I LEVELED UP - tried using a cervical collar for the first time

Hi everyone,

I've been using CPAP religiously for about 10+ years and with my beloved Liberty Hybrid mask being discontinued - I've decided to see if I could tackle my mouth drop during sleep to see if it's possible to switch to nasal pillows. I tried a few years ago with a few chinstraps that didn't do anything...and gave up and stuck with Liberty. But now with the mask being discontinued - none of the other hybrid masks fit my flat nose / nostrils - the under the nose pillows don't match up with my nostrils sadly unless I go to the smallest XS size which then presses too much against my face, and even then - I have to strap the mask pretty tightly and it wouldn't really work.

I've taken home a Vitera as it seems like a full face mask that could work for me and felt light on my nose bridge, which is super sensitive and also very low (I have a very flat / small nose). Since I still have some liberty masks to hold me over for a while, I thought I'd try a cervical collar purchased from Amazon to see if my mouth drop would lessen.

WELL - I woke up this morning and felt immediately refreshed. I had slept almost 9 hours (I usually average around 7 hrs 30 min - 8 hrs) and I felt like I woke up from a coma. The cervical collar did give me some neck pain, but nothing unbearable. (I got the special size that was 4" high which I think is a bit high. So I've ordered the regular height 3" to see if that would work better for me and it's on its way) I do remember waking up slightly int he middle of the night a few times and realizing my teeth were nicely touching closed, although it felt like I was still breathing through my mouth in gaps between my lips!

I don't know for sure if my mouth opened throughout the night - I will try for a few more times before I try nasal pillows when I can really tell whether my mouth drops as it wakes me up when air rushes through my mouth when I wear nasal pillows. I felt incredibly refreshed and felt like I slept a new level of deep sleep last night. I'm going to try it for a few more nights and see if I can actually consistently get similar results.

I've read a lot of discussion threads about cervical collar suggestions and the results seem to be a mix, as usual with CPAP accessories that may work for some and not for all. I see a lot of folks who say the cervical collar doesn't work for them - it's too hot, etc - but not too many people who seem to love their cervical collars. So here's my question - does the cervical collar work for you? Has anyone switched from a FFM to a nasal mask with a cervical collar? I'd love to hear some success or not-so-successful stories. Thank you!

mint0101 wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 21, 2022 5:59 pm

So here's my question - does the cervical collar work for you?

if you've read discussions here, you've seen my name popup as a believer in the firm foam cervical collar.

you mentioned your lips parting. that happened to ME too. but i read jay aitchsee's post and solved my problem. maybe it'll work for you-
viewtopic.php?p=1089718&f=1&t=112758&p= ... s#p1086296

continued good luck!

Zonker - yes, I know you've suggested it to others - thank you! Are you able to use a nasal pillow or mask - have you resolved your mouth drop?

mint0101 wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 21, 2022 6:50 pm

Zonker - yes, I know you've suggested it to others - thank you! Are you able to use a nasal pillow or mask - have you resolved your mouth drop?

p10 nasal pillows.

using the scunci method i linked and firm cervical collar, no mouth drop or lips parting.