuring BUT I was loosing sleep to the constant interuptions! I finally solved the blowfish problem by wearing the "Deluxe Chin Strap." It kept my cheeks bound in a normal position, so the cpap air no longer could inflate them. Such was my "system" for effective cpap therapy until I discovering the Hybrid. Haven't looked back!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 8:42 am

Sounds like I need to get the Hybrid! It seems to be the answer for many. I'll go and do my research!

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:02 am

Only good answers are:
1) Hybrid
2) HC431
3) UMFF

In that order..

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 1:58 am

This may or may not help but it works for me. I don't completely tap across my mouth but leave an opening on one side, generally my right side because thats the side i sleep on. It allows a small amount to leak out when you blow up or cough, and yes you do dribble but better to dribble than to keep swallowing and end up with a gut full of air. I am on APAP and is only a real problem when the pressure goes over 9 cm. the machine will compensate for the leak by lifting the flow, I don't think it will work to well for CPAP users. Good Luck Smile and be happy. Pete

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:09 am

Actually Guest (above) has the best advise on the 'Blowfish' problem.
When I was using my CL2 + mouth tape, I would use my tongue to
create a small path out my mouth and through the paper tape. The
only problem was once in a while, I would wake in the morning with my
tounge 'punched' through the tape and 'hissing' like a snake.

Machine	Mask	Humidifier

Machine	Mask	Humidifier