Chin Strap Recomendations

Hi All: Can someone recommend a good Chin Strap? You know, a Chin Strap that keeps the mouth shut but is not painful to wear.

DME sent me a cheap single band velcro strap with a hole in the chin pad. I must be loosing strength with the hole in the chin pad. And, after three hours, I rip it off along with my CPAP PRO Mask.

Last week, I slept four hours without the Mask due to the Strap. No big deal right?? You wouldn't believe the damage to my memory. Very frightening!!

I rotate masks. Comfort Fusion is excellent and I've learned to wear it comfortably without leaks and marks on my face. I use Blue Painters Tape and nasal irrigation. CPap Pro works very well and has a very low leak rate. But, I have to use a Chin Strap...


Thanks for everybody's wonderful support!! You all have saved my health and life


Gratefully,

SG

SuperGeeky wrote:Hi All: Can someone recommend a good Chin Strap? You know, a Chin Strap that keeps the mouth shut but is not painful to wear.SG

http://www.pur-sleep.com/products/produ ... category=6

PS ...also prevents head deformation/indentions.

My chinstrap of choice is the Deluxe:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/deluxe ... hleak.html

Now, it's a bit counter-intuitive. When I first put it on at night, it feels tight, and slightly uncomfortable, and too wide.

This goes away in about 3 seconds. What I end up with is a night of comfortable sleeping. Go figure. It doesn't move around on me, and stays elastic for a long time. I replace mine about every 6 months, but mainly because it tends to get "pilly" and grey looking from the wash. The elastic doesn't degrade nearly as badly as the neoprene in most other chinstraps. And I find it far less hot and confining.

This is how I wear it:
http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p36/ ... aise/CPAP/

Just the back strap, no front strap. My latest morph involves using two backstraps criss-crossed across the back, to try to remove the bulk around my ears. Works well. It's a little tricky to get on, but getting off is smooth, and once on, it stays in place very well.

Good luck!
Barbara

Definitely the PapCap...it's a little more expensive, but it works.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CyhzcNaCRI

Like everyone says the PapCap is very good as it does the job and its very durable too.

The only negative thing is it can get to be a bit warm for me here in the Arizona summers. Not sure what the temperature is like in outer space but you might want to take it into consideration.

I made my own out of 2 different Respironics straps. The wide one was too hot. This one is great and it's all I use now.

viewtopic/t44621/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=42 ... 78#p379578

Hi all, just wanted to follow-up Thanks to everyone who responded to this thread. My PapCap arrived yesterday and I used it for the first time last night. Very very workable solution!!

I'm so used to fighting with a Chin Strap, making it as tight as possible. I underestimated the functionality of the PapCap. It tightens up comfortably and with not much hand effort of putting it on.

I'm so impressed with the Products designed by those suffering from OSA. I'm using the PapCap with the 'No Mask', CPap Pro.

I think it's a winning combination. I haven't used the 'No Mask' as often as I like, because of leaks. I blamed it on poorly designed Chin Straps. Last night, I could tell one of the nozzles came ajar. Though, since 'No Mask' has such a low leak rate, wasn't much of an issue.

The PapCap and 'No Mask' will combine for a powerful, snug and comfortable solution.

I have to redo the 'boil and bite'. I didn't sink my teeth far enough into the 'goo', leaving a slight gap between my lips. Sleeping on my side, which I now do with a passion, allows for saliva to run out. Wash cloth under my cheek has solved it for now.

I have to follow up on CarbonMan's self made hose hook, almost identical to the people who sell Papcap. Ah, save twenty bucks!! I think a hose hook will create further stability and minimize leaks.

Also, got the Scent Sample, nice stocking stuffer and special treat for the Holidays.

I just moved the Xmas Tree outside. Ba hum bug!! I could never imagine how a 'live' tree could destroy my sinuses and sleep architecture. My sinuses cleared almost instantly upon it's removal!! Whoever got the idea of dragging a dead drying tree into the house of those suffering respiratory problems Ho ho ho, whose going to know???


Later,

SG

The only problem I have with my papcap is it tends to rotate forward during the night and loosens up the chin strap. I end up waking often with the strap loose enough that my jaw has slackened and air escaping, with the cap pulled forward and covering my eyes. I have to yank it back into place about 3 or 4 times a night. Unfortunately I'm thinking of finding another chin strap because of this problem.

Anyone have a solution for this?

I love my PAPCap! I have the PAPCap Plus model, which comes with straps you can use to secure four-point masks, so with my Activa LT nasal mask I don't even have to use the included headgear anymore. It looks like the Plus model is temporarily out of production right now (re-designing?). I use the chin strap and secure my mask to the cap. I have found that it helps to make sure the cap is very snug over my head before putting the chinstrap on, otherwise the chinstrap may loosen slightly. I don't need the chinstrap very tight. I can still open my mouth a bit and air doesn't escape because my tongue blocks my airway enough. But everyone's different in that regard....

pitrow wrote:The only problem I have with my papcap is it tends to rotate forward during the night and loosens up the chin strap. I end up waking often with the strap loose enough that my jaw has slackened and air escaping, with the cap pulled forward and covering my eyes. I have to yank it back into place about 3 or 4 times a night. Unfortunately I'm thinking of finding another chin strap because of this problem.

Anyone have a solution for this?

