Chin strap rules OK!

[Tigers Fan]

I don't know whether to kick myself for not thinking of it before - nah! I'll celebrate for having thought of it at last!!

Chin strap!!!

I use a humidifier, Pur-Sleep, Olbas Oil, all the stuff to enhance my APAP experience and stop dry-mouth with a full face mask. And what do I get?

A dry mouth!

Can't use a chin strap because my nose dries and blocks so I need to mouth breathe. Wrong!! I mouth breathe so my mouth and nose dry out and I wake up with an apnoea/clagged together airway walls.

More of a desparate measure than anything, I tried a chin strap last night. Magic! Mouth closed all the time, breathe moist, perfumed air through my nose, take long and restful journeys through the land of nod. Evidence of one night only, I agree, but such a complete turn-around tells me I have found the solution at last. Chin straps are not, as I had thought, similar to medieval torture implements which clamp your mouth shut - rather they (or the one I bought, anyway) gently encourage one's mouth to close.

One small concern: with yet another strap at bedtime, can CPAP therapy lead one unwittingly into BDSM?

Tigers Fan

[James @ Intus]

Good thinking! They aren't as uncomfortable as some of them can look and can be a real saviour in many ways. They don't make you look any more prettier than with the mask and hose alone but who cares if it makes you sleep through the night!

Just don't get those chin straps with a snooker ball contraption

[Tigers Fan]

Chuffed!

Clean hose, mask and straps last night so a little tweaking was needed. Oh boy! am I chuffed with this chin strap! and Les asking how I titrated my APAP - so I increased the pressure a bit to see if I got an improvement.

I'm back on the hunt for a zero AHI! After accepting 5 going on 6 for ages, I'm down to 2 AHI with the chin strap and tweaking. I feel as much improved in mood and temperament today as I did when I first started APAP.

Deep sleep! is such good stuff!

Another half cm? I think so!

Tigers Fan

[James @ Intus]

Crank it up to 40 and see how you go

[Kipper]

Tigers, what make of chin strap and where did you buy it?

[Tigers Fan]

Matching sets

Hi kipper

I use Resmed masks so I bought a Resmed chin strap from - you got it! - Resmed.

Check James' new site out - I'm pretty sure he sells chin straps.

Tigers Fan

[paulbooth6]

Chin Strap

Tigers Fan

Great posting.

Just a thought have you tried the chin strap without the CPAP etc etc.

Paul

[James @ Intus]

The chin straps spoken about here do nothing for snoring or OSA without the CPAP. You'd need a special chin strap which advances the lower jaw for it to have any direct influence. They exist but aren't very effective. It's hard to move the lower jaw forward form the outside of the mouth. With a splint inside they mouth it's far easier and more effective.

So the straps here are only for keeping the mouth closed, or at least stable. Nothing more than that!

[Apappy]

The chin straps spoken about here do nothing for snoring or OSA without the CPAP. You'd need a special chin strap which advances the lower jaw for it to have any direct influence. They exist but aren't very effective. It's hard to move the lower jaw forward form the outside of the mouth. With a splint inside they mouth it's far easier and more effective.

So the straps here are only for keeping the mouth closed, or at least stable. Nothing more than that!

Where is your site, James, for chinstraps? I have one from Joyce but it's just a simple strap which can slip off fairly easily. There is also a "deluxe" version which costs more but I haven't looked at it.

In my case, it seems to work. I've just started with APAP and even more recently with the chin strap since I was waking up with an open mouth -- last night also after trying to sleep without it. At my clinic they told me I would learn subconsciously to keep my mouth shut (!), but I'm wondering if this is true, and if wearing the chin strap over time helps you to "learn" to keep the mouth closed, even without the strap.

Anybody have experience with this?

[Berneta]

Chin Strap

Hi, I use a nasal pillows mask and normally breathe through my nose with no problems. But a few weeks ago I had a cold and would get stuffed up during the night. This had me opening my mouth to breathe. So I started by clearing my sinuses before bed and wearing a chin strap with the mask. While wearing the chin strap I would wake up if I got stuffed up--instead of breathing through my mouth and sleeping on. The chin strap made it possible for me to wake up enough to clear my nose and breathe through it again. Then I could put the mask back on. So for about a week I wore the chin strap and it helped me a lot. Everyone gets a miserable cold now and then no matter what you do--and some people have extensive sinus problems due to allergies,etc. I think a chin strap does help. As for it training you to breath through the nose--that would depend a lot on what kind of problems you might have with your nose to begin with. I don't think the chin strap is a cure all--just an aid to help us deal with yet another problem! x Berneta

[Berneta]

Keep the Chin Strap in place

I forgot to mention that sometimes chin straps do slip around and come off. I solved this problem by using Velco Spots (or Squares) to fix my chin strap securely in place on my mask straps. Works great. You might need to tighten or loosen your mask straps a tiny bit to keep the tension right. xx Berneta

[jackyk]

was given a nasal mask, but gave up on it after a "panic attack" experience.
wonder if a chin strap might help. will have to ask my techy steve

[Berneta]

Bravo!

I use a Bravo Nasal Pillows Mask and my chinstrap came with it. It also came with 4 half inch velcro squares to close it with. I got more so I could fasten it to my mask straps. My chin strap is made of a very soft stretchable type of satin. Doesn't rub or bind--but is inclined to slip if not fastened. Its comfortable. But I will admit I feel HOT after wearing it for awhile--so it doesn't often stay on all night. I probably won't be using it in the summer, if I don't have to. And no TF--so far it doesn't make me feel like I want to be tied to the Bed. At least not yet. LOL. x Berneta

[Sparticus]

Mmmmmm

Did someone mention bondage S&M, maybe



Does this go under the mask or over it???