I have been faithfully using my CPAP (now using an APAP) for more than ten years.  I go fairly regularly to the Apnea Support Group at my local hospital.  One of the things that they recommend for mouth breathers is a chin strap.  The strap keeps you mouth closed so that you don't lose the effectiveness of the CPAP treatment.

May I recommend that you NOT adjust the pressure settings on your own?  The pressure is determined by the titration test  (part two of the diagnostic tests) and is very specific for your needs.  If you have lost or gained weight, then your pressure may need to be adjusted.  Please speak to your Sleep Lab people about this, since you may need an updated titration test.

Perhaps you should investigate your preference for breathing through your mouth.  Are you unable to breathe through your nose?  Do you have allergies or some other reason for nasal blockage?   Speak to a pulmonologist or an allergist.  Whatever you do, find a way to continue using the CPAP until you lose sufficient weight so that you no longer need it.  It will lengthen your life and give you better sleep when it is working properly.

GOOD LUCK!
Ariela

I have had mine for about a month and I love it.  I used to be a belly / side sleeper, but I am finding that I am sleeping on my back most of the time now....not sure why, I think I have been falling asleep quicker (on my back) and I end up staying that way.  I am definitely not tossing and turning like I used to.  Sure is nice to breathe again!!!!

I have the nasal pillows, but I may switch to the nose only mask as it is quieter and the little plastic things kind of bother my nose sometimes.

Hi everyone,

I got my machine and the sleep tech was awesome about going through all of the available mask with me. I settled on the pillow mask (nose mask) because it was one of the very few she had that would allow me to wear my glasses with the mask on. It has helped a lot to just wear it for a while before I fall asleep by watching some TV . I have also experienced my first cold and all of the issues with a stuffy/runny nose can do with that type of mask. I am still adjusting but so far I have gotten in 3 full nights with it and still learning.

Thanks
Omar

I am so sorry for your loss!  My husband is seeing his family doctor in May, and I will remind him to ask his doctor to give him a prescription for a sleep study.  I didn't even realize that I had it - I was in denial, until I needed to have a D&C for other reasons.  They strongly suggested I have a sleep study, and when I did, to my surprise I found out I have severe sleep apnea.  Without my CPAP mask, I wake up every thirty seconds all night long after stopping breathing for ten seconds at a time.  The only symptoms I had were snoring and feeling groggy and sleepy in the m mornings to early afternoon.  I suspect my husband has it, but I've never noticed that he actually stopped breathing.  He's breathed weirdly, snorting then breathing three breaths in a row through his mouth only.  He sounds like he's gasping for air, and it really disturbs me.  He didn't even notice that I stopped breathing at all, mine was so subtle, yet severe, too.  I know mine is from obesity, but I'm a little dismayed that losing over 100 pounds doesn't necessarily take it away.

If that is the case for me, then I will just continue to use my CPAP machine.  I had some problems with it, like everybody else, and I tried a second mask (nasal pillow mask which blows air just through your nostrils).  The second mask didn't work, and I knew I needed more padding for the bridge of my nose to use the first mask, which fits over my nose.  It was scarring the bridge of my nose, which I noticed the next morning, when it was red and puffy from the pressure on it.  I tried a small round bandaid, but it kept getting worse.  When the nasal pillow wouldn't stop leaking all night and waking me up around the clock, I put a large cotton ball with three strip bandaids on my nose, and finally, that protected it.  My Praxair salesman says he will be bringing over a more modern type of padding which will fit the top of the nasal mask to protect my nose, and take away the nasal pillow, so I won't get billed for it.

Now the last problem I have to deal with is getting off of Ambien each night (sleeping pill).  Even though my sleep with the CPAP is more restful, I feel groggy in the morning from the pill.  I tried getting off of it last week on Friday night (I sleep in on Saturday mornings), but I slept so lightly that I gave up at 1:00 a.m. and took the pill anyway.  I will try again this week, tonight, and just expect to sleep lightly, at first.  Eventually, I'll be able to sleep more deeply without the pill, and will feel much better and more awake in the morning.

Denise Phares/kitties4

P.S.:  I just hope my husband doesn't die of sleep apnea before he has a sleep study.  They wouldn't accept him like they did me, because he wasn't in their system.  So he has to wait until May 2009 to see his doctor to get the prescription for one.  Thanks for your message.

DP/k4

I am so sorry that you are having trouble at home with your C-Pap. You must talk to a respiratory therapist, and maybe I should have insisted that one listen to me so I would have gotten better sleep. I think mine leaks, they have all leaked, and you are right, that they can be put on too tight. Maybe that is my problem. But you did have a good sleep at the sleep center, so you know it can be done.  I wish you luck in gettting better help for your sleep apnea.