Everyone's head is shaped differently, of course, but I don't have any problem with the cap slipping forward during the night. The only suggestion I have for you, pitrow, is that you may not be securing the PAPCap properly in the back. I'm assuming that the regular PAPCap works basically the same way as mine. With the Plus, when you cross over the two velcro parts in the back, they do have to be quite snug to the head and secured below the high point on the back of your head (the occipital ridge). That should prevent it from riding forward. If you have a very large head, or your occipital ridge isn't very pronounced, then perhaps it's more difficult to get the proper fit? You may want to contact Bret at Pur-Sleep if you can't get it to work for you.

~ DreamOn

DreamOn wrote: Everyone's head is shaped differently, of course, but I don't have any problem with the cap slipping forward during the night. The only suggestion I have for you, pitrow, is that you may not be securing the PAPCap properly in the back. I'm assuming that the regular PAPCap works basically the same way as mine. With the Plus, when you cross over the two velcro parts in the back, they do have to be quite snug to the head and secured below the high point on the back of your head (the occipital ridge).

~ DreamOn

Yeah i have the plus too. Maybe it's just that my occipital ridge isn't big enough to keep it in place properly. I have it pretty tight, any tighter causes pressure headaches. I thought about trying bobby-pins to hold it in place, but I'm not sure my hair is long enough for it to make a difference. I think maybe part of my problem is I tend to sleep on my side and once I get in a position I rotate my head back (I think it's a subconscious habit from before starting cpap, trying to keep my airway more open) and that makes the cap slip forward.

pitrow wrote:Yeah i have the plus too. Maybe it's just that my occipital ridge isn't big enough to keep it in place properly. I have it pretty tight, any tighter causes pressure headaches. I thought about trying bobby-pins to hold it in place, but I'm not sure my hair is long enough for it to make a difference. I think maybe part of my problem is I tend to sleep on my side and once I get in a position I rotate my head back (I think it's a subconscious habit from before starting cpap, trying to keep my airway more open) and that makes the cap slip forward.

When I use my Headrest nasal pillows mask, I wear that headgear over the PAPCap and chinstrap, so I'm sure that helps to keep the cap in place. But with my nasal mask there's no headgear over the cap and it still stays in place. You may want to try angling each velcro strap downward when you secure it in the back (almost like a shallow 'X'). I've found that works best for me. Or try different angles to secure the velcro.

Maybe someone else will post here with other suggestions for you. If not, you may want to ask Bret at Pur-Sleep if he has any tips that may help. He invented it, and I know that he appreciates feedback about his products.

~ DreamOn

DreamOn wrote:I love my PAPCap! I have the PAPCap Plus model, which comes with straps you can use to secure four-point masks, so with my Activa LT nasal mask I don't even have to use the included headgear anymore.?

I'm jealous. Once I decided to make th Activa LT my mask of choice, I went ahead and ordered the PAPCAP Plus 8 days ago and I'm anxiously awaiting its arrival.

re chin strap recomendations.

save your money and just use a small peice of hockey tape to keep your mouth closed. it works and doesn't leave lines on the face. there is enough straps on the head from the mask that having the chin straps just makes it more hassel having it on the head. chin straps never stays on all night anyway. a small roll of tape last a long time. beleive me it works. the less you fuss at night the better sleep you will have.

GaryG wrote:

DreamOn wrote:I love my PAPCap! I have the PAPCap Plus model, which comes with straps you can use to secure four-point masks, so with my Activa LT nasal mask I don't even have to use the included headgear anymore.?

I'm jealous. Once I decided to make th Activa LT my mask of choice, I went ahead and ordered the PAPCAP Plus 8 days ago and I'm anxiously awaiting its arrival.

The PAPCap Plus works really well with the Activa LT--for me anyway.

This notice is now on Pur-Sleep's website:

The PLUS model (headgear replacement) is currently in further development and is not available for sale. Please contact us at sales@pursleep.com for more information.

It'll be interesting to see if you get the same version of the Plus that I have or if there have been recent changes! I hope it works well for you, Gary.

~ DreamOn

pitrow wrote:The only problem I have with my papcap is it tends to rotate forward during the night and loosens up the chin strap. I end up waking often with the strap loose enough that my jaw has slackened and air escaping, with the cap pulled forward and covering my eyes. I have to yank it back into place about 3 or 4 times a night. Unfortunately I'm thinking of finding another chin strap because of this problem.

Anyone have a solution for this?

Unfortunately the design doesn't work for everybody. Thanks for the suggestions offered by others. Finding the balance between the forward pull chinstrap and cap stability can be a challenge because of differences in personal anatomy. Here are my thoughts and I would welcome feedback:

1. The intended solution for this issue is to use the occipital bone in the back of the head as an "anchor" of sorts. The backstraps should connect firmly beneath the occipital bone--but personal anatomy varies and this does not work well for some people.

2. Another solution for this is to use the backstrap extensions as the lower mask anchor points. This works very well--it provides just enough downward tension on the back of the cap to offset the chinstrap.

3. I would suggest that perhaps you are tightening the chinstrap itself too much? Only a small amount of tension is necessary for most people.

4. You might want to try to orient the chinstrap so that the tension is a bit less "forward" and slightly more towards the top of your ears. The Velstretch need not interface 100% with the Velcro above the temples / ears. If your chinstrap tension is oriented slightly more towards the center of the cap it won't pull down in the front, but you'd need to be careful not to pull your jaw back into the airway.

pitrow, I am very interested to find out whether any of these solutions works for you. I am always trying to improve the product as well as the accompanying instructions.

By the way: The PLUS model has been added back to the website. Sorry for its temporary absence